Solution for rogue buyers

[xelarisalex]

Why not set a specific rule for casual sellers - eg print in bold capital letters - this deal isn't covered by Ebay/PayPal protection - buy here at your own peril or check power sellers (where Ebay protects you)...

Please don't come with comments like rules are rules Ebay is perfect as it is...the truth is Ebay keeps changing - I've been using for ages - since the time of tit for tat feedbacks....that's gone, Ebay has evolved and found a solution.

[pixiesen2012]

where on earth do you get your information?

ebays money back guarantee protects you from ALL sellers

why do you think it doesn't cover casual sellers?

[xelarisalex]

I want to be protected from rogue buyers and the money back guarantee is basically for buyer protection (and abuse).

You haven't read my message.

[xelarisalex]

2 ways of buying
usual option with money back guarantee (good for power sellers)
No money back protection guarantee (for casual sellers)

the obvious choice for a buyer is made clear in advance.

[xelarisalex]

better still...give the opt out of this Money Back Guarantee to any seller. Obviously they'll sell less but in the case of casual sellers dealing with second hand or niche items this might work better

[pixiesen2012]

the money back guarantee is indeed to protect buyers,

no one is going to buy from a seller if they aren't protected by ebay,


what has gone wrong with your sales that you feel like this?

[xelarisalex]

and Ebay won't have to deal with petty squabbles between buyers and casual sellers if things go wrong...

[pixiesen2012]

ebay introduced the money back guarantee because too many 'casual' sellers were ripping off buyers left right and centre!


if there is nothing wrong with your items and you describe them properly the money back guarantee shouldn't worry you.

[xelarisalex]

Rogue buyers are there and take advantage of the guarantee - sometimes they break an item deliberately to avoid speding for the postage of the return too.

Isn't about time to do something about it?

[xelarisalex]

No one is going to buy from a seller who doesn't offer protection....just give that option and see (Gumtree does, and other site do too).
Then a seller who manages to sell without the guarantee might receive positive feedback and build from there...
It's about giving an option...

[pixiesen2012]

sell on one of the other sites then!


buyers only break things to get a refund when the seller is short sighted and don't offer returns


if you offered returns the buyer has no reason to break an item when they change their mind

[xelarisalex]

Pixesen....
I've made it clear I didn't want comments like - ebay is perfect as it is or rules are rules...etc.
It seems the same comments when I complained nearly 20 years ago about Memoryman (the tit for tat feedbacks) - this is Ebay rules are rules and can't be changed?! Well, I was right in the end, things changed and what looked impossible was possible...

[pixiesen2012]

this is a quick answer forum

if you want a discussion I suggest you post on the discussion forums

[xelarisalex]

there is an advantage of staying in the same site...I might try Gumtree of course (and I do for big items)...but what has Ebay got to lose by giving a few sellers the opt out from the guarantee?

[pixiesen2012]

their reputation as a site that protects buyers from all sellers!

[xelarisalex]

but isn't about being clear? If a buyer reads in bold characters this seller doesn't offer protection what Ebay's got to lose?
It would be a minority sellers anyway and as long as things are made it clear in advance Ebay's reputation is intact.

[pixiesen2012]

if ebay gave the option of having the money back guarantee or not, every single dodgy seller would opt for 'not' and the site would become an unmanagible horror story, with no protection and no buyers!

[profgaz]

If there was no buyer protection on eBay, I wouldn't have spent the thousands on buying that I have.
I've encountered hundreds of bad sellers on eBay who've tried to steal my money
Luckily I've also encountered hundreds of good sellers

[arkwebus]

@xelarisalex 

You certainly should not squabble with eBay nor with sellers.

The systems exist and - to a very large degree they work.  For example if buyers do not pay and sellers correctly open non-payer cases straight away then the buyers get banned

Sellers can - of course - only leave positive feedback.

[plpmr]

"Please don't come with comments like rules are rules Ebay is perfect as it is."

Ok, so I will just say that you need to bone up on the law.

[red_magpie]

By rogue buyers I presume your're referring to buyers who abuse eBay's money back guarantee?

However, who do you think would buy from a seller who stated "Not covered by Ebay/PayPal protection - buy at your own peril"?

You've only been a member for 6 years. I've been one for over 20. I can remember what it was like when there was little or no buyer protection on eBay. The site developed an appalling reputation as an unsafe place for buyers. It was this which led eBay to a whole new policy of proviiding a good buying experience as its top priority. Regrettably this has evolved over the years into a money back guarantee that is so buyer friendly that's it's wide open to abuse.

[xelarisalex]

I have another niche account - I've been a member for more than you...
I do remember what you describe...no question Ebay has changed big time...but it went too far.
Why not even try to give this extra option for casual sellers? - eBay isn't going to lose much and save a lot of time in resolving squabbles for a few quids.

[profgaz]

It seems to be mostly casual sellers that buyers need to be protected from, judging by all the casual sellers that have tried to rip me off.
Whatever you or I think though, eBay will do its own thing

[pixiesen2012]

how would you define a casual seller?


how should ebay distinquish between the casual seller who wants to rip off the buyer and the casual seller who can't be bothered to describe the item properly and the casual seller who has nothing to hide so doesn't need to ignore the money back guarantee?

[arkwebus]

I do not understand this proposal.  If you want to sell outside eBay's MBG there are - I am led to believe - other sites that do not offer that.

All buyers start at "0"; you did and I did. 

Your post mentions "casual sellers and rogue buyers" ...

@xelarisalex 

[xelarisalex]

the feedback system is here in Ebay - that alone can help build some sort of reputation...
It's an option that's all - it will sell less or might direct the unsure buyer to opt for another seller who offer protection but I'd rather have that option and not incur in some nasty buyers out there.
Ebay has nothing to lose...and will have to spend less time in squabbles...