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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of Ebay buyers taking the piss?

147 replies

FourStoneDown · 25/01/2017 12:45

I run a small business selling preloved clothing on Ebay. I'm meticulous about the quality of items that I sell, I check things extremely thoroughly, and list very thorough measurements of everything. Most people are delighted with their items and leave me lovely feedback, which is really nice.

However there seems to be a minority of buyers, although that number is increasing, who either invent a flaw with their item when there isn't one, or say that an item doesn't fit them, and then return it to me damaged or worn. One seller has returned a dress today that she said didn't fit her; it was returned inside out as if she'd just taken it off and bundled it up, in carrier bag, with a broken zip and smelling of BO! It'd clearly been worn for a night out then returned to me.

Last week a lady wanted to return a jacket to me, that she had had for over 2 weeks as it didn't fit her. I said it was fine, and she sent a tracked item, but it was an old dirty anorak rather than the jacket she'd bought from me. I escalated to Ebay and they found in favour of the buyer and so I had to refund her £30! She then sent me a message laughing and gloating that she sent me an old piece of tat and got a refund and got to keep the jacket!

And another buyer a few weeks ago decided 3 weeks after receiving a top that the colour didn't suit her so therefore it wasn't as described and started a dispute. She refused to return the item and again Ebay found in her favour and just took the money and refunded her, letting her keep the item!

There have been many other cases recently of returns because something 'doesn't fit' when it has clearly been worn for a night out, then shoved in a bag and returned to me.

AIBU to be pissed off with it all?

OP posts:
TreacleTreacleLittleStar · 26/01/2017 01:52

CX5221 Shock That would've INFURIATED me!!!!!! What did he say when you said it had sold for full price? X

Peanutandphoenix · 26/01/2017 02:15

YANBU stopped selling things on Ebay because people can be such shits like that but I still buy things on eBay I felt really bad just after Christmas though because I had to ask for refunds on 2 tops that I had bought at the beginning of December that never turned up and they still haven't arrived for me to send them back to sellers.

LadyVampire · 26/01/2017 07:38

Lady - if you had changed it from an item not received to item not as described case then you could have returned at the sellers' expense. eBay gave you the wrong advice it seems.

Oh did they? They never explained this to me. Was 2 years ago now.

I'm still surrised seller never chased up giving me an apple computer instead of a boardgame though! The experience put me off using Ebay though :(

HeavenlyEyes · 26/01/2017 09:32

Olivers - you do know you must never, ever take paypal for items collected in person don't you?

JoffreyBaratheon · 26/01/2017 10:07

I've found the best no quibbles eBayer buyers are collectors. I stumbled on an unusual silver propelling pencil, turned out to be 1920s for a quid at a car boot, and did a quick bit of research then realised it was worth a lot more. It had so many watchers. Think I ended up making about £50 for it. So after that I have always looked for old fountain pens and silver/gold pencils at car boots and places where it's people just flogging off the contents of granny's attic - and not only turned a good profit but the items get lots of watchers, the buyers are keen and you never get a dispute. My husband sells models sometimes and again - a keen, niche market of people who collect - they will read a listing more carefully, understand if there's a problem, and never seem to come back with any whining.

Narnian · 26/01/2017 10:20

I gave up selling on eBay years ago. The last few things I sold I sold as 'collection in person only, cash only' due to the huge scam of PayPal/ collection in person items.

Even then I spent ages dealing with twats who seemed unable to grasp the 'collection in person only' meaning. No, it doesn't mean I'll deliver it myself to you 200 miles away. No, it doesn't mean you can pay by PayPal and send a courier.

Everything that I don't need now is sent to charity shops. I tried giving stuff away on Freecycle but that really is fuckwit central.

ToastyFingers · 26/01/2017 11:15

I've sold on eBay with no problems, I've had tons of bad experience with sellers though.

Over two weeks ago I bought I bought a pair of trainers, buy it now.

After about a week of waiting for them to arrive I sent the seller a message asking if they'd been sent, as she hadn't marked them as dispatched. I got no reply.

About 3 days later, so 10 days from when I'd bought them, I tried to open a case with eBay, but couldn't as she hadn't marked them as paid apparently.

On day 14 I got my money back through PayPal and left honest, negative feedback.

On day 15 I got an irate message saying no, they hadn't been dispatched yet and where was her money.

This is the 3rd useless seller I've encountered in the last 6 weeks.

MotherofA · 26/01/2017 11:18

I don't sell on your scale and it drives me insane . Scammers and people bidding and not paying ! Drives me mad I only sold 4 items this week and two didn't pay ! Also got scammed on lots of items over the years . Angry

Mindtrope · 26/01/2017 11:58

MotherofA- I sold 1500 items in the month before December- only one bought and didn't pay.

JoffreyBaratheon · 26/01/2017 12:09

Oh hell, yes Freecycle is like a bad audition for the X Factor. I once put a surplus to requirements lawn-mower on there and the messages I got by people begging for the thing were really unsettling. One I remember in particular was a young woman who seemed to think it was her 'destiny' and her life's 'journey' to score this (admittedly expensive) lawn-mower. I got a tonne of competing sob stories and in the end went with the bloke who sounded the most normal, and just wanted it to mow his parents' lawn in the next village.

SideOrderofSprouts · 26/01/2017 12:13

A friend of
Mine had this. Sold a game of Lego
Dimensions on eBay. Firstly he woman said she wasn't in and the package was left on her step and stolen. Then it never arrived. She had all the messages and they still sided with the buyer. Even though the buyer put the same item up for sale a week later for more money...

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/01/2017 12:28

I tried giving stuff away on Freecycle but that really is fuckwit central

Don't even go there!!! I write as one who was let down three times over collection (for a free item, remember) and was then TOLD when they were going to collect it next, as it was URGENT that they had it Angry

And does anyone else wonder if some ebay buyers even read the blasted descriptions?? Exact measurements, photos, you name it - and still they claim they didn't know Hmm

Givemestrength12 · 26/01/2017 13:05

There does seem to be some really poor adjudication from ebay, my underage nephew sold lots of gaming equipment and games via eBay, without his mothers knowledge. The buyer received the items and then said there was one disk/disc missing, complained to ebay, got a full refund from my nephew, who also lost all of his goods, which were probably underpriced at £180 my sister thought...it certainly seems very unfair...The buyer should have had to return the items before getting his refund, which my nephew said wasnt fair as everything was included anyway..

PJBanana · 26/01/2017 13:30

Surely there is no way to defend eBay anymore, it really is appalling. I've had countless terrible experiences as a buyer and a seller, as has my DP.

Stand-out buying fuckups include the dress sent to me that was a size 22 not a 12 and the brand new never worn top that arrived stinking of fags and with a noticeable hole in.

My worst selling experience was a top that the buyer claimed 'wasn't the right colour'. She said it 'looked white, not nude' in my listing, despite the photos being very accurate and one of the pictures showing the white label against the nude fabric. Obviously eBay sided with her.

DP almost got scammed TWICE when selling his laptop a couple of months ago, by buyers with great feedback who said they had sent the money via PayPal and sent an 'email confirmation'. No money ever went into his PayPal account, and in the end we discovered that scammers are now hacking into reputable eBay accounts! He re-listed the laptop with UK postage only and the bidder who won then decided to ask if he could post it to The Netherlands Hmm

I will never, ever use eBay again in a million years. No idea how they've been able to get away with this shite for so long.

Oliversmumsarmy · 26/01/2017 14:12

Olivers - you do know you must never, ever take paypal for items collected in person don't you

I don't want Paypal I can't stand paypal I list I do not want paypal and they still turn up saying they have already paid by paypal.

These are the ones that then complain the item isn't as described despite having it in capitol letters in the description what the item type is and it being in capitol letters on the box which appeared in the pictures.
I tell them it does state no returns. They have signed to say they are happy with the item but if they want to drive the item back to me I will give them their money back less what paypal had taken off me. If they had paid by Cash on Collection as was stated in the advert then they could have had all their money back. I have yet to have one person returning anything.

I am not a shop. if they want the options a shop offers then they can go and use a shop and pay for the privilege.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/01/2017 14:13

Surely there is no way to defend eBay anymore, it really is appalling

I don't imagine they'll worry too much while the money is still rolling in. As so often with these things it will take a real alternative to appear before anything changes (and that's only as long as they don't immediately buy it out)

Another small anecdote from when I sold my late uncle's extremely high end hi fi stuff: one item was a turntable, and naturally I'd said cash on collection / UK only. Which didn't stop some idiot insisting I should post it to him ...

In Argentina Hmm

19lottie82 · 26/01/2017 14:13

givemestrength the buyer always has to return any items they claim are faulty for a a full refund.

The only exception to this would be if your nephew ignored the communication from eBay asking him to accept a return then to issue the buyer with a returns label.

If he cooperated with the buyer and eBay's return policies then he would have got his items back.

I'm guessing maybe he panicked and just stick his head in the sand?

HeavenlyEyes · 26/01/2017 14:15

Olivers - you must never take Paypal for collected items - they can file not received or not as described and you can lose your money and your item. Signing anything means sod all. You refund their paypal and insist on cash - or they don't get their item. No exceptions. No matter what you state in your listing if they pay by PayPal they can return and pretend not as described or more likely claim not received and you will not have a leg to stand on. Tracked delivery is the only way to keep yourself safe from none receipt claims.

Oliversmumsarmy · 26/01/2017 14:20

Heavenly I am on to that crap I always get them to sign a receipt for said item stating they are happy with the item.

I have worked in shops, on market stalls and I am wise to some of the scams people pull

HeavenlyEyes · 26/01/2017 14:25

Very sorry but you are wrong - a signed receipt is not proof of delivery and would be worthless to Paypal. eBay is not like a market stall or shop.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/01/2017 14:26

I always get them to sign a receipt for said item stating they are happy with the item

But would ebay accept that if it came to a push? I'd always thought that they'd only consider actual proof of posting/tracking, in a form they recognise ... in other words a tracking number from a known carrier rather than a scribbled signature on someone's piece of paper?

19lottie82 · 26/01/2017 14:30

eBay and PayPal require online tracking with proof of delivery for you to maintain your seller protection.

A signed receipt is useless.

HeavenlyEyes · 26/01/2017 14:31

no Puzzled - a signed receipt is pointless and worthless. Anybody could have done it.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/01/2017 14:42

Thanks, heavenly and lottie ... that's what I thought, but wanted to make sure I'd not made a hash of it Smile

Starlight2345 · 26/01/2017 14:42

I stopped selling on ebay for similar reasons.. I also get annoyed now if I buy something specific and try put in lowest price P &P first and loads of listings put something in a multiple listing that is a different price. I tend to avoid it .

I bought a phone case cover that was listed under iphone 5.It arrives as a cover for iphone 6..There was multiple choices for size..It was my fault though for not reading properly.