How to lose your eBay account over ONE dishonest buyer.

[yeoldecoinco]

Here is an example of eBay incompetence and lack of fair dealing with a seller.

Anyone got any suggestions, we are trying the ombudsman as eBay don't want to know.

My friend Claire, has been a long time eBay seller.

eBay cancelled her long time account over dealings with ONE customer.

How is that possible?

She spent years of work and had 27,000 items listed on eBay, now she has nothing, all because of one dishonest buyer.

She sent the buyer the items, has a copy of the postage receipt and proof from the Portugese Post Office that the packet was delivered.

The seller, posted 95 postcards to her buyer, in Portugal in late March, tracking shows parcel delivered on 27th April.

Buyer claimed non receipt of goods and put in a dispute with eBay.

Seller provided eBay with Registered postage receipt for these items.

eBay sent an email to the seller thanking her for providing tracking information, assuring the seller that everything was fine and the cases would be closed in her favour. Email from German eBay CS to the seller is enclosed below.

A few days later, eBay closed many of the the cases AGAINST the seller, causing defects to be applied to the seller’s account.

These defects then caused the seller to fall “below standard” on eBay which caused the cancellation of the seller’s account.

The seller has lost her business and all the work she has done listing thousands of items on eBay, because of improper advice from eBay customer service and provided both proof of posting AND has since provided proof of delivery.

eBay customer service did not advise the seller to make a refund, they assured the seller that everything was fine.

The seller has tried to get eBay to remove the defects on her account and restore her eBay account. No luck.

Enclosed are copies of the postage receipt, a copy of the tracking information from Portugese Post website which shows the items were delivered and a copy of the email eBay customer service sent the seller.

Not only were the items delivered, the buyer admitted they were, because they closed some of the cases, indicating they had received the items.

All the items were posted in one packet and the packet shows as delivered.

Results CTT Portugese Post website

Object No.	Product	Date	Hour	state	info
RP010941635AU		04/27/2016	17:24	delivered object	[+] Info [-] Info
Hour state Reason Local receiver Wednesday, April 27, 2016 17:24 achieved delivery - PORT VILA - 17:24 Available survey - PORT VILA - 17:15 achieved delivery - 9580 - PORT VILA . 09:46 distribution - 9580 - PORT VILA - Tuesday, April 26, 2016 18:13 by Customs Exit authorization - THIN TIP - Tuesday, April 19, 2016 12:26 Entry warehouse for implementing legislation - THIN TIP - Monday, April 4, 2016 23:29 international Reception - LISBON -

For some strange reason, the 95 cases that made up the items in this packet, eBay awarded them on what looks like a completely random fashion, awarding some to the buyer and some to the seller.

Here is how they awarded the cases, keeping in mind that all 95 postcards were sent in one packet and that packet is shown as delivered by CTT (Portugese Post Office).

131739313329- 5104694613 This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131739313735-5104694805 We received postage information from you that shows the item was sent

, 131739314073-5104694560 This case was found in your favour

, 131739314197-5104694494-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131739314556-5104692373-This case was found in your favour

, 131739314782-5104692328-This case was found in your favour

, 131739315120-5104692276-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131739315308-5104692226-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131739315658-5104691906-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 131739316295-5104691843-This case was found in your favour

, 131739321738-5104692178-This case was found in your favour

, 131739323589-5104691714-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916351656-5104691655-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916351904-5104691567-We're issuing the buyer a refund for this case You were not found at fault

, 141916352527-5104691496-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916352537- Buyer closed this request on May. 22 because they received the item.

, 141916352617-5104691205-This case was found in your favour

, 141916352823-5104691140-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141916352891-5104691062-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916353197-5104691008-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916354250-5104690933-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916354358-5104690356-This case was found in your favour

, 141916354371-5104690282-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141916354787-5104690238-This case was found in your favour

, 141916359732-5104690181-This case was found in your favour

, 141916360361-5104690134-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916364511-5104689947-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141916364551-5104689891-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141916365240-5104689824-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131705112976-Buyer closed this request on May. 22 because they received the item

, 131738478155-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item.

, 131738478881-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days.

, 131738479389-5104698791

, 131738480063-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days

, 131738481832-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 131738483601-5104698845 -This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 131739571597-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 141915408862-5104699517-This case was found in your favour

, 141915409274-5104698919-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141915410399-5104698978-This case was found in your favour

, 141915410655-5104699033-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141916623436-5104699098-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141918332553-5104699167-We're issuing the buyer a refund for this case You were not found at fault.

, 141918339151-5104699224-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131738454935-5104689668-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131738478514-5104698708-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 131738478608-5104698651-This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 131738478654-5104698600-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131738478783-5104698541-This case was found in your favour

, 131738478818-5104698487-This case was found in your favour

, 131738478880-5104698421-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131738478913-5104698120-This case was found in your favour

, 131738479058-5104698059-This case was found in your favour

, 131738479278-5104698359-This case was found in your favour

, 131738479501-5104698286-This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131738479574-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 131738479575-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item.

, 131738479700-5104697894This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 131738480240-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days

, 131738480440-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 131738480523-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 131738480751-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days

, 131738480765-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 131738481007-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days

, 131738483525-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 131738483687-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days

, 141899336676-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 141915407122-Buyer closed this request on May. 21 because they received the item

, 141915407182-Buyer closed this request on May. 21 because they received the item

, 141915407509-Buyer closed this request on May. 20 because they received the item

, 141915407521-Buyer closed this request on May. 21 because they received the item

, 141915407533-The request was closed on May. 26 because we didn't hear back from the buyer within 30 days

, 141915407861-Buyer closed this request on May. 21 because they received the item

, 141915407934-Buyer closed this request on May. 21 because they received the item

, 141915408418-5104695617 ­This case was found in your favour

, 141915408432-5104695558 This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141915408511-5104695558 This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141915408565-5104695430 We noted that the buyer closed the case on May. 25

, 141915409135-5104695373 This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141915409137-5104695314 This case was decided in the buyer's favour

, 141915410108-5104695273 We're issuing the buyer a refund for this case. You were not found at fault.

, 141915410176-5104695201 This case was decided in the buyer's favour.

, 141915414942-5104695021  This case was found in your favour,

Absolutely bizarre and horrible way to treat a seller. Surely, either ALL the items were received or none at all, as they were all sent in one packet. Postage receipt provided. Tracking, showing delivery, provided to eBay.

Take note. If it can happen to one eBay seller, it can happen to any of us.

[go-tazz]

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@padi*0409 wrote:

Maybe this is another one that needs to be posted on eBay's facebook page, different circumstances I know but they do seem to take notice when it happens.

---

The seller or the OP needs to make a post on their Facebook page as they do take notice when posted there.

The buyer/scammer from the So angry right now thread ripped of another seller so I reported it via their

Facebook page this time and the OP of the thread reported it again to this site.

That was yesterday and that ID is now NARU'd and all of their 24 negs to sellers have been removed,

[chameleon54]

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@clarry100 wrote:

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@chameleon54 wrote:

WOW ..... Another very concerning story. Unfortunately these events have ripple effects throughout the ebay community as sellers lose confidence in the organisation. It damages the ebay brand, creating a perception of an unsafe place to buy and sell. This results in sellers reducing their exposure ( read listing numbers and commitment ) to the organisation.

---

I agree...

Certainly I am feeling this way more and more as these things surface.

And these are just the ones we hear about either on these boards or via Facebook. How many others like this go unseen?

Ebay is not our only selling platform but it is the largest share of our sales at about 75%. And we rely on our sales as our primary source of income. To lose that would be financially devastating. I would dearly love to be in a position to be able to walk away from ebay due to such reasons as this but simply cannot afford to do that at this time. If we can get our other selling venues to take up enough slack then it would not be such a worry.

---

It is because of the instability of the site that I decided to scale down from full time selling to part time. I had all of my eggs in the ebay basket two years ago and to lose my listings and selling priveleges would have literally meant losing my house, car, everything. It was just too risky.

I still rely on ebay for 30-40% of my income, but are replacing that quickly. Within 12 months I will not need ebay at all. I will probably continue selling as I have the stores well established and over 1600 listings. Two years ago listing numbers peaked at 2200, so have dropped 25% in that time. Average sales are back over 50% on what I was achieving two years ago and time spent on ebay from 4.5 days per week to 1.5. Like the Coles add says, its all down down lately.

Pity really as I was willing to continue to grow my ebay business and was investing heavily in stock and equipment and thinking about employing some-one part time. It was and still is a very profitable business, just far too risky to rely on with the highly unstable selling platform.

[go-tazz]

I have sent you a message OP, ^

[yeoldecoinco]

Thanks for your information.

Yes, last week I tried the office of Fair Trading, but because Claire is a business seller with an ABN, it has to go through the small business Ombudsman.

If she did not have an ABN, the Fair Trading office would have handled it.

The parcel consisted of three combined transactions for a total of 95 cards.

Because they were each of small value ($1-$2 each) it was just not practicable to send 95 parcels, nor would the buyer have paid for that, because it would have been $100s in postage.

The inconsistency of the handling of the cases is just amazing, either the buyer received the 95 cards, or they received none, one would think.

Could some have fallen out in transit? If so, no mention of it by the PO and yet, the buyer closes some of the cases 3 weeks later but not others.. Very strange.

[padi*0409]

I've noticed chameleon that about 25% of my favorite sellers from 4-5 years ago have pulled out of eBay and about 25% of the rest have scaled down like yourself  due to the uncertainty of eBay as a selling platform.

Unlike some other platforms their turnover has stagnated due, I suspect, to their inability to treat their sellers fairly, flood the market with cheap OS junk, allow "protected" sellers to get away with ripping buyers off and creating an overall view by both buyers and sellers that eBay is NOT a particularly safe place to buy and sell on.

[yeoldecoinco]

Yes, I will try eBay facebook page, thanks for mentioning it, I had forget about that.

Just an awful way to treat a long term seller, it makes you wonder.

I just wish I had more confidence in eBay, but just one customer can ruin your account, as has been highlighted in this case.

I was thinking of buying more stock for my eBay business, but after this, I think I will just continue to sell what I have.

The rug can be pulled from under you, just like that.

I asked Claire whether she had any other cases that could have contributed to her getting kicked off, ie case closed without resolution or seller cancelled transactions and she said no.

So, dealing with one customer has got her kicked off for life.

After putting in years of work and relying on eBay for income. How long must it have taken her to list 27,000 items?

The mind boggles.

And, to boot, she is a disabled lady and eBay was the main source of income to help her get by.

[clarry100]

---

@yeoldecoinco wrote:

The parcel consisted of three combined transactions for a total of 95 cards.

.

. 

The inconsistency of the handling of the cases is just amazing, either the buyer received the 95 cards, or they received none, one would think.

---

OK so three separate ebay/payment transactions posted out in a single combined parcel.

As I said above "I think" this could be grounds for ebay to refuse to recognise the tracking on two of the orders.

Someone may care to correct me on this point if I'm wrong.

Notwithstanding that, the inconsistency in the way ebay have dismissed the individual cases is nothing short of bizarre. And certainly does not reflect the above policy if indeed it is correct.

I would encourage your friend to lodge a formal complaint with the small business ombudsman.

These offices have a track record of being able to apply pressure in the right places.

If they give you a case reference number also provide that info to ebay.

Best of luck.

[yeoldecoinco]

This would not explain the variety of reasons for claims being settled one way or another. These included, "we refunded buyer,- you where not at fault ", "We recieved information from you showing the item was sent "  and " We found in sellers favour as buyer did not respond within thirty days ". You would expect some consistency in responses if the package arrived with half the contents missing, or did not arrive at all.

Yes, it is the absolute inconsistency of the way they handled these cases that is amazing.

Either award them all to the seller or all to the buyer, but there is just no logic to it.

They tell the seller, not to worry, we see you have provided tracking, then a few days later, BANG, close half the cases against her and kick her off.

Just bizarre.

[yeoldecoinco]

Thanks Clarry.

Yes, a complaint with these details has been lodged with small business Ombudsman, I will also post it on facebook or get Claire to.

[davidc4430]

makes one wonder just how they make these stupid decisions, do the just toss a coin each time?

its the only thing i can come up with as even an complete fool would have difficulty finding so many cases in fav of not just one person but a mix of each person.

they were sent in ONE parcel for goodness sakes. ebay must be employing absolute idiots in the disputed cases dept now.