Refund wanted by buyer happening a lot

[Reallyannoyedwithpitaboss]

Are you getting this? About 40% of all transactions seem to want a refund! I advertised lovely trousers which were only £4. Buyer saying it doesn’t have pockets and I didn’t declare this and the design is not what they would wear! I clearly said don’t accept refunds as these things go dirt cheap as it is! People want something for nothing these days!

No, I think if 40% of people are asking for refunds it’s probably a problem with you and the listing.

Yes, I'm getting this too.
I've sold numerous items over a period of 12 years & it's never happened until recently - twice!

I’ve had it a couple of times recently. People claiming that they aren’t the advertised item/size etc. All have been brand new with tags so no issues with the items.

had one claiming jeans aren’t the advertised size so asked her to send me a photo of the tag. She replied saying yes it’s the right size but didn't fit her, just like the others in that brand she bought also don’t fit her 🤦🏻‍♀️. EBay told her to return them but she didn’t. They still forced a refund though so she got the item and the money back. It infuriates me and I’m guessing people do this regularly just because they can.

I am a private seller and perhaps get rid of 20 things a year. I always take about 10 photos for every listing and use the following rules

Never state the condition. Always write

'Please look at photos for the item condition'
'Ask any questions before buying'
'Strictly no returns'

Then in the box where you are expected to write the item condition I always put. Used see photos.

I feel that having these things in description will help me avoid any possible return requests. I might be wrong but it possibly stops any brainless buyers trying it on.

Maybe if you are selling clothes write something like.

"I cannot guarantee the size" but then take a good photo of the label that shows the size. Then the seller cannot reasonably claim a return.

It's all about wording your items to protect you from the general stupidity public.

Yes it’s putting me off and thinking of switching to Vinted

You can't refuse returns if not as described.

I might be recognised with this but I bought new shoes from vinted that looked nice and I assumed they were going to be good quality for what I paid. when I got them they were made from cardboard and felt but vinted wouldn’t refund because I didn’t ask what they were made from? I still use vinted but am more careful now

I recently started to sell on eBay again, I hadn’t done it for years. I had someone collect an item in broad daylight, which I had repeatedly highlighted needed some work doing to it/was second hand/look at the photos etc. They then contacted me after they’d got it home saying I’d not described it properly. I just refunded them and will not bother again. I think maybe people only want new things on there now? I always saw it as somewhere to get a bargain/something vintage/something to upcycle etc.

@Lassango that doesn’t work with eBay. I’d stated measurements of the item that was returned. All they have to claim is that it is not as described. My buyer even stated in their message that it wasn’t true and they just didn’t fit her. EBay still decided to refund plus let her keep the item.

Is there no longer the ability for a seller to defend requested returns? Maybe if the seller opens dialogue with you about wanting to lie to return the item you can threaten to take her to a small claims court if she does. Seeing as you have her address you can perhaps remind her of that and that you will win and claim costs. It might dissuade them from trying it on.

If not all you can do is report the buyer for misuse of the returns procedure.

From what I hear I get the impression that a high proportion of clothes buyers are a pain in the arse.

I take it that you are a private seller rather than business?

@Lassango yes I’m a private seller. I think most buyers would assume you wouldn’t bother to take them to small claims court (I think there’s a minimum claim level) and would just brazen it out.

You can dispute their return but from what I gather, eBay generally just side with the buyer and then you have also covered postage fees etc. In my experience if you phone eBay and complain, they will give you the money back but that allows the buyer to both keep the item and also have their money returned, which I find infuriating. All that can be done is a report to eBay that the buyer is misusing returns and eBay can also raise one from their end too. And they can be blocked from buying from your account too, although how effective this is I don’t know as a blocked buyer has managed to buy from me again and I had to cancel the sale myself.

The buyer I referenced in my earlier post had said in her messages that she’d already bought that brand and size which didn’t fit so claimed a refund yet continued to buy from me and then claim again. Wonder how many times she will get away with that before eBay actually say no to her.

I’ve also had it for the first time recently. I raised a dispute as well as they were clearly taking the piss. EBay refunded them, but didn’t take the money from me.

I’ve given up on all online sales. Just not worth the stress. I will do a car boot in the summer instead!

I think buyers have been rather spiky by Vinted making it much easier to refuse to accept an item, and expect the same from eBay.

I sell more than 100 items on eBay every year as private seller. Mostly clothes and toys. I haven’t had anyone complain about anything for years and years. I am very honest though (not saying you aren't) but I check everything very well and picture & detail anything that’s evenly remotely wrong with it.

Some people are total chancers though and know that ebay always side with the buyer. They often don’t even make them return it so they get to keep the item too which isn’t fair.

@tedibear the items I sell are new with tags, have lots of photos and have all measurements included on the listing. People still try it on because they know they will get the item for free once eBay get involved. All eBay need to do is actually check the claim properly, not have an auto check (I’m sure a person can’t be involved as the refunds are agreed so quickly) and then sellers would be happier.

I used to sell new stuff on eBay and used stuff on vinted but I will likely move entirely to Vinted soon as eBay are just becoming Vinted anyway by copying everything they do. I’ve sold on eBay for 20 years and am getting pretty fed up of it lately.

I've been selling on ebay for about 20 years. I've hardly ever had a return request. I did have one recently where someone left positive feedback and then opened a return saying there was a hole in the item. I spoke to ebay on the phone - always the best way to deal with them. The person I spoke to agreed with me that it was odd to give positive feedback and then say there was a hole and also that the photo I posted had no hole...... They closed the case there and then and put the buyer on a watch list for potential misuse of the returns process. I suspect that having a long history with a lot of positive feedback and having allowed the occasional refund in the past probably helps me with the odd chancer.

I think if you can prove it was posted and received- eBay usually side with the seller. I also say no returns but it’s when they simply say they don’t like it and not what they expected that is annoying! Its not cost effective and they can sell the it me they simply don’t like. Esp when you’re talking a couple of pounds. I also have had eBay refund the seller but bot penalise me. Maybe they are getting too many issues and have to also keep sellers happy to stop them going to Vinted. I’d stopped Vinted as they introduced iparcel (or something like that) and I didn’t have inpost close to me (about 30 miles away was the nearest!). Thankfully my local Tesco is now doing inpost so I can start again on Vinted. Just sold 2 books which never happens on ebay

I’m really impressed that private sellers are managing to sell anything on eBay! It’s totally dried up for me since around October last year after 20 years of selling there regularly. I have been lucky with buyers over the years and have always gone to a lot of trouble with photos and honest description and reasonable prices. However the last time I managed to sell some clothing I did have requests to return on the basis of not liking the item and it had begun to feel like some buyers were expecting private sellers to operate like a large retailer for returns and that was a new experience for me. Sales then totally dried up, no one was even looking at my items.

I’ve gone to Vinted which is a much easier process to upload but achieves lower prices. I think I’m nearly done with the whole selling online thing tbh.

This is why I don’t bother with eBay anymore. Too much focus on the buyer and their wants. Selling i eBay now makes my teeth itch as I am always subconsciously expecting buyers to find a problem with the item.

Yes am slowly moving to Vinted. Sold 2 items at £14 thus far in a week. Not a lot but i try to sell before taking to charity shop. Spent a lot over the years. Ebay has been drying up I do agree

I’m finding the same, I’ve also seen a lot of articles about shoplifting getting worse. Cost of living crisis. It’s only going to get more awful. I don’t sell online anything anymore as not worth the effort. People wearing clothes then returning for refund 🤮