Ebay- how can I protect myself in the future?

[Elsa]

I sold a pair of pants on ebay. Shipped them out. I received a message from the buyer that they were ripped and she wanted a full refund. She sent a picture.

They were NOT ripped when I sent them. I know this 100%. It's not a small rip- I couldn't have missed it AND I inspect everything before listing and again before mailing.

Anyways. I suspect she damaged the item. I have a no returns policy and I'm guessing they didn't fit, she wanted to return but couldn't, so she decided to make it so that the item was delivered damaged or not as described so she could get her money back. Now I'm going to be out the money (bc ebay always sides with the buyer, ugh) AND the pants are ripped. Bitch.

How do I prevent something like this happening again? Pictures? What can I do?

[MixedBerryJam]

Apr 24, 2015 16:24:59 GMT -5 Elsa said:

Can't you leave reviews for buyers? I'd do that if I could. With exactly what you said here (maybe adding a few more "I suspects"). Sorry.

(ETA: Removed the quote, in case you leave a review with any of this info, I wouldn't want to be the cause of some nutjob tracking you down.)

[slcjess]

Did the pictures in your listing show the spot she claimed came ripped? Like, if she said the right knee is all ripped up, is the right knee visible in your listing photos?

[slcjess]

Apr 24, 2015 16:26:37 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Apr 24, 2015 16:24:59 GMT -5 Elsa said:

I sold a pair of pants on ebay. Shipped them out. I received a message from the buyer that they were ripped and she wanted a full refund. She sent a picture.

They were NOT ripped when I sent them. I know this 100%. It's not a small rip- I couldn't have missed it AND I inspect everything before listing and again before mailing.

Anyways. I suspect she damaged the item. I have a no returns policy and I'm guessing they didn't fit, she wanted to return but couldn't, so she decided to make it so that the item was delivered damaged or not as described so she could get her money back. Now I'm going to be out the money (bc ebay always sides with the buyer, ugh) AND the pants are ripped. Bitch.

How do I prevent something like this happening again? Pictures? What can I do?

Can't you leave reviews for buyers? I'd do that if I could. With exactly what you said here (maybe adding a few more "I suspects"). Sorry.

You can leave reviews for buyers, but only positives. They will remove any negative comments. 
Plus it looks bad when the 'business' (AKA you) leaves bad reviews fro a 'customer' because the transaction did not go as planned, so don't do that. 

[Elsa]

Apr 24, 2015 16:26:42 GMT -5 slcjess said:

Did the pictures in your listing show the spot she claimed came ripped? Like, if she said the right knee is all ripped up, is the right knee visible in your listing photos?

It's a seam on the side of the pant. I'm not sure the pictures show that exact seam. Still I think she could claim that They were damaged in between posting and mailing

[slcjess]

Apr 24, 2015 16:28:13 GMT -5 Elsa said:

Apr 24, 2015 16:26:42 GMT -5 slcjess said:

Did the pictures in your listing show the spot she claimed came ripped? Like, if she said the right knee is all ripped up, is the right knee visible in your listing photos?

It's a seam on the side of the pant. I'm not sure the pictures show that exact seam. Still I think she could claim that They were damaged in between posting and mailing

Hmmm. I would go back over your listing pics and see if you can see that seam.
You can also appeal the case (I think you can do it in the resolution center, or you can call and do it on the phone) and have someone else take a look at it. If you can see in the pics that the seam was definitely NOT ripped, I would call and appeal over the phone and probably ask for a supervisor. If you want, I'll take a look at the listing if you pm me the item #

[ginger]

Some people will always scam the system. I think you're just screwed this time. Ebay is VERY buyer protective...seller be screwed.

[pixy0stix]

Take pictures of every angle with the mailing label visible (so showing that the pictures were taken after item purchase).

[EmilieMadison]

In the future, you could say "No returns, exchanges or refunds" on your listing.
You could also offer shipping insurance (at a cost) in case something is damaged in transit, and if they opt out of that, it's not on you.

[Serenity9]

Raise your prices to account for shrinkage

[killercupcake]

Apr 24, 2015 16:34:16 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

In the future, you could say "No returns, exchanges or refunds" on your listing.
You could also offer shipping insurance (at a cost) in case something is damaged in transit, and if they opt out of that, it's not on you.

This is probably your best option. 

Ebay sucks in that they always side with buyers and you can't leave negative feedback for a buyer (which is the most bizarre thing ever). 

I got screwed over like this once on Ebay and I just stopped selling there. It wasn't worth the trouble. 

[slcjess]

Apr 24, 2015 16:34:16 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

In the future, you could say "No returns, exchanges or refunds" on your listing.
You could also offer shipping insurance (at a cost) in case something is damaged in transit, and if they opt out of that, it's not on you.

You can say that you have no returns, but that won't make any difference if a case is filed, eBay offers protection, and that trumps the sellers return policy. (I hope I'm not coming across bitchy in this post, lol). Because eBay can't say FOR SURE what condition the item was received in, shipping insurance is the best way to go, to know that you won't be out your money, because they will always just say 'we don't know, just send it back and get a refund'. You just never know which items to invest in insurance with. 
I would actually recommend having a 14 day buyers remorse policy and just accepting returns, esp if you plan to sell quite a bit, because 1- that makes people happy to see 2- as you can see, if they want to return it badly enough, they will either way, and 3- if you have a claim filed against you, it counts against your account, where if you just take the refund, its a better buying experience and no defects. 

[slcjess]

You can also report a buyer with this link: ocsnext.ebay.com/ocs/sr?&query=1569 or by calling CS and having them file one, if you think they are misuing the protection.

[stellas]

Apr 24, 2015 16:33:07 GMT -5 ginger said:

Some people will always scam the system. I think you're just screwed this time. Ebay is VERY buyer protective...seller be screwed.

Yup.