My eBay Horror Story

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mikevs

Member
Jan 6, 2011
56
0
0
I sold a Nvidia GTX 460 video card from my old computer that was perfectly functional and tested. The buyer had 0 feedback and paid instantly. The account was also using a non registered PayPal account but verified address so I was covered under "seller protection" His account was also 2 months old but I was his first purchase.

He gets the card and I hear nothing for nearly 2 weeks. I log on to find no messages requesting a refund but to see negative feedback claiming the video card did not work. I tried contacting the buyer multiple times requesting him to send me the card back, and he never responds. I have been selling on eBay for about 4 years and only about 10-12 items a year. So my 100% positive feedback was brought down to 87% and the buyer never got back to me.

I contacted eBay and I was unable to receive a final value fee as the buyer did not respond at all to my cancel transaction request. Also, I was basically forced to refund him as I feared I could get suspended from eBay after that negative feedback so I was out a Final Value Fee, Video Card and 100% feedback. Ebay also could not remove the negative feedback as well despite looking suspicious. I have always hated 0 feedback users and tried to block them from bidding on any of my auctions but am unable to per eBay rules.

I blocked the buyer from any future purchases, but he got his money back and got to keep the video card in which I believe is not broken. I believe I was scammed and there is nothing I or eBay can do about it sadly.
 
BrunoPuntzJones

BrunoPuntzJones

Lifer
Feb 24, 2001
14,513
4
81
You gave him the video card sounds like. There wasn't a reason to refund him unless he files a SNAD or INR claim.
 
Mai72

Mai72

Lifer
Sep 12, 2012
11,562
1,741
126
I would have never refunded this guy. I know you were worried about being suspended by Ebay. Why would they suspend you?

Lesson learned I guess. Next time you will not make the same mistake.
 
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Richard N

Member
Jan 1, 2013
53
1
0
How much are we talking about? I've received items that should have been returned but by the time I factored in return shipping along with time and trouble I said screw it. I never negged anybody over it but new ebayers might not understand the way the system should work
 
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mikevs

Member
Jan 6, 2011
56
0
0
I offered a 30 return policy, and I waited over a week for him to respond after he negged me which he did not.

Like some of you said lesson learned, but even so I am out over $80 and eBay will not remove my negative feedback.

The reason why I refunded him was because if I did not, I risk getting hit with a charge back or suspension of my account.So even if I tried to create a new eBay account, I could have been suspended again as eBay would know that my new account is tied to the suspeded account if that did happen.

I am thinking of deleting my old eBay account and starting over again, I will use my lesson learned this time, but I will need to build up regular feedback by purchasing stuff so that future buyers are comfortable with my account.

Once they see that one neg or like many see less than closer to 100% I will lose buyers either way.

It really sucks. I hope karma really gets to this guy.
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
The reason why I refunded him was because if I did not, I risk getting hit with a charge back or suspension of my account.So even if I tried to create a new eBay account, I could have been suspended again as eBay would know that my new account is tied to the suspeded account if that did happen.
Click to expand...

no, that is not how it works. you wait until the buyer sends your shit back AND THEN you issue a refund.

you done fucked up.
 
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Lifted

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2004
5,748
2
0
I don't get it. Did the guy ever ask you for a refund, or you just sent his money back?

You say he never contacted you and only gave you neg feedback, but never mention if he filed a request for refund.
 
R

RGN

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
6,623
6
81
I attempted to sell a Wii system last fall. Buyer won, paid, I shipped. All kosher. The Post office attempted to deliver, the person ignored the sig card. Sent me a message, "I didn't get the package, I bought my BF another present, I don't want yours." Continued to claim that the post office didn't attempt to deliver the package. I told her repeatedly to go to the post office and refuse the package and I would refund her money, minus the shipping and ebay fees. Eventually, after some indeterminate time, USPS returned the package to me.

The buyer then filed an complaint against me, saying I didn't deliver. I provided all the documentation to ebay, and ebay ruled against her, and closed the case, but only after asking me to uphold my end of the refund - which I did do.

Whole thing took about 2 months. TWO FREAKING months. I didn't have the Wii to resell for a month, I couldn't use the cash, blah blah blah. Whole thing sucked. The buyer attempted negative feedback, but ebay blocked it due to the resolution of the case.

Anyway, I still have the damn Wii. Its in the box, as it was returned. Its been a freaking year and I never did anything with it. Anyone want it? :D
 
WhoBeDaPlaya

WhoBeDaPlaya

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2000
7,415
404
126
Ns1 said:
no, that is not how it works. you wait until the buyer sends your shit back AND THEN you issue a refund.
you done fucked up.
Click to expand...
This, in addition to taking copious amounts of pictures.
Had an asshole buy a sealed i7 980, claim it was defective, and returned a processor with a completely different serial number.

eBay had no choice but to side with me, so I kept the money. Bonus was the processor was still in warranty and Intel exchanged it :)
 
clamum

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
126
I have no idea why you refunded that douchebag (I take it ya just went temporarily full retard). Chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.
 
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mikevs

Member
Jan 6, 2011
56
0
0
WhoBeDaPlaya said:
This, in addition to taking copious amounts of pictures.
Had an asshole buy a sealed i7 980, claim it was defective, and returned a processor with a completely different serial number.

eBay had no choice but to side with me, so I kept the money. Bonus was the processor was still in warranty and Intel exchanged it :)
Click to expand...


Was the buyer a 0 feedback or low feedback buyer?
 
M

mikevs

Member
Jan 6, 2011
56
0
0
clamum said:
I have no idea why you refunded that douchebag (I take it ya just went temporarily full retard). Chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.
Click to expand...

Yep it was more like a panic not thinking move. I have learned my lesson.
 
dbk

dbk

Lifer
Apr 23, 2004
17,685
10
81
yeah next time, just be cordial and hope the guy doesn't file a claim within the 45 day window (w yours fingers crossed)
 
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mikevs

Member
Jan 6, 2011
56
0
0
dbk said:
yeah next time, just be cordial and hope the guy doesn't file a claim within the 45 day window (w yours fingers crossed)
Click to expand...


He can still file a charge back with his credit card anytime. Some eBay users had a similar thing happen, eBay did not side with the buyer or they were unresponsive and passed the 45 day window.

Then some up to a year later have had charge backs from former buyers and ebay could not do anything about it since it was so long and it is handled by the credit card company.
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Ns1 said:
no, that is not how it works. you wait until the buyer sends your shit back AND THEN you issue a refund.

you done fucked up.
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%. As a 12-year seller/buyer on Ebay, I've been "attempted scammed" at least 4 times that I can remember. Only one was successful b/c I packed two CPUs in the box, but the buyer claimed there was only one in there. When I said "Send me back the one CPU and I'll refund all your money" he said "Just refund half my money." He'd already opened a formal complaint with EBay so I was over a barrel.

The other three times were BS like what this guy pulled on you....you should've never refunded his money until EBay forced your hand.
 
Puppies04

Puppies04

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2011
5,909
17
76
OP can you confirm you have 3 things.

1. Balls
2. Buyers address
3. A baseball bat

.....just wondered.
 
dabuddha

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Should not have refunded him. Especially when you say you're tempted to start all over because of this since your initial fear was that you'd be suspended (who the hell cares if your ebay account gets suspended anyways)
 
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