eBay man is really starting to tick me off. I sold a set of lapel pins for $130 to a buyer with 2 feedback 0% positive feedback. I ship the item with tracking and appropriate insurance and the buyer claims the pins were not in the package. I know for a FACT the pins were there. They didn’t “fall out” of a envelope…put into a box…wrapped in bubblebath wrap…and THEN put in a bubblebath mailer with all seams taped. The buyer requests a return and eBay sides with them and low and behold they returned my packing material back to me sans pins which charged my paypal after the tracking read delivered. So I call eBay, plead my OBVIOUS case that the buyer is lying. The rep told me he would kick it up to appeals and for me not to worry. Well I was met with this BS today!
"I understand that you want to appeal on the case decision since you received an empty box. I do really apologize for what happened that this transaction did not go well as we expected… Let me take a look at this and check some options for you.
I appreciate how you have been professional and cordial with every intention to work things out with your buyer. Your selling practice is impressive as shown by your constant communication. Please know that the professionalism you’ve exerted in handling this concern is indeed commendable.
Josh, upon looking at the case details, I can see that the buyer was able to successfully return the item to your address. Due to this, we are unable to reverse the decision that we dropped on this case. There are many factors that could affect the delivery of the item while it is in transit. At this point, I highly recommend that you contact the shipping carrier of the item to know the item’s whereabouts and check what options you have with them considering that the package is lost."
What the actual F is this?! How can it be a successful return when I am out the item? Wouldn’t a successful return be me WITH my item?! How can a 2 feedback members word that they received an empty package be gold, but me with thousands of dollars worth of successful sales can’t get the time of day even with a VIDEO of me opening the empty return?
This is really concerning! I recently had a buyer offering almost a $1000 for an item and was almost about to accept the offer until I saw this feedback on his page:
Seems like this stuff is happening more and more. I hope you are able to reach someone reasonable at ebay’s customer service
I’m sorry that happened. It seems to be getting worse with Pokémon. I decided this year to no longer sell anything except graded cards on eBay unless it’s through an auction house, otherwise I’ll sell things like packs, boxes, non graded cards, merchandise etc to people I know on e4 or social media.
This does nothing except waste your time. It is such commonly suggested advice too. I can only imagine the thousands of hours of videos existing on peoples PCs and phones that will never serve any purpose at all like all those videos people record of fireworks shows.
Not trying to be a jerk or anything, but the reason these videos are meaningless is because the natural question comes up of well what happened after the video was turned off. You could pack one up and then ship another. You could swap it out. Now you can say record handing it to the clerk and someone can claim that wasn’t a real clerk or that you knew the clerk and they were in on it. It will always be he said she said and nobody will ever watch the video. Threatening and following through if necessary with getting the police involved is the best you can do.
Good point, if PSA doesnt care for it then it’s a waste of time. But sometimes I just do the packaging at the post office itselft and film the entire process. I think in that cases it’s good evidence that you shipped the right item.
Sellers can’t leave negative feedback. Sellers try to get around this by leaving positive feeback that contains a negative comment, like in the image. However, this is against eBay feedback policy and eBay will remove the feedback comment if requested.
If a buyer claims a box arrived empty either: (a) he’s telling the truth and insurance covers you; or (b) he’s lying, his lie will be recorded and potentially investigated when you file an insurance claim, and insurance covers you.
@sixtoacm, I agree, I just recently started selling again after a long hiatus and this is really discouraging.
@qwachansey, I called them again and was pretty adamant that I want someone directly involved in the appeals process to call me. They can’t do much but email them my case info. Hopefully, it will get resolved.
@smpratte, I do not have 1000 feedback, I have sold thousands of dollars worth of items. I have 852 positive feedback.
@papafrankgod, I do something similar but more in-depth when I do a deal outside of eBay. I usually get everything ready to pack up but do not seal the box. Then I have my wife record me putting the item in the box, sealing it, showing the label, and then putting it in the post office dropbox. I have always felt comfortable with eBays protection not to have to do that, but this is definitely making me rethink that.
@two, I understand. A picture does no good and a video isn’t proof unless you do what I outlined above to papafankgod. I have thankfully never had to USE a video like that, but I feel it would be pretty good proof.
@hypernova, I have heard of that before. I have even seen eBay remove a legitimate negative I left for someone and couldn’t even give me a reason why. Seems if you raise a big enough stink you can get feedback removed.
@7l7l, I did insure the package for the full value. I have never had to file a claim when the recipient claims there was nothing in the package though. If you have I would love some advice.
Watch out for even the more recognized names on instagram as well. A lot of these people doing box breaks and constantly running into sealed items/heavy packs are the most greedy, deceitful people in any hobby… constantly running this scam and getting away with it.
in business terms, it’s "cost of doing business. Unfortunately although your just an individual they place the hat of a business upon you because its just…easier
Ive never really liked the feedback system and agree that it should count towards something, but it doesn’t.
Sorry for your loss
You’ve got their address right, go out there and get them badges. Always said I would do this if it happened to me. People feel safe at home doing this from a distance but take it to their front room.
@justmatt, Yea that sounds great on paper, but I have a wife and kids. I can’t exactly travel cross country to settle a $130 grudge and potentially get in a physical altercation. Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to have them tell me to my face I am lying lol
Both are untrue. A buyer claiming an empty box is a lose lose for the seller. Insurance ONLY covers you if the package is lost in the mail system. If the item arrives damaged the shipper will say you should have packaged it better - claim denied. If the box arrives and is signed for it doesn’t matter if its full or empty as soon as its signed for done deal the receiver accepted it in its current condition and once they take the box out of sight he becomes hearsay - claim denied.
I ship usually 4500-500 packages a year some $10,000+ and some less than $50 and never insure a single one of them. 99.99% of the time they make it to their destination domestically and given that’s all insurance covers I’ve saved thousands. Pay more for a better shipping method i.e. Express Overnight with USPS or FedEx and don’t insure. The less time the package is in the system the rate of loss drops exponentially.
Just my experience and how I do my online shipping others may feel differently and that’s totally fine
@uponeagleswings interesting. everyone has their own way of shipping I guess. It kind of made sense the way @garyis2000 ships. But it also makes sense wanting to make sure the package spends the least amount of time possible in the shipping system.
