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Tue Oct 14 2025 10:44:08

eBay's 'AI Referee' Sides with Bad Seller

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
I recently purchased an item from an eBay seller. They sent a tracking number that was not a valid tracking number. eBay even sent me a message that the tracking number wasn't valid.

I looked at their feedback and noticed someone commenting that they were a drop-shipper from Amazon. I messaged the seller about the invalid tracking number, but they didn't respond. It turned out, the item was in fact drop shipped from Amazon. The package arrived in an Amazon box with a gift receipt. 

After my package was delivered, the seller finally messaged me and insisted that they were a "business partner with Amazon."

I reported ... Read More

Comments (1) | Permalink
Sun Oct 12 2025 10:06:03

eBay Protects Buyer - and a Bad Seller

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
I've occasionally heard from time to time over the last several years about the old "same zip code scam" going around and even found some letters that readers had sent in to EcommerceBytes discussing this problem way back in 2021. 

I can't believe eBay still hasn't come up with some solution. This very thing just happened to me. I got a feeling something was off because even though the listing said "expedited 2 day shipping", there was no sign of shipping after a week. Multiple messages to the seller did no good. I only got the same pat "polite" answer each time about ... Read More

Comments (9) | Permalink
Wed Oct 8 2025 09:54:31

Bookseller Describes Recent Challenges on Amazon

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
I am a tiny bookseller who doesn't make a lot on Amazon anymore, and I also had a mysterious Other fee show up a few weeks ago, and was told they could not determine the reason for it and I would have to check again after my next payout. 

Because it was under $10, I just decided my time was worth more than the run around from teams telling me what they could NOT do for me. 

Also, I wasn't sure if you saw on the Amazon discussion boards in the past month or so that booksellers can NO LONGER create product ... Read More

Comments (2) | Permalink
Fri Oct 3 2025 09:46:00

eBay Payment Processing Was Supposed to Lower Fees

By: Reader

 

Dear Ina,
I've been selling on eBay since 2001, and I've gone through all the platform's incarnations. Years ago, we were told that when eBay took over payment processing, it would lower fees. The reality has been the opposite.

- Taxes & fees racket: eBay charges final value fees not just on the item price, but also on shipping and even on sales tax. Back in the day, my final value fee was 9%. Now, when I sell smaller jewelry items to high-tax states like California, I'm effectively paying 20–25%. eBay is profiting off taxes that should never be part of my seller fees.

- Authentication nightmare: For items over $500, ... Read More

Comments (12) | Permalink
Mon Sept 29 2025 11:16:13

A Picture on eBay Isn't Worth 1000 Words after All

By: Reader

 

Dear Ina,
eBay thanks me when I call them for being there all of this century and I do have 13k positive feedback, so that means I've done over 50k sales, but never until now did I have a SNAD return because the buyer didn't agree with my camera. They posted a picture of my item in their complaint and it looked just like my pictures, so cameras were not the issue. They claimed I said it was orange but that it was actually "rust."

I got eBay to call me and the rep was friendly and went to check with a higher up. My ... Read More

Comments (12) | Permalink
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