Too risky to sell under the current conditions.
Summary: The discussion revolves around the perception that selling at the current moment is too risky, but unfortunately there are no specific details in the content to understand the reasons or the conditions discussed by the participants. The authors involved are high_lights, sika700, marioelegio, and others, but without textual elaboration the nature of the risk or the circumstances remain unclear.
After a period of inactivity I started selling again... and yesterday there was the first purchase by a buyer from Singapore.
Here’s the auction link: https://www.ebay.it/itm/226411480745
But the money hasn’t arrived and after digging around to understand why, I realized there’s a situation that’s pretty scary... so much so that now I’m not sure I want to go through with the deal, shipping blind and with no guarantee at all, rare, perfect items that aren’t cheap.
Basically, in the event of a sale the eBay seller does not receive immediate advance payment (as used to happen with PayPal), because the money is frozen for months.
During all that time the buyer uses and wears down the goods you shipped them, then if they change their mind out of remorse over a compulsive purchase and open a dispute, with any excuse of item not as described or defective, eBay gives them their money back without delay... and that’s that.
What’s more, if they want, the buyer can even keep your item, because all they have to do is send back a brick and you can do very little about it.
I’m saying this after reading the most insane stories on various forums, including eBay’s own.
I remember, for example, the one about the overseas sale of an audio amplifier, where the buyer opened the device, then scratched an internal panel... and it was enough for him to send the photo to eBay and open the dispute, and they immediately ruled in his favor once and for all.
Folks, realize that you can buy an expensive Rolex watch on eBay, wear it for a long time, then unscrew the case back and scratch the inside, to get your money back simply by sending a photo.
eBay’s current rules, especially when selling abroad, force the seller to expose themselves to such an extent that even the most clueless scammer can easily take advantage of it.
epoca
·1 year agoSold for € 4500,00 on eBay, are you kidding?
As the others advised you, you did well to cancel and refund.
If they had filed a dispute against you for any reason, you would have lost your shirt between the item sold, shipping cost, return shipping cost, and you probably would have gotten a brick back.
heavenwelkin
·1 year agoGood morning high_lights
Distance sales through electronic payments (which eBay also relies on) entail a certain margin of risk for sellers.
Personally, I have set myself a limit of around 500 euros beyond which I am not willing to risk losing the item and the money.
If the problem is that you don't have these funds that eBay has frozen on your account, then there is no issue; follow the procedure recommended by sika700
If, however, you do have these funds on your account, I recommend following marioelegio's advice and adding the credit card for fund withdrawal even though..... as sika700 says, eBay should have authorization to withdraw the money directly from the checking account (unless you have revoked the authorization for automatic withdrawals by eBay), so you are not obliged to also enter the credit card because you may have lost it and not remember the details or because it may have expired while waiting for card renewal.
Kind regards.
marioelegio
·1 year agoI think the suggested procedure by Sika is too risky....... you could easily end up losing 226.35 euros
If you issue a refund for the buyer on eBay without requesting our intervention, you may be entitled to the fee credit.
(from: https://www.ebay.it/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/rimborsare-gli-acquirenti?id=5182&st=3&pos=7&query=Rimborsare%20gli%20acquirenti&intent=accredito%20tariffe%20per%20annullamento&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1608)
hi
mario
sika700
·1 year agoGood morning,
after sufficient experience, I have come to the conclusion that it is “crazy” (no offense) to sell items on eBay worth 2/3/4/5/6000 euros and more!
One sincere piece of advice... cancel the sale and live more peacefully... also, sell your items only on those marketplaces that allow in-person pickup with cash payment.
Kind regards.
high_lights
OP1 year agoI canceled the sale.
Also, I sent a message to the buyer, explaining that while I was preparing the package, a valve slipped from my hands and broke.
eBay asked me to add a card (in addition to the verified bank account) to charge any fees to... should I expect more unpleasant surprises?
sika700
·1 year agoI'm afraid so... as a new seller you should have the funds blocked for at least 15 days... you'll have to front the refund yourself... hence the credit card reason.
Kind regards.
high_lights
OP1 year agoThanks for the reply.
If I understand correctly, I need to give 4530 euros to the buyer.
In my opening message I had used the adjective "mind-blowing," but I’d say that at this point it seems understated and euphemistic.
sika700
·1 year agoIf you go to this page:
https://www.ebay.it/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&st=3&pos=2&query=Pagamenti%20in%20sospeso&intent=sospeso&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1450
you can see how long your funds will remain blocked.
You can avoid entering the credit card; after all, for 15/30 days they definitely won't send debt collection after you... ebay will then take what is due from your funds when they become available.
They will probably also try to charge your bank account...
In total you will only pay the 35-cent fixed fee.
Best regards.
marioelegio
·1 year agoOn 4530 euros, 5% is 226 euros.
I think that if he doesn’t refund immediately and leaves the matter to eBay, he risks having to pay the variable part of the fees too, not just the fixed part.
Refunds that do not meet the requirements for seller fee credits
We do not issue fee credits in the following situations:
(from: https://www.ebay.it/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/accrediti-delle-tariffe?id=4128&st=3&pos=1&query=Accrediti%20delle%20tariffe&intent=accredito%20tariffe&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1304)
hi
mario
sika700
·1 year agoHe should not leave the initiative to eBay... if he cancels the order with the resulting refund for him the matter is closed, eBay should not have to intervene at all.
eBay will only be concerned with collecting the money... if it fails, it tries again until it succeeds, but this does not preclude the charging of additional fees.
If it can't get it from the account, it tries a card... if one has been entered... otherwise it tries again on the account and so on...
In the meantime the funds are released and eBay takes what is due.
Procedure already tested.
Kind regards.