To never want to sell on ebay because it brings disaster into your life?

[PuffinNose]

In the last month, I've bought 12 things from ebay. However of those sellers:

• 1 had an unexpected bereavement so couldn't post for ages
• Another's partner was rushed into hospital so couldn't post for ages (must have ruined the holiday they told me they had planned a few days after I paid).
• 1 was flooded and hasn't had a computer so couldn't post (but thankfully they had their phone of something because they could reply to feedback)
• 1 of them had a pesky dog who damaged the item. I was a bit disappointed because the item went for much less than it should have done.
• 1 of them has posted it but it's gone missing but darn it, the post office printer wasn't working so she has no proof but she did post it so no won't refund (don't worry, I know my rights).

So, ebay sellers seem to be an unlucky lot.

What are the best lines you've had from ebay sellers/buyers?

For the record, I'm generally not bothered about delays as long as they tell me. I've replied nicely to all the messages and symphasised as apprpropriate.

I bought what was advertised as an ikea poang chair.. picked it up.. it was filthy - thing dog hair & muck.. it stank.. asked DH to take cover off to wash it & he said he needed a screw driver.. I was like err no poang chair covers Velcro on.. turns out it was an asda chair.. it stank so we washed cover & popped it back on, I messaged guy saying can I get a refund & he was an absolute arsehole saying 'you've taken it to bits, washed it & now you want a refund!' I was like ffs it's coming back in better condition than u sold it me! Sadly he had encouraged me not to bid/best offer so the transaction was completed outside of ebay 😢. I had planned to buy a second chair from ikea & match the covers so it was useless! I sold it on but was honest obviously. Sometimes it is more hassle than it's worth! X

Babybees I bought a baby swing from someone whose doorstep was littered with roll your own fag ends and I should have walked away then. The white plastic on the swing was yellow with nicotine. I washed the covers and bleached it down but once DS had finished with it a few weeks later (it was a desperate purchase on my part and he quickly outgrew it) I couldn't sell it, I freecycled it but it beggars belief the crap people will actually list and expect good money for!

I was selling a Polly Pocket advent calendar one year, as an auction not buy it now, a guy bid on it and won it, went for slightly more than I expected it would and posted it. Only to receive negative feedback because it was so expense and he could of bought it cheaper elsewhere........

I bought a Happyland plastic bus from ebay a few years back and when it arrived it absolutely STUNK of cigarettes. It was so foul when I opened the package that it made me gag, I've never smelt it so strongly (not even on clothes). I complained to the seller who claimed nobody in her house smoked and the smell must have come from the postman . I tried to remove the smell using various methods over the next few days to no avail so asked for a refund. the seller was furious and sent me a few messages but I did get my money back in the end and the bus went in the bin!

teagirl in your #3 in situations like this all you need to do is prove the item has been posted to the address provided with the PayPal payment. (You don't even need a proof of delivery)

EBays a great buying / selling platform, you just need to understand how it works and how to protect yourself as a seller and a buyer. There are potential risks but I find these are very minimal .

I've been doing Ebay for years and had very few bad experiences. One was when a buyer got in touch six months after buying the item saying it was no use and wanted a refund. I think there was a bit of a spate of that after MoneySavingExpert publicised that Ebay rights were the same as rights for goods bought in a shop. I messaged the guy and said, "Go on, then - contact Ebay and escalate the case." Luckily he disappeared.

The worst one was when someone bought a Mini Boden coat and then sent a message saying they were on benefits and wanted a refund. So I said, well, send it back and if it's in as sold condition then I'll refund. Then I received a message saying that there were knife slashes all over the coat . I was worried they'd find out where I lived!

I had a buyer once who bought five darning mushrooms which were painted like toadstools. She was most disgruntled that the white dots on the top were not the size she wanted. And there was the man who wanted to make a costume for his wife and was furious with me because it turned out that his wife was not as size 10 as she's told him. He needed to be told that since the pattern included sizes 8 to 16, he could just cut out a larger size.
Mostly though, buyers of craft supplies are lovely. It's a fairly low-scam category, except for knitting yarn. For some reason, loads of people think it's fine to either demand stuff for free, or just scam you "because I only knit for charity, Dearie".

So interesting to read everyone's stories - just started to sell a few bits and pieces and think an item of clothing I sold last week at a low price that was perfect when I sent it was found to be marked when arrived with buyer I can't face any confrontation so just refunded and hope that karma will occur! But feel sooooo annoyed.

Once I bought a pandora bracelet presumed was genuine as many bids and sold for £45 when it came the logo looked dodgey and it was tinged pink - after a few messages I sent back for refund and seller claimed as far as they were aware it was real - wouldn't buy anything over £10 from eBay now

Thanks 19Lottie82