EBay Safety Tips

[mmmsc]

Originally Posted by kannewguy

Check out goofbay.com for seller's history and feedback.

You can also go to www.toolhaus.org (that is .org NOT .com) to check previous negs and neutrals (both received and given.) Ebay will now only let you see the last few months of a person's fb. With toolhaus you can get a real idea of what the person's seling/buying history is since it tells their fb from the beginning of their account. Sometimes it is staggering (the amount of neg FB's)!!! And of course on ebay you would never know...

[BarbAga]

I have a question for everyone, I am not meaning to judge, just ask!!! Is there some reason to have No refund on ebay. Just curious .. I have been checking out a ton of purse's and I just am not sure about the ones not accepting returns. I have only been here for a couple of weeks, and couldn't find any sort of message about this. If it has been addressed, please forward me there. thank you for your time everyone.

[Ellie Mae]

Originally Posted by BarbAga

I have a question for everyone, I am not meaning to judge, just ask!!! Is there some reason to have No refund on ebay. Just curious .. I have been checking out a ton of purse's and I just am not sure about the ones not accepting returns. I have only been here for a couple of weeks, and couldn't find any sort of message about this. If it has been addressed, please forward me there. thank you for your time everyone.

Most sellers do list "NO RETURNS/REFUND ACCEPTED" simply to deter buyers changing their minds and wanting to make returns as if the seller were a retail store.
HOWEVER, in the event that an item be SNAD (significantly not as described), PP gives no regard to a seller stating that they will not accept returns.
So, do I think it has a purpose.. sure. IMO..A seller should not have to accept a return just because a buyer changes their mind. However, a seller DOES need to stand behind condition and authenticity of an item.
As a seller, I would state that in my auctions also. But in the event of SNAD claim, it really won't matter.

[shinymagpie]

Originally Posted by Ellie Mae

Most sellers do list "NO RETURNS/REFUND ACCEPTED" simply to deter buyers changing their minds and wanting to make returns as if the seller were a retail store. HOWEVER, in the event that an item be SNAD (significantly not as described), PP gives no regard to a seller stating that they will not accept returns. So, do I think it has a purpose.. sure. IMO..A seller should not have to accept a return just because a buyer changes their mind. However, a seller DOES need to stand behind condition and authenticity of an item. As a seller, I would state that in my auctions also. But in the event of SNAD claim, it really won't matter.

[BarbAga]

Thanks ya'll I will just do some more research if it is something I want to bid on.

[mystiach]

As a buyer, I got totally burned with fake burberry shoes (if only I had known about TPF two months ago! Glaring at the picture now ... it is SO OBVIOUSLY fake ... I was totally naive ), didn't know about opening a SNAD until after the 45 days had elapsed, and was so polite in waiting for a response from seller (took over a week for each response, and suddenly 30 days were gone) that I couldn't even leave negative feedback at the end of it all! Before buying you should know about all the ins and outs of Paypal, Ebay disputes and their policies...

I now always ask sellers what season an item is from and never bid on items that don't have super high quality photos that are close up with all the important details. Also, if it's second hand, they MUST have detailed pics and description of damage/wear. If they haven't bothered to do this, it's not worth the risk. I am aware that some honest sellers may not meet my exacting standards but I am totally against fake merchandise and from experience people who sell authentic usually really care about the items and therefore put much more effort into their presentation. I actually now only buy from a saved sellers list which I have compiled from "trusted sellers" discussed on TPF! And research, research, research... even the teeniest tiniest doubt and I don't buy. And of course post on Authenticate threads here!

I'd be happy to hear more tips!

[takoyoshi]

I've read the whole thread and its great!
I am not a seller yet and I don't have a paypall account.
So after you receive funds to your paypall you empty it out? How do you do that to your bank account?
What if you dont have any funds in your paypall and they buyer complains? Will ebay or paypall charge your cc?

Thanks,

Wanna b ebay seller! haha

[Speedah]

^^
You can link your bank account to your Paypal account. Some people have a special bank account ONLY for Paypal. If a dispute/claim is opened against you your account will go into the negative and you will be restricted on any activity until you restore your negative balance. I'm not sure if it's new but I saw in the updated user agreement as I was skimming through that they may go to collection agencies and report it to the credit bureaus also.

If you do have funds in your account they will immediately go towards the disputed amount and are in "limbo" until it's resolved (either Paypal will send back if they find in your favor or refund the buyer if they find against you).

[gabriellelee186]

One of the most important things that you need to remember when using eBay is that you created a sign in name or a screen name for yourself. That screen name is used so that you do not have to provide other eBay users with your real name. Yes, if you were to make a purchase online, you would need to give the eBay seller your real name and address, but that is the only time that you should do so. You should never give an eBay seller information about yourself, unless you have won an item from them on the eBay website.

[kerosundae]

Originally Posted by secret shopaholic

Always use a sellers mark whether it be a marker only seen by you or a tag that cannot be removed unless the buyer is keeping the bag. This helps to aid in the whole bait and switch scams.

I didn't quite understand this, but it sounds like an important thing to do, can someone explain to the hard-of-learning?

[takoyoshi]

it sure is tough trying to sell, no1 is bidding on my items. yet people are frantically bidding on fakes =/

[shinymagpie]

How to almost bullet proof yourself from unpaid items.... These steps have made my selling time so much more fun.

1. My Ebay
2. My Account tab
3. Site Preferences
4. Buyer Requirements
5. Edit
6. Block Buyers without a PayPal account (eBay says 80% of NPBs have no PayPal)
7. Block Buyers with 2 unpaid item strikes within 12 months (You have to select these, the default is 3 within 3 months I think, which is waaaaaayyy too generous)
8. Block buyers with Policy Violations (4 within 6 months is the minimum setting)
9. Block buyers with -1 feedback score
10. Bonus extra option is to block people who are winning more than X items in 10 days. You can set the minimum feedback requirements. Don't get too carried away here or you might lose the dream multiple item buyer. The benefit here is that it stops people who are first time eBayers winning all your items in their excitement. I like new buyers, but I can't have them win all my items at once! They can always email me to ask for the restriction to be lifted if they are keen.
11. Choose apply to current and future listings. (this last step is very very important.)

Note: you can also block countries if you want to. You can now select individual countries from a region.

You can then watch who is being blocked by these steps

1. My eBay
2. My account
3. Site Preferences
4. Buyer Requirements
5. Buyer Requirements Activity Log

I have used this to stare in amazement at the number of people with strikes who would have bid on my items.
I have also used it to spot low feedback buyers who paid reliably and to grant them exemption from conditions. If you do find you have blocked one of your reliable new buyers, then just send them a note to explain it's not personal, just a filter and they will turn into wonderful repeat customers!

Hope this is useful. Using these steps certainly improved my quality of life!

[Ellie Mae]

HA! Helpful? That post ought to win a prize!!

[shinymagpie]

Originally Posted by Ellie Mae

HA! Helpful? That post ought to win a prize!!

Why thank you, Ellie Mae!

[i<3bags]

Erm, I was messaging a seller today about an item I bought and I didn't see the "Block email address from "username". Is that a change? Or does that only show up when you are asking about items which you are watching (before bidding)? Thanks!