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Original poster

Has Ebay really got this bad?

161 replies

Lyndaishistory · 26/08/2018 18:17

"Warranty Information:
I'm going to start by saying the item is sold "AS IS, That is, no refund!" But it doesn't matter. As long as you submit a request for return under the category of "not as described" (even if it was), eBay will allow you to send back the item despite any of my objections or how valid your reason is. Want a bad ass CPU for a weekend lan party? Order here and when your done return it under the "not as described category". Want to test out a piece of hardware you aren't familiar with? No problem! When you're done with it just request a return under "not as described category" (even if it was). To reiterate, the party line is, the item is sold as is with no refunds. But just tell eBay it wasn't as described (even if it was) and they will seize the money out of my paypal the second you request the return. When I ask eBay to intervene, there automated system will automatically grant you your request regardless of any objections I have, or evidence I wish to present. AND.... if that isn't enough, it will generate a return label and you can send it back at my expensive. So, even though I'm just one guy working out of my garage, selling used electronics, you can buy with the same amount of confidence you would with Amazon, because as far as eBay is concerned, I may as well be."

Seen a lot of these types of messages in independent sellers listings, recently.
Has Ebay really go this bad? I remember it being a great place to sell things but recently I sold a couple of things that (unfortunately) went for 99p. I ended up owing ebay money for those listings.
Is there an alternative? Or will Ebay continue to get worse?

Link:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sigma-Designs-Realmagic-EM8300-/163201304485?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137

OP posts:
hungryhippo90 · 27/08/2018 16:33

This has made me worry! We’ve got £300 pending on PayPal for stuff we’ve sold on eBay.
All tracked though so very much hoping we don’t have the same problem as many have here.

On the other hand, I’ve bought a lot on eBay this week, half of the sellers haven’t bothered to send items that were won on Tuesday/Wednesday.
The ones who have sent items generally sent them within hours of auction end, and all with tracking numbers.

19lottie82 · 27/08/2018 16:38

I make a point of never buying BNWT
stuff, 9 times out of 10 it will have been shoplifted IMO.

Sorry but that’s absolute nonsense. There are plenty of reasons why people sell items that are BNWT!

19lottie82 · 27/08/2018 16:42

Ebay is still a great selling platform, there are a few scammers but they’re in the minority. It’s important you research the rules and how to maintain your seller protection to minimise the risk of being scammed.

Saying that there are certain things I wouldn’t sell on eBay, such as electronic parts as described by the OP, and high value phones or tablets.

Glymou · 27/08/2018 16:48

I think it’s deteriorated recently. I’ve had three buyers not send something in the last few months. Also had a buyer who opened a ‘not received’ case weeks after auction close. After I produced the tracking number they disappeared without response. That’s happened twice since January!

TheConquestOfHappiness · 27/08/2018 16:57

Stopped selling stuff about four years ago just because it was becoming too much hassle. About a year later thought I’d give it another whirl- buyer sent clothing back “not as described” having worn it. I got it back dirty and reeking of smoke.

So never again. Stuff goes to charity shop now.

MyNameIsFartacus · 27/08/2018 16:57

mummymummums utter genius, I'm saving that idea! I sell a lot on eBay and thankfully don't really have any issues...

MorrisDancingViv · 27/08/2018 17:03

As a buyer eBay is safer to purchase expensive items than Facebook/Gumtree. Every fews weeks there seems to be a warning about a seller on my local fb groups who has sold an ipad/pushchair etc which is broken etc. At least with eBay you'd get your money back in those situations.

However, I rarely sell on Ebay these days. I use to make quite a bit selling clothes but postage is just so expensive now plus factoring in fees that it's normally not worth it as a buyer unless it's a 'must have' item which is sold out in stores. I've found offering free postage but a higher starting bid (£5) has helped shift things but it only works with premium brands.

I've not had too many issues with buyers. A few have tried it on with me but when I've politely responded disagreeing with them and suggest that they raise their complaint officially with Ebay I never hear from them again. I make it clear I can prove my situation even if I'm bluffing - it seems to put off the scammers.

I did once have a buyer complain to eBay about me approximately one hour after the sale ended because I hadn't paid Hmm.

Thehop · 27/08/2018 17:07

eBay is horrendous now. Stupid rule changes have spoiled it for sellers.

amusedbush · 27/08/2018 17:11

I sold a dress on Ebay a few years ago and the buyer demanded a refund, leaving public feedback that said the dress (brand new with tags) was "stinking of fags and BO".

  1. The dress had never had cigarette smoke anywhere near it.
  2. I bought the dress to slim into (insert eyeroll here!) and it was so small on me that I literally couldn't even try it on, let alone work up a sweat in it.

Cheeky, lying cow.

19lottie82 · 27/08/2018 17:12

The problem is...... if you increase rights for sellers then you remove them from buyers and leave them open to being scammed. There’s no common ground.

stayhomeclub · 27/08/2018 17:12

Also almost never sell on eBay after being burnt by CF buyers who want to keep an item and get their money back. And obviously eBay just keeps them happy and ensures I’m out of pocket.

I mostly used Facebook now, cash on collection and all done and dusted easily.

speakout · 27/08/2018 17:19

I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more.

ebay is a great platform.

As I said upthread I sell 9000 items a year and rarely have a problem.

MorrisDancingViv · 27/08/2018 17:26

@speakout presumably selling that many items you are a registered business seller? I think that makes you a little more protected as scammers are less likely to try it on with a business compared to a private seller.

speakout · 27/08/2018 17:27

MorrisDancingViv

Yes I am a business seller.

UpstartCrow · 27/08/2018 17:40

Yes that makes a difference to the way buyers act and the way Ebay respond. Your experience also depends on what you sell, some are more high risk than others.

UpstartCrow · 27/08/2018 17:43

Theres a really annoying scam people use. They send an angry email claiming the item didn't arrive.
Then they demand a replacement.
Soon after that they demand a refund.

If the scam works they get the original item, a replacement, and a refund.

19lottie82 · 27/08/2018 18:05

“Theres a really annoying scam people use. They send an angry email claiming the item didn't arrive.
Then they demand a replacement.
Soon after that they demand a refund.

If the scam works they get the original item, a replacement, and a refund.”

To maintain your seller protection, you have to use a method of postage with a proof of delivery. If you do this the above isn’t possible.

luckycat007 · 27/08/2018 19:10

For buyers too - the post is crazy expensive sometimes when buying abroad. Other times dirt cheap like stuff from China. It's strange. I feel sorry for honest sellers though as eBay side with buyer 99% of the time and u will always get CFs.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/08/2018 19:22

It’s important you research the rules and how to maintain your seller protection

Yes I agree, and back when I used to sell I had it set up to block bids from those with strikes against them, living in areas I'd said I wouldn't post to, etc, etc. I once stumbled on the list of those who'd been unable to bid and there were hundreds of them Hmm

On a slight tangent, has anyone else noticed how much advertising they're doing at the moment? Back in their heyday that simply wouldn't have been needed - which makes you wonder what exactly's going on

OutPinked · 27/08/2018 19:37

Completely agree, there’s pretty much no protection for sellers on there at all.

I’ve been in the situation a couple of times where the buyer has claimed it wasn’t as described when it clearly was and I therefore lost out majorly. eBay almost never side with the seller.

gluteustothemaximus · 27/08/2018 19:42

This has been going on for years. It's one of the reasons we stopped selling on ebay as people wore the clothing, and then returned it. Or said it didn't arrive, when it did.

They got their money back, every time.

My main issue is chinese fakes. That's another issue entirely though.

Tara336 · 27/08/2018 19:52

I sold my old iPad on eBay, nothing wrong with it just DH had bought me an iPad mini which was better. Buyer claimed it didn’t work (it did) sent it back, claimed a refund and when I received it back he had synced it with his iPhone and had clearly been using it no problem. However, when I switched it on and went to charge it there was a buzzing noise it hadn’t made before so clearly he’d damaged and just sent it back, I won’t use eBay anymore it’s just not worth the hassle

19lottie82 · 27/08/2018 19:55

“This has been going on for years. It's one of the reasons we stopped selling on ebay as people wore the clothing, and then returned it. Or said it didn't arrive, when it did.

They got their money back, every time.

My main issue is chinese fakes. That's another issue entirely though.”

It’s not really another issue though!

The problem is people want the protection as a buyer AND as a seller and to have both, it’s just not possible!

I’m not saying that it’s fair, I’m not saying it isn’t frustrating, but as above, we can’t have the best of both worlds.

manicinsomniac · 27/08/2018 20:19

The problem is people want the protection as a buyer AND as a seller and to have both, it’s just not possible!
I’m not saying that it’s fair, I’m not saying it isn’t frustrating, but as above, we can’t have the best of both worlds

That's a good point and I agree with eBay that, to work effectively, the bias does have to be towards the buyer.

But - favouring the buyer shouldn't have to extend to the point of penalising the seller when it is obvious that they have done nothing wrong. If you have proof that the parcel has been delivered or dated photos of the item in good condition on your listing then a seller claiming non receipt of goods or item not as described should not be pandered to.

Instances where there is no way of knowing whether a parcel has arrived or not or where damage could have occurred at any point are different and I think eBay has no choice but to refund in those circumstances

polkadotpixie · 27/08/2018 21:06

I've been buying and selling on eBay since 2004 and it's definitely gone downhill in that time unfortunately

We sold a working 2nd hand laptop, buyer opened a case saying it didn't work. eBay reversed the PayPal transaction so even though we thought he was trying it on we had no choice but to get him to send it back so we told him to return it and when we got it back it he'd basically stripped it of all the components so we were out postage and the laptop 😩

I'm currently having issues as a buyer as well. I ordered something on 9th and still not received it. The seller keeps sending me generic replies to my emails and the tracking number doesn't work. I need to open a case myself but I actually really need the item and it's the only one I can find so I'm reluctant