Important Ebay Situation For Sellers/Buyers

[Wire Weasel]

There is a huge situation going on at paybay that an unbelievable number of sellers are paying no attention to and they should. Several months ago ebay made a change enhancing the condition-description of items. When selling an item you must choose a condition category. They are: New, New Other, Seller Refurbished, Used, or For Parts or Not Working.

Most sellers, especially these yard salers and estate salers are choosing USED for used electronics items...like our radio gear.

Here's the fun part. Ebay's definition of USED reads ".....may show some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended...."

So that is a defacto GUARANTEE that the item WORKS 100% AS SHOULD !!!!!

Sellers frequently go on in their text description to state stuff like: untested, as-is, no warranty, no returns ect...

BUT THAT IS ALL COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS

If you buy something listed as USED and it doesn't work, then it instantly qualifies as Significantly Not As Described and you can make the seller take the item back.

I have had to do this half a dozen times and ebay has sided with me every time.

Further...if the seller refuses to voluntarily take the item back and forces you to file a claim, ebay will not only refund your money (which forcibly comes from the seller of course) but will let you keep the item as well. This has happened with me on each occasion!

So y'all just be aware that this situation is going on. I both buy and sell on ebay and have good success. If selling and don't want to warranty the item/face taking it back for refund....then list your items as For Parts or Not Working. You can go on to explain in your ad what the circumstances and real condition of the item is. You might think that your item won't bring as much money if listed that way but that isn't necessarily so. But this WILL be the ONLY way you can get away with selling something as NO WARRANTY-NO RETURNS.

Likewise for buyers, you can feel better about buying anything listed as USED but you will know that you have a ebay guarantee of it working or they will get you a refund and maybe even get to keep the item to boot.

Just be sure, if you have to file a complaint for return as Significantly Not as Described, to choose your words carefully. Point out ebay's definition of "used" and clearly state what you found wrong with the item qualifying it as "not fully operational or functioning as intended."

This is all a good thing. Buyer's are protected against rip-offs and sellers should read the rules and know what they're doing.

Be aware

 

[longhaireddwb]

Good to know. Thanks for sharing!

 

[mackmobile43]

There is a huge situation going on at paybay that an unbelievable number of sellers are paying no attention to and they should. Several months ago ebay made a change enhancing the condition-description of items. When selling an item you must choose a condition category. They are: New, New Other, Seller Refurbished, Used, or For Parts or Not Working.

Most sellers, especially these yard salers and estate salers are choosing USED for used electronics items...like our radio gear.

Here's the fun part. Ebay's definition of USED reads ".....may show some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended...."

So that is a defacto GUARANTEE that the item WORKS 100% AS SHOULD !!!!!

Sellers frequently go on in their text description to state stuff like: untested, as-is, no warranty, no returns ect...

BUT THAT IS ALL COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS

If you buy something listed as USED and it doesn't work, then it instantly qualifies as Significantly Not As Described and you can make the seller take the item back.

I have had to do this half a dozen times and ebay has sided with me every time.

Further...if the seller refuses to voluntarily take the item back and forces you to file a claim, ebay will not only refund your money (which forcibly comes from the seller of course) but will let you keep the item as well. This has happened with me on each occasion!

So y'all just be aware that this situation is going on. I both buy and sell on ebay and have good success. If selling and don't want to warranty the item/face taking it back for refund....then list your items as For Parts or Not Working. You can go on to explain in your ad what the circumstances and real condition of the item is. You might think that your item won't bring as much money if listed that way but that isn't necessarily so. But this WILL be the ONLY way you can get away with selling something as NO WARRANTY-NO RETURNS.

Likewise for buyers, you can feel better about buying anything listed as USED but you will know that you have a ebay guarantee of it working or they will get you a refund and maybe even get to keep the item to boot.

Just be sure, if you have to file a complaint for return as Significantly Not as Described, to choose your words carefully. Point out ebay's definition of "used" and clearly state what you found wrong with the item qualifying it as "not fully operational or functioning as intended."

This is all a good thing. Buyer's are protected against rip-offs and sellers should read the rules and know what they're doing.

Be aware

That's why I contact the seller and ask certain questions so embarrassing little issues like this don't ruin an otherwise AWESOME transaction.

 

[pro151]

They are letting lineyar amplifars sell without saying a word lately, but it is still a buyers world on eBay now.

 

[mackmobile43]

That's AWESOME.

 

[Wire Weasel]

That's why I contact the seller and ask certain questions so embarrassing little issues like this don't ruin an otherwise AWESOME transaction.

Yeah but you can't ask a tech question to some soccer mom who bought a D104 at a yard sale. But you want to buy the mic 'cause it looks good and the price is right. You aren't really taking a chance if THEY "goof up" and list it as USED. If the mic is good then all is well. If the mic is bad you can make them take it back no matter what else they say in the ad.

 

[mackmobile43]

Yeah but you can't ask a tech question to some soccer mom who bought a D104 at a yard sale. But you want to buy the mic 'cause it looks good and the price is right. You aren't really taking a chance if THEY "goof up" and list it as USED. If the mic is good then all is well. If the mic is bad you can make them take it back no matter what else they say in the ad.

So with all this buyer safety isn't ebay going to raise their administrative fees to cover the cost of all these honest mistakes? (something else to bitch about) or couldn't they just add a step in the item filing process that forces the sellers to acknowledge that they have read and understand their obligations if they chose to file a bogus sale?

Seems to me to be a cheaper for all answer to this issue and if the seller gets say 3 of these claims against her then she'll lose her sellers's account and be banned from future sales.

I know if I were to read a warning about this type of fraud it would make me re-read or reconsider my future with ebay.

Just me? honesty is a good thing but I've not been screwed over too bad on ebay so I suppose I'm not really awfully worried since I use paypal only and am covered by their fraud policies.

 

[Wire Weasel]

So with all this buyer safety isn't ebay going to raise their administrative fees to cover the cost of all these honest mistakes? (something else to bitch about) or couldn't they just add a step in the item filing process that forces the sellers to acknowledge that they have read and understand their obligations if they chose to file a bogus sale?

Seems to me to be a cheaper for all answer to this issue and if the seller gets say 3 of these claims against her then she'll lose her sellers's account and be banned from future sales.

I know if I were to read a warning about this type of fraud it would make me re-read or reconsider my future with ebay.

Just me? honesty is a good thing but I've not been screwed over too bad on ebay so I suppose I'm not really awfully worried since I use paypal only and am covered by their fraud policies.

Well I dunno Mack. I don't think ebay is losing any money much over a sale that goes bad. It's the seller that has to choke up the refund. Ebay doesn't pay for shit. As to seller's with claims against them....most are honest mistakes.

Somebody has something. They list it saying "I don't know what this is - can't test it - here it is - here's the starting price - bid or don't." I don't see the problem here. It's still a straight up deal. It's the seller's responsibility to know and understand the auction terms and rules and same for the buyers. Ebay announces all of their changes in terms and it's everybody's responsibility to pay attention.

If a seller doesn't want to take an item back or issue a refund, then all they need to do is list an "untested - unknown working condition" item as: For Parts Or Not Working - then the seller is covered. Now the buyer is taking the chance and should bid accordingly.

I'm just trying to let folks know that they're safe in buying a radio item in any event IF the item is listed as USED. Likewise for folks who sell - they need to properly list their items to obtain their desired outcome.

I used a D104 as an example because I buy quite a few of them to put my Tweety Birds in. There are ALOT of D104's on ebay any given week. 90% of all D104's listed are by sellers who say the usual blah blah blah - looks good, don't know if it works - can't test it - yadda yadda. 95% of these get listed as USED. So I bid on ones I need, ones that are in acceptable cosmetic condition and for what I'm willing to pay. Only 3 in 10 of the ones I get work properly and are as described in the ad. The other seven I end up making the buyer take back or maybe the mic has some problem or situation I can fix and will ask for a partial refund or something and keep the mic. 99% of the time the seller's cooperate because they want that all-important positive feedback for the transaction.

It's never the buyer's fault if the seller doesn't know what they're doing.

 

[wcsd106]

Further...if the seller refuses to voluntarily take the item back and forces you to file a claim, ebay will not only refund your money (which forcibly comes from the seller of course) but will let you keep the item as well. This has happened with me on each occasion!

For what it's worth, that may be the case but you would be obligated to return the item to the seller. If the seller wanted to make a case of it, they would be able to file in civil court and/or contact their local police department. Ebay policy does not supersede state and federal statutes.

Not saying that you are doing anything intentional, Wire Weasel, but I didn't want people getting the wrong impression and less-than-honest people deciding to try to exploit a loophole in ebay policy.

 

[Wire Weasel]

For what it's worth, that may be the case but you would be obligated to return the item to the seller. If the seller wanted to make a case of it, they would be able to file in civil court and/or contact their local police department. Ebay policy does not supersede state and federal statutes.

Not saying that you are doing anything intentional, Wire Weasel, but I didn't want people getting the wrong impression and less-than-honest people deciding to try to exploit a loophole in ebay policy.

Sure thing. The times ebay has let me keep the item as well as receive a refund, it has been their decision. I didn't ask. It is highly unlikely that anyone is going to go across-country with the law over a $20 or $30 item.

Also, anytime there is a dispute I put the seller on my Blocked Bidders list so they can't buy anything from me and try to do something against one of my sales out of revenge. There are mean people out there. Most sellers appear to accept ebay's decision and learn their lessons. After all, it is their own fault for not learning/following/understanding the auction rules.

Thanks

 

[mackmobile43]

Sure thing. The times ebay has let me keep the item as well as receive a refund, it has been their decision. I didn't ask. It is highly unlikely that anyone is going to go across-country with the law over a $20 or $30 item.

Also, anytime there is a dispute I put the seller on my Blocked Bidders list so they can't buy anything from me and try to do something against one of my sales out of revenge. There are mean people out there. Most sellers appear to accept ebay's decision and learn their lessons. After all, it is their own fault for not learning/following/understanding the auction rules.

Thanks

Do not forget the seller has friends who quickly become your enemies also and can do that sellers biddings< intentional pun and still hang you up by your nuts so the best thing to do is just chalk it up to a bad deal and remember ebay is not your friend as you're thinking.

Take your own advise and let the $20 or $30 item be a lesson learned and stop being the defender of the world.