How to protect myself against false claims

[hammahorror]

Hi Ebayers,

I have just had a $250 buy-it-now listing sold to a new member with 0 feedback from Poland.
I have never sent items there before and I am concerned about them having no feedback.

Any tips on what I can do to protect myself from fraudulent false claims of items not received?

[chameleon54]

I have an item not received case opened against me from a buyer in Poland at the moment. The tracking number has actually been very reliable and shows the item has now been delivered after an unsuccessful delivery attempt a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully the case will now close in my favour. Moral of the story is that in this case at least, Polands postal tracking is at least equal to ( if not better than ) Australia's so that is not a reason to cancel the sale.

[chameleon54]

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@repentatleisure1952 wrote:

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@digital*ghost wrote:

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@repentatleisure1952 wrote:

"Then you could be reported for listing interference, and the neg would be removed."

Not if I genuinely wish to buy the item.

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Sorry, but no.

If a seller sets terms that are allowed, and a buyer doesn't meet those terms but buys anyway, it is considered unwelcome and malicious buying

"Buyers who don't meet a seller's terms, as outlined in a listing, are not allowed to buy or bid on an item. Buyers are also prohibited from any behavior that deliberately harms our sellers. For example, placing an excessively high bid for an item when they have no intention of paying, so as to prevent a real sale going through."

It goes further to clarify that genuinely wanting the item and just bidding to interfere, don't affect whether or not the buyer is in breach of this policy (emphasis mine):

"Buyers who do not meet a seller's terms as outlined in the item listing are not permitted to bid on or buy the item. Buyers are also not allowed to place bids or buy items with the primary intent of disrupting a listing."

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/selling-policies/unwelcome-malicious-buying-policy?id=4375

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But I have every intention to pay!

I simply do not understand how a zeo feedback bidder can be excluded.

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Ebay have a setting in account settings under buyer blocks to exclude buyers from zero up to five feedbacks from bidding or buying a sellers items UNLESS their account has been verified by ebay. SOOOO not only can a seller exclude non verified, zero feedback buyers, but ebay support and provide the means for sellers to do it.

OP My suggestion is to go to account settings, follow the prompts to buyer blocks and set your blocks to exclude buyers with zero feedback / non verified account if that is your wish.

[padi*0409]

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@chameleon54 wrote:

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OP My suggestion is to go to account settings, follow the prompts to buyer blocks and set your blocks to exclude buyers with zero feedback / non verified account if that is your wish.

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Chamo, I thuought that option had been removed a while back by eBay.

[chameleon54]

Thanks Padi, I just had a look. It is still there, but appears to have been modified. The way it works now is that you can limit buyers with 5 or less feedbacks to only purchasing one ( or more if you choose ) of your items in any ten day period. This would not help the OP as from their post it appears the Polish buyer has only purchased one expensive item.

It may still be worth thinking about if sellers are cautious of low feedback buyers. Personally I don't have an issue with them, but what works for me may not suit others.

[keythisin3]

Digital Ghost, could a member be reported for listing interference if a member "tests" if there account blocks are working by using another account they have to "test" such blocks?

fyi the test was successful and it turned out the blocks worked.

also ebay states you cant use an account to circumnavigate blocks.

i ask as you seem to have the knowledge behind you.

i highly anticipate your reply.

[digital*ghost]

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@keythisin3 wrote:

Digital Ghost, could a member be reported for listing interference if a member "tests" if there account blocks are working by using another account they have to "test" such blocks?

fyi the test was successful and it turned out the blocks worked.

also ebay states you cant use an account to circumnavigate blocks.

i ask as you seem to have the knowledge behind you.

i highly anticipate your reply.

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Well. the seller would be the one who needs to initiate the report, so if both accounts are yours, I'd say no just because you'd have to report yourself 

However, if ebay detect something funny due to the accounts being linked, there might have been repurcussions - but really only if the purchase had been successful and you'd done something like leave yourself feedback 🙂 ). 

For future reference, if you want to test site functions, eBay have a category specifically for that so you can avoid tempting any fate that way (you can even leave FB for a test listing purchase) - this is a copy/pase of all the info eBay provide about test listings:

Test listings
Restricted Allowed in some situations

To make sure buyers don't confuse a test listing with an actual listing, follow these guidelines:

• Use the Lots More > Test Auction category only
• The word "test" must appear in both the listing title and the listing description.
• You can only have 10 test listings at a time.
• Listing fees apply to all test listings.

For test Feedback left or received for a test listing, follow these guidelines:

Create an account that you can use to leave or receive Feedback for a test listing. Don't use the account you have for buying or selling. If we see an account that breaks this rule, that account may be subject to suspension.
Make sure the test Feedback is used for testing purposes only. (If something looks amiss, we may remove test Feedback to avoid problems.)

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/listing-policies/item-location-misrepresentation-policy/no-ite...

[keythisin3]

Thankyou for your reply, 

so from your reply i take it that it would boil down to it being an honesty trial of sorts, one one hand the seller would be in violation, but who in there right mind would report there own account.

Your reply helps clarify an issue i had some time ago with a member using another account to test blocks...etc etc..

long story short a LOT of board members seemed to think it was ok to do it as no actual transaction took place.

[chameleon54]

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@keythisin3 wrote:

Thankyou for your reply, 

so from your reply i take it that it would boil down to it being an honesty trial of sorts, one one hand the seller would be in violation, but who in there right mind would report there own account.

Your reply helps clarify an issue i had some time ago with a member using another account to test blocks...etc etc..

long story short a LOT of board members seemed to think it was ok to do it as no actual transaction took place.

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.I am aware of the thread you are referring too.

Contrary to your assertion that the test was a violation, it would only be against ebay policy, if an attempt was made to circumvent the blocks in place or there was an intention to purchase an item. Neither of these things occurred. The sellers only intention was to test that the blocks where working and assuming ebay was doing its job properly, there was NO chance of a transaction occurring. I realise it is a small distinction, but it is an important one that many seemed unable to understand at the time.

There was never an intention for a transaction to occur, no possible way one could occur if ebay was doing its job properly and as expected no transaction took place. It is also worth mentioning the test was also conducted on a BIN, not an auction, so there was never a risk to any other ebay users.

People come to the boards seeking help with all sorts of curly questions. There are many regular posters who take the time to offer advice and point out the many nooks and crannies that ebay hide all sorts of things in. The only ways regular posters find this information is either through experiencing the same issues and finding solutions, or by poking around all of the hidden rabbit warrens that make up the ebay platform. And yes from time to time some experimentation is required to better understand how the various systems work.

[chameleon54]

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@keythisin3 wrote:

Thankyou for your reply, 

so from your reply i take it that it would boil down to it being an honesty trial of sorts, one one hand the seller would be in violation, but who in there right mind would report there own account.

Your reply helps clarify an issue i had some time ago with a member using another account to test blocks...etc etc..

long story short a LOT of board members seemed to think it was ok to do it as no actual transaction took place.

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Some further information to add to previous post. Another point which was never discussed on the thread you are reffering too, is that buying is a two step process. Unlike the buyers who expect us to believe that the cat or small child purchased the item, or " they accidently  pressed the button " a buyer needs to first click the " buy ' icon and then follow this up with the " confirm " icon.

In testing blocks, and assuming they did not operate as expected, a seller would still only progress to the first stage of the buying process. They would then need to follow up by clicking the " confirm " button to complete the buying process. At this point breaching ebay policy. No seller testing blocks would do as it would incur fees, require relisting etc.

Your suggestion that a seller testing blocks is both in violation of ebay policy and " an honesty trial " , shows a lack of understanding of ebay policy and process.

Keythisin3,  I trust you will have the decency to follow up your last post with a public apology to the seller concerned for claiming their actions where in some way dishonest and a breach of ebay policy.

[digital*ghost]

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@keythisin3 wrote:

long story short a LOT of board members seemed to think it was ok to do it as no actual transaction took place.

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And they are right.

eBay state that a member can not buy their own item (test listings excepting). If no purchase is ever confirmed, the seller has not bought their own item, and therefore is not in breach of any policy. Like I said, there would have only been (potential) repurcussions, if the purchase had been confirmed.