Have had a case opened against me

Triangle

Hi there, advcie requried please from experienced sellers.

I sold a top on ebay for 99p. The buyer contacted me to say that they saw I had another top go unsold and could they have that as well. I agreed and offered combined postage. The buyer then took a week to pay.

I posted on Monday second class. Today they have opened a case against me stating they have not yet received the item and that they want a full refund.

I have proof of postage but I recognise that as a seller it is my responsibility and so will have to offer the refund. However, I can't help but be a bit annoyed that they didn't contact me first - will this case go against me as a seller? It is especially irriating that I tried my best to help the buyer, waited a week for payment and then have a case opened without any contact. This is the first case I've ever had and its left me on a bit of a downer.

I was tempted to write a reply saying all this but thought better of it. Any ideas as to how to respond or should I should give the refund straight away and be done with it?

Thanks

Angie74

I find it's always the buyers that message me first about something that I end up having a problem with. I don't know why, but everyone that has messaged me first about an item, then gone on to buy it, they've always had something to complain about afterwards, or they don't pay for a week. I might start blocking anyone who asks me a question about anything before they get chance to bid on it, on this basis lol

I would just give them a refund, but I would bet my life that they are trying it on I'm starting to hate ebay. As soon as I've got rid of most of my stuff I don't want anymore, I doubt I'll bother with it as it's just getting worse.

Triangle

Thanks Angie

I also have a feeling that they are trying it on but of course its just a feeling

I'm getting fed up with ebay too

Angie74

It's annoying that you can't do anything other than send it tracked to make sure someone doesn't rip you off. But if you sent everything tracked you'd never sell anything anyway, so you just have to take the chance, and people know that. I'm actually surprised more stuff doesn't 'go missing' in the post But I suspect it's just going to get more and more common in the future.

It's always the people you go out of your way for that end up being a pain in the rear in the end as well, which is even more annoying!

techspec

Angie74 wrote: »

I find it's always the buyers that message me first about something that I end up having a problem with.

Same here - you learn to spot them a mile off.

Not been scammed for a while now - but i'm sure i'm due one.

They are usually the people you help the most too, and agree to post 1st class at no extra cost etc - cos they need it fast for their great grans 40th birthday.

chemical.galaxy

Angie74 wrote: »

I find it's always the buyers that message me first about something that I end up having a problem with.

Funny you should say that - recently a buyer emailed to ask for a discount, then bought the item anyway without waiting for my reply - and guess what! it got lost in the post on the way to her and she asked for a refund on day 3! :mad:

Angie74

I usually make sure I put as much detail as possible in the description and upload as many photos as needed, even some showing the same thing sometimes, just to make sure the buyer knows what they are getting, yet I still get people messaging asking questions about something that's already in the listing (which makes me think they're going to be picky and annoying and awkward when they get the item)

If I do forget to put something in there, or they ask me about postage or something else, or the colour, I've found I've gone out of my way to take more photos, then I email them back, and I don't get a thanks for my trouble, and they don't end up bidding anyway, so in future, I think unless someone has a legitimate question, or really good feedback, I might just block them, as it's not worth the stress afterwards. I've also noticed problems with the people that bid in the very last second with no other bids on the item. You can't do much about them, but it's happened on 3 occasions now where someone has bid in the last second (litterally) and they've had something to complain about, or they've bid on something that is collection only or they just take ages to pay. The people that have bid on something with a few days to go, I don't think I've ever had any problems with (touch wood )

QuackQuackOops

Starting out with the idea that all buyers are likely to scam is not good business sense. You are always on the defensive and that is not a healthy relationship to have with someone who you are trading with.

If you had told me that the item was posted Monday I too would be wondering where the heck it is on Sunday.
In all my years on Ebay I have never known a 2nd class item to take over 6 days to arrive.

I would issue the refund tomorrow and then claim from Royal Mail after 15 working days.

By the way...the case will not count against you if you refund of your own accord within 3 days. If you wait for Ebay to tell you to refund then yes, it will count against you.

Angie74

I think like I was (in my other thread), Triangle is more annoyed that the buyer didn't contact them first before opening a case against them (or leaving neutral fb in my case).

Obviously she's annoyed about the rest of it as well, but when people don't contact you first to try and resolve something, it's just even more annoying.

QuackQuackOops

Angie74 wrote: »

I think like I was (in my other thread), Triangle is more annoyed that the buyer didn't contact them first before opening a case against them (or leaving neutral fb in my case).

Obviously she's annoyed about the rest of it as well, but when people don't contact you first to try and resolve something, it's just even more annoying.

9 times out of 10 when a seller complains saying "why didnt they contact me first?" it is discovered that the seller has "No Returns Accepted" showing on the listings.

If a seller clicks on no returns accepted, a buyer is likely to think "What is the point in me contacting them as they are not going to listen to my situation anyway?"

Angie74

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

9 times out of 10 when a seller complains saying "why didnt they contact me first?" it is discovered that the seller has "No Returns Accepted" showing on the listings.

If a seller clicks on no returns accepted, a buyer is likely to think "What is the point in me contacting them as they are not going to listen to my situation anyway?"

I think anyone with a brain would work out that 'no returns accepted' doesn't count when the item doesn't turn up, or the item is SNAD I would always contact the seller first to try to resolve before opening a case against them.