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AIBU?

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Original poster

To never use eBay again

90 replies

Pencilandpaper · 22/10/2021 21:55

Used to use eBay loads but haven’t sold anything for over a couple of years. I have a sofa I need to sell due to moving house, it’s branded and in excellent condition so fairly high value. I listed it very clearly as collection in person with my town.

Anyway, item ends and the winning bidder immediately messages me telling me wrap the sofa “like a newborn baby” Hmm I messaged back stating that I hadn’t included packing materials cost, so no it won’t be packaged. She then tells me it will be collected by courier on one of two days! So I reply again, saying as stated it was collection in person and I’m not sending a high value item unwrapped with a courier, nor am I staying in for two days waiting for it to be collected.

Since then I have had no end of grief trying to sort. She messaged me constantly, being very rude. I reported her but have heard nothing on my report. Whenever I try to get hold of someone at eBay, their website is like a maze - eventually you stumble on a live chat who may or may not be able to help. I tried to refund the buyer but it kept saying there was an issue with my account. Finally got through to an agent who managed to refund for me so i thought all resolved..only to find today I have been stung with final value selling fees and negative feedback from the buyer.

Aibu that eBay is such a stressful experience. I’m closing my account!

OP posts:
Ireolu · 22/10/2021 21:59

Sorry you have had such a time of it. I don't use eBay so can't help. It is called 'evil bay' for a reason and unfortunately for you, that sums up the experience you are having. Good luck sorting it out.

dailily · 22/10/2021 22:05

I had the exact same issue with furniture. I don't understand why eBay can't look at the listing, immediately see that the buyer is unreasonable and cancel the sale..why are sellers punished when it's the buyer who is obviously at fault!!

Theunamedcat · 22/10/2021 22:07

Challenge the fees as its not sold,

respond to the feedback stating buyer refunded after ignoring collection only part of the listing

I have bought from buyers with negative feedback but only when they have a reasonable response such as refunded due to loss during posting or offered a return buyer refused etc etc

AmandaHoldensLips · 22/10/2021 22:08

Some buyers are total bastards. Most are okay.

LaurieFairyCake · 22/10/2021 22:09

If you call them they will refund the fees and remove the feedback

Russell19 · 22/10/2021 22:12

Sell your sofa on a local fb page or market place

StepAwayFromGoogling · 22/10/2021 22:14

I'd assume 'collecting in person' means a courier could collect on your behalf.

Original poster
Pencilandpaper · 22/10/2021 22:25

@StepAwayFromGoogling

I'd assume 'collecting in person' means a courier could collect on your behalf.
Really?! And expect me to send it unwrapped and wait in for 2 days? If item damaged in transit I would have no come back at all, or even if buyer wanted to claim it was damaged.
OP posts:
Original poster
Pencilandpaper · 22/10/2021 22:28

@LaurieFairyCake

If you call them they will refund the fees and remove the feedback
Thank you. I have actually today already asked them to remove the feedback (1000th time of speaking to them to get all of this sorted), but I was told to put in a ‘request’ via the website and it will be reviewed. I thought I had done this, but then received an email to say the request and gone to the buyer to see if they will change their mind and to “respect their decision if they don’t”.
OP posts:
Beachbabe1 · 22/10/2021 22:32

I am having trouble with a buyer. Opened a case against them with eBay, heard nothing for 2 weeks now! Buyer requesting refund because my item arrived damaged. I have photo evidence that my jacket is not the jacket she is saying it is! First time I've had trouble on ebay in about 10 years though.

lottiegarbanzo · 22/10/2021 22:35

I've bought furniture 'collection in person' and used a courier. (There was no other way in deep lockdown, when couriers could travel as they're working but I couldn't, for a non-essential personal journey).

A courier is a person. It's entirely my risk if my courier damages something, or if they fail to see something obviously wrong with the item, that I would have spotted so refused collection.

They can't expect you to be in for two days, of course not. They should ask when you're available and arrange their courier for one of those times.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 22/10/2021 22:35

@StepAwayFromGoogling

I'd assume 'collecting in person' means a courier could collect on your behalf.
I specifically exclude this on the rare occasions I have sold on evil bay. Unscrupulous buyers could claim the item was not received.
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 22/10/2021 22:37

But I have stopped selling on ebay altogether now as their customer service is non-existent and there are so many dishonest people using it.

KrisAkabusi · 22/10/2021 22:38

@StepAwayFromGoogling

I'd assume 'collecting in person' means a courier could collect on your behalf.
Really? It's only three words. How could you misinterpret them to mean something other than collection in person? No wonder people are always in here complaining about eBay and Facebook buyers!
BonnesVacances · 22/10/2021 22:38

If it says collection in person, I sometime message and ask if I can arrange a courier. But always before bidding.

MyCatHatesWhiskas · 22/10/2021 22:41

I fell out with eBay when I sold something and the buyer claimed it never arrived but then refused to answer any of my messages. (Which basically boiled down to, will you give it a couple more days or shall I refund you now?) To me, that smells of scam, especially as eBay will always refund the buyer if you didn’t use a tracking service.

So if you want free stuff, choose a private seller who sends the item second class, then say it didn’t arrive. Simples.Hmm

(Obviously I might just be being unfair and maybe it didn’t turn up - but in that case, why not reply to my messages?)

TeacupDrama · 22/10/2021 22:46

You can't claim non arrival of collection only item

OooohAhhhh · 22/10/2021 22:50

Btw If it's collection you should never accept payment via eBay as it leaves a trail and you are leaving yourself wide open for a buyer to claim
"Item never received" as you wouldn't have any proof of postage, because it was collection.
For collection stuff you should do cash on collection only, or bank transfer.
I love eBay, had my fair share of problem buyers, but haven't we all?
Speak to eBay, they will refund your fees.
Block her, & re list as cash on collection.
Or sell via marketplace etc.

Gimlisaxe · 22/10/2021 22:51

I refuse to use them now, use to use them alot and then when I tried again, got so mucked around its just not worth it, plus fees.

AdobeWanKenobi · 22/10/2021 22:52

I joined eBay in about 1996 and have sold on and off for years. I'd not listed anything since this new payment system went into place but at the weekend I listed something on a £100 BIN. I was rather surprised to receive a payment of just £86.90 after eBay had taken their cut.
I won't be listing anything again and will stick to Facebook marketplace and vinted.

OP give eBay a call. It's often easier than running the gauntlet with chat etc. You should be able to cancel the sale. Collection in Person is just that.

AdobeWanKenobi · 22/10/2021 22:54

BTW it looks like the not received scam on collection items might not be as simple now. In collection items the buyer is emailed a code to give to the seller proving collection.
As I say, it's all changed.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 22/10/2021 22:56

The entire thing is just not worth the effort. 3 times I had my account hacked with fraudsters using my profile to list fake or non existent expensive handbags. EBay were perplexed when I closed my account.

doublemonkey · 22/10/2021 22:58

I think it's fairly standard now to get a courier to pick things up so I wouldn't cancel for that reason.

I would want cash on pick-up though. That way there can be no claims of item not posted later.

RiojaRose · 22/10/2021 22:58

@StepAwayFromGoogling

I'd assume 'collecting in person' means a courier could collect on your behalf.
Only if you message the seller first and they agree. It’s really bad form to bid on this assumption without checking first.
doublemonkey · 22/10/2021 23:00

@AdobeWanKenobi

I joined eBay in about 1996 and have sold on and off for years. I'd not listed anything since this new payment system went into place but at the weekend I listed something on a £100 BIN. I was rather surprised to receive a payment of just £86.90 after eBay had taken their cut. I won't be listing anything again and will stick to Facebook marketplace and vinted.

OP give eBay a call. It's often easier than running the gauntlet with chat etc. You should be able to cancel the sale. Collection in Person is just that.

I was rather surprised to receive a payment of just £86.90 ..

But that's pretty much the percentage you paid in fees before they changed the payment system?!