Author Topic: eBay Situations - Need Advice  (Read 289 times)

December 27, 2012, 04:47:13 PM
Read 289 times

TyrannicalFascist

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I'm not really new to selling on eBay - my dad has sold things for years and I've learned from him how to handle things. I did just start really listing things at the start of this year. I have 222 feedback, all 100% positive. I usually ship next day or same day if payment goes through. Maybe you guys can back me up on what to do in these cases that have popped up:

CASE 1 CLOSED

A guy won two action figures from me for .99 each with combined shipping on Nov. 25. He said he would have to wait until 4 days later to pay (I have a policy of payment in 3 days, or contact me). I was fine with it. I sold a ton of figures at that time and many people were buying many together to get my combined shipping, so this was a pretty small sale. 4 days later, no payment, no contact.

A week after that, two weeks, and still nothing. I contacted him saying if he did not pay within the next day I would resist the items. He responded, claiming that he paid me. The items showed "buyer marked as payment sent", but there was no PayPal transaction from him, and eBay also says that it hasn't been paid. He contacted me again demanding I send the figures and that he wouldn't pay again. I repeated that there was no money transaction and that if he had one, he should send me a screenshot of that part of his PayPal records.

It is now over a month since the auction ended and about a week since I asked for the screenshot and still nothing. He has 98% positive feedback, with many saying he's makes fast payment. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but at this point he seems to be stalling. This is such an insignificant purchase too. How should I end this ongoing issue?


CASE 2

I listed Halo 1, 2 & the collector's edition of 3 on eBay as like new (1 and 2 were the platinum versions and were literally opened, played once and then not used again) with notes that Halo 3 was more used and had some dings and scratches on the case. I took several high quality pictures of them in and out of their cases and tested them on my 360 and they all worked just fine. A guy won the lot for $50 on Nov. 12. They have only 28 feedback, though all positive. I sent it out the next day and it arrived according to the tracking info.

Suddenly, last night I get an angry all-caps message from this person saying that all the discs were scratched and had gunk on them and that none of the games worked, and that they were going to contact eBay and leave negative feedback. I replied, explaining that I sent it out exactly as described and they all worked before I sent them. I asked them to check again and if they still didn't work I may be willing to offer a refund. However, I find it very suspicious that I hear nothing for well over a month, and that somehow 4 different discs in 3 games that all worked for me suddenly don't work.

Any thoughts? I'm thinking I will ask to see some kind of proof that they don't work before offering any refund (I also would only refund the portion that didn't work, so I'd refund 1/3 if only Halo 3 didn't work). What kind of definitive proof can I ask for?
« Last Edit: December 28, 2012, 12:55:52 AM by TyrannicalFascist »
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December 27, 2012, 05:12:48 PM
Reply #1

Forte

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CASE 1:

If you haven't already, open a nonpaying bidder case. I think for almost all item categories, PayPal is the only accepted payment method. If he can't provide a PayPal transaction, he didn't pay, and eBay will rule in your favor. He won't be able to leave negative feedback.

CASE 2:

He only has so long (60 days I think) to open a case against you. Get him to document that the game(s) are "gunky"; he very well might be trying to swap discs on you. In that case, I hope you had pictures of the items before you sold them. ebay hates sellers, so you have to be very careful selling nowadays. I wouldn't refund them without evidence they are in fact the games you sold. At worst, it goes through eBay and you have to refund him. usually they just give problem buyers hush money to get them to stop (they call it a "courtesy refund" and it won't impact you). You can also now against a buyer for violating eBay policy (in this case, abusing the "item not as described" policy), but I'm not sure how that works.

December 27, 2012, 05:16:03 PM
Reply #2

Arseen

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CASE 1

A guy won two action figures from me for .99 each with combined shipping on Nov. 25. He said he would have to wait until 4 days later to pay (I have a policy of payment in 3 days, or contact me). I was fine with it. I sold a ton of figures at that time and many people were buying many together to get my combined shipping, so this was a pretty small sale. 4 days later, no payment, no contact.

A week after that, two weeks, and still nothing. I contacted him saying if he did not pay within the next day I would resist the items. He responded, claiming that he paid me. The items showed "buyer marked as payment sent", but there was no PayPal transaction from him, and eBay also says that it hasn't been paid. He contacted me again demanding I send the figures and that he wouldn't pay again. I repeated that there was no money transaction and that if he had one, he should send me a screenshot of that part of his PayPal records.

It is now over a month since the auction ended and about a week since I asked for the screenshot and still nothing. He has 98% positive feedback, with many saying he's makes fast payment. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but at this point he seems to be stalling. This is such an insignificant purchase too. How should I end this ongoing issue?

Claim no pay, as he clearly is not going to pay.

CASE 2

I listed Halo 1, 2 & the collector's edition of 3 on eBay as like new (1 and 2 were the platinum versions and were literally opened, played once and then not used again) with notes that Halo 3 was more used and had some dings and scratches on the case. I took several high quality pictures of them in and out of their cases and tested them on my 360 and they all worked just fine. A guy won the lot for $50 on Nov. 12. They have only 28 feedback, though all positive. I sent it out the next day and it arrived according to the tracking info.

Suddenly, last night I get an angry all-caps message from this person saying that all the discs were scratched and had gunk on them and that none of the games worked, and that they were going to contact eBay and leave negative feedback. I replied, explaining that I sent it out exactly as described and they all worked before I sent them. I asked them to check again and if they still didn't work I may be willing to offer a refund. However, I find it very suspicious that I hear nothing for well over a month, and that somehow 4 different discs in 3 games that all worked for me suddenly don't work.

Any thoughts? I'm thinking I will ask to see some kind of proof that they don't work before offering any refund (I also would only refund the portion that didn't work, so I'd refund 1/3 if only Halo 3 didn't work). What kind of definitive proof can I ask for?


Ask to send back, and make sure that the discs are the same and not switched.

December 27, 2012, 05:26:01 PM
Reply #3

TyrannicalFascist

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Forte and Arseen, thanks for the advice. Case 1 looks pretty clear cut, so I've opened a non-paying bidder case on the figures. On case 2 I'll see what the person does next (respond or just leave negative feedback). If they respond, I may then ask them to send it back. I don't have any pictures of the backside of the discs, just of the front and the booklets. Worst case, if he leaves negative feedback, I may contest it.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2012, 05:27:47 PM by TyrannicalFascist »
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December 27, 2012, 05:39:00 PM
Reply #4

wiggy

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Ask #2 to send some pics.  Sounds like BS knowing how honest a guy you are.  A month is an silly amount of time to wait to make a complaint.  I believe he only has 45 days to file a paypal claim, so try and drag it to that 46th day if you can. 

December 27, 2012, 06:30:08 PM
Reply #5

jal4u2c70

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Yes i do alot of ebay selling myself. The first guy is a non payer. Turn him in, plain and simple. The second sounds like a switcheroo. He already had bad copies of the games and is trying to send you back his crap in place of the ones you sent him. Unfortunately as stated above, ebay doesn't help sellers much at all. So if you don't have pics of the condition of the discs before you sent them then he will win regardless. That's just how PayPal and Ebay work now. If he is unwilling to send pics of the "gunky" discs then you have him over a barrel. I had someone attempt the same thing and when they couldn't produce pics of the damage, Ebay left the transaction alone. However, PayPal did give him a refund out of their own pocket to keep a "happy" customer.

December 28, 2012, 12:52:46 AM
Reply #6

TyrannicalFascist

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Well after opening the non-paying bidder case, the guy from Case 1 messaged me and said he couldn't send me a screenshot of the part of PayPal that showed that he sent it. He said "instead of wasting anymore of your time or mine, please cancel the transaction". Once accepts the cancellation request, case closed! Thanks for advice on that. Still waiting on a development in Case 2...
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December 28, 2012, 01:40:01 AM
Reply #7

madrocsz

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Case 2

I wouldn't do anything unless he opens a case. If he doesn't it all gets pushed under a rug. If he does, you have a chance to dispute such and make sure to point out that you contacted him and asked for proof of such damage as well as the fact that it has been quite a number of days with no return communication. You also offered that upon receiving proof of poor discs that you would offer a refund, to which he ignored. Ebay may or may not side in your favor but at least your presenting the better case rather that "omg im gonna scam this dude and act so pissed and try and get free stuff"

It's happened to me times before. Once I bought a game that was JUST moved to used on ebay and literally plastic was taken off but still had seal on side (360 game), I listed it on ebay as used, not wanting to take the chance. Guy claimed the disc had rings from playing it. Was a long dispute but ebay eventually took care of him due to multiple similar complaints from that user.

December 28, 2012, 11:05:46 AM
Reply #8

wiggy

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It is indeed possible to "win" with PayPal/eBay as a seller.

Had a guy refuse to file an insurance claim when a package arrived crushed (clearly not my fault). PayPal received his claim citing that it "arrived not as described", to which I replied "duh". They eventually refunded him, and I gave PP a call.  The rep told me "we can't make someone file an insurance claim", and this was only after about 30 minutes of blah blah this is our policy blah blah.  I said "yes, you can. Tell them they get a refund when they provide proof that the claim was filed. I purchase insurance to protect myself and if this is PP's solution to the problem, then what can I do to protect myself in the future?"  After a long pause, she flat out said "I don't know".

Money was back in my account the next day.


Still, it sucks being a seller on eBay :(