How's this for a messed up customer? A bit long.

[Starless]

Been selling the rest of my film camera equipment and parts on EBay. Running low so I decided to start selling my record albums while there's still a demand. Sold two Beatles albums to some guy. While on vacation he texts me wanting The White Album I have listed for $35 plus shipping for $20 shipping included. Claims it's in rough shape. Don't know where he got that from. I tell him I'll be in touch when I get back, poor wi-fi. Meanwhile I get another text from another buyer who bought two albums and wants me to hold off shipping so he can bid on the White Album. I tell this to the other guy and he goes nuts. Too bad. So two weeks after he recived the albums he messages me telling me Abby Road is defective and wants a refund. I say fine send it back and I'll refund you. No, he wants to keep the album and get a refund. I say no, that's not how it works. He's been messaging me daily. But here's the best part. Read this message and tell me what state of mind this guy is in. By the way, he now claims that he sent the album back with the same label and tracking that I sent him. Does not work that way:

Man you go on and dig too much the tracking number is still used the mailman told me on the way back to you you’re overdoing it over pennies and eBay will also say contact your seller if he agrees on just refunding $ you. another words it was up to you to be courteous and take care of the problem without digging and going longer and longer and over everything when it was explained to you many times over and Why ?? So just go ahead and refund it with no worries Especially after all this time and emails explaining and not to be more of a waste of my time here.



eBay has no problem with the seller taking care of the refund with a good enough reason to move on and save time specially with all the time and explaining that the item is defective unplayable it’s bad all said to you several times already Ok this email is definitely final you don’t have to email back I’ll just check for the refund and you Need read all my emails again so you can understand it
More clearly. ? All in all you just to speed up and resolve this now. Definitely final.

[gacook]

Wow. I do not have the patience for ebay or any of that crap. It saddens me how stupid people are.

[Baz]

I'd have to see your auction to give a complete answer but in the meantime that person hasn't a clue how to compose a message.

Poor communications....red red red flag always for me......run Forrest run......

[Arizona_928]

Gaussian curve. This guy is one of those double digit IQ’s that doesn’t know how to scam properly.

[Zeke]

First mistake was selling on eBay. That ended 10 years ago. Face to face or donate.

[Gogar]

You are going to lose, even if you are right and you end up 'winning.'

Sell those records local and be done with it and look in the rear view about when you wasted days of your life selling records on ebay.

[Rot 911]

Since the pandemic, more and more people seem to think it is OK to rip honest people off. Everything from porch pirates to flash mobs clearing out a store to trying to get a free album off of eBay. And I just think it’s going to get worse.

[Starless]

I know how people feel about ebay. The problem is much of the camera equipment i had/have is fairly unique are rare. I've tried local and even large sellers. I got easily two to three time as much through Ebay, even with the fees. Same thing with the albums. I checked around and the offers were much less than what I've been getting.
Don't think I'm going to lose here. I spoke with an Ebay rep. yesterday and asked them what they suggest I do. They went through all the messages, there are many more just like this one, they told me that there is nothing I am obligated to do if they don't return the album. I've been dealing on ebay for many years now and this is the first time I've had an issue like this.
My auction says these are old, very used albums, that I have not played in years. If there is an issue, I'll pay for return shipping and refund their purchase price.

[Tobra]

Screw that guy

[Ayles]

I sell a fair amount on Ebay, and I have always added "no returns or refunds" to my listings.

I have over 100 sales and have only had one guy be a problem. I ended up splitting the difference with him refunding half of the transaction. Refund him half and you are still probably ahead by not wasting any more time over a few bucks, and he goes away.

[fintstone]

I think I would just take my old stuff to Goodwill and get a receipt (for the value I set for it) to take it off of my taxes...if I did not have a local buyer (someone I knew). Too much trouble otherwise. I have no patience for scammers.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Starless

I know how people feel about ebay. The problem is much of the camera equipment i had/have is fairly unique are rare. I've tried local and even large sellers. I got easily two to three time as much through Ebay, even with the fees. Same thing with the albums. I checked around and the offers were much less than what I've been getting.
Don't think I'm going to lose here. I spoke with an Ebay rep. yesterday and asked them what they suggest I do. They went through all the messages, there are many more just like this one, they told me that there is nothing I am obligated to do if they don't return the album. I've been dealing on ebay for many years now and this is the first time I've had an issue like this.
My auction says these are old, very used albums, that I have not played in years. If there is an issue, I'll pay for return shipping and refund their purchase price.

Well then maybe to save your rep call his bluff, if that is what it is, and send him a return shipping credit. Not a label if you can work it that way. He will have to use the system to create the label and send it back. Chances are he won't, but if he does you are made 100%.

I guess what these people do is buy stuff, claim it's no good and they aren't paying to ship what they call defective, keep it to resell.

From an honest POV, if I bought something as critical as an LP and there was a noticeable scratch, I'd want my money back including shipping. I have no idea what condition the album was in. If it said "no returns" I'd pass.

To me the return feature and paying for return shipping in only for a change of mind. If there is something missing or defective that is not my fault for buying.

[john70t]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Flipping/comments/rjdonb/5_way_ebay_screws_over_sellers/?rdt=45459

The thread got archived aka memory-holed: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling-Q-A/Do-you-think-Ebay-screws-sellers/qaq-p/24062717
This thread is pretty close to your experience: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling-Q-A/EBay-Screws-Over-Another-Seller-On-A-Return-That-Was-Never/qaq-p/31780831?nobounce

Here is a fraud tutorial: How to Screw Top Sellers Over on eBay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4cva7oSgIc

My understanding is that Ebay tends to bias towards the customer in disputes.

[pwd72s]

Decades ago, a local cop friend told me that ebay is the nation's largest fencing operation. I've steered clear since.

[Starless]

If it was just a few dollars worth of stuff I would give it to charity, Goodwill, or what have you, but that's not the case. It's quite substantial. The photo equipment included names like Linhoff, Leica, Rollei, Nikon, Voightlander, etc. Not just cameras and lenses but hard to find items like Leica slide duplicator, bellows, Visoflex, lens adapters, and many camera replacement parts like focusing screens, diopters, replacement battery doors/holders that Goodwill or any other charity wouldn't know what to do with. Same with many of my albums. Many are imports, rare, and hard to find. I have sold over 500 items and have 100% feedback. I guess EBay is just like anything else, it is what you make it to be.

[Zeke]

You've had good luck. I understand why you would want to continue. Some say to expect a certain % of loss due to these things. It's just part of the model. I think I would not waste any time on a deadbeat, scammer or any other troublesome buyer. They win once and then they go on your no bid sheet. You can somewhat figure out who has multiple accounts and you can search name changes.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I guess what these people do is buy stuff, claim it's no good and they aren't paying to ship what they call defective, keep it to resell.

Keep an eye out for it on eBay....maybe you can buy it back and ask for a full refund...

[john70t]

^best suggestion yet

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Keep an eye out for it on eBay....maybe you can buy it back and ask for a full refund...

Yeah. no kidding.
If they're selling something.. Buy it and RTS. Let the dirt bag eat the shipping.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by Starless

If it was just a few dollars worth of stuff I would give it to charity, Goodwill, or what have you, but that's not the case. It's quite substantial. The photo equipment included names like Linhoff, Leica, Rollei, Nikon, Voightlander, etc. Not just cameras and lenses but hard to find items like Leica slide duplicator, bellows, Visoflex, lens adapters, and many camera replacement parts like focusing screens, diopters, replacement battery doors/holders that Goodwill or any other charity wouldn't know what to do with. Same with many of my albums. Many are imports, rare, and hard to find. I have sold over 500 items and have 100% feedback. I guess EBay is just like anything else, it is what you make it to be.

Have you considered selling your records on discogs.com?