The Death of Ebay (and the start of scammers paradise)

[charityprincess]

Its bad enough not being able to leave feedback for scammers and idiots but ebay have now made their system a scammers paradise, scammers can hold good sellers to ransom and the scammers know this. over the last month ive had people from zambia try to buy laptops from me, on checking feedback every feedback they left was - got refund, not working, etc. or scratched game - every feedback. I reported them to ebay as they are clearly scammers ripping off people. I even contacted loads of people who they had scammed to tell them about the scammers and how they are getting away with it. ebay did not give a damn, they ignored the decent sellers. and with this new rule making it a scammers deluxe paradise - payment after 48 hrs after delivery i decided to pack in after 6 yrs - shame on you ebay. I sold items for myself but most importantly i sold items for Prince of Wales hospice, giving them every penny and I have made some good money over the last 2 yrs for the charity.. Now though you have to wait until the items been delivered after 2 days. The thing is if someone scams you (and its rife on ebay atm) saying there is a problem you dont get ANY money whatsoever - in fact YOU have to send THEM (scammers) money for return postage so you are out of pocket main postage, item value, final sales fee and return postage before you get anything.  Its now not worth selling on ebay so thats me done. ive now had enough...

[micks-music-and-magazine-emporium]

Just set all your listings postage options to countries that you trust and want to sell to. There are scammers everywhere though, as i've been scammed by a seller in Kidderminster in the last fortnight, and he has also scammed others who have contacted me, but if you rule out the usual dodgy destinations, then this will help as they wont be able to buy from you. 

I left my scammer follow up feedback telling others he was a scammer and he just changed his feedback to private, so If you want, cancel any orders received from private feedback buyers too. 

[charityprincess]

I thought i had banned all countries except the uk, but when i checked it was turned off so i re-did the settings. I always check for private feedback and i ALWAYS check the feedback left - the scammers don't realize it reads like a book

[charityprincess]

Why dont ebay not take this more seriously because its put me off selling now for good, if more people think like me ebay will lose millions

[jil_3862]

@charityprincess can you explain why the new rules are good for scammers? I've seen this said a few times and I honestly dont understand why, no offence, just doesn't seen any different to me?

[charityprincess]

@jil_3862 before Feb 4th you were paid next working day which gave you a certain amount of control over your own sale etc, you then posted it but the main thing is you got paid. Now after Feb 4th you have to send items first, then wait 48 hrs after its delivered to get a payment. Scammers (and ive read posts confirming this) are taking advantage because now they can just say its not as described - i want 50% off. if you do not agree you have to send the scammer MORE money for a return postage. This what i have just described happened to a friend of ours more than once. Its holding good sellers to ransom but we have no way to warn others by leaving a scammer bad feedback - we cannot leave negative feedback. I recently caught a mass scammer that was ripping people off so much i had one person crying because id proven that her buyer was a scammer. When i checked that scammers feedback every single feedback bar maybe 1 or 2 was like: Badly scratched disc, Console not working, Laser dead - every feedback its just not scientifically possible.

[jil_3862]

I understand losing the sale and having to pay return postage is never good, but whether it comes out of money you already hold, or out of your pending balance, it's the same cost surely?

 I've always found that refusing any partial refund request, and insisting on a return puts off quite a few who are jst trying it on.

[charityprincess]

@jil_3862 its the fact that the % is in the scammers favor, they already have the item and the buyer does not have a payment yet so they (scammers) have all the cards and they are holding sellers to ransom demanding money off.  its an unfair practice which is balanced toward a scammer. Im not on about normal buyers, its just scammers that will take advantage over the fact the sellers not been paid but they (scammers) have the product. I only speak about this from experience, ive caught a few scams and scammers in the last month alone, from one person saying item not received despite a photo with their partner smiling at the postman and our parcel in hand. To someone waiting 40+ days then saying they did not get the item even though we sent it special delivery and still have the postal reciept as proof, to the normal damaged or non working on receipt. We clean, check and pat test all electronics so we can be sure they are 100% because the charity we help cannot sell these type of goods. Thankfully the majority of people are decent people and great buyers its the small community of scammers that spoil this for others.

[jil_3862]

I'm not sure that any increase in scammers is because of new rules, but perhaps I'll understand more when I get one of these claims!  Good luck with whatever you choose to do in the future.

[wembdon70]

I can arrange that Jil_3862. I'll buy an item of yours, chances are the post office won't scan it and so it will be undelivered, I'll then say I haven't had the items. the money is returned to you and of course you keep the item. Ebay are bothered.

The buyer will have lost the item, and out of pocket for the price of the postage.

Of course Ebay will say you have the money after 14 days but only if the buyer does not claim that it was not delivered.

Want to to teach you by buying on elf your items??? Hmmm no I would expect.

So far 7 items in this category out of about 16 sold. Sales down, usually about 40 items sold by this time of the month. Of course selling a DVD for £3.75 inc free P&P is not on the ebay website as £4.70 ish. Pricing us right out now hence the drop in sales and the reduction in watched items.

[gorragerritgone]

A big worry, also, is that due to Royal Mail not updating delivery status...I have several, there's nothing to stop scammer buyers opening a case for item not received. I've contacted the said buyers to see if they've received their item and they have all confirmed they have but RM just states 'we have it...an update will be given when we've attempted delivery'. A perfect status for a dishonest buyer to get their money back and have the item. 3 of my items were delivered 2 weeks ago but are not showing delivery on RM so are not showing delivery on ebay and of course, I'm still waiting for my money.

[edwardian-dreams]

Vinted are a “succcessfyl company” lol

have affected eBay a lot 

they are riddled with scammers

Scam buyers say they got an empty box and they’re refunded 

scam sellers send an empty box and get away with it 

hope that culture doesn’t transfer itself here what with eBay copying vinteds business model 

[jil_3862]

Hmm, I suppose feeling ripped off by the buyer tax might encourage people to rip off the seller in return, not realising that it's not the sellers fault!