Major problems with buying clothes on ebay - FIX IT EBAY

[ginger_ice_cream]

I have purchased two not as described (damaged) items of clothing on ebay in the past month. The first time I was lucky and when I complained to the seller they refunded my total purchase amount. Have contacted the latest one and it seems they are pretty slack with communication so don't know how long I will wait for a reply and I will just have to hope that they will be willing to at least partially refund.

The MAJOR prolem you have put in place for the buyer ebay is that when we want to complain via you that the item was not as described your answer is - send the item back for a refund. So, in other words, the buyer is not in any way at fault - I havent just changed my mind, or the item doesnt fit, but I should end up out of pocket to get my money back!!?

If I send the item back for a refund I have to spend either around $8 to send back unregistered, and probably an average of around $10 or $11 so that my butt is covered and I have proof I sent it back to the seller. I get a refund, but what about the money it cost me to send back??!! I end up spending around $10 on an item that wasnt as described - i.e. had undisclosed stains or holes, and have nothing to show for it. Yes, I get back the ebay transaction amount for the privilege of having a damaged piece of clothing sent to me that I beleived was in good condition, but I have to spend money to get my money back!! If it's my fault I will cop that, but when it's the sellers fault it is unreasonable to expect the buyer to be out of pocket to pay return postage with nothing to show for it.

Several years back I had to send back satin pj's that had damage even though the item was described as being in "excellent condition". Paypal ended up refunding my money as the seller got quite nasty with me, but it cost me $10 to send the item back. I therefore ended up with no pj's, and $10 worse off - due to the sellers dishonesty. Thanks ebay.

There has to be a more up to date and better system in place for items not as described that don't financially penalise the buyer. Wake up ebay. Buying damaged clothes is not much fun. Your response, spend more money on this item to return it is not reasonable or fair.

[black*poppy]

If you read the eBay money back guarantee it states that the seller is responsible for return postage if the item is not as described:

When an item is returned to the seller

• The buyer must return the item in the same condition in which it was received.

• The seller is required to accept the return at the same location specified in the listing.

• The cost of return postage is the seller's responsibility. For return of items with a total cost of $750 or more, we require signature confirmation.

• The seller pays for any customs charges on the returned item.

After confirming that the item was returned to the seller, we will refund the full cost of the item and original postage to the buyer. We require the seller to reimburse us for the amount. When the buyer arranges delivery or picks up the item, we may not refund the cost of original postage or pickup.

This is the link to the policy:

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/policies/money-back-guarantee.html

[ginger_ice_cream]

Thanks, but it says that after confirming the item was sent back they will reimburse cost of item and original postage. How do I get the seller to pay the return postage?? Ebay doesnt say they reimburse that.

[black*poppy]

The cost of return postage is the seller's responsibility.

[black*poppy]

When an item is returned to the seller

• The buyer must return the item in the same condition in which it was received.

• The seller is required to accept the return at the same location specified in the listing.

• The cost of return postage is the seller's responsibility. For return of items with a total cost of $750 or more, we require signature confirmation.

• The seller pays for any customs charges on the returned item.

  Ebay manages the return by refunding the buyer and charging the seller by adding the cost onto their account, which they get invoiced for

[black*poppy]

I suggest you read the entire relevant section of the policy I gave you the link for.

[i-love-my-sheep]

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@ginger_ice_cream wrote:

And furthermore, when I click on the link about this guarantee all it does it redirect me to my ebay home page. That's it.

You fixed the damn retalitory negative feedback issue ebay, now fix this. It stinks

And I've had it with sellers that say "if I've made a mistake, that's fine, send it back and I will refund your original total purchase cost - so that's great, you make a mistake and I PAY more money to get it back to you for a refund. So I end up out of pocket. And ebay thinks that is perfectly reasonable.

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Not all sellers are like that. I've had 2 buyers complain their was something wrong (neither opened a case, they contacted me directly). Both were offered a full refund, including postage. One was offered a replacement or refund as she said the item arrived cracked. She opted for the return. I sent her the original cost, and included the cost of return postage. On return, their was no crack, there was nothing wrong with it, it was obviously a change of mind.

The other buyer told me that some of the items she bought weren't what I advertised them as. I offered her a full refund, including return postage (but not original postage) on return of the items, or a partial refund if she wanted to keep them. She had impeccable feedback, so was happy to issue her a partial refund when that was her preference. I didn't offer a refund on original postage as the rest of the items she was happy with and they would have cost the same in postage.

What concerns me is, if you return the clothes, they may not be classed as being in the same condition as you received them in because you have soaked them and washed them. Hopefully the seller doesn't notice that! Make sure also that you take photos of the defective parts so if the seller turns around and says there is nothing wrong with them, you have proof that there is something wrong.

[ginger_ice_cream]

So I launched a "Request to Return" as Ebay seem to call their money gack guarantee.

I have continually told this shoddy seller that I am not prepared to pay more money for this item by paying return post. I have told them that the guarantee states that they must either refund in full plus extra to cover return postage, or post me a postal satchel for return of the item.

The seller has so far not responded. Just sticks to their story that I can send it back for a refund.

So like I asked before ebay - how on earth do you get the seller to pay for return postage. Ebay is saying if they havent responded by next week to ask them to step in.

What exactly do they do when they "step in".

So sick of recieving stained or otherwise damaged clothing, then being stuck in this position. I notice time and time again that the best sellers just apologise and refund in full whenever there is a problem. The shoddy dishonest ones won't cooperate and just expect you to pay more money to send the **bleep** back to them.

Makes me reluctant to keep buying on ebay. There is no quality control whatsoever.

[2011.narelle]

Do you usually get an apology & a full refund & keep the item?

I guess you have to wait until the time to ask ebay to step in since the seller wants their item back this time.

BTW many sellers & buyers do not know how to use this convoluted system yet & there are many glitches & flaws in it.Your seller may not know how to proceed in this return.

[ginger_ice_cream]

As usual it's ebay's jargon and complete lack of personalised help and communication that is the problem. I don't know how this works either.

Yes, I keep the item usually as I've found that good sellers, are apologetic and just say I'll just refund. I never complain without good reason, and after I paid $10+ years ago to return some damaged pj's then had nothing to show for it, and just went through a whole load of stress with a negative and **bleep**py seller I vowed never to be caught out again paying more money for a not as described shoddy item.

If I've done nothing wrong, and the seller is at fault I will not be left out of pocket to return an item to them.

For being an **bleep**hole, this seller is headed for a big fat negative. But I'm not using ebay again if I don't get refunded for this. This system just stinks. Unless of course, ebay issues a refund or the seller is somehow forced to pay the return postage.

[black*poppy]

While you may have got to keep the item and the money in the past, this is not how the ebay MBG works.

You need to return the item.  While you may be out of pocket initially, you will be fully refunded when the seller receives it back.

It may seem fairer to you for the seller to post you a satchel, but this just isn't how it works.  Follow the process and you will get your money back.