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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

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Original poster

I'm seriously pissed off

17 replies

MrsZoidberg · 03/04/2013 15:07

A buyer has just started a case against me as she hasn't received her item. I posted it last week, the day after she paid, so barely a week ago and 2 days were BHs, so technically only 5 working days ago.

But WHY start a case, why not just send me an email LIKE ANY NORMAL EBAYER WOULD DO. The few parcels I've had go missing, I have asked them to check usual places etc and have then refunded or sent a replacement as they prefer. I have never quibbled on any of these even though some I truly suspect are lying (I don't have any reason to believe this one is lying btw, just impatient)

But WHY START A BLOODY CASE risking damaging my otherwise perfect selling reputation. AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGH.

I made the assumption that it was a newbie, but it isn't, it is a buyer with high feedback, mostly from buying.

And as she has started a case against me, I don't even have the luxury of asking her to wait for a reasonable time, after all, RM won't consider it lost until 6 days after I have to respond, not that I expect any of my buyers to wait this long anyway.

Why can't people just be nice

OP posts:

tethersend · 03/04/2013 15:12

eBay has changed the layout on its app, meaning that a case is opened where once it directed you to contact the seller- it's bizarre.

I accidentally opened a case the other day and I've been ebaying for years.

Flibbertyjibbet · 03/04/2013 15:15

Take a deep breath.

I had this once. Auction ended Friday night for a pair of children's shoes. Buyer paid sat lunchtime - our post office closes at 12 on a sat. Posted first thing mon, 2nd class parcel post.

Wednesday the buyer opened a case....

Or the other one who was in the Yorkshire Dales, and the auction ended during that terrible snowy weather 2 years ago that cut off a lot of yorkshire. It was all over the news that essential deliveries could not get through and farmers were struggling (same as just now in Isle of Man). I knew where they buyer was as the posting address was a pub we stayed in 10 years before in a VERY REMOTE part of the Yorkshire Dales.

When the parcel hadn't arrived 3 days after I marked it as despatched, they opened a case... and we'd seen on the news that parcels were backing up at post offices due to the weather!!

Anyway, vent over...

Do the same as I did in those cases, email the buyer and ask nicely if they are aware that there are circumstances causing delays in postage - like a ton of bank holidays over easter!

Flibbertyjibbet · 03/04/2013 15:16

Oh and tethersend is right - my first ever case was opened last month, when I'd only meant to ask the buyer when it was despatched.

But me, being nice an' all, I emailed the buyer immediately to apologise for opening a case.

Original poster

MrsZoidberg · 03/04/2013 15:17

Thanks for that info Tethers, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. I've already offered her a replacement, which I would have done from a simple email.

OP posts:

fergoose · 03/04/2013 15:20

unless they tick the box other the minute they message asking where the item is a case automatically gets opened - I think it is to prevent buyers sending lots of where is my item messages, getting refunds or replacements and it is never logged with ebay. Until a case is opened ebay won't know what a buyer is up to.

TheFallenNinja · 03/04/2013 15:32

I had exactly the same. eBay seller protection is wank.

I had one last week buy a cardio watch from me, the picture didn't show the chest strap, the title didn't mention the chest strap and the description didn't mention the chest strap. The two questions I answered and added to the listing specifically said there was no chest strap. The buyer said where's the chest strap? Check the listing mate, eBay complaint after many abusive messages from him finds in his favour.

On the upside, I said straight away to send it back for refund, he starts to get arsey over return postage, I say bollocks to you then, open your little complaint, he does, wins but has to pay return postage could have had his money back by now but I will drag this out as long as I can because he was rude.

Stunningly one sided.

RafflesWay · 03/04/2013 15:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

MrsZoidberg · 03/04/2013 16:08

If that's the reasoning Fergoose, then I'm feeling a bit happier - glad I kept my emails polite

It's still a little quick though, you'd have thought that Ebay would give sellers a little longer considering BHs etc.

OP posts:

80sbabe · 03/04/2013 22:53

I had one of these cases today as well - for an item that was only purchased at 8pm last night!
The buyer was under the impression that their "next day" delivery would have arrived by lunch time today. I had to explain that unfortunately I haven't yet found a post office open late at night so I couldn't actually dispatch it and enter the tracking details until this morning.

I think that the idea of tracking how many questions and the type of questions being asked is a good one. However it would be more logical if "cases" of non-receipt could not be opened until the estimated delivery time has passed.

aladdinsane · 03/04/2013 22:56

I opened a case when item didn't arrive - I only tried to message the seller and the case was opened automatically, she has sent really snotty messages to me

Original poster

MrsZoidberg · 04/04/2013 10:51

aladdinsane If you opened it yesterday, I hope it wasn't me message wasn't supposed to be snotty, just suggesting that you asked nicely next time - this was before I found out that cases seem to open automatically now.

If it was you, first of all apologies and secondly please can you reply so I can get it sorted?

80sbabe I know what you mean, Ebay give these estimates of when it should arrive, which should take into account BHs etc, they shouldn't let you open a case before the end of their own estimate.

OP posts:

MightBeMad · 04/04/2013 11:15

At a slight tangent ladies, can I ask some advice? I have currently not contacted the seller of some items i've bought but not recieved as I noticed it's gong to open a case but don't know how reasonable/concerned to be.

I'm a relatively infrequent eBay purchaser. Bought items and paid for them on 25th march which showed an estimated delivery date of 27-28 march (ie before the Easter bank hols). When this date came and went and no items arrived I checked the Order and it now says the seller is away until 4 April. As I said, I haven't contacted them as when I clicked the 'items not received' header und per the 'contact the seller' tab, it looked like it was going to open a case. But should I be worried/cross that I bought on the basis of pre-Easter anticipated delivery, when presumably the seller knew they were going to be away, or does the seller not have the ability to change this estimated date that's shown?

Currently I plan to give her another day or two and if it's not marked as dispatched by then I will send a message (even if that automatically opens a case against her). Would that be reasonable? I also wonder what I should do in terms of feedback, which depends how much at 'fault' the seller is for the misleading delivery estimate. The thought of getting the goods before easter was definitely a factor in deciding to buy from her... As things stand, she's had more than £50 of my money for 10 days and I've heard nothing!

I don't want to be unreasonable though. Can anyone advise?? Thanks!

Original poster

MrsZoidberg · 04/04/2013 11:23

The seller can only control the estimated date by setting their despatch time and the postage method. i.e. I say I will despatch within 1 day via RM 2nd class (3-5 days) so you should get before 6 working days iyswim?

Sellers cannot use holidays etc as an excuse not to post.

Have the items been marked as dispatched? Also, what postage method did you pay for?

I guess the opening of cases when asking these questions also works both ways i.e. Ebay can see those sellers who don't dispatch in good time as well as the buyers who claim non delivery.

OP posts:

MightBeMad · 04/04/2013 11:28

Thanks mrszoidberg, I paid £7.95 for Royal Mail 1st Class delivery. And no, the items haven't been marked as dispatched. Literally nothing seems to have happened at all since I bought and paid on 25th march :(

Original poster

MrsZoidberg · 04/04/2013 11:30

In that case, I think it's reasonable to contact the seller. If you want to be nice then send her an email asking, but if the new way of doing things is to open cases, then so be it. If she's quoted 1st class, then she must have said she'd dispatch within 1 day.

OP posts:

MightBeMad · 04/04/2013 11:58

Thanks!

aladdinsane · 07/04/2013 11:56

It wasn't me
I waited 2 weeks for my item

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