Seller's Beware !! No protection for sellers !!

[happy_days5]

Sellers have no protection on eBay ... Something must be done

OK so this is my experience.... Been an eBay member for 19 years.

Have sold many items and have excellent feedback rating.

Sold iPhone 11 Pro, after a few days return request received stating Box was empty. I looked at buyers account only opened in August 2021 with 3 feedbacks. I could clearly see this was a scam... I looked on google maps and saw that the address was not apartments but an industrial site. So, I was confident that eBay would take all aspects into consideration and close the request in my favour.... Boy was I wrong.

They put a hold on my funds £485 and refunded the customer. when I called eBay to appeal the gentleman just said "we can’t do nothing". No investigating no common sense no passion to stop crime or protect sellers. He advised the buyer had sent in a police ref number (which you can get in 5 mins online) and that was the end of it. I explained to him that anyone could order a phone, get a crime ref number and say the box was empty... His response was "yes they could".

He tried to pass the buck onto the shipping company but looking at the photos of proof of delivery the package was as sent.

So, I Have a few questions and suggestion.

If anyone can help me how to get this investigated further internally or externally via regulator?

After looking for help online there seems to be hundreds if not thousands of posts regarding sellers that have been scammed. This is not acceptable and I believe action needs to be taken. As a collective much can be done, it’s not a matter of closing our accounts but rather ensuring eBay has policy in place to protect sellers.

One simple suggestion would be to send orders of considerable value to a service centre for new buyers or buyers with low feedback. The item could be checked securely sealed by eBay and sent to buyer. I know not everyone is a scammer but recently it has been getting out of control.

As I mentioned as a collective much can be done so may start an online petition, highlight on media or something along the lines.

The worst thing is I called my network provided who said they can’t block the phone as not brought directly from them, called apple they said they can’t block the phone either... So, the buyer has a free phone!!!

I took take the hit of £485, but for many people that could be life changing in this day and age. If someone was selling that phone because the needed that money for an emergency and this happened to them could put someone in a very dark place mentally and financially.  

[ampmaster.uk]

In your scenario, the seller woudl be gone in no time as buyers can leave feedback warning others and ebay woudl take action after more than one complaint was made.

Sellers can get ripped off time and time again by different buyers. They cannot even leave feedback warning other sellers.

[ampmaster.uk]

Only if the items are brand new and sold as such. Even then it is not a clear cut. 

[papso22]

Not sure what you are responding to but the difference between private and business activities is very clear cut.  Business selling also covers used goods.

[kastles0]

I have just had a similar thing i sent a brand new necklace the buyer said it was rusty with a knot in it but it was not. Ebay said i had to give the refund then i could appeal i waited for the necklace to return i think the buyer thought i would refund straight away so he could keep the necklace. He sent picks it looked like he had wrapped the chain around itself but there was no rust ebay could have clearly seen if they had looked at the photos. When it came back i video me openibg it he has tied a knot in it but there was clearly no rust now i have to pay to get it professionally undone if it cant be i have lost my investment. As for getting my money back itshard to get them to tak and they put my funds on hold till its paid back. When they do answer they just say you have to pay. It really is not right at all. It makes me feel ripped off and worried to sell the rest of my item. I am not happy at all.

[kastles0]

How do you write to ebay? I just get sent round in circles by the chatbot!!

[kastles0]

It doesnt matter if you can afford to lose something small things add up

[happy_days5]

Do a search on the Internet. There should be a head office address in Dublin Republic of Ireland I believe.

[kastles0]

Ok thanks will do.

[guysey2005]

Totally get your point. I've been scammed today. Sold a turntable and miraculously the plug had been dismantled in transit. As if! So the buyer is simply going to swap out components for his broken ones and send my turntable back. Broken. 
I feel the only option is to stop selling electrical items on eBay. Only sell simple things of low value.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

I stopped selling here when covid raised it's ugly head.

I got deeply depressed for a while thinking it was the end of my world after 17 years of doing so well.

I found another way after 3 months and i do better via that avenue on a daily basis ,totally stressless !!.

[mondomusic72]

They have become a joke. To think that it's the sellers who pay eBay salaries, they get treated like mud! 
if anyone ever wishes to expose them and their foney "authenticity guarantee" let me know. I will support.

[mattygenner12345]

Totally missing the point that the seller has honestly sold an item and eBay fail to support in any way or form. 

[mattygenner12345]

Simple recorded delivers shows full contents, video evidence and this option to upload to eBay of you boxing and supplying a sealed item. It's simple, eBay in short do not care to support sellers.

i personally have used eBay's global shipping to supply items, from this eBay post my item tracked abroad, brilliant, tracking shows they recieved my item and sent, this year so far I've had 3 none receipt going overseas via eBay's tracked global shipping, all show eBay recieved my item and dispatched, yet buyer claims none receipt and eBay say though I supplied them the item to shop I'm at fault for them not receiving and refunded the buyer. I'm down £75 here for this, eBay do not support sellers in any way shape or form, it's disgusting 

[plpmr]

Video evidence proves nothing except an item being packed, it does not prove what was sent etc.

Regarding Global, all a seller has to prove is that the item was received at the Global UK hub, after that Global are responsible [not the seller] for any loss and, or damage in transit.

[butterflymomma161]

One way video, you packaging it all the way till you get it to the Post Office. Is it valuable item that's the best way to go. In really, that could go for either side of protection for either or because I've been on both sides of that situation.

Show always video I know it's In convenient but it always protects you because if you have a video of you. Physically putting that item in the box ceiling the box and then not letting the video off of you.

Or the box Well then there you go

[mondayjon]

It won't protect you from part swappers and things like that.  

[nigel_paul_wright7557]

A video is no protection.

You might post off a different parcel.

Ebay wont look at video's anyway as its automated.

[butterflymomma161]

Yes it will breach of contract if you can prove it will . Always video
your stuff.
In most cases I can guarantee you. Nobody is gonna be thinking about that
especially the one that's cheating Video and documentation will always
trump somebody who has nothing to verify

[mondayjon]

It won't.  I've had it done to me.  Even if you video it, they can say the part that was swapped was not damaged by them.

all they have to do is say not as described.  

[emtus_53]

In regards to their "BUYERS PROTECTION OVER SELLERS PROTECTION" sold a set of fully working vehicle injectors beginning of September, which had cost me £600 alone - total i got for them inc p&p was £496 minus ebays dreaded charges... guy told me in not so many words that he was buying them to try them.... literally the same day as delivery he contacted me saying they were faulty, now the vehicle they were removed from was driven 60 miles to my garage on the day of dispatch, the guy opened a dispute within minutes of messaging me, I sent in evidence of the vehicle running, even a however long video of them being removed and security marked in various places, I then couldn't really sell anything for the time they took to "investigate" it due to the £496 negative balance on my account, then the injectors turned up at my front door and a message from ebay saying the case had been closed in the buyers favour - upon inspecting the injectors they were damaged and no security marks so not my items.... bare in mind my feedback was fantastic I contacted ebay on numerous of occasions for them to tell me the buyer used his external financial institution to file the dispute so there's nothing they can do about it, whilst all this was going on, me and my family went on holiday, whilst on holiday I became really poorly (stage 5 kidney failure) and ended up in hospital abroad.... moving on, whilst in hospital, I hadn't thought to put holiday mode on because so much was going on prior to the holiday too at home, somebody else purchased some other injectors, I explained to them that I wasn't in the UK and couldn't send them, they needed them as quick as yesterday, so purchased some others elsewhere, now the issue is, ebay won't allow me to refund them without adding my bank card and letting them take the money I don't have out of my bank, this isn't fair on this buyer, but I haven't had the money neither as ebay has used it towards the £496 they say i owe them.... but I don't owe that because my items weren't sent back... faulty ones were - ebay apparently can't fight my case for me and neither can I as I have no information about the financial institution my only go between is ebay who aren't willing to help in anyway shape or form and are now threatening me with debt collectors and have permanently suspended my account..... I'm seeing this happen all too often now and so far I can't find anyone regulator/organisation who will take ebay on..... the worst thing is, I'm currently getting back on my feet after 2 years of blindness witu no work, no benefits, nofhing (the holiday was paid for by my parents) .