So I sold some coats... here's what occurred (minus the police bit)

[Corygal]

Evening all

1. Sold 6 coats and jerseys at auction, hence deliriously cheer for whole afternoon.
2. Coat 1 - buyer ran off without paying. Reading feedback reveals is serial non-payer. Ebay fails to take any action.
3. Coat 2 - ditto, but buyer then told me she will pay 'at some stage in the next fortnight'. No cash yet.
4. Coat 3 - buyer demanded I courier it overnight to her (complied). 10am next day get an email claiming it is 'worn and filthy' and demands refund. You can see the fact its unworn with labels in the pics, incidentally.
5. Coat 4 - buyer also demanded overnight delivery. 9am next morning sees the start of an abusive trail of emails claiming the jacket is 'ancient, smelly' etc etc. Again, you can see the unworn item with its tags in the pics. Insists on immediate refund, including heinous postage costs. Now is refusing to send it back and wants me to send a bike to collect it. She's in Oban. I live in central London, which she also mentioned.
6. Coat 5 - buyer paid after only 3 chasing emails. Now is demanding refund for leather scuffs, despite the fact its Allsaints and I drew attention to the hand-distressing in words and pictures.

Well, I should ask whether there's anything I can do, but the important point is that there isn't. Ebay won't force the buyer who ran off with the money and the coat, so I'll just sue Scammer 4.

Having a 'no refunds' policy doesn't mean anything and cannot be enforced.

Sorry to hear about your experience OP. I have learnt a lot on here about eBay especially from fergoose who knows her stuff. Maybe stick around and you will become more about the rules of eBay and more aware of the scams people try.

more knowledgable...

TOugh luck. You have had a rotten time but you have been a bit naive and there is not a lot anyone can do when you don't follow the guidelines.

There's very limited protection on ebay for sellers, but tbh I agree with Fergoose that you've given up any protection you had by doing things the wrong way round.

Yes it's horrid and people have taken advantage and it sounds like you had some right gits. But you do really need to stick to the basics on there.

For example, never send something until you have been paid. (I did this once - got paid but it was a nervous wait). Never refund till you have the item back - the buyer pays return costs, even ebay insist on this if there is a dispute. (unless you know you've got an honest buyer and it was really your fault - in which case a good seller refunds return costs too, but most do not do this and it's not obligatory)

Ebay can only do so much. They are hugely buyer-biased so make the most of the policies they do have to help the seller, follow standard protocol and you will not lose so badly.

You have been stupid. That's not to say you shouldn't try and get your money back. No online retailer would refund your money before you return it.