ACCC - Illegal - eBay not refunding Final Value Fees on Shipping costs that are Refunded

[dusan_malobabic]

Hi Everyone,

I've noticed for a while now that eBay has stopped issueing credits back to sellers on Final Value Fees taken for shipping/postage, that have since been adjusted (partially refunded) or fully refunded after the customer has paid.
PayPal issues an immediate refund for the fee taken on the portion of shipping costs refunded, however eBay is holding on to the money illegally.

Whilst I understand it's a small amount per transaction. Multiply this amount by hundreds of sales, multiplied by thousands of sellers over a few years, and you end up with something that is remnisant of the Banking errors made public recently. Whilst I'm sure this is an overcite, NOW that it's being brought up, should be corrected voluntarily by eBay Australia who holds a -  to avoid being put in the public spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

I think the headline "eBay Corrects Fee Errors - ACCC Applauds" is better than "ACCC Takes Proceeding Against eBay for Over Charging".

Thoughts?

[padraicpaul91]

As has been pointed out previously, ebay could and should, but don't refund much to the seller, probably due to self interest.

I make significant postage refunds,several hundred dollars p a, and have given up trying to get the FVF portion back. Since the start of 2017, I have got back less than $2. Yes the process is manual, but why? And why haven't I received those credits after so long?

My settings allow combined postage but most buyers do not get it or cannot request combined postage for multiple items. I think it may be impossible to do on the phone app but since I will not use it for purchases, I am not certain. I think that if buyers choose the fast payment option with paypal, they will be charged postage on each item.

Now I refund excess postage, minus the 'irrecoverable' ebay fees on that excess postage. Buyers tend to be happy with that.

[padraicpaul91]

Many times. Told I would receive credit in approximately six weeks. Now 18 months and still waiting.

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

I am not a seller but it does not take much time or effort to read the boards and see that if things don't go smoothly you only have to ring ebay and get it sorted out.

Again I ask.....have you rung ebay and asked for refunds?

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Ebay is well aware of the issue

[relove_llamas]

yes. i am losing a lot to the bogus charging fees on postage. how greedy are ebay? i often refund part of postage as the ebay calcs dont work right & i swear its on purpose for them to overstate postage costs to get xtra fees off sellers. its getting to where between ebay fees, bogus corrupt buyers & 'throttling' ebay algorithms that cut off visits to stores...its **bleep**py next to US ebay.

[valcampi-77]

Hi All, 

This thread has been locked due to it's age and the information no longer current. If you would like to keep the discussion going, we encourage members to start a new topic for discussion. 

Thanks!

Community Moderator