***Warning re: Ebay and PayPal ***

[4kidZ]

I 100% agree with you oldtimegator.

The last time I didn't REQUIRE insurance, the buyer left me a negative because a vintage bottle of parfume, still in it's original box and cello, surrounded by pieces of styrofoam(boxed around the inside of parfume box), wrapped in tissue and tissue stuffed tight around in about 4" between parfum and box...the parfum BROKE inside the box!
The neg f-back said, "seller did not INSIST on insurance...I feel they are lying". That has NOTHING to do with my service...
The PO would have had to CRUSHED or THROWN that box to make the thick bottle inside, break! How is THAT my fault. I'll tell ya, that is just 1 of the many horror stories.
I don't even care about my feedback score anymore...everyone and the kitchen sink can leave a negative and you can't do ANYTHING about it anymore. So, it means nothing to me when I buy, now either.

 

[chickabator]

the same thing happened to me . I sold a lyons tx-6 incubator on ebay with turning motor . when I shipped it out it worked perfect and was not broke or anything I even had the pictures to prove it. that didn't matter paypal gave them back their money. and they got to keep the incubator and the motor. It worked wonderful when I packed it up to ship and it was packed wrapped in bubble wrap. I think the womans son did not know how to use it and broke it or she was lying one, It was also sold as is with no refunds but that didn't matter either. 130.00 plus a free incubator

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I used to peruse Ebay everyday. Now it's rare that I even look at the site. There's something about the horrible policy changes that makes me gag...even as a buyer. I feel bad for all the sellers on Ebay that THINK they have some sort of seller protection...only to be jerked around by the unscrupulous buyers.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

There is a HUGE difference in the buyer being "satisfied" and "not as described". This is one of the problems. A buyer can receive an item, decide they don't like it after all and then return it as "significantly not as described". PayPal WILL take your $$...even if you vehemently disagree. The item can be exactly as described...example...in my case I stated "Parts are from very old, antique lamps and are in various stages of repair/disrepair. They are old...some are dented." PayPal still allowed the buyer to return the entire box because something that was wrapped in bubblewrap broke during shipping.

What happened to "buyer beware"?? Typically the buyer is the one who purchases shipping insurance to protect themselves. The Federal shipping codes state that the transfer of ownership begins when the item is given to the shipper.

I have customers who order the wrong size ... guess what, they can return for a replacement. How is that fair? I can't figure out which size they need. But I take it back and send a replacement. I've had customers tell me their shirts 'shrank' when they washed them and they want to return for a refund .. when I get the shirt back it's obvious it's never been washed! Still, this is the minority, and just as I, too, make mistakes occasionally (sending a wrong size or color), I just make it right for the customer and move on.

Arriving 'broken' is not the responsibility of the buyer. It's unfortunate and since there was no insurance to cover the damage, you have to eat it. That is why the seller buys insurance to protect himself. 'Buyer beware' can't apply to mailorder ... the buyer has no way to examine his purchase before buying it. I don't know where you are quoting 'federal shipping codes' from, but in the general, the seller is responsible to get the the product to the buyer in the condition it was when sold.

Unfortunately, there are as many unscrupulous buyers as sellers ~~ and certain things seem to attract them more than others. Delivery confirmation is necessary and important. Three times this year I've had customers contact me to 'ask where their shirts were.' In checking my delivery confirmation, all had been delivered that day or the day before. I emailed them with appropriate information and never heard from them again. I can only think that they thought they'd get a 'free shirt' if I couldn't have proved it got there?​

 

[bishopschickens]

thank you for posting this and the information about the BBB! I have ran a business for 5 years and cannot tell you the crap ive dealt with and sometimes feel like im stuck and just cut my losses but this gives me hope there is another way! Ebay and paypal are not what they used to be and that is sad. Maybe one day another site will compete with ebay and paypal which will push fees and customer service back in the right direction but I would not hold my breath.

Brandon

 

[DuckyBoys]

So is this an Ebay PayPal agreement? Or if you do private business with PayPal can they make you have a refund/guarantee policy?

I'm going to be selling e-books for homeschool in about another month and that last thing I need is Paypal sticking their noses into my business. There should never be refunds on e-books after they've been downloaded correctly. I mean, it is my business, I should be able to make my own policies.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I don't think it's limited to Ebay purchases. Just go to PayPal's website and look for policy updates.

 

[ole-crone]

One thing I learned years ago when the USPS denied my first claim about a broken sewing machine - refile.

In my case, we filed the first claim with just the USPS paperwork. They denied it within a short time. But I was mad. That well-packed sewing machine had been thrown so hard the metal was broken!

So, I sent all sorts of paperwork to back up my claim. I sent the photo of the sewing machine from the auction, photos of what I received and a letter about my experience dealing with the whole process (our mailman actually sent it back to the seller claiming I had 'refused' delivery! AND the next time claimed that they had attempted delivery but I was not home - I was walking out to the mailbox suspecting it had arrived when he pulled up and sat there for a while).

In the end I received a refund for everything except the postage - that the seller offered to send.

If I had been denied a third time I would have re-submitted the previous paperwork plus the paperwork the seller had sent describing how he packs sewing machines for the mail.

I stopped selling on ebay when buyers started expecting perfection. They complain about things out of your control - such as how much they bid on something. My starting bids are what I'd be willing to pay for the item at a thrift shop. It's not my fault if they get involved in a bidding war and have later regrets. Ebay used to be fun until people started using it for selling new warehouse items.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Well, I quit bothering with ebay as I said before first because I had billing problems. 2nd was that it became more so a wholesale warehouse with nothing but cheap Chinese goods that I can buy lower without being hassled with ebay if there is something I truly need. In the beginning it was more like a gigantic flea market. Now it seems like a SMC warehouse type stuff with bad service because the sellers sell so much bulk that getting a response takes days at times if they even answer at all.

My experience with selling was pitiful. I sold some things for my roommate whom had leftover items from his now closed alternative shop. I was promised half of whatever I sold. I remember one ring that I sold. It wasn't gold or very valuable. It was more so a neopagan type design steel novelty ring. This lady insisted over and over that she never got the shipped package. We sent her 4 rings and finally just told her to leave negative feedback because we didn't have any more rings to send. We got a charge back from ebay and I told the roommate that I would rather throw the items away than bother with this trite.

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
I just looked it up - must be physically tangible goods, so won't apply to e-books.

But, just to clarify things, a regular merchant account with Visa or MasterCard pretty much has the same policy - they will review any transaction if the buyer calls them up and files a complaint.

It is too bad that we have to rely on these agencies to do busines though, but I guess that is the nature of the e-business.

I guess returns and dis-satisfied customers are always going to be the down side to running youir own business.