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BuffalosRock
Valued Member
United States
308 Posts
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I sent a "question" to a seller asking for a reverse pic since the ad only has an obv pic. Then I also told them their stated return policy ( returns but w/o s&h and minus a 10% "re-stocking fee" ) is in contradiction to eBay's buyer protection policy and should be removed.
The response was:
"You have been added to our bidder block list. Anyone trying to start an argument prior to bidding I do not need the headache or that type of business. Take your business and problems elsewhere."
IMO, eBay should take down sellers who try to trick the uninformed into allowing them to steal from them if they do return the coin.
JMHO
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
6187 Posts |
The restocking fee is always a bogus fee but minus shipping and handling is fine. If they sent you the wrong item they should correct it, but if you changed you're mind or just want to return it for whatever reason the seller can't get the shipping fee back and its fair to not refund that imo
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
680 Posts |
Just curious, what is the stated policy they are contradicting?
I haven't had a problem with this before but had one that almost came to that point. I bought a numismatic coin that was well over the value of silver and the seller wanted to take off some money because silver went down.
Check out my Wish List. "Worry about the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves."
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
4501 Posts |
I don't have restocking fees on returned items, but I have not had any items retunred back to me as a seller. All eBay fees can be waived if the seller and buyer agree to have the auction cancelled after the fact though, which I have done on returning the sellers coins for one reason or another.
oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait
"Always one more...you're never satisfied" 5150 Van Halen
"...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
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"I tell her coins keep me off the streets and out of the bars." Moe145
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
790 Posts |
Before you start telling sellers how to run their business you should know what you're talking about. Sellers are allowed to charge a restocking fee and there's even a way to report buyers that squawk. Quote:
Misuse of returns
You accept a return but receive:
A damaged item (different from the reason for the return)
A different item
An empty box
Or a buyer threatens to open a case because of having to pay a restocking fee. I would have blocked you too. Edited by scubu
07/05/2012 5:33 pm
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1683 Posts |
I think a restocking fee is fair because sometimes people have buyer's remorse or change their minds, but then make up bogus reasons for returning an item.
In the case of the seller the original poster pointed out, it does seem to be common sense to me to include both an obverse and reverse picture but at the same time buyers shouldn't be telling sellers how to run their auctions either.
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Valued Member
United States
308 Posts |
Buyer's protection says it covers the original cost PLUS s&h. So how can they keep the s&h and charge a restocking fee on a return and still conform with that policy?
If I was going to take a chance on buying a coin that only had one side pictured, I sure as heck want a return policy not intended to keep 10% of the cost as well. Those two things combined are not at all kosher IMO!
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Pillar Of The Community
Australia
4222 Posts |
Don't buy from these sellers because if they have stipulations on their returns it makes you assume that they have had a lot of returns.
Aim to Enjoy life. You only get one shot at it
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
6187 Posts |
Quote:
Buyer's protection says it covers the original cost PLUS s&h. So how can they keep the s&h and charge a restocking fee on a return and still conform with that policy? Buyers protection is for items that are fake, dont work, or you never got. Theres nothing in buyers protection that covers that a coin looks exactly how you want. As long as the coin is what they said it was regardless of toning or marks if its slabbed in a real slab theres nothing in buyers protection that covers you not liking the look of the reverse fyi
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Valued Member
United States
294 Posts |
Under the "Returns" drop down arrow on: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies...actices.htmlWith my emphasis: Quote:
About restocking fees
If you charge a restocking fee for returns, we recommend that you only ask for a reasonable amount.
You shouldn't charge restocking fees for items returned due to damage, defects, or not-as-described in the listing.
Being upfront about returns and restocking fees should encourage buyers to resolve potential issues before they become bigger problems. I would really like to see a link to the original ad. I would bet a return would fall under "not-as-described." Personally - if it was a coin I really wanted  - I would have asked for a reverse picture too, but I wouldn't have called the seller out about their return policy. For the most part, I'm with trout1105. If there's a no return policy or restocking fee, NEXT! MS wants with an AG budget. "Not everything on the Internet is true." --Abraham Lincoln Oldest Finds: 1914 LWC - Change 1918 Mercury Dime - CRH 1947 Canadian Penny - CRH |
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Valued Member
United States
274 Posts |
In my years of selling on eBay, I have had 4 returns TOTAL(I have had 272 transactions in the last 12 months). I charge a 10% restocking fee (I will charge less of a percentage as the price of the item increases). I would say 4 returns isn't a lot by any means, and I was given a different reason with each return. I have a no questions asked return policy, but people always offer their reason.
The reason I charge a restocking fee is to recoup any costs associated with the item. Why should I be out my time, my gas, my shipping materials (boxes/shipping material/paper/toner) when someone just wants to return it because they have buyer's remorse? I don't want to be out money when it is all said and done. If it arrived damaged or there was an issue of some sort that wasn't their fault, I wouldn't charge a restocking fee.
Actually I shipped out an item not too long ago, and a week later he contacted me saying he didn't get it. I checked the tracking number and sure enough, it wasn't even showing up that I dropped it off. Instead of trying to deal with USPS and making him wait, I shipped out another, that day. I didn't charge him shipping, or anything. I ATE 100% of the costs, including the item cost. On top of that, I told him when the other arrives that he could just keep it, and that I was sorry that USPS screwed it up. So I go above and beyond what I need to, when it comes to making a buyer happy.
I think a 10% restocking fee is fair in certain situations. After all, a lot of people on eBay use eBay to supplement their income, or it is their full time job. I shouldn't expect them to be out money if I need/want to return an item.
EDIT:
I forgot to add that if you are charging a restocking fee, I think it is a necessity for the seller to provide accurate descriptions and pictures.
Edited by NYBrian84
07/05/2012 9:14 pm
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
6187 Posts |
Quote:
I would bet a return would fall under "not-as-described." To me that would depend on raw or slabbed. If for instance it was slabbed and they said it was a PCGS 63 and thats what they sent regardless of what it looks like in the slab it would be as described.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
510 Posts |
Good thinking, bryan!  The fact that I keep my junk silver in a Morgan Dansco says a lot about my budget. 27 out of 97 Morgan Dollars- counting the 1921 I stuck in the 1895 slot. 3 out of 13 CC Morgan dollars. |
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Valued Member
United States
308 Posts |
It was raw. And with no rev pic then I think any return should be covered - as you have no idea if the rev is black/burned/marred/scratched etc. I'd also say deceptive pics on top of descriptions like blast white etc. are certainly "not as described" reasons when the coin is far from un-toned/un-patina-ed.
I believe the eBay policy is that slabbed coins must show both sides in pics or they aren't following listing policies. I'm not sure why that isn't true for all coins but it is poor business practice to cheap out by only showing one side regardless.
The only seller I've ever bought from that had re-stocking fees didn't enforce them on a return. I didn't notice that "clause" buried deep in their return policy until after I bought or I wouldn't have. IMO, using handling and "re-stocking fees" to defray expenses is a bad practice and I will not buy from anyone doing those things. I also won't buy from anyone claiming no returns whatsoever. I still believe that the buyers protection is meant to protect the buyer from unscrupulous sellers and that includes returning coins that are not as described/pictured.
According to some of you, if someone buys that coin and it ends up the reverse is all black and a complete mess, it is justified that the seller not only keeps the s&h but 10%.
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Moderator
United States
12529 Posts |
Quote:
According to some of you, if someone buys that coin and it ends up the reverse is all black and a complete mess, it is justified that the seller not only keeps the s&h but 10%. I would disagree, because that situation would be a slam-dunk SNAD. In the absence of a reverse picture, there is a reasonable assumption that the reverse would be similar to the pictured obverse in overall quality. If it weren't, eBay's bias toward the buyer would assuredly support your SNAD claim. Which is actually why the seller preemptively blocked you. On a technical basis, your mistaken claim regarding the restocking fee was sufficient for a buyer to block you. In the real world, you identified yourself as someone who was willing to pick nits, and since eBay is now a buyer's market, we sellers have to react early and often to the slightest threat. I tell you plainly, I will instantly block anyone who lodges any complaint whatsoever before an auction even ends, just to cover myself. Of course, I leave far less to chance than this seller did - I don't do a restocking fee - and in truth I kinda agree with your assessment of him. Hearken to NYBrian84's words, and stick to sellers like him. Apply the same stringent standards to sellers as we sellers do to buyers, and eventually the chaff will be separated from the wheat on both sides.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2876 Posts |
Not refunding shipping costs is understandable as the post office shipped the coin and the seller paid for that. The restocking fee is another issue and I avoid any merchant that imposes this fee on an item that is not satisfactory.
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Posted 07/05/2012 5:14 pm
