EBAY Issues, as Seller

ruche123

So, I imagine this is a common story
I sell items - WiiU bundle with accessories and 19 games
Professional business EBAY user offers and agrees sum, as best offer, i post everything out making sure all items packaged carefully in 1 parcel, securely taped up
Then buyer pretends and lies to say that all is not there and requests full return for full refund, buyer raises case, i state in the notes in the case that it is simply impossible for all items not to be in the parcel, as i packaged it myself and everything is there. This gets referred to EBAY and outcome is effectively theft, buyer gets to now keep goods and i am forced to do refund and also refund postage. Like, what ??
So, there is option to appeal, where process is you get a call back, i explain the above and response from EBAY is tough, case appeal denied, just like that within like 2 minutes, with no discussion
So, I dont have goods and have to pay all the money back, how on earth is it ok for this person to get away with this SCAM?
Also EBAY is not regulated and does not offer a complaints process, so what do i do, this person has been allowed to steal my goods??

KeithP

You are probably best advised to post on the board specialising in all things Ebay.

theonlywayisup

ruche123 said:

So, I imagine this is a common story
I sell items - WiiU bundle with accessories and 19 games
Professional business EBAY user offers and agrees sum, as best offer, i post everything out making sure all items packaged carefully in 1 parcel, securely taped up
Then buyer pretends and lies to say that all is not there and requests full return for full refund, buyer raises case, i state in the notes in the case that it is simply impossible for all items not to be in the parcel, as i packaged it myself and everything is there. This gets referred to EBAY and outcome is effectively theft, buyer gets to now keep goods and i am forced to do refund and also refund postage. Like, what ??
So, there is option to appeal, where process is you get a call back, i explain the above and response from EBAY is tough, case appeal denied, just like that within like 2 minutes, with no discussion
So, I dont have goods and have to pay all the money back, how on earth is it ok for this person to get away with this SCAM?
Also EBAY is not regulated and does not offer a complaints process, so what do i do, this person has been allowed to steal my goods??

If a seller doesn't refund a case and a buyer escalates to eBay, then usually eBay favours the buyer and the case is won.  Normally a buyer will be asked to return but if the seller has been objectionable, eBay may refund without a return.  I take it this is what has happened here?  

There is an option to appeal, but you have to give evidence.  

Ectophile

It's the price of selling through ebay.

If you have a bricks-and-mortar shop, then you will have shoplifters stealing your stock.  With ebay, you get people raising false claims.  ebay will side with whoever they think is right, and if that's not you, then it's tough.

You could always sue the buyer for the loss.  But you'll need enough evidence to persuade the judge that you are probably telling the truth.

in_my_wellies

I'm selling my late husbands model railway items.  I sold a three part set, engine and two coaches, and the buyer said I had sent the wrong coach even thought it was numbered on the base and he could see my ebay pictures before buying. He returned the set but the coach was damaged beyond repair, scratched and crushed. He must have dropped it and stood back on it. 

I take pictures of the top, bottom and both sides of everything I sell so there was proof but ebay didn't want to know. They suggested I claim from the courier as it must have been damaged it the post. The box was still perfect so I said I couldn't do this. I won't write here what the ebay rep suggested I did, I'll  just say I was not going to lie to the courier

So the buyer swapped my good coach, I paid for return postage and the set he returned is now worth very little. It makes me very nervous to sell his collection of Wrenn engines although I have to say most buyers are kind and honest. 

Aylesbury_Duck

in_my_wellies said:

I'm selling my late husbands model railway items.  I sold a three part set, engine and two coaches, and the buyer said I had sent the wrong coach even thought it was numbered on the base and he could see my ebay pictures before buying. He returned the set but the coach was damaged beyond repair, scratched and crushed. He must have dropped it and stood back on it. 

I take pictures of the top, bottom and both sides of everything I sell so there was proof but ebay didn't want to know. They suggested I claim from the courier as it must have been damaged it the post. The box was still perfect so I said I couldn't do this. I won't write here what the ebay rep suggested I did, I'll  just say I was not going to lie to the courier

So the buyer swapped my good coach, I paid for return postage and the set he returned is now worth very little. It makes me very nervous to sell his collection of Wrenn engines although I have to say most buyers are kind and honest. 

Maybe try a local model railway club?  Their members will probably be interested and the modelling community is a pretty decent one to my knowledge.  You may not fetch as much as you might from individual eBay auctions, but it'll probably more more straightforward and you know you're dealing with enthusiasts rather than people whose motive is trading.

Gavin83

ruche123 said:

So, I imagine this is a common story
I sell items - WiiU bundle with accessories and 19 games
Professional business EBAY user offers and agrees sum, as best offer, i post everything out making sure all items packaged carefully in 1 parcel, securely taped up
Then buyer pretends and lies to say that all is not there and requests full return for full refund, buyer raises case, i state in the notes in the case that it is simply impossible for all items not to be in the parcel, as i packaged it myself and everything is there. This gets referred to EBAY and outcome is effectively theft, buyer gets to now keep goods and i am forced to do refund and also refund postage. Like, what ??
So, there is option to appeal, where process is you get a call back, i explain the above and response from EBAY is tough, case appeal denied, just like that within like 2 minutes, with no discussion
So, I dont have goods and have to pay all the money back, how on earth is it ok for this person to get away with this SCAM?
Also EBAY is not regulated and does not offer a complaints process, so what do i do, this person has been allowed to steal my goods??

Have you spoken to the buyer and asked them to return the items? I’d probably start there. If they ignore you or refuse then send a letter before action and if still no luck then take them to court.

George_Michael

Gavin83 said:

ruche123 said:

So, I imagine this is a common story
I sell items - WiiU bundle with accessories and 19 games
Professional business EBAY user offers and agrees sum, as best offer, i post everything out making sure all items packaged carefully in 1 parcel, securely taped up
Then buyer pretends and lies to say that all is not there and requests full return for full refund, buyer raises case, i state in the notes in the case that it is simply impossible for all items not to be in the parcel, as i packaged it myself and everything is there. This gets referred to EBAY and outcome is effectively theft, buyer gets to now keep goods and i am forced to do refund and also refund postage. Like, what ??
So, there is option to appeal, where process is you get a call back, i explain the above and response from EBAY is tough, case appeal denied, just like that within like 2 minutes, with no discussion
So, I dont have goods and have to pay all the money back, how on earth is it ok for this person to get away with this SCAM?
Also EBAY is not regulated and does not offer a complaints process, so what do i do, this person has been allowed to steal my goods??

Have you spoken to the buyer and asked them to return the items? I’d probably start there. If they ignore you or refuse then send a letter before action and if still no luck then take them to court.

The problem that the OP faces is that their buyer opened an eBay dispute and wanted to return what they stated they received and this request was refused, something that may not look too good to the court.
They could ask again but the buyer has to right to refuse to return the goods unless they are given the postage costs up front.

Gavin83

George_Michael said:

Gavin83 said:

ruche123 said:

So, I imagine this is a common story
I sell items - WiiU bundle with accessories and 19 games
Professional business EBAY user offers and agrees sum, as best offer, i post everything out making sure all items packaged carefully in 1 parcel, securely taped up
Then buyer pretends and lies to say that all is not there and requests full return for full refund, buyer raises case, i state in the notes in the case that it is simply impossible for all items not to be in the parcel, as i packaged it myself and everything is there. This gets referred to EBAY and outcome is effectively theft, buyer gets to now keep goods and i am forced to do refund and also refund postage. Like, what ??
So, there is option to appeal, where process is you get a call back, i explain the above and response from EBAY is tough, case appeal denied, just like that within like 2 minutes, with no discussion
So, I dont have goods and have to pay all the money back, how on earth is it ok for this person to get away with this SCAM?
Also EBAY is not regulated and does not offer a complaints process, so what do i do, this person has been allowed to steal my goods??

Have you spoken to the buyer and asked them to return the items? I’d probably start there. If they ignore you or refuse then send a letter before action and if still no luck then take them to court.

The problem that the OP faces is that their buyer opened an eBay dispute and wanted to return what they stated they received and this request was refused, something that may not look too good to the court.
They could ask again but the buyer has to right to refuse to return the goods unless they are given the postage costs up front.

Whether the return postage costs are required is up for debate. However were I the OP I wouldn’t wish to get into such an argument and I’d just pay the return postage costs to get my goods back.

I also think the OP shouldn’t have refused the return in the first place, it was always going to lead to issues.

OP, you say your buyer was a professional eBay seller. Have you seen any evidence of them selling your items on?