Can you do anything about eBay timewasters?

B0bbyEwing

It seems the single cell community don't just move in FB Marketplace waters.

A relative of mine sold an item on eBay. Clearly marked up as COLLECTION ONLY.

Guy buys it … and actually pays!

Relative asks when guy is going to collect - "the weekend".

Couple days later guy is asking when relative can post it. Relative refers guy to the listing - collection only. If postage was an option then it would've been stated. We're talking about a large car part btw, not something that's fitting in a small jiffy bag for a couple quid.

Relative follows up to clarify - are you still collecting at the weekend? ……….. no response.

Few days later buyer puts in to cancel the order. Relative has accepted.

1. Will relative get their fees refunded on the back of this request to cancel? Selling has changed since I last did it so wondering about this.
2. They tried to use the 'report' feature but as I suspected, nothing happened there.
3. Will this moron get a black mark against their account automatically? If not, can anything be done from relative to stamp this guy for this timewasting? Or are we all at the mercy of total morons & we just have to hope it's a decent person that's bidding on our items?

savergrant

Assuming your relative is a private seller and not a business the 'fees' are paid by the buyer and should be refunded by ebay, so the transaction will be completely reversed. The only issue would be if it was a promoted listing or listed in multiple categories, which incur seller fees. Otherwise, as ebay keeps telling us, 'it's free to sell'.

As the buyer paid you can't report it. If the item is marked 'collection' a collection code will be generated on paying, the seller will need to receive that from the buyer to confirm handover.

You can block buyers but if someone has paid there isn't anything else you can do.

flaneurs_lobster

"single cell community"

"moron"

What happened to 'The customer is always right'?

kalsha

I have a lot of these even when I put "collection only" in title and in bold in the main body.

Had one of them 3 weeks ago. Had no choice but to cancel the order. You don't lose anything fees wise but it is very inconvenient.

vacheron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81921226#Comment_81921226

Nothing happened to it as that phrase was never written.

It is a misquote from Gordon Selfridge who actually wrote "The customer is always right in matters of taste." and was intended to empower customers to purchase what they liked without judgment, not to justify demands for unreasonable service (as is the case here). 😉

vacheron

I'm currently going through a good one at the moment.

Overseas buyer purchases a power supply valued at a few hundred pounds.

I had it listed as a 400W unit, but after checking before despatch it turned out to be a 600W (same size, just better, and more expensive originally).

I notify the customer and offer them it at the same price the 400W version. They say that is OK and purchase and pay for it. I post it the next day via the eBay Global Shipping Program.

EIGHT DAYS later they reply and say "sorry, our customer says the 600W version is not suitable. Can we have a refund.

I explain that it is already despatched and in the global shipping program on it's way to Singapore and there is nothing I can do as eBay manage this element of the shipping.

I contact eBay who inform me that the buyer needs to refuse delivery and it will then be returned via the GSP…. Customer agrees.

Today I receive a message:

• Buyer: "We have the power supply, please arrange to return it".
• Me: "Did you refuse delivery as instructed and agreed?"
• Buyer "No"

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

B0bbyEwing

Thanks for the info. I'll pass it on.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81921226#Comment_81921226

Thats a phrase only used by 1) morons - likely the customer or 2) people who don't deal with the general public.

Anyone who has dealt with the general public as part of their job will know that they are frequently stupid.

The amount of times I've told a customer something only for them to be adamant that they're correct so then we proceed with their way only for them to then realise it's not going to work for the reasons I gave & they then say oh you were right weren't you.

Yeah, funny how doing the job for over 20 years has me knowing what I'm talking about. Who'd have thought it.

Spoonie_Turtle

"The customer is always: wrong, rude, late, witless, loud, drunk, thieving and sly." - Carolyn Knapp-Shappey, Cabin Pressure (radio sitcom, for tonal context)

rollingmoon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81921226#Comment_81921226

Given that the customer is completely and utterly wrong in this case, I'm not sure what your point is?

B0bbyEwing

Not wanting to create another new thread so see if I can get a response here -

What's happened with the paying out system for sellers?

Same relative asked me this question. They've sold various on eBay yet their payouts never match what they've sold an item for. It's like they get payouts in dribs & drabs.

So say they sell an item for £50, another for £30 & a third for £90.

They'll get a payout of £15, one of £32 another for £27.89 etc.

They showed me this all from within the eBay app. Nothing to do with PayPal at all (or at least they never opened their PayPal app to show me anything).

Back when I last sold, if I sold an item for £50, I would get a payout of £50 minus fees.

jeffuk

Seller payments are now kept within eBay under their Managed Payments system, nothing to do with Paypal any more. Funds can be used for payment of purchases or if not spent, are transferred to sellers linked bank account every three months.

Getting paid and managing your finances on eBay | UK Seller Centre