Is it just me or have fake SNAD cases increased lately?

[annan-tech19]

Im just wondering how many other people are affected by this as of late? Ive been a regular user of ebay for the past 12+ years and never once had an issue with selling yet in the past few weeks I have had 3 fake "sold not as described" cases opened against me where buyers are claiming the items are damaged in order to get a free return, I am then forced to accept it back, refund it and then I am out of pocket on postage and the buyer gets away without any penalty simply because they opened a false claim

One buyer even returned a phone that I posted with a brand new screen with a deep scratch but ebay doesn't seem to care since the buyer listed it as "faulty" even though everything he claimed was wrong was false which i reported and backed up with photos

[john1297576]

Ebay never see what is sent or received, photos prove nothing.

Ebay then have a choice of who to support so go for the old saying "The Seller is Always right".

One of the risks of selling on ebay, but year by year it gets worse. It was nowhere near as bad when I started in 2002, although fees were higher as there was a listing fee on everything (sold or unsold) and on low value items, like the paypal 30p was a killer.

[rusticrye]

I imagine they probably have increased, because online shopping has massively increased over the last few months due to the pandemic.

The system works the way it does because Ebay can have no idea what you actually sent, or what condition it was in when sent, received, or received back, as they were not present when sent or received or received back, so have no choice but to accept a buyer's word for it when they claim Not As Described, as per their Money Back Guarantee.  They cannot get into disputes between you and a buyer.  Only a judge can decide if a buyer is a liar or scammer.

You agreed to comply with the MBG when you registered your account. If you dig your heels in and refuse to offer refund on return, Ebay will either force you to pay for a returns label, or they will force the refund without the need for return. You will also have a damaging defect slapped on your account for failing to comply.

This may sound unfair, but it's the fairest it can possibly be.  The MBG is a very good thing (although you may not think that at present...!) as it gives buyers the confidence to shop with you and every other Ebay seller.  Without it, you'd be lucky to sell anything at all. In fact, without it, Ebay would no longer exist.

You have to refund on receipt, and then report the buyer to Ebay for abusing the MBG by fraudulently claiming Not As Described (via the 'report' button on your ‘leave feedback’ page). A few of those from different sellers, and their account will soon be toast. And add their Ebay ID and PayPal email address to your Blocked Bidders List so they can’t darken your doorway again.

You can then deal with the buyer outside of Ebay as follows if you wish:

Send them a PayPal invoice to cover your losses, giving them, say, 7 days to send cleared payment or you will be taking legal action and reporting them to Action Fraud (the police's online fraud unit).

If payment is not received within that timeframe, send them a 'before action' letter by Signed For post, giving them 7 days from receipt to make full and cleared payment, or you will report them to Action Fraud, and take them to Small Claims court to recover your money and all court and other costs.

If payment is still not received (unlikely, as this is generally enough to put the fear of god into small-time fraudsters), take them to Small Claims court if you wish.  Very easy to do, and the process can be started online.

@annan-tech19 

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

Get used to it.

Its only buyers remorse once they start to feel the V pinch.

Ebays MBG terms have recently been changed,good luck to all those that that think they have really made a fully insured sale.

LOL.

A recession is a recession, a depression is a very very different situation.

WAKEY WAKEY.