Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

to think that a lot of Ebay buyers are CFs?

110 replies

applecrumbl3 · 06/09/2019 16:40

I just sold a few items on Ebay, all nice dresses that I have decided are a bit young (i.e. short!) for me now. Everyone paid (eventually) and I posted using Royal Mail first class as indicated on the listing.

Out of 5 items, two people have come back to me. One asked for the 'tracking number' so she could track delivery. She hasn't actually said it hasn't been delivered, and all the other items posted at the same time have arrived safely. She knows there isn't a 'tracking number' bc its first class mail, untracked. She likely also knows that if she complains to Ebay they will 100% side with her even if I show the postage receipt and she will get a full refund. I know this because it happened last time I sold things on Ebay. Do this many things really get lost in the mail?!

Another girl sent me a very short message alleging that the item wasn't as described because it didn't fit her and therefore I must have shrunk it so she demanded to return it. I replied to say that I hadn't shrunk it as I hadn't washed it (it was silk) or even dry cleaned it as had only worn it once or so (this is all true, it was in as new condition). I said usual Ebay etiquette would be to accept things don't always work out when you don't try them on in a shop, and simply sell on. She said it wasn't the same as her other items from the same brand, therefore wasn't as described and she wanted to return.

I was pretty pissed off by the pair of them, and decided enough was enough. By chance buyer 2 works in my industry but is more junior than me, and I am now client side and head of the function. I therefore wrote back very sweetly and said that I was 100% sure that the item was as described, the listing had stated no returns, and I didn't really want to refund her. However, I said, "as it happens I am due to meet one of your senior colleagues next week at your offices so I would be happy to meet up with you beforehand so you can show me your existing item and how the sizing differs and then of course you can have a refund." As I happen to be looking for some professional advice in relation to a big project, I also emailed one of her senior colleagues to set up a meeting just in case!! Funnily enough she replied to say not to worry about it and she hadn't realised it was no refunds and she would try to sell or give it to a skinnier friend!

AIBU to think that people are really naughty and completely trying it on?!

OP posts:

Templetonstunafish · 06/09/2019 17:11

How did you know where she worked tho?

BanningTheWordNaice · 06/09/2019 17:11

To be honest I wouldn’t sell things untracked on eBay - Hermes tracked costs 2.90 which is cheaper than Royal Mail second class untracked and as both a buyer and a seller I find it annoying when sellers don’t offer a tracked method of postage.

aliensprig · 06/09/2019 17:11

I sold a new (with tags) Topshop leather jacket on ebay to a buyer who tried it on, ripped the lining (obviously too small for them!) and demanded a refund. Despite numerous original pics showing perfect condition, ebay sided with them, they returned it and now I can't sell it as new with tags because it's damaged. Absolutely devasted, that was a year ago and I'll never sell on there again. Now I'm stuck with an expensive leather jacket I'll never wear...

drinkygin · 06/09/2019 17:13

Also can 10000% guarantee her boss wouldn’t give a shit that she requested a refund on eBay. If this part is really true.

HundredMilesAnHour · 06/09/2019 17:13

Something unwashed and worn "once or so" is not in new condition

This!!! I bought a top on Ebay that was "new" and when it arrived, it was very obvious that it has been worn and not washed/dry cleaned. It's really annoying when sellers are so economical with the truth. I wouldn't have bought it knowing it was dirty and the extra cost of dry cleaning would need to be added on.

I sell still on Ebay but I write very detailed descriptions and I only post using Signed For delivery. This seems to keep some of the CFs at bay. If an item sells for more than £50, I will pay the extra for Special Delivery myself to make sure I have sufficient insurance if the item goes awol. I was burnt once after I sold shoes for £120 using Signed For and they were never delivered - Royal Mail refunded me the maximum of £50 so that was quite a hit. I was £70 worse off (as I had to refund the buyer the full £120) and I no longer had the shoes either!

There are lots of CF buyers on Ebay. I get some ridiculous offers (even when an item is a fixed price no offers) when people want to pay only 10% of the retail price for a new item. But then there are also sellers who are asking more than the current retail price of a new item yet the one they're selling is secondhand. It's just madness. I really dislike Ebay but haven't found a satisfactory alternative for where I live.

woodhill · 06/09/2019 17:17

Also buyers not leaving feedback is frustrating.

Smurfy23 · 06/09/2019 17:19

I always sell now via Hermes with signed for. Loads of people hate Hermes but theyre cheap and can be tracked. Pay a few pence extra and its signed for too

JaceLancs · 06/09/2019 17:25

I sell a lot on eBay with very few problems
I won’t send unless recorded delivery, will only sell in U.K. and don’t accept returns or give refunds unless I’ve made a mistake
I’m very careful with descriptions and put on lots of photos
I’ve been involved in a small number of eBay disputes and a paypal one where a buyer used her ex’s PayPal account to buy an expensive bag
eBay/PayPal so far have always looked into it properly and awarded in my favour

DameXanaduBramble · 06/09/2019 17:26

I’d have told you to go yourself if you’d brought my work into an eBay transaction. How dare you do that to her!

DameXanaduBramble · 06/09/2019 17:26

Go f* yourself

DoctorAllcome · 06/09/2019 17:32

It’s sellers like you that are the reason I only buy from companies on eBay.
Yes, some people do lie and say they never got an item that they did get. That happened to my DH and he lost the case because the buyer signed a different name when he signed for the package! But just asking for a tracking number is perfectly understandable because how else can you follow up on something that should have arrived but has not?
The second situation was just mean. If something is not as advertised you can return it. Because you stooped to an underhand tactic of threatening the buyers job, I feel like you knew she had a case for a refund. Otherwise why resort to doing that? And then that follow up message was gratuitous gloating.

BringMeAGinandTonic · 06/09/2019 17:33

How did you know where she worked tho?

This.

RolyWatts · 06/09/2019 17:34

I also want to know how you knew where she works. Apart from your unprofessionalism, making a snidey dig about her weight is also very uncool.

Weathergirl1 · 06/09/2019 17:35

@SunburstsOrMarbleHalls
I'm buying a lot of maternity clothes and baby clothes on eBay at the moment and my issues with click and collect have been where the seller hasn't out the ecp code on the parcel. It's happened to me 3 times in the space of a month and in all cases they haven't even put the name of the store I'm collecting from either, just my name and the street address! 🤦

OP utterly bizarre to have sold something on that hadn't been cleaned first. I'm sure it happens, but that's pretty gross to be honest, silk (requiring dry cleaning) or not 🙄

BarrenFieldofFucks · 06/09/2019 17:37

Well, you sound like an arse tbh.

BarrenFieldofFucks · 06/09/2019 17:38

And yes, sellers like you are precisely why I avoid eBay now.

CardsforKittens · 06/09/2019 17:40

There are some CFs on Ebay. In this case it’s not the buyers.

Jubba · 06/09/2019 17:42

Another one here for thinking how on earth did you know where she worked? And very low to bring that to the table.

I recently brought something. Never arrived. Seller never replied. Open up a dispute and won. Only for the seller to send the parcel. It went to an address miles away and I never received it. I had to actually call the police as he started to harass me. 20 or so emails a day calling me all sorts of names. Saying he will call the police. I replied you call the police and I’ll invite them in for a cuppa and explain all about it! Plus about how you’ve non stopped emailing me calling me names and threatening me. All to do with a parcel that didn’t even arrive at my address!

As someone who buys on eBay weekly. I love eBay. They’ve sorted out everything for me every time.

Weathergirl1 · 06/09/2019 17:42

@justonecottonpickingminute there are a few camera selling sites around - I think they buy off you first and then sell on. We bought a Canon lens from them for our DSLR and it was perfect second hand condition. I think the one we used was www.mpb.com - might be worth a look?

scoobydoo1971 · 06/09/2019 17:46

Many years ago as a poor student I set up an ebay shop, mostly selling good quality second hand clothing. It was great then as sellers could leave negative feedback, and ebay were not so strict and buyer-orientated. Even then ( circa 15 years ago), I would estimate about 5% of my buyers claimed non-arrival, not as described etc. I suppose powersellers on ebay just know this, and just accept it as part of selling on that platform. However, it is hard on small-scale sellers like yourself.

I refuse to sell on there nowadays as it is such a hassle, but I know people who do well and without problems (they tend to sell in other categories like household goods). Like others have pointed out, you have to send items tracked as without proof of delivery you have no way of defending yourself. Ebay do not care what condition your item was in, they are concerned with profits which is linked to an assurance to buyers that they will get a refund - fairly or not.

Gingerkittykat · 06/09/2019 17:51

How did you know where she worked? Did you stalk her on social media to find out?

You are out of order here.

violetteskies · 06/09/2019 17:53

have no idea what CF means but if it’s along the lines of cunting fucker then you are the only CF in this situation.

How on earth did you find out where she worked? You blackmailed and power played her, so clearly you feel very entitled. Disgusting. If that wasn’t out of order enough you take a stab at her weight too? So unprofessional but also so wrong to do it that.

Btw an item marked as new should be in completely brand spanking new condition, as if you just bought it. Tags should be on.

I know as I have been buying and selling on eBay for the past 6 years. Yes some people take the mickey but I can’t say I’ve ever come across a manipulative seller like you.

spidersonmyceiling · 06/09/2019 17:53

Nothing to do with eBay but I rece rky posted some important docs which arrived. But postman didn't get a signature. Really need off having paid all that extra to get a signature. Another thing that was delivered to me recently has extra postage for a signature but despite being in the postman just left it and forged a signature
You can't even trust paying extra for signed deliveries

BarrenFieldofFucks · 06/09/2019 17:57

I had something not arrive last year, no signature but her tracking said delivered. Where to, nobody knows. I asked her, and eBay. eBay found in her favour, she was quite abusive over email, accusing me of all sorts.

Rebssss · 06/09/2019 17:57

Did she provide her work address for delivery or did you stalk her to find out where she worked? Very odd behaviour OP

Flip

1 2 3 4 5