Buyer protection abuse: eBay agrees with me but I lose out on the shipping cost: insult to injury (+ useful advice) | Questions and answers among users

elettronicapt · 2026-07-03T19:37:20.142338Z

Customer requests replacement for wireless sensor for shutters due to malfunction.Customer informed that the product will be inspected on return and, as usual, tested before being sent with a video proof. If they want, they can start the return procedure.Customer buys another wireless sensor for shutters. I test, film and send.Customer requests return of the first sensor due to fault. I send (at my expense) via Packlink shipping label for the return.On return the sensor had a disconnected wire (reason for the malfunction). Unboxing was filmed from start to finish.I open 2 reports on Ebay for incorrect procedure, as the customer has abused customer protection. The damage was caused by the customer.Ebay unblocks my funds and reimburses me 11 euros, as I am not responsible for the damage. It also reimburses the customer 11 euros.I ask Ebay for reimbursement of 6.49 euros for the shipping label that I bought to receive the return of the product damaged by the customer.eBay does not reimburse, reason: "the amount for the return label is not refundable, because I accepted and sent the label as provided by the rules.The advice for next time is to ask for their intervention before accepting the return and sending the label. The case is closed and they can no longer intervene."PLEASE NOTE:If you DO NOT send the label within the set days, eBay penalizes your account for "item not as described" and still reimburses the customer (often even letting them keep the product).If you SEND the label (as I did, as an honest seller), you lose the shipping money even if you prove the scam.eBay preferred to "buy the silence" of both by reimbursing 11€ to me and 11€ to the fraudulent buyer. This behavior does nothing but encourage dishonest customers, since they know that in the end they never really lose out. But now I can do one thing... having established that eBay has become a platform to avoid, as they deserve and as I did.

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Buyer protection abuse: eBay agrees with me but I lose out on the shipping cost: insult to injury (+ useful advice) | Questions and answers among users | eBay Italy