Dodgy sellers

[ellge.fnxunsw]

I have been buying stuff on ebay since 2015 and have never had any problems with sellers until this year.  I have recently had a number of issues. For example, sellers marking an order as sent when it is not sent - this manipulates the system to show good service and also prevents buyers from cancelling their order. Another issue I have had is when the item is falsely advertised and is not actually what is described but the seller refused to refund unless I pay for return postage. I have just received some ginger heat patches which were sent to me loose in an envelope with no packaging to prevent deterioration of the patches, no manufacturer or ingredient details and no use by date. After wearing one for half an hour, there is still no heat.   So again, it is not what the seller said it was. I have asked the seller to replace them or issue a refund but I will not pay return postage because this is their error, not mine. I have also received a really nasty email from a seller because I left negative feedback. 

Anyway, sorry for the rant but has anyone else noticed an increase in dodgy sellers in the past few months. I would love to raise this issue  directly with ebay. I want to put it in writing and receive a written response, so don't want to chat or talk on the phone. But the process to actually be able to email them remains a mystery to me so thought I would see what others think and if anyone can point me in the right direction.

[sandypebbles]

*IF* a seller prints a postage label through eBay,  'eBay marks it as sent'

Buyers cannot cancel an order, only the seller can do so

If an item is not as described, and you open an item not as described dispute within the limit given, the seller cannot make you pay return postage

If you had a nasty email, report the seller (not only for the email itself, but it would come under feedback extortion

Did the seller get it removed, or did you buy under another account? (no negs left for a seller on this one)

Were they registered in Australia or overseas?

Emails to eBay go to an automated bot service, if there is a reply at all, it is a generic bot response based on key words

[padi*0409]

It would probably pay you to look at seller's feedback before you buy from them, over half of your items are from Chinese sellers with poor feedback - as a general rule high-volume sellers with less than 99.5% should be treated with care.

Also looking at the seller's feedback will show where they are registered, which usually means that's where the item is coming from, even if they say the item's located in Australia.