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eBay seller does not accept returns

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 7:33 AM

Makes sense to me Douglas.

 

TF

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 3:46 AM

Doughless

I sell items I no longer want on ebay.  I never offer returns.  I'm not a store doing business, just a guy selling my personal stuff, and I'm not entertaining the notion of accomodating buyer's remorse. 

Broken, damaged, or not "as described" items are protected under ebay buyers policy regardless if I offer returns or not.

Sometimes I get questions about an item I'm selling, and while I answer the question best I can, I encourage prospective bidders to educate themselves about what they are bidding on as to not have buyer's remorse in the first place.

I price my items at what is usually fair market value since most of my itmes sell with only 1 or 2 bids.  I assume the buyer knows the item and its general value by taking time to shop around. 

Same here.

Rich

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Posted by Doughless on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 8:24 PM

I sell items I no longer want on ebay.  I never offer returns.  I'm not a store doing business, just a guy selling my personal stuff, and I'm not entertaining the notion of accomodating buyer's remorse. 

Broken, damaged, or not "as described" items are protected under ebay buyers policy regardless if I offer returns or not.

Sometimes I get questions about an item I'm selling, and while I answer the question best I can, I encourage prospective bidders to educate themselves about what they are bidding on as to not have buyer's remorse in the first place.

I price my items at what is usually fair market value since most of my itmes sell with only 1 or 2 bids.  I assume the buyer knows the item and its general value by taking time to shop around.

- Douglas

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 7:29 PM

Got it

Dockside came today and this thing is like new in the box, Flawless.  It doesn't even have any wear or blemishing on the wheels.

The thing runs like a top.  It's not the Baltimore & Ohio I once had but who cares. 

These little switchers are hard to come by in good shape and the price was right.  $27.00 shipping included.

 

Happy hereWink

 

 

TF

 

P.S.   This is the prime example of what stalls on the frog.  Perhaps I will have to Gun-It periodically until I have some Frog Juice on hand.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:09 PM

Evening

Well,  I learned a lot about ebay here that I didn't know before and I thank you guys for the input.

I'm actually kind of new to eBay about a year or two ago.  What I gathered here is between ebay and PayPal's policies, one can't really lose.

 

The tracking on the Dockside says it will be here Tuesday.  I'm crossing my fingers for the postal service on time.  I'm hopeful it runs good.

 

Hey!  Thanks for all the feedback hereYes

 

 

TF

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Posted by rrebell on Sunday, July 26, 2020 11:32 AM

E-bay will make them return money for shipping defective or wrong item.

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Posted by mlehman on Sunday, July 26, 2020 11:30 AM

riogrande5761
I'm pretty sure I've purchased from sellers that list no-returns. I know Ebay protects the buyer anyway so it hasn't put me off. Usually the sellers have a 99.9 or 100% rating.

riogrande5761 makes a very importnat point here. If you have a no return policy and you're 100% in your feedback over a significant number of sales, that's a really strong sign there's little to worry about the no return policy. I've got over 500 ratings and am still at 100% for instance.

If you're keeping people happy, then there's data that's solid.

As for those who do offer return policies for various reasons, often they are sellers with large numbers of sales, i.e. there's some sort of commercial outfit involved. That sort volume speaks to two things. First, there's plenty of sales in which the occassional misstep might happen because you can't really tell about all the problems that might arise in trading in what were orginally other people's stuff. Second, large sales volumes mean that the returns you do handle are just a small part of the cost of doing business.

For inidvidual sellers, that's really a different kettle of fish. You know what you're selling so can accurately describe the defects a used item may have.

That plus as was also noted, ebay and Paypal have policies that if an items is not as described, you can likely make the case for a refund from them and let them sort it out with the seller. That's also never happened with me.

Mike Lehman

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, July 26, 2020 10:46 AM

I have mentioned before in this thread that I use eBay to sell used items that I no longer need or want. I, for one, do not offer returns. And that is not at all unusual for individuals selling used items. In fact, a no return return policy is the default option when setting up an eBay listing. I don't believe that a no return policy signals any sort of mischievious behavior.

As for USPS shipping delays, I have recently sold items that have yet to be delivered three weeks later. Some have never been scanned, others have only infrequently been tracked. The problem is within the distribution centers where items lay stacked on the floor for days and weeks at a time.

Someone suggested that the problem may simply be my local distribution here in northern Illinois, but just Google "USPS package delays" and you will see that the problem is nationwide. The cause is understaffing, the elimination of overtime, and the mandate by the new Postmaster General that package processing and delivery be intentionally slowed down for budgetary reasons, but the issue is also political.

Rich

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 10:07 AM

Track fiddler

I have never had a problem with a policy like that as I understand why.  It makes a buyer think twice before kicking tires when they realize they will have out-of-pocket expenses for a returned item just because they didn't like it.

Sorry to hear you didn't receive some of the things your wife bought Rio.  That would really suck if you have a five finger discount mail lady.

TF

I'm pretty sure I've purchased from sellers that list no-returns.  I know Ebay protects the buyer anyway so it hasn't put me off.  Usually the sellers have a 99.9 or 100% rating.  I've had a couple items with a defect in the past year.  One arranged for me to return the items and refunded me, the other refunded my money and didn't require the item be returned.  All was made satisfactorallly well.

As for the two wifes orders that never came, Amazon replaced and resent the spice rack so we got it after a delay.  As for the gazebo misquito net, we disputed it via PayPal and got our money back.  The only bad thing is the item was on sale for a good price so we ended up not getting one at this time.  The one we have now is ok, but they wear out so wife wanted a replacement one.  It just seems odd the tracking shows it was delivered - only possibilities is it was taken by the postal lady, stolen off the porch (if so, first time i am aware of) or a glitch in the postal tracking system; and from what I've heard in past few months, that is not uncommon with the postal issues during the Pandemic.

The good news is, while while many of us have experienced some inconveniences, few have had any real losses.  Mostly issues seem to be long transit times.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by willy6 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 9:08 AM

My E-Bay experience has been good for non model railroad items and has been poor for model railroad items. My model railroad items was a matter of spending more money to correct the problem or bite the bullet and live with it, I took the latter. Also I read somewhere where USPS is having problems, expect delays, but I did not see the reason why. I do know that some of my Amazon items which normally come via USPS are now UPS.

Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, July 26, 2020 8:25 AM

riogrande5761

 

 
Medina1128

Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about. 

 

One might think that.  But I've noticed a lot of sellers list no returns.  Are they all selling dodgy items?  As someone pointed out earlier, it might be they've had dodgy buyers who have remorse or soemthing.  

 

Another good point well taken.

I agree with you on this point as well.  I see sellers that have a way around this issue.  A seller having in thier policy-  Returned items, unless defective or damaged, the buyer will pay return shipping.

I have never had a problem with a policy like that as I understand why.  It makes a buyer think twice before kicking tires when they realize they will have out-of-pocket expenses for a returned item just because they didn't like it.

Sorry to hear you didn't receive some of the things your wife bought Rio.  That would really suck if you have a five finger discount mail lady.

 

 

TF

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 8:16 AM

Medina1128

Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about. 

One might think that.  But I've noticed a lot of sellers list no returns.  Are they all selling dodgy items?  As someone pointed out earlier, it might be they've had dodgy buyers who have remorse or soemthing.  

I'm pretty sure I've bought from sellers who 

Following up on my two items that were 10 days and hadn't shown up, they showed up later that day and took 10 days.  A long time compared to last year before the pandemic, but they arrived.  My wife reported she ordered a new screen set for our gazebo and it never did arrive.  Supposedly the tracking says it was delivered but we never got it.  She disputed it via PayPal and we got our money back.  So that's two things we never did get.  One was a spice rack ordered from Amazon - tracking trail went cold at the post office (never received) and the Gazebo mosquito net, tracking says it was delivered be we never received it)   Both situtaions were rectiifed.  My wife to this day thinks we have a dodgy mail lady.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:54 AM

Medina1128

Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about. 

One might think that.  But I've noticed a lot of sellers list no returns.  Are they all selling dodgy items?  As someone pointed out earlier, it might be they've had dodgy buyers who have remorse or soemthing.  

 

Following up on my two items that were 10 days and hadn't shown up, they showed up later that day and took 10 days.  A long time compared to last year before the pandemic, but they arrived.  My wife reported she ordered a new screen set for our gazebo and it never did arrive.  Supposedly the tracking says it was delivered but we never got it.  She disputed it via PayPal and we got our money back.  So that's two things we never did get.  One was a spice rack ordered from Amazon - tracking trail went cold at the post office (never received) and the Gazebo mosquito net, tracking says it was delivered be we never received it)   Both situtaions were rectiifed.  My wife to this day thinks we have a dodgy mail lady.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, July 26, 2020 7:22 AM

And that is the way I think Marlon.  My point exactly.

A seller should preview all their products for sale to the best of their ability so they don't have problems with their buyers in the first place.  It's to their own best interest to keep their buyers confident buying from them.

A problem and a return once in awhile maintains their satisfied customer rating.  That is a good thing.

Once upon a time it was called excellent customer service.  I noticed the sellers in the top 90% rating still have it.  I'm always confident buying from them.

 

 

TF

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Posted by Medina1128 on Sunday, July 26, 2020 6:43 AM

Personally, I find a seller that won't accept returns a red flag. It's often a sign that there may be an issue that they know about. 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Friday, July 24, 2020 8:25 PM

Good evening

I never dabbled with selling things on eBay.  I'm a good buyer thoughWhistling  I probably should try it.  I have a lot of stuff I could part with.  I don't know that I would be concerned about having a reserve on selling something that's not in use.  I think I would set a below reasonable starting bid though.

It seems some here are not having delays with the Postal Service.  I hope I can have some good luck like that as I'm pretty anxious to get the stuff I bought.

I have one of those West India Fruit cars with the Steamship on it somewhere in these Stacks Randy.  I like that oneYes

 

 

TF

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Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, July 24, 2020 7:11 PM

I have no complaints about USPS.. I bought three Accurail 40' boxcars last  Sunday and recieved them today.

For any enquiring minds wanting to know those three boxcars was two Santa Fes and a West India Fruit & Steamship with the car ferry logo.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, July 24, 2020 8:45 AM

tin can

I sell everything via auction, and I start the bidding low, most of the times at a penny.  If it sells for a penny, so be it. 

You're not alone, tin can. A lot of auctions begin with a penny, 9 cents, 99 cents. I just cannot bring myself to do that. I start the bidding with the lowest price that I am willing to accept.

Rich

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Posted by tin can on Friday, July 24, 2020 8:14 AM

mlehman

I always auction with a no return policy. It's my stuff originally, so I'm pretty sure what shape things are in and how they're described. I start with a very attractive pricing and generally no reserve.

Aware of that, bidders should still factor this into their bidding. Buying on ebay isn't the same as buying an item new from the dealer network. In fact, a lot of mfgs won't honor a warranty on a item on ebay. The buyer should not expect the same results if they happen to get something that truns out to have a problem. If it's accurately described is what's important here.

I simply don't want to deal with buyer's remorse. If you tend to have that over even the slightest defect, you probably shouldn't buy on ebay anyway. That $27 loco that doesn't run is still a $27 pile of spare parts, at worst.

 

I agree completely.  I have been selling on ebay for over 20 years; the last 15 selling off the inventory of my closed hobby shop.  Everything i sell is in good shape; I describe it accurately, and I disclose that I do not accept returns.  I sell everything via auction, and I start the bidding low, most of the times at a penny.  If it sells for a penny, so be it.

Remember the tin can; the MKT's central Texas branch...
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, July 24, 2020 7:44 AM

Track fiddler

I hope this slow Postal Service you've all been talking about doesn't bite me in the butt.  I have 5 internet net orders out and only three of the five that say they've been shipped.

One of the packages that I dropped off at my local post office, using USPS Priority Mail, on July 7th was never scanned and never tracked - - until today. The one and only scan says that the package is Out For Delivery, some 17 days later.

Rich

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Posted by Track fiddler on Friday, July 24, 2020 7:36 AM

Good morning all

I hope this slow Postal Service you've all been talking about doesn't bite me in the butt.  I have 5 internet net orders out and only three of the five that say they've been shipped.

After three years of starting my layout it's about time this indecisive kid has finally made a decision on track and turnouts, although it's a good thing that I waited.  PECO code 55 Flex track and the new unifrog turnouts.  I also ordered 35 PECO terminal joiners with wire feeds.  No Ox ID Especial conductive grease for lubing the terminal joiners.  ME Bridge track.

Hope they all come soon so I can get the ball rolling.

Mel, ...I have admired that steam locomotive you purchased from your paper route when you posted it before.  Amazing you still have it and it still works after 69 years.  That's was the difference between working hard for your own money and purchasing something yourself instead of someone just giving it to you when we were young.  It made you appreciate it more so you took care of itYes 

I know that steamer is like an old friend to you.  I'm sure you were bummed out when it took a fall.  I'm glad you were able to find a replacement shell for it.

 

 

TF

 

 

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, July 24, 2020 7:18 AM

mbinsewi

I've never had any issue with the USPS on shipping or receiving Ebay purchases, and most of my layout, including locos, rolling stock, and structures have come through Ebay through the years.

I've ALWAYS used PayPal for each purchase.

Mike.

As a rule, I've had good results with Ebay shipping.  Since my wife and I moved to our current home, and long before the pandemic, she ordered a Spice Rack from Amazon.  The tracking showed it arrived at a local post office a couple miles from here and the trail went cold.  She figured a postal worker decided to take it home with them. LOL.  Maybe.  Other than that, we've had pretty good service here.

Then a few months ago there have been days I put a bill in the mail box to go out, and by late in the day, it was still in the mail box never picked up so I had to drive it to a post office.  I've had to do that maybe 5 or 6 times. I've had one or two arrive late and request late fee be removed.  I've taken to mailing out bills an extra day or two sooner than in the past.  I've also noticed the mail carrier, who used to make the rounds between 11 and noon now don't deliver until often a couple hours later.

As for Ebay shipping, it normally has been quite good, with only one or two taking much longer than usual.  But all of the sudden in the past couple weeks, I have several items that seem to be taking a very long time ordered from Ebay.  At least two models were paid for on July 14 and here it is 10 days later and no parcels yet.

One in Ebay shows two shipping parcels for one item, weird, and no tracking history.  Since it's been ten days I messaged the seller, and asked if the item was actually shipped.  I may be looking for a refund on that one if ultimately it's a no show.

The other, also paid for on July 14 appears to be slowly on it's way.  There is no tracking history between the 14th and 21st but it shows at a local major USPS distribution facility so may finally arrive today or tomorrow.

OTOH, I purchased a couple models from Spring Creek Hobbies in NE and their parcel arrive fairly quickly, I think 2 days.

I've seen enough to know the postal service is clearly having issues.  My past experience is they have been very reliable.  Past 6 months, not as much.  And with 3/4 of the country seeing a rise in COVID19 infections, it's probably going to not get any better until the pandemic gets under better control.  The good news is there are some major vacine trails with good results - hopefully this fall or winter they will be available to start knocking this thing down.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, July 23, 2020 10:33 PM

mbinsewi

I've never had any issue with the USPS on shipping or receiving Ebay purchases, and most of my layout, including locos, rolling stock, and structures have come through Ebay through the years. 

Times have changed, Mike.

USPS is understaffed and employees can no longer work overtime. The new Postmaster General has ordered postal employees to leave mail behind at the end of the day. Package volume has increased dramatically, and distribution centers are overloaded with undelivered packages. Scanning and tracking is no longer taking place on a timely basis. The USPS Priority Mail system is broken.

Rich

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Posted by mlehman on Thursday, July 23, 2020 10:24 PM

I always auction with a no return policy. It's my stuff originally, so I'm pretty sure what shape things are in and how they're described. I start with a very attractive pricing and generally no reserve.

Aware of that, bidders should still factor this into their bidding. Buying on ebay isn't the same as buying an item new from the dealer network. In fact, a lot of mfgs won't honor a warranty on a item on ebay. The buyer should not expect the same results if they happen to get something that truns out to have a problem. If it's accurately described is what's important here.

I simply don't want to deal with buyer's remorse. If you tend to have that over even the slightest defect, you probably shouldn't buy on ebay anyway. That $27 loco that doesn't run is still a $27 pile of spare parts, at worst.

Mike Lehman

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, July 23, 2020 9:24 PM

I have had USPS problems on shipping. 

I screwed up on an address for an Ebay customer.  The guy lived in some sort of private ski community in Colorado and had one address for UPS and one for the USPS.  I mailed it to the UPS address.  They couldn't deliver it.

It had my return address.  They sent it back to Baltimore, where it sat for nearly 2 weeks.  I called Baltimore and no one could or maybe tried to find it.  I could track it online every step of the way.  Next stop the dead letter office.

You can't call the dead letter office, all you can do is go to the post office and have the postmaster fill out a form, which I did.  I never saw that package again.

I have also had my address rejected as no such address on my Ebay purchases.  One year I couldn't pay my bill to the HVAC company that services my furnace, because even though they were in the same location for 20 years, USPS said it was an invalid address.

You talk to the relevant post office and nobody knows nuthin.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, July 23, 2020 9:00 PM

I've never had any issue with the USPS on shipping or receiving Ebay purchases, and most of my layout, including locos, rolling stock, and structures have come through Ebay through the years.

I've ALWAYS used PayPal for each purchase.

Mike.

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Posted by Deane Johnson on Thursday, July 23, 2020 8:43 PM

Following up on some of the previous posts, the USPS is very much badly broken.  Be prepared for a lot of nonsense.  I had one shipment from Kansas City arrive in my location, Omaha.  But, no delivery locally for four days. Then suddenly it showed up in the tracking as having arrived in Honolulu.

This weeks package from Train World left N.Y. Monday morning.  Each day it bounced around Eastern cities where it shouldn't have been, now today it's in San Fransico.  The USPS apparently thinks that the most direct route from NYC to Omaha is through San Francisco.

So, what struck me on the issue the OP raised, the risk of the item not running is down the list a ways.  The collapsing USPS system is becoming a bigger issue if you're depending on USPS to deliver it in any sort of reasonable time frame and not jolt the item into not running as it bounces from city to city, then finally to your address.  

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Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, July 23, 2020 8:23 PM

Track fiddler

 For some reason I like replacing these childhood toys. 

 

 

TF

 

You are not alone TF.  I have my first HO locomotive that I bought with paper route money 69 years ago.


It still runs perfect!  It’s been painted about 5 times and as you can see it still looks great.  It took a 3’ fall in the early 90s and broke off a front step.  A very gracious lady at MDC sent me a new frame at no cost.  Other than that it is original including the headlight and tender light, 12 volt Grain of Wheat bulbs.

It must have hundreds of hours of run time and still runs great. 



Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, July 23, 2020 7:52 PM

That would make too much sense BrentLaugh  I have had sellers do that in the past quickly after I posted a question.  They obviously had the video ready already.  Smart seller,  I bought it moments later.

I went for it Mister B.  PayPal confirmation, Dockside will be on its way.  For some reason I like replacing these childhood toys. 

Thanks for all the feedback here everyone.  I'll let you all know if it works well or not when I get itYes

 

 

TF

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, July 23, 2020 5:02 PM

It would take the guy seconds to video the engine running with his phone and send it to you.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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