Ebay's new buyer protection scam

[wayne15071965]

So I have been a seller on and off her since June 2001, Over the years I have sent items recorded delivery that either never turn up , or arrive with no notification of delivery.  Now someone wants to charge a buyer a fee for safe delivery, when they would have been charged that in the P&P cost.  Frankly it sounds more like a scam than customer service and Ebay are also trying to force us to use their shipping option, So much for free enterprise, sound like trying to get the monopoly on delivery as well.  As for hanging on the sellers cash til 2 days after delivery, really so post office goes on strike and you don't get paid, Think I may start looking to leave. So much for eBay's loyalty to us .

[wintersdawn1]

Agreed.

Buyer Protection Fee - total lie, just pocketing the money

Holding private sellers money - earning interest/investing

Simple Delivery - taking control of postage and making money on every postage label

There is no other explanation for the above that works except greed, its a perfect fit.

[papso22]

Not a good idea to post that you did an off ebay deal to avoid fees.

Had that item never been on ebay that would be different. 

In your example the purchase should have shown as £374 plus postage which presumably you were happy with at the point you decided to buy it, and only at checkout realised you get it cheaper going off ebay.  That is contrary to what you agreed with ebay via the User Agreement. 

The seller is equally at fault.

[papso22]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Great stuff. 

---

No it's not.  It's activity that could cost the buyer and seller their ebay accounts.

[andha-21]

Yeah, I saw that too. Not clever.

[ripface]

I sold a guitar on eBay some days ago, turned out to be going to an international buyer via the GSP.  I sent it a week ago and it was delivered to the Hub on the 18th.  Tracking shows it was delivered, but still no funds released two days later.  I'll be watching this one closely as it's a £450 guitar and I want my money!!!!

[andha-21]

Not directly related but possibly something to watch for.

Nectar just sent me an email saying eBay are reclaiming 76 nectar points I'm no longer due. Best of my knowledge that can only be from purchases. 

But I only have 1 recent cancelled purchase. I think the seller didn't like the price it sold for at auction and never sent it. & that's showing as £9 and pence in my order history. 

The only offers nectar have been giving for eBay recently are 2x or 4x. 

So where/how are they getting 76?

[beadbazaar]

After 22 years, I've decided I'm no longer buying or selling. 

[moorman48]

I put an "offer " of £525  for an item but the seller only received an offered amount of about £512 

I thought I was offering £525 but was not

[jow1995]

Very brave sending a high value fragile item via GSP, good luck

[leighbayuk]

---

@moorman48 wrote:

I put an "offer " of £525  for an item but the seller only received an offered amount of about £512 

I thought I was offering £525 but was not

---

The deduction appears on the checkout screen in small grey print. There is no easy way for a buyer to enter the offer amount that they want the seller to receive. eBay think this is fine.

[bennyblue2010]

Could not agree more! All my listings, some 200 odd have changed price (making them less competitive) and now I may not get my money as the postman forgets to scan an item he delivers. Over 15 years of selling on eBay, I have at least 100 parcels a year that are not scanned or recorded when delivered. Does that mean eBay would hold onto my funds?

[martinwh1]

I understand they release the money 14 days after the last expected delivery date if there's no confirmation of delivery

[bogush75]

GREED is the answer.

They made it more difficult (if sellers are using Royal Mail etc) to gain more people dispatching parcels through ebay system.

[wool-n-stuff]

I buy my postage labels from Ebay and if the parcel is not marked as delivered, even when you have Feedback, I am currently waiting for the 14 days to get my funds.... It's all so many anti private sellers things now

[wool-n-stuff]

Yes, I am awaiting 14 day payments on both my accounts, where not marked as delivered but Feedback already given.

[ripface]

It was bubble wrapped and secure in it's hard case and then skinned with thick cardboard.  I've no doubt it'll get there safely ... just not sure *when*.  To be honest I thought I had switched off "International Bidders" but appears in this instance I hadn't.  It is also not particularly obvious when someone internationally bids on your auctions, even when the sale goes through you need to go to Seller Account to establish when GSP has been selected.  Phew!

[tiggertigtig64]

Not happy with either of these new policies.  Now have to wait for money for nearly a week and buyers won't be happy to pay protection fees, what a load of rubbish, if a buyer does not receive delivery they get refunded in full anyway, doesn't make any sense

[j50cty]

I think somebody needs to ask Ebay will they be paying interest on the sale funds they are holding for up to 14 days...?

This is a very bad look for Ebay.

Simply sharp practice at the expense of smalm private sellers in particular.

Does this platform have a members voice that ebay will listen to????
Sent from my iPhone

[mr_charisma_brain]

I've been here since 2007 and sell occasionally as private seller. I know have taken all my items off with this buyer protection con. Also they are keeping your sales for few weeks before being able to access it to your bank account. I am now looking elsewhere to sell. All done underhand, giving little to no notice about it too. "It's free on ebay" they tell us??!! No it aint. Pointless selling cheaper items under £10 with Free Postage as I like to be competitive, but with protection fees added there is nothing to be made, and the with the price of postage today you might as well not bother. Sooner donate it to charity shops instead.  Aii in all a disgrace if you ask my opinion. My friends feel likewise.

[madeat136]

I sold 9 items to one buyer (small craft items ) 

Ebay made £11.48 or 28% 

Outrageous !!