So Ebay Is Just An Approval Service

Buyers can just return stuff automatically for no reason.

"The buyer redacted is returning Test Coil pairs MNH. Per ebay's policy, this return has been automatically approved and we've asked the buyer to send the item back."

I had zero communication from the buyer and when I go to to the item and view what he wrote to ebay to request the return it was just "I would like to ship this back through regular first class mail at my cost upon permission from seller" and the "Reason for closing" was "other". I was never given the chance to give this permission nor do I hae a clue why I am getting it back.

It's been like this for some time. Buyers have a multitude of rights. Sellers do not. I honestly don't know how much longer I will continue selling on there.

Did ebay take a refund from you? If he mails it back regular 1st Class he'll have no proof of delivery and I wonder what ebay will do. How can ebay take the $ from you when for all they know he never shipped anything back. Please let us know how this works out, but in any case I would block him and forget him.

TBH, given the amount of misdescribed stuff on ebay, especially in collectible categories, generous return policies for buyers are entirely sensible. They don't have stamp experts on staff they can use to police bad listings or anything like that; return policies are about the only tool they have for protecting buyers.

Yes, there are people who take advantage and return things for no real reason at all. It sometimes ticks me off as a seller, too, but there are good reasons for the policy. Price your stuff accordingly.

As others have noted, you can block buyers who cannot complete transactions in good faith.

This garbage has been going on long before ebay got into the game . Back in the 1980's and 1990's when the stamp newspaper ads was the way to sell . I had much the same problems ----NSF checks ,closed bank accounts , lost in the mails ,having lots returned with the better stamps removed. There were people who were going to notify the U.S.Post Office ,the local police ,hire a lawyer and sue me for everything I owned,notify the stamp newspaper ,call the A.P.S., even wanted the President of their local stamp club to call me and talk to me .

Nothing is new about what goes on with ticked off customers or people out to scam you .

I'm having trouble with a customer not paying for $400 worth items. I'm pretty sure he has made up his name and address to avoid me having blocked him previously. He just wrote;




This is taking it to a whole new level.

My blocked buyer list is growing because of this buyers returns policy. Any bad behavior in communication and there gone. Its a real hassle if they do not show their cards before bidding though. Finding they mostly communicate they are trouble before bidding.

Looked at my emails this morning to read an ebay buyers unrealistic demands only to block them before replying to their garbage.


The older I get the quicker I am to block a buyer! Some people just have flat noses and pointy ears! They choose to live like that!

That's a problem between him and ebay and he needs to call them. Not your problem. Nothing you can do about it.

The good thing is that feedback cannot be left before payment is made, and actually you can cancel the transaction before payment is made if you feel strongly about it.

Were it me, I would clearly communicate through ebay messages (so it's formally on the record) something along the lines of: "I'm sorry for the inconvenience you are experiencing with ebay's checkout system. Unfortunately I cannot help you with these problems since I have no control over the payment system. Please call ebay and have them assist you to make the payment using your gift cards."

They have not taken the refund from me yet. According to the message ebay sent me, I am supposed to issue a refund within 2 days of getting it back.

As a buyer who uses gift cards, I can say this: ebay is predatory around its' gift card policy by placing limits both daily and monthly. A class action lawsuit is definitively needed here.

The consumer expectation here is if you buy them, you can use them. Calling ebay is very slow (hours to speak to someone), and futile. They can't even make an exception. They have no control over their own systems.

If I have 1500 in legit gift cards, I should be able to buy a 1500 item. That's the bottom line.

Federal consumer laws for gift cards
https://www.federalreserve.gov/news...100323a2.pdf
More info
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pre...liday-buying
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/med...g/gift-cards
Don

https://pages.ebay.com/giftcard/ter...ditions.html

Specifically, term number 10 is a violation. Terms must be disclosed prior to purchase of the GC. Nowhere on the exterior packaging is this stated. Also I believe this to be a breach of expiry terms. They can't say, this is now a Wednesday use only card.

I'm looking into this more, but believe it to be egregious and unfair.

Now the why. Limits were put in, because usage of these GCs reduces ebay's fees, as they have to discount the GC for the retailer to incentivt a sale. The problem is, If everyone uses the GCs, ebay stands to lose a lot.

Personally I buy them for 5% credit card rewards, but that discount comes in from the Amex transaction fee side.

The stamps arrived back here safely, along with a note from the guy - my scanner decided to add a moire rainbow pattern to 2 of the stamps and the guy thought he was getting some previously unreported variety. I gave him his refund, but had to do it directly thru PP s I couldn't find how to do it thru ebay, so I am still out the ebay fees.

And the buyer is out any taxes paid through ebay as a market facilitator.

The only way I can find to do a buyer refund through ebay is if the buyer opens a case. Which is what I ask them to do when it comes up (in the context of things lost in the mail). That way the fees get refunded...

Can't you cancel the sale at buyer's request?