eBay Money Back Guarantee Question

[ngrow9]

There is a card that I'm pretty sure is authentic on eBay, but that I can't be 100% certain of until I have it in hand. The seller has a no refund policy, but has advertised it as authentic.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever relied on the eBay Money Back Guarantee in that case to receive a refund should the card not be authentic upon receipt? If so, what kind of proof does eBay require? Do I need to get it graded, or would my own assessment qualify?

Thanks!

[Tasupi]

If you say "Item not as described" you will win as a buyer 99.99999% of the time.

[Jim65]

Sellers return policy is irrelevant, if the card is different from the description, file a claim and you'll win.

[J-Yo]

Paypal gives you 6 months, just won a dispute against a seller at the almost 6 month point for selling me a fake Satchel Paige autograph


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[ASF123]

I’ve opened two disputes, one for a fake and the other for a trimmed card, and gotten refunds both times.

Question for eBay sellers: Do you know what the mechanics of the refunds are? Does eBay hold your funds for a certain period before you’re cleared to withdraw them in case a customer disputes? Or does eBay have a way of clawing back funds that you’ve already withdrawn?

Or is it that the seller keeps the money and eBay refunds out of its pocket? That would be way less satisfying.

[robw1959]

eBay does hold your funds for a couple of days before paying, but not for very long. In case of a dispute, I'm pretty sure that eBay now just debits the bank account that is linked to your eBay seller account to get the refund due if the refund hasn't already been issued by the due date.

[Fballguy]

There's really no such thing as "No returns" on ebay. Just say it's not as described and ebay will side with you.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

There's really no such thing as "No returns" on ebay. Just say it's not as described and ebay will side with you.

That's generally true. However, there are exceptions.

For example, let's say you sold a sealed box of cards. Buyer opens all the packs and tries to return the contents.

So long as you handle things with eBay professionally, you wouldn't be forced to take the return or refund the money.

[RL]

sellers can refuse returns, however, he can't refuse a refund

plus, seller gets to pay for the return shipping if he / she wants their item back

[ngrow9]

Thanks everyone!

[jchcollins]

Agreed. Ebay is a very buyer friendly community. I’ve even used the “money back guarantee” to get reimbursed for a card that the post office showed delivered when they actually didn’t and it was either lost or stolen. I would imagine you can’t make claims like that all the time, but it’s nice to know that the guarantee is really meant to include things that are outside of your control as a buyer.


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[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Agreed. Ebay is a very buyer friendly community. I’ve even used the “money back guarantee” to get reimbursed for a card that the post office showed delivered when they actually didn’t and it was either lost or stolen. I would imagine you can’t make claims like that all the time, but it’s nice to know that the guarantee is really meant to include things that are outside of your control as a buyer.


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It's nice if you're only a buyer. But if you're a seller it's a perfect set up for the scammers.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

It's nice if you're only a buyer. But if you're a seller it's a perfect set up for the scammers.

In those situations, more than likely Ebay covered the loss and the seller wasn't out any money, unless the seller has a history.

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Jim65

In those situations, more than likely Ebay covered the loss and the seller wasn't out any money, unless the seller has a history.

Not even sure what this means. When does ebay cover the cost?

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

It's nice if you're only a buyer. But if you're a seller it's a perfect set up for the scammers.

Not always great for a buyer. Bought a lot of 1963 Topps BB Cards, say $100 + shipping. Description said a few cards have writing. None in picture did. got the lot and out of 100 or so cards, 75-80 had a big "X" over the players picture. Returned not as described. Got a refund but was out shipping (both ways I think). Left a negative (only time I ever did so) saying "Cards were not as described". Negative disappeared. I guess the thing to do is leave a positive with a comment. Must be why everyone in Ebasy has at least 99.99% postitives.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

It's nice if you're only a buyer. But if you're a seller it's a perfect set up for the scammers.

Right. I quit selling on eBay a few years ago. There are simpler options now than in the late 90’s when I first joined eBay. And they decided a long time back that they were going to to the route of supporting the buyer in most cases over the seller. It’s pretty obvious today.


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[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Not even sure what this means. When does ebay cover the cost?

In an instance where the seller offers reasonable proof they delivered on their obligations. For example:

I've been a seller on eBay for years. No history of scamming people. I photograph the sold item, with shipping label, before boxing it up.

Buyer contacts eBay, claims they received an empty box, accuses me of fraud, demands their money back, etc.

So long as I handle things with eBay professionally (cannot stress this enough) and provide documentation, I will not be on the hook for a refund. They'll also remove negative feedback if the buyer goes down this road.

Be firm but polite. Don't panic, don't accuse, don't go beyond factual information when explaining your side. It might take a little patience. However, eBay is aware that there are scammers out there. Despite the grumbling and "I'm done with eBay" rants we've all heard, they're really not bad to work with.

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Eric72

In an instance where the seller offers reasonable proof they delivered on their obligations. For example:

I've been a seller on eBay for years. No history of scamming people. I photograph the sold item, with shipping label, before boxing it up.

Buyer contacts eBay, claims they received an empty box, accuses me of fraud, demands their money back, etc.

So long as I handle things with eBay professionally (cannot stress this enough) and provide documentation, I will not be on the hook for a refund. They'll also remove negative feedback if the buyer goes down this road.

Be firm but polite. Don't panic, don't accuse, don't go beyond factual information when explaining your side. It might take a little patience. However, eBay is aware that there are scammers out there. Despite the grumbling and "I'm done with eBay" rants we've all heard, they're really not bad to work with.

Are you speaking hypothetically or from experience? Seems odd to me a photograph would swing the pendulum in the seller's favor. How does a picture of the sold item prove it was in the box when you mailed it?

[RL]

ebay will not even look at pics.

many have tried, many have failed.

ebay will say that is not proof of what was sent

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Are you speaking hypothetically or from experience? Seems odd to me a photograph would swing the pendulum in the seller's favor. How does a picture of the sold item prove it was in the box when you mailed it?

This particular case is hypothetical.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by RL

ebay will not even look at pics.

many have tried, many have failed.

ebay will say that is not proof of what was sent

I have uploaded pictures during chats with eBay. They may have added that feature since the last time you interacted with them. I'm not quite sure when the capacity was enabled.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

...How does a picture of the sold item prove it was in the box when you mailed it?

I suppose it doesn't. It is one part of a larger collection of information, though.

• I had the item and shipping material (including label) on an otherwise empty desk
• I then placed the item in the box (or envelope, whatever package is appropriate for the item)
• I sealed the package and it remained sealed up to the point when I handed it to the USPS employee

So, if I know for certain that USPS received the item in a properly sealed box, it makes everything else easier to deal with.

If I shipped dozens of items per day, and it could have gotten mixed up somehow, that would be a different story.