Return Request

[wantit_haveit_now]

Hi, I would like some advice on a return request I have received.

I sold a brand new dress, posted, and  received by buyer. Feedback received, alls good.

Yesterday I received a return request as beading on front of dress is damaged. Buyer stated they bought it for a function which has now passed. Buyer sent photos of front of dress and sure enough some of the beads are missing.  I offered a partial refund which they declined as they no longer had need of the dress and they were not able to wear it to their function . I know when I posted the dress that there was no damage, I also have photos of the dress that show there was no damage to beading.

Buyer states ebay post bag was damaged and that maybe dress was damaged in transit. This is when I started to doubt the buyer, ebay bags are tough not easy to damage and almost impossible to open without ripping them apart. So I went and had a look at the buyers facebook page and there is a photo there of her wearing the dress, at her function.

So what do I do, or what can I do. She has worn the dress, probably became damaged during this time. How can I prove to ebay that this item was not damaged. How should I respond to buyer, should I accept the return and try and fight it once I get the dress back.

I have found this year there are many more buyers who claim item is damaged when they received it. Mostly when I ask for photos to compare to my photos, they disappear never to be heard from again.

Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.

[curraone]

A bit off topic, but I want to fall about laughing about how easy it is for people to be caught out these days -  wearing it and having the photos in facebook  !!!!        I am a bit of a luddite and don't have anything to do with or understand facebook - too old for new tricks - but it strikes me as very funny.   

[davewil1964]

I agree, curra.

I don't do facebook much, nor are the things I sell likely to be displayed there, but people don't seem to realise that what they put online is accessible. Especially when they obviously don't bother with any security settings.

[wantit_haveit_now]

Thanks for this advice. I did ring ebay today, and they told me to post all the pictures that I had. If the dispute was escalated this would then give them enough to find in my favour.

Luckily, after contacting the buyer today and providing all my evidence, she wisely closed the dispute.

But it is disheartening that this is what ebay has become.

Normal people turning into crooks, just because ebay favours the buyer.

[jellybirddesigns]

Wantit - what did you actually say to the buyer?

Curious 🙂

[imastawka]

But this is the type of person that learns - next time they won't post photos

on Facebook

Pity the next seller they buy from

[wantit_haveit_now]

It took two messages

The First

Hi, I have spoken to ebay this morning regarding my concerns over this refund and they have advised me to inform you of the following. The item was sent to you with tags intact, photos of item were taken before despatch which clearly shows no damage to dress. On the 11th August you left feedback Stating - Item as described. On your facebook page there is a photo of you wearing the dress. If the dress was damaged when received then you would have advised me on the 10th August when you received item. If the dress was damaged then you would not be wearing it in your facebook picture. Based on this information I am declining to refund you, as per ebay policy a dress must be returned in the condition it was received and must be unworn. Please close this request. Regards Lee

The Second

In your opening comment on the dispute you state the dress did not come with tags, now you say you do have the tags and you removed them. You make no comment regarding beading being missing from the cuff. If I look at the facebook picture it shows you are wearing the dress and ready to go out or already out. The beading towards the side seam is intact (see attached picture). The item was delivered to you with tags and in sealed packaging, if there was any damage in transit then the beads would still be in the bag if not attached to the dress. This would have been immediately noticeable, not 27 days later. I gladly would refund if I thought I was at fault. But you clearly have worn this dress as shown by the photo. You have not been completely honest with me, stating firstly there was no tags, and secondly stating you could not wear the dress when you did. Please close this request, I will not be refunding based on the above reasons. I do feel you have not been completely honest with me, which is a shame because I certainly would have worked with you to resolve this issue. Regards Lee

The second message was enough, she closed the dispute

[padi*0409]

---

@imastawka wrote:

But this is the type of person that learns - next time they won't post photos

on Facebook

Pity the next seller they buy from

---

And therein lies the problem of eBay siding with the buyer in the vast majority of disputes through the MBG.

I suspect that eBay is going to successfully kill off the goose with the golden egg, they've obviously sharpened the killing knife already and have shown that they are more than prepared to use it against their sellers.

[kopenhagen5]

wantit, very well handled for a great result. 

This buyer may think twice next time if the idea of an opportunity arises.

[lane-ends]

Problem is big chain stores already have to deal with this, so online is no bigger a deal for them. It is a numbers game, one that smaller sellers dont have the margin for.

[springyzone]

But this is the type of person that learns - next time they won't post photos

on Facebook

Pity the next seller they buy from

----------------------------

I think you are right.

This sort of scam behaviour isn't new. As a student I used to work part time in a dress shop and occasionally evening wear would be returned for a refund or exchange and unbelievably, in one case  I remember, the hem had even been taken up & sweat stains were under the arms!!

People have more front than Myer, as my mum used to say!!

What totally surprises me in the present case is that anyone still has their facebook account open to the whole world. Crazy.

A quick change in her security settings and her photos wouldn't be visible to strangers.