I'm getting screwed on eBay right now...any ebay experts here?
 

In short, I sold an item on ebay ($40 for the item, $24 for shipping, $64 total)

The buyer received the item, claiming that the LCD screen was damaged

It couldn't have been, since I received it brand new and put it right up on ebay.

anyways, the buyer ended up doing a dispute for the full refund of $64.

I told her that she gets 2 options, and both options don't include me refunding the shipping cost (since she paid for a shipping service, and she received the service)

1. $35 refund, she keeps the item
2. $40 refund, she sends the item back up to me

Now she is escalating it to paypal to get the full $64 back.

At this point, i realise it's her word vs mine, so I rejected her escalation, and pretty much plan on replying with:

1. I want a picture of the damage/defect. Right now I have no proof that it is broken. It's your word vs mine, and I am sure when I shipped it out, it was NOT damaged.

2. After this is done, you MUST send the item back to me before I issue a full refund.

At this point, what else can I do?
There's pretty much no way that I can keep the money, even though I'm sure the item was not damaged when I shipped it.

Also she didnt buy insurance in the first place, and ebay never gave me the option of selling the insurance to the buyer.

ebay always gives you the option to buy insurance. unfortunately, if the lcd screen is in fact broken, you're SOL, since it's always the seller's responsibility to ensure that the product arrives in tact and or cover your ass insurance wise.


sorry man.

She definitely should need more proof than simply saying the item is defective... in fact, the standard resolution would be shipping the item back to the seller. Both buyer and seller loses out on the shipping costs.

meh, not worth all the trouble over a tank of gas...

If this seems like a lose lose situation, make the buyer send it back having them pay for shipping for return. I always thought that shipping would become the buyers responsibility of the product whether it is a refund or exchange. A lot of sellers outright state in the description shipping will not be refunded.

all parcel shipping comes wiht like a $100 insurance? just make a claim on Canadaposts website


i've gotten screwed by a couple buyers who claimed their item didnt arrive (they opted for the cheapest no-tracking shipping) and now whenever i get paid from a buyer Paypal holds my funds until the item arrives/i get positive feedback/ or 22days have passed

Thanks, ill check with canada post about the $100 insurance, and ill let her know she has to provide proof of the defect before I refund the money.
But since paypal has held my money, can they still give her a refund without her providing a picture?
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paypal always sides with the buyer, if you're time runs out and paypal makes a decision they'll credit you're account to refund the buyer

but even after they make their decision you can appeal it (the appeal is usually where the seller has a shot) i didnt find out about appeals till it was too late fer me tho :/



1-866-607-6301 Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m << for claims on shipments going outside of Canada
https://obc.canadapost.ca/orc/claimsEntry.do?type=1 << claims for damaged items sent within Canada

you're pretty much screwed.
the buyer probably wanted a free item.

Thanks, ill give them a call tomorrow
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Play it cool and see what Paypal says. I know for a fact that Paypal is picky when it comes to claims of the item not been delivered "as described" and most of the time the seller actually wins because it's impossible to prove.

Yea I gave paypal a call already, to sum it up they pretty much said that they'll side with the buyer. It's on my responsibility to make sure the item arrives without damage to the buyer, so my only option is to call Canada Post to see if anythin can be done with them, which totally sucks cause if the buyer had the intention of getting somethin for free, it could be done so easily.

The only thing I can do to get something back is to make the buyer re-ship the item back up to me before I issue a refund (which is what I'm planning to do)

Ask for a photo of the unit broken screen, with a copy of today's newspaper. Maybe it did get damaged during shipping? I've bought items that turned out to be DOA before.

I love how all of you automatically assume the buyer's out to screw the OP. Most people honestly have better things to do, especially when the item in question isn't even $100.

thats where most rip-offs happen on sub $100 items

and he's already asked for pictures

Sounds like your item was damaged during shipping...most options via Canadapost offers up to $100 insurance....if your shipping costs $24 it should be covered up to $100

Paypal will almost always side with the buyer so be aware...thats why you should always cover your ass as much as you can with the terms of conditions and shipping

it would make sense that pictures should be provided to paypal as proof

Just make her pay to ship it back with tracking + signature. At least she'll lose money as well. For her to get the $64 back she has to send it back with tracking anyways. Ebay won't let her keep the item and get a refund.

if she took it up with paypal, she will have to pay shipping back but you will lose all $64. she will also have to use shipping that has a tracking # otherwise if she doesn't then you will win the case (after 10 days according to paypal but they usually say we are waiting for additional info after 10 days so it's more like 30)

she does not have to provide photos or even ship the correct item back. due to paypal's stupid rules, she can send a letter but if it has a tracking # to you, she will get all $64 back. even if the weights are on UPS/fedex, etc and are incredibly off (ie 0.5 ounces for an LCD screen) paypal won't care, they will give her the full refund...

if you shipped with canada post, look for your receipt, the tracking # is there. file the claim (you have to, the buyer cannot claim it) but you will need pictures from her and her contact info (as they might contact her to confirm the damage is from shipping)

^^^:thumbsup:

Buyer sends item back, you give them their refund. If they send it back and it is broken, seek insurance. If they send you back something that is not what you sold them (eg u sent them xbox 10 pounds they sent you back a brick that's 10lbs) you have to file that with the local police.

Good luck
PS ebay sucks

yeah this really sucks... in a situation like this, it's really your word vs her word.

When I buy expensive products that would be worth arguing over, I actually video film myself opening the sealed package... paranoid I guess, but it helps.

Maybe the reverse could be done next time... ?

Or Possibly the Post Office dropped it or something. Then it's really neither one's fault but the post office...

Good luck with this situation.

thanks guys, here's an update

at first I gave her the option of the $35 refund, and she keeps the item.

at the time, she denied it and escalated it for a $64 refund.

I denied that $64, asking for a picture before I do issue the refund, now she's coming back and saying she's going to accept the $35 refund and she's all "confused and frustrated" at the whole thing.

Hmmm...seems kinda fishy to me, if i was a buyer and I received an item busted, I would definitely provide pictures for proof and get the full $64 back, why settle for only $35? She does have 200 positive feedback as well...

But anyways, I guess it's solved.

It woulda been interesting to see if Canada Post would issue me the insurance coverage though haha

Wow that makes me glad she accepted the $35 refund, I can't believe it's just that easy to get a 'free' item through Paypal

make her supply a picture regardless. don't let her jerk you around.

why don't you sell on craigslist instead of ebay? no shipping hassle.

I tried CL, but just didn't get any interest in the item, so I opted for ebay, I guess that was a mistake haha
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