Warning Be very careful when selling on EBAY.

[rubyrose1111]

I recently sold an item on EBAY for $585 to a buyer in MEXICO. I posted the item with Australia Post tracking and insurance for $300. As soon as the ebay estimated time of delivery elapsed about 10 days letter the buyer put in a claim for item not recieved - shortly after that he recieved a refund from Ebay for the full amount.

This was even though the item was still being tracked on the Australian post and then the Mexican post web-sites. I contacted Australia Post who could not believe that the buyer had been refunded considering it was still in transit. I obtained a reference number from Australia post who told me to be patient as Mexico post was known to be very slow. I informed ebay of what was going on and received a very poor repsonse. They keep saying that this is their policy - items must be delivered within the time frame estimated. What more could be done the item was tracked and stuck in Mexico customs etc. (Unbelievable). In the meantime Ebay have billed me for the $585 ???

As things went on (YES) the item was delivered to the buyer and tracked as so. I again get in touch with ebay and I am told via messages that the item was considered 'lost in transit'????. How can this be so as I have proof from Australia Post that they and Mexico Post never considered the item as 'lost'. Both postal websites never stated that the item was lost. The other reason given that ebay had made a prior decison in the buyers favour that now cannot be overturned. Are you kidding. So the buyer gets the item and the refund?? 

We all live in Australia and have a basic understanding of both Civil and Criminal law. Civilly, how can I be held liable and penalised $585 dollars when I have fullfiled my contract obligations: ie: posted the goods with tracking and buyer recieves the goods ( it is a no-brainer). Ebay refunded the buyer not me under thier policy. The fact that the item was late in delivery was out of my control. Any Court would see in my favour.

My question is why do Ebay act in this manner???. They must know that as a minimum it is unethical and not legally sound and possibly assisting fraudulant behaviour. So it is thier POLICY but we have laws in this country on how people should trade and act in the business world. 

Just one other thing. Ebay suggested that I message the buyer and persue hime for the money. Yer right!!!

Totally astounded !!

[rubyrose1111]

thanks - they are in fact inducing scam buyers. Warning from this ..

Do not post valubale items overseas. Ebays time estimate or timeline as they call will get you if a buyer is on the ball in a country renowned for slow post or customs. Thier own policy indicates that they MAY do certain things like ask buyer to wait. But they don't . Just easier to side with the buyer and stiff the seller. 

I found the conversations with the so called specialists simply perplexing. Like : The buyer needs to be protected and should expect to receive the item within the estimated time frame. When I retorted by saying things like you could see by the tracking it was held up in customs etc - they just ignored this. 

During this process and before they refunded the buyer. I was ringing ebay with an Australia Post reference number and telling them I had spoken to Australia Post and the item is held up. Australia Post were pretty good. They just ignored my information and went with the buyer. Now this scammer has got the item and being refunded the 585 dollars. All due to ebay's attitude and blatant disregard of the facts. 

I WILL NEVER SELL ON EBAY AGAIN. Also I have reported the matter to the ACCC. I will never pay them the $585

[keythisin3]

I strongly urge you to make a formal complaint to the financial ombudsman in Australia, As PayPal is technically involved in the decision.
Although it was eBay that decided the end result, PayPal had a decision to follow on eBay's advice.
(So yes they facilitated an involvement of fraud)

[many*splendid*things]

I'm glad they've only billed you the $585 and haven't just arranged via paypal to simply snatch it back off you. No way I'd permit being bullied into paying up by the irrational arguments you've been banging your head against. And if it results in them shutting down your account altogether I'd be saying good riddance ebay.

If and when ebay send debt collectors around to harrass you further please do get in touch with one of the national current affairs television programs so they can boot some of these ridiculous ebay policies into mainstream spoltlight. More people than the ones who happen across boards like these need to know about how easy it is to be ripped off so they can better protect themselves or choose an alternative venue for selling. 

I'm seriously scared at the thought of selling on ebay... any wonder they have resorted to bribes like 'sell 10 items for free'. I get a bit qweezy and break out in a cold sweat just thinking about listing 10 items and navigating through the maelstrom of scammers and rip-off merchants.

[justkidzbiz]

eBay don't even follow their own policies when it comes to MBG and SNAD disputes. A buyer can send back a different item, empty packet and as long as tracking shows it was delivered eBay will refund the buyer, regardless of what the seller proves!  Why? Because, as reps have said, "they don't get to physically see the item and as long as tracking shows a parcel was delivered, they must side with the buyer and provide a refund" just a total scam!

[justkidzbiz]

Throw this at them Ruby....

"You can appeal within 30 days from when we make a decision by providing new documentation. For example, you may have proof of delivery documentation that you didn't have previously."

Here's what we found for "Appealing the decision on a case"
If you're unhappy with a decision on a case, you can appeal within 30 days of the case being closed.

You'll need to provide new information in your appeal, which may include:

Tracking details showing the buyer received the item. If the item sold for more than $750, signature confirmation is required.
Photos and/or documents showing the item matches the listing description
Proof the buyer received a refund before the case was closed

To start an appeal, go to your Seller Dashboard, then:

Expand Closed without seller resolution.
Select See cases and find the item in the list.
Select See details and then select send us an appeal.
Once we've received your appeal, we'll review the additional information and get back to you with a final decision.

[heihachi_73]

Got a good lawyer? eBay and Australia Post really do need to be taken down a notch or ten. Something along the line of a TattsLotto jackpot payout should be a sufficient amount for these companies to pay, both are multi-billion dollar companies so $30 million should be pocket change to them.

[northern_4x4]

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@heihachi_73 wrote:
Got a good lawyer? eBay and Australia Post really do need to be taken down a notch or ten. Something along the line of a TattsLotto jackpot payout should be a sufficient amount for these companies to pay, both are multi-billion dollar companies so $30 million should be pocket change to them.

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A lawyer will do sweet FA with a case like this. Its not worth it to them, and also to the OP, to chase this through the courts.

I'm currently going through the legal system with the house we recently bought and want to sue the vendors for $7800 becuase of their illegal neglegence, i shall put it. We will win the case, if it ever goes to trial, but its the survival of the richest with games like this. In the meanitme we have threats of litigation from the council all because of the vendor. They, being eBay, AP or whoever, will just drag it out as much as they like unitl the OP gives up and has no money left. Happening to me right now. The entire Australian legal system is a joke.

 Ebay are just theiving pricks! they dont give a ship about anyone except for themselves. Their workers are obviously trained to be like this and have zero compassion. Humm much like our local council. Lol.

 I feel for the OP. Its happen with my store twice in the years I have been running it. I have decided to just sell my stock off and get out whilst I can. Not just for the OPs reason alone, but plenty of other reasons. eBays latest demands to remove emails and phone numbers put the icing on the cake.

[lyndal1838]

Australia Post is not to blame in this case.   The item was held up in Customs, not late delivered by AP.

I am all for laying the blame where it should be laid but in this case it is not with AP.

[abur7444]

And even more careful when buying too many unscrupulous sellers who know every trick to ensure you don’t get a refund after buying there rubbish.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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@abur7444 wrote:

And even more careful when buying too many unscrupulous sellers who know every trick to ensure you don’t get a refund after buying there rubbish.

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simple solution . . . . . do not buy rubbish