What to do with buyers who try it on to get they're money back after telling lies ?

[helenaomg]

I bought an item from a seller and it didn't fit but was in good condition so I decided rather than be out of pocket i'd just sell it on.  Sold it and then the buyer said it's basically too big, bad condition, too much wear n tear, and couldn't even give it to someone else as it would be an insult  !!!!  Know for a fact it wasn't like that at all.  This buyer also kept messaging me and left awful feedback for me.  I cannot leave feedback for them and the lies that they have told !!   I have reported them and i did refund them.  I have had pgs and pgs of glowing feedback from buyers and sellers alike and never had anything as bad before. I feel like i'm one step away from deleting my account because sellers can so easily just make stuff up about the item they bought and bingo they have a refund.  Would i have left positive feedback to the original seller i bought the item from if it was in such bad condition ??  I also sent them the details of when i bought it.  I sold it on immediately, only ever tried it on and also paid more for it than the buyer here paid me.  The upsetting msgs too have just upset me so much I've just deleted all my items. Disgusted that sellers can say anything they like and get a refund and keep an item.  Anyone else had this problem recently ??  Feel in need of some support here peeps 😞

[rusticrye]

Ebay can have no idea what you actually sent, what the buyer actually received, or what you actually received back, as they were not present when sent, 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. And nor will you get the selling fee credited back to your Ebay account.

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) if that is what they have done. 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 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.

@helenaomg 

[ipops25]

I am having the same problem. Buyer has claimed item is broken and I mislead her about figures in the description. She's given negative feedback. The item was in excellent condition and I didn't even mention the figures in description. I said no returns as I have done since 1998, when I became a eBay member. I just sell random toys that my kids have grown out of. She has sent me loads of abuse and eBay said I need to refund the item! She's broke it so she can return it, I feel bullied into a return when 'bidding is a binding contract' and my description said no returns. How am I going to resell a broken item?? She gets her money back and I can't resell because she's broke it. How is that fair?? I totally agree sellers have no protection.

[red_magpie]

Feel in need of some support here peeps 😞

Just join the club!

EBay gives so much power to buyers that all the seller can do is grit their teeth, ask them to open a case under eBay's money back guarantee and send them a prepaid return label. There's no point in arguing as eBay will take the buyer's word anyway.

Just be thankful if you get your item back in the condition sold - or even the same item. Guess whose word eBay is likely to take for that, too?

It's true that there are also risks for buyers on eBay, but nothing like the risks to sellers.

[95ardenfield]

I enquired regarding a Boardman Team FS mountain bike as the seller has it at £2,000 buy now when you can buy one foe £1200 brand new in Halfords..They've got no stock was his reply..He then bombarded me with approx 30 messages ending everyone by calling me a tosser..reported him twice but ebay have done absolutely nothing despite reading all his abusive messages..Sellers have zero protection on ebay

[john1297576]

Have you never heard of the blocked bidders List which gives you the option to block messages.

As you are not in a transaction with the seller, then the blocking should take immedate effect. You have to use the tools provided, you don't have to put up with these sort of sellers/messages.
While I doubt that ebay would take any action, even if they did they would not tell you.