AIBU to be irritated by eBay every time I use it?!

[Seren10]

Recently started listing a few bits on eBay. Needed to buy a few things and being a bit strapped, thought I could do with some money in my PayPal account to pay for some other bits without dipping into my bank account.

It just seems to be full of messers!

I listed an item a couple of days ago, had an offer from a prospective buyer. Accepted the offer as I have seen something I would like to buy and could have done with the ££ in my PayPal.

Buyer then messages to say she no longer needs the item as since the offer (about 3 hours!) she has bought it elsewhere new.

I'm not sure where I now stand. Will I have to pay final fee on this?

Seems to be the case every time I use it. Last time I had a case opened against me for a damaged item. I actually think they damaged it as it didn't fit and they wanted their cash back.

Sigh.

I've used Ebay almost since it started, and it's morphed into an awful, fraud-ridden selling platform.

If you're a buyer, fine. But as a seller? I've given up.

I use Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace to sell now; cash in hand only and no post offices involved! It takes longer to sell stuff but it's worth it IMO.

I've just had someone complain that the book they bought was out of date for what they wanted. However the book was clearly listed as vintage 1973. So more for a collector. Ebay of course sides with the buyer. Sellers are at the mercy of buyers these days on Ebay.

It's annoying as I have quite a few bags of decent clothes to list. Not sure there would really be a market for this on Gumtree/Marketplace?

I'm only getting between £5-£10 an item but it's something in my pocket.

I don't mind spending the evenings photographing, describing, listing etc but when you're stuck with buyers like this, it's very frustrating!

To be honest, clothes can be a nightmare to sell on eBay.

People can use eBay as a free hire service: they wear your item once or twice then return under 'damaged' often damaging it before they send it back.

Bundles on Gumtree or FB might be easier/less stress, but you might be lucky and have no issues at all.

If a sale is cancelled, you don't pay any fees.

People can use eBay as a free hire service: they wear your item once or twice then return under 'damaged' often damaging it before they send it back

I think this is what happened before! I now make sure I photograph the item really well, but as a pp said, I think eBay just side with the buyer no matter what now.

You need to ask the buyer to cancel the sale from their end, otherwise file a case against them. This stops you from having to pay fees. We had to do it when a buyer bought a bulky collection only item, then asked which weekday we would be home all day as the courier couldn’t give a time, just a day for collection.