Disgusted by eBay's dispute handling and its so-called seller protection...
Summary: collec-farmer shares his dissatisfaction with how eBay handles disputes. A problem arose after a buyer claimed not to have received a CD that had in fact been delivered, according to the postal tracking. Despite providing a tracking number, eBay asked for a non-existent document and ultimately refunded the buyer, resulting in a financial loss for collec-farmer. frelonverre suggests that sending items by registered mail would be a better practice to avoid this kind of situation. collec-farmer expresses his exasperation with eBay's response and is considering leaving the platform.
Hello,
I just want to express my dissatisfaction with eBay’s dispute handling... This message will have no effect, I know that well, but it may help other sellers avoid getting ripped off. In short:
- I sell a CD to a buyer in Spain (€51.90 including tracked shipping), and I inform the buyer that "the CD has been sent", with the tracking number,
- The buyer is surprised that it’s a CD because he thought he was buying a vinyl record. I tell him that the listing was clear that it is a CD, he agrees and says "oh well, my fault",
- So far, everything is more or less fine, but I had a feeling about what was coming next: the buyer informs me a few days later that he has not received the item! Yet the Post tracking clearly shows that it was delivered.
- The buyer opens a claim for item not received, eBay asks me for proof of shipment. I’m not worried because I kept the Post receipt with the tracking number.
- Problem: eBay asks me for an "official document" from the Post showing the delivery address. And since then we’ve been going round in circles: no matter how much I explain that the buyer chose simple tracked shipping and not registered mail or Colissimo, and that with simple tracked shipping the address does not appear on the proof of shipment, nothing can be done... This is the 5th time they’ve asked me to provide a document that does not exist for this type of shipment!
- In the end: eBay rules for the buyer, he is refunded, and a debit must be made from my bank account for this (and what if I disputed it?). So I lose the money, and the CD, while being pretty sure that the buyer did receive it...
This feeling of talking to a wall with customer service (which is surely an AI) has definitely put me off using eBay. I’ve already deleted my few active listings, before deleting my account in the next few days. I’ll turn to other platforms, which may not be any better, but with which I haven’t had any problems so far.
I don’t know where eBay gets the impression that it protects its sellers. They shouldn’t forget that without sellers: no buyers!
frelonverre
·2 months ago@collec-farmer
tracking is proof of sending, not receipt from now on (if you stay because following your opposition your account will be blocked) send everything by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt
from the start you would have repaid once the cd came back you wouldn't be there
collec-farmer
OP2 months agoHow is that a refund from the start?! The buyer told me he’d made a mistake after the CD had already been sent, so I should’ve refunded him with the CD out there somewhere?! He says he never received the CD, so there was no return...
frelonverre
·2 months ago@collec-farmer
he made a mistake ok an email would have been enough, he should have sent you the cd back and once received you refund him
your story we've all been through it, if you want to stay on ebay you're going to have to learn to protect yourself and don't think it'll be any easier elsewhere