Ebay robbed me!

[cheese]

Here's the story:
I had a BIN listing for several lawnmower belts on ebay. I had 4 or 5 and used the same listing until they were gone. They retail for $15, but I was selling them for $8.97 with free shipping. They are original equipment, not cheap knockoffs. A guy bought the last belt and several days later, I get a message saying that the belt says made in China on it and the one in my picture is not, that I sent him a cheap knockoff, and he wants a refund. I told him it is not a cheap knockoff, that the company that supplies the belts has them contracted from several companies in different countries, but that I would refund his money if he doesn't want it, just send it back. He says he wants money back and he doesn't want to ship it back to me because it will cost him $3 to ship it. I told him I would reimburse the shipping costs as well, but that I was not giving him a free belt. He says that he doesn't want a free belt, but he insists that my belt was a cheap knockoff and I ripped him off. I told him again that I got all the belts from the OEM supplier, they are not knockoffs, and to send it back for a refund. He says that he will just escalate the case. I told him to.

Fast forward a few days and I get a message from ebay saying that the case is closed and no further action is required on my part. Great, I'm thinking ebay decided in my favor after reviewing our conversation. Then I get another message saying that ebay has sided with the buyer and refunded them their money and the money has been taken from my account. WHAT?! They refunded him without him returning my merchandise? So now, my money and my belt is gone?

I know this is only $9, but that's beside the point. If they can do this with my $9 item, they can do this with the $1200 item I also have listed, or anything else. I tried calling them but they are closed. I am going to demand my money back or my item. If I don't get one or the other, I will be getting the law involved. It's only $9, but they aren't going to take it from me like that.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[Iron Patch]

I guess there's some type of policy that you don't have to return fake items, but that's just stupid and leaves the door open to scams. The way it should be, if if the buyers complains it's fake, the seller can cover the shipping and get it back... and then debate the whole thing with ebay if he can resell it on the site. To just take the guys word doesn't make sense. I have seen similar happen before on a much higher end item, a watch. Ebay had the buyer take it to an authorized dealer to be accessed... which maybe is not perfect, but at least there's a process that makes a bit of sense.

 

[insontis]

Wow.

If I receive a fake item I contact the seller and most of the time they have no problem with me shipping it back (I've paid return shipping). Once they told me I could just keep the item. Are sellers supposed to cover return shipping for a counterfeit item? I know one time a seller refused to believe it was counterfeit (it was a gold jewelry piece) and I had to escalate it to eBay who then ruled in my favor and gave me a free return shipping label. If I am supposed to be reimbursed for counterfeit item returns (which would make sense, IMO) I'm leaking some money by returning it at my own expense.

 

[NHBandit]

I guess there's some type of policy that you don't have to return fake items, but that's just stupid and leaves the door open to scams. The way it should be, if if the buyers complains it's fake, the seller can cover the shipping and get it back... and then debate the whole thing with ebay if he can resell it on the site. To just take the guys word doesn't make sense. I have seen similar happen before on a much higher end item, a watch. Ebay had the buyer take it to an authorized dealer to be accessed... which maybe is not perfect, but at least there's a process that makes a bit of sense.

I had it happen with a $500 Samurai sword. Not a fake though. It was damaged in shipping and the buyer opened a "not as described" case. I think these cases are settled by computer with little or no human actually looking at them for the most part because I got the same result. Ebay refunded his money AND let him keep the sword. When I called customer service they said that never should have happened and that he does NOT get to keep the item and get a refund. Ebay took the blame and returned the money to my account and also let him keep the refund. A few days later out of the blue I got an email from the guy asking if I would take $200 and let him keep the sword ? I can only assume that Ebay told him to ship it back. Very weird the way it all played out. I have to assume it was Ebay who lost on that deal. When the dust settled the buyer got the sword for $200 but I got a total of $700 for it..

 

[Iron Patch]

I had it happen with a $500 Samurai sword. Not a fake though. It was damaged in shipping and the buyer opened a "not as described" case. I think these cases are settled by computer with little or no human actually looking at them for the most part because I got the same result. Ebay refunded his money AND let him keep the sword. When I called customer service they said that never should have happened and that he does NOT get to keep the item and get a refund. Ebay took the blame and returned the money to my account and also let him keep the refund. A few days later out of the blue I got an email from the guy asking if I would take $200 and let him keep the sword ? I can only assume that Ebay told him to ship it back. Very weird the way it all played out. I have to assume it was Ebay who lost on that deal. When the dust settled the buyer got the sword for $200 but I got a total of $700 for it..

Something I meant to say earlier.... If there is a fake item or claim of a fake, always make that phone call right away and not after the fact. When it's said and done it will probably be more of a fight to get Ebay to undo what they have already done. I'm sure the guy who had the problem with the fake watch was on the phone right away.... and now recalling the story a bit better, what happened in that one is the guy bought his legit watch, claimed it was fake, and sent back a fake. I can't remember if he came out a loser or not.

 

[NHBandit]

Something I meant to say earlier.... If there is a fake item or claim of a fake, always make that phone call right away and not after the fact. When it's said and done it will probably be more of a fight to get Ebay to undo what they have already done. I'm sure the guy who had the problem with the fake watch was on the phone right away.... and now recalling the story a bit better, what happened in that one is the guy bought his legit watch, claimed it was fake, and sent back a fake. I can't remember if he came out a loser or not.

With the one sided feedback system, Ebay is loaded with dirtbag buyers these days. Our one and only other issue happened to my wife. She has been selling a bunch of antique straight razors that she inherited from a collector for about a year. Around Christmas time she sold a high end boxed set of 7 from Germany to a buyer in Texas. A couple weeks later he files an "item not received" claim. Tracking showed the package as being "out for delivery" for several days. Unfortunately for the would be thief we live in a very small rural town with a post office that has one very nice lady running the whole show and the buyer lives in a small town as well. Our postal lady called the Texas PO and they spoke to the mail man who delivered the package. He apologized for not scanning it when he delivered it but he remembered knocking on the buyers door and putting it in his hand because it was too big to fit in his mail box. Evidently the guy noticed that it didn't get scanned and saw his chance to try to rip us off. We called Ebay and gave them all the info along with the phone numbers for both post offices and the names of the contact people at each location. He has been suspended from Ebay and was blocked from leaving my wife any feedback. I am convinced this kind of behavior is a direct result of Ebay not allowing negative feedback to be left against buyers. As I've said before, nearly every change they've made to their policy seems to be intended to drive away the small time sellers. They want to be Amazon and have forgotten their roots..

 

[cheese]

The bad part is my belt wasn't even fake. I bought it at Lowes, with the OEM supplier number printed directly on the belt from the factory. There was a discount rack full of mower belts marked down for clearance and I made an offer to management for the entire rack full. There were two aftermarket belts, but they don't have the OEM numbers or packaging on them, they are sold under the aftermarket brand name with their numbers on them. I've been selling on ebay for years and still have 100% positive feedback and am and have been a top rated power seller for a loong time, but still they treat me like dirt. As SOON as something better comes along, I'm on that bus.

 

[cheese]

Okay, got off the phone with them and all is resolved finally. The representative said they reviewed our case and saw that we did everything possible and went beyond our duty to resolve the issue and the buyer was still impossible to please, so they refunded our money. She said that the buyer got a refund as well, but it is not coming from our account. She tried to ease over the irritation by telling us how we are such good sellers and we always take care of our customers and yada yada and how we won't have to waste one more minute on this trivial matter. Good. $9 is nothing in the big picture, but I am really big on principle, to a fault I think, but that's who I am.

So, I am back on agreeable terms with ebay... I think they just need a better way of handling these things so that good sellers don't get dissed like that.

 

[dumpsterdiver]

My major concern seems to be how many times can buyers pull this off before ebay bans them. It seems like a very long time. I bet if you bought a lot of items you could pull this off at least once a month.

 

[diggummup]

Okay, got off the phone with them and all is resolved finally. The representative said they reviewed our case and saw that we did everything possible and went beyond our duty to resolve the issue and the buyer was still impossible to please, so they refunded our money. She said that the buyer got a refund as well, but it is not coming from our account. She tried to ease over the irritation by telling us how we are such good sellers and we always take care of our customers and yada yada and how we won't have to waste one more minute on this trivial matter. Good. $9 is nothing in the big picture, but I am really big on principle, to a fault I think, but that's who I am. So, I am back on agreeable terms with ebay... I think they just need a better way of handling these things so that good sellers don't get dissed like that.

I have found that a phone call to ebay does wonders sometimes. The dumb asses that handle these cases are probably working for minimum wage or less, they go by a set list of ebay guidelines of what they are supposed to do in certain situations, black or white only, no grey areas. Once you speak to someone (usually an American supervisor) common sense comes back in to play, most of the time. I've had it work in my favor both as a buyer and as a seller.

 

[xrunndonex]

I'd call eBay get you're money or item back or call the police in his town and report it as a stolen item. Which it basically is since he got a refund so its technically not his anymore.

 

[xrunndonex]

People these days want everything for free I bet that he is wearing that belt as we speak. My account would probly get closed for yelling at eBay reps lol.

 

[RustyGold]

eBay is such a pain in the neck! I worry so much about the outcome that I always get a direct signature! I also started using Fedex as they are not as expensive as USPS!
Glad the outcome was in your favor as well.
What a pain for chump change!

 

[diggummup]

I'd call eBay get you're money or item back or call the police in his town and report it as a stolen item. Which it basically is since he got a refund so its technically not his anymore.

People these days want everything for free I bet that he is wearing that belt as we speak. My account would probly get closed for yelling at eBay reps lol.

It was a lawn mower belt and he did get his money back, after he called ebay. Read my man, read.

 

[dirtdigginfool]

While were on this subject, i also take great care of my customers on e-bay, making positive that items are packaged well, shipped out within 24 hours, etc...and also follow up with an e-mail (thank you very much-your item is on the way please contact me if there are any issues...etc)well...cheese...im feelin your pain..i sold a 12 dollar atv part to some boob out west, never heard from them, and a week later it arrives back to me-unopened with a USPS sticker with "UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED" stamped on it. I sent SEVERAL emails to customer...three a day...never heard back. So finally..he had opened a "item never received" case and than BLASTED me with neg feedback...AND ...said buyer is a CROOK!! Yes, perfect 100% feedback...down the drain..several calls to e-bay..i say PLEASE look at all the messages I sent him with no response..and they did. And i say-look at the negative feedback he leaves for ALL the sellers..they did..and all they did was remove the "buyer is a crook" comment and left me saddled with neg feedback...they refused to correct it even though they agreed buyer was in the wrong. So what do you do guys...its hard to be honest nowadays, but I am a big believer in karma...what goes around comes around. thx for listening..ddf

 

[GibH]

Think about it, as you said, the amount was only for $9. You complained and the matter was resolved. Now, out of the thousands of transactions that were settled against sellers that day, how many do you think actually picked up the phone and called them on it?

It's a lot like health insurers who will automatically deny a claim the first time. The majority of people will just accept it and the company saves millions a year.

 

[Joe777Cool]

While were on this subject, i also take great care of my customers on e-bay, making positive that items are packaged well, shipped out within 24 hours, etc...and also follow up with an e-mail (thank you very much-your item is on the way please contact me if there are any issues...etc)well...cheese...im feelin your pain..i sold a 12 dollar atv part to some boob out west, never heard from them, and a week later it arrives back to me-unopened with a USPS sticker with "UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED" stamped on it. I sent SEVERAL emails to customer...three a day...never heard back. So finally..he had opened a "item never received" case and than BLASTED me with neg feedback...AND ...said buyer is a CROOK!! Yes, perfect 100% feedback...down the drain..several calls to e-bay..i say PLEASE look at all the messages I sent him with no response..and they did. And i say-look at the negative feedback he leaves for ALL the sellers..they did..and all they did was remove the "buyer is a crook" comment and left me saddled with neg feedback...they refused to correct it even though they agreed buyer was in the wrong. So what do you do guys...its hard to be honest nowadays, but I am a big believer in karma...what goes around comes around. thx for listening..ddf

call back and speak to someone different. works 99/100 times.

 

[NJcigarman]

Another thing that can happen that the average buyer does not understand. I had a guy order something and pay via paypal. Within a few minutes he contacted me and said he made a mistake and could I refund his money. No problem it was a small amount. Now here is where the buyer thought I was ripping him off. I immediately did the refund but after a few emails he is yelling he did not get it. I eventually find out he used a credit card through paypal. If you ever refunded something on a credit card it takes a few days. I tried to explain to this to the guy, but he just would not listen. I have 100% feedback and he goes to feedback and gives me a one word feedback. THIEF!!!! LOL I had to get eBay to take it down after they saw the paypal refund.

 

[Joe777Cool]

It seems that in many if not most instances, eBay does eventually make it right. Sometimes you need to talk to more than one person, and it may take more time than one would like, but eBay - in my opinion- gets it right more often than they get it wrong.

 

[diggummup]

It seems that in many if not most instances, eBay does eventually make it right. Sometimes you need to talk to more than one person, and it may take more time than one would like, but eBay - in my opinion- gets it right more often than they get it wrong.

As long as you personally directly steer them in the right direction. I think a lot of their screw ups could be avoided if the ones who answer the phones in these foreign call centers actually had a full comprehension of the English language.