increase in false damage claims | Seller Central

maarsy · 2026-04-08T15:01:26.672000Z

just wanted to put this one out there to see if others are having the same issue . i have been selling spare parts now for some years and while i normally have been getting like 1 or 2 per year trying to falsely claim money back for something they claim is not working so far in the last 3 months i had 4 . i know times are hard for every one but buyers don't seem to understand they are trying to rip off small businesses . 1. buyer bought a front control panel for a washing machine . contacts me that the item is not working and wants a refund . i talk to them 10 messages over 3 days and when i say i will need the part back to test it there is no further communication and no return request . 2. complains the fan motor i sent him was faulty and shows me a photo , says he wants a refund though when i point out the motor in the photo he sent me has a different production code on it to the one i sent out there is no further communication . 3. microwave transformer . sold it within 2 weeks of testing and stripping down the microwave , so i know well it was working . gets a return request saying its not working , when i ask for details what exactly is the problem after it is installed he just responds that it is not working . which to me points to a different part being broken as normally it should at least power up . i specifically say i will take the item back but not to claim that it is defective as it is clear there is a different issue with his device . otherwise i get charged with the postage cost . minutes later the return gets automatically accepted as he claims it is not as described . it has been 7 days and not yet posted back to me so i assume it was just an attempt to see what he could get out of me as a refund . 4 . only yesterday , said the motor was not working , right away sent a message to me saying i sell broken parts and that i knew it was broken , i have been wasting his time , i want a refund ! at the same time sent me a photo of the item still showing my old plug on it . i make the assumption he has not even put it in his device yet , i respond saying i do not appreciate the accusations so i ask more questions if his wire loom might not be damaged instead and say i will take the item back to test if it is indeed faulty . shortly after i get several short messages apologising saying they had not yet fitted it but only measured it with a multi meter and it is now installed and working ... it would be interesting to see if there was a way to indicate how many returns buyers have made as i do believe an increasingly larger amount of people are doing false claims just to save money themselves .

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increase in false damage claims | Seller Central | eBay UK