Arghh! eBay!!!

[bottyg]

I know, I know it's been done to death & actually I have often posted on other eBay threads that I have had very positive experiences so it's come back to bite me.

Sold an item of clothing that was preowned. Buyer has clearly worn it once or decided she didn't like it so has claimed it has a stain on it - it didn't. I offered free postage & now I have to pay for her to send it back to me so out of pocket with a damaged piece of clothing. Why can't ebay do more to protect sellers? I have it once before some yrs ago & Ive noticed the dodgy buyers are very rude & aggressive when demanding a refund. Rant over.

Can the buyer send you a picture of the stain? Do you still have photos of the item before you sent it? I would want proof before offering a refund.

They uploaded photos of the stain, my photos don't show the stain but then my photos don't show the underside of the arm where the sleeve fabric touches the torso (if that makes sense) which is where the stain has conveniently appeared. I will report the buyer but don't have much faith.

The general principle of selling is that you should factor losses like this into your pricing. If you have a physical shop you need to factor in that some of your stock will be shoplifted. It's the same principle online, obviously not shoplifters but you will get the odd chancer like this.

The thing is, how can you prove that it was fine when the buyer received it? That's the key point. It doesn't matter how it was when you sent it - you need to be able to prove the stain wasn't there when it arrived.

In my experience about 10% of eBay buyers try to pull something like this.

I suppose I didn't think of that, I'm not a professional seller just clearing out things I'm too fat for.
I think I was more annoyed by the attitude & the accusations tbh, it's only £15.

I had this with a Radley bag OP. It was in perfect unused condition. Buyer complained it was marked and I hadn't described it properly. All nonsense. I had to refund her and I was furious. I haven't sold anything since. Simply can't be bothered with it.

It’s horrible OP. There really should be more protection for sellers. I see it from the other side: I only buy on EBay, I don’t sell, but when I’ve had very occasional problems (items not arrived) I’ve been really aware that so many buyers are chancers, and I definitely got the impression from one seller that he thought I was trying it on. I really wasn’t, I actually wanted that top, but he’d probably been burned before. But like you said OP, it’s only £15 or whatever.

So yes, more protection for sellers would be better for everyone.

@SamanthaJayne4 oh no, tbf Ive sold a lot & had some great buyers equally I buy a lot on there, If something doesn't fit me properly I wouldn't damage it to get a refund. It just wouldn't cross my mind

Reporting the. Is utterly pointless. I once reported a literal scammer - he didn't claim the item was damaged, he claimed his account or something had been hacked despite the fact I had actually texted him (and he replied) to discuss when the item was arriving - eBay found in my favour but he's still on the platform!!!