Wronged Seller Unable to Reach eBay Customer Support

by: ebayout

This underscores the diff between "the cost of doing business" and "the cost of doing business with ebay"....the "we're just a venue" people.

by: Silver Ice King

Once again another sign that Ebay is determined to have their site run by bots so those that they pay to be there every day and help their customers solve these type of issues, can sit and do nothing or be laid off to save Ebay all that much more money.  The AI programming is only as intelligent as those writing the code to replace themselves, and so far it has been shown to be not all that intelligent.  Ebay does not care how much they steal from their Sellers as they have proven time and time again that Sellers are nothing but noise to them and the buyer, who pays nothing from their pockets in support of Ebays expenses is who Ebay considers most important.

Eventually the DOJ is going to be done dealing with the current con artists and start focusing on the fraud that Ebay is perpetuating on their Sellers under the guise that AI has a learning curve and is getting better when in fact the integrity of the entire company is being brought down by those crooked executives in charge of these changes but who are not qualified to be in charge of those charged with taking AI to the next level.

by: postbuster

@Silver Ice King

'' The AI programming is only as intelligent as those writing the code to replace themselves, and so far it has been shown to be not all that intelligent. ''

I agree thoroughly, it is strangely coincidental that all of these 'errors' always seem to affect the seller in the most negative way.
On Etsy, there are even banners that fly out when ''something went wrong'' or ''we are unable to process your request'' when trying to turn off the Etsy Ads gimmick. (its a redirect, and the way to turn it off is not even explained correctly from their own help menu.  That also had to be intentional.)

These are written codes by someone, instructed by someone else.

Honestly I don't like the idea of smart cars either.
With all of the accidents caused from 'computer errors', one would think twice about how 'perfect' bots actually operate safely and effectively.

These venues have found another way to exploit these 'mistakes' ALWAYS in their favor.

by: Shanna

To reach eBay support, go to the help tab, go to the bottom and click contact us. then chose "Selling", then "Selling Fees". It doesn't matter if this isn't your problem, all of the CS are the same people. At the bottom you can chose Chat or have eBay call you.  Both are more than likely to be overseas, the chat takes much longer, but you will have a record of the conversation emailed to you which you can reference if resolution is promised, but not delivered. Phone support is quicker, but help can be hit or miss. And if the promise you something, there is no proof unless you record the conversation.

by: papergoy

Or you can reach out to them on facebook, they take about three days but they do respond.

by: Snapped

If sent via USPS, those with similar situations of compelled refunds with their package still in transit might consider doing a package intercept at the delivering PO and have it returned to sender before it’s delivered (via online order at USPS.COM (follow prompts)).

Alternately, before sending, it might be helpful to reach out to buyers to set their ‘expectations’ straight regarding delayed delivery times being experienced nationwide (especially coming from or transiting via CA, the Midwest, or Northeast states) due to pandemic and unprecedented volume delays. The USPS is experiencing a 5x normal volume jam since March - some pieces sitting for over two weeks before even being shipped out from originating central processing and routing stations these days.

Unfortunately, eBay has yet to give due consideration for this - never has really - especially regarding their unthinking seller unfriendly drone bot application of unyielding fulfillment sanctions. Even if one can somehow connect to a warm body, it will become evident very quickly that eBay simply could not care less for a seller’s dilemma.

Speaks volumes for their recent truth in advertising ‘support’ for small businesses, no?

by: iheartjacksparrow

Shanna writes: "[T]here is no proof unless you record the conversation."

And if you live in a two-party consent state like I do (California), and you're recording someone without their knowledge, you could be in big trouble. I assume if you told a CSR you were recording them, they would just hang up.

by: toolguy

Something doesn't smell right.

1st can a buyer file before it's delivered?

2nd, if it hasn't been delivered you might be able to recall it.

3rd eBay does have phone support, I just used it

by: Shanna

@iheartjacksparrow when the recorded messages says you may be recorded, you then have implied permission to record them. Of course, no US law applies to an international call to the Philippines.

by: FeelingFroggy

@ toolguy

You might have phone support. We do BUT if you don't have an anchor store or higher you DON'T HAVE PHONE SUPPORT. You get a cheap store you get no support via phone. Just email or facebook.

by: CanBrit

I suggest everyone extend their handling time to 10 days. I shipped a parcel to Florida from Ontario. It took three weeks to get there. It was in the States in three days. The balance of those 17-18 days, it was somewhere not moving.

A lot of mail goes to the NY hub from Montreal. I can just imagine the chaos going on in some of those facilities.

I also think the customers need to use their noggin a bit more as well. There is a pandemic out there. If you live in one of the extremely affected States; Texas, Florida, CA, well think about it. It ain't going to get their quickly. Period.

Global Shipping...... Average 3-4 weeks to Canada.

by: Michael in BC

Just received an ordinary FCM letter from Michigan that took 24 days to get to BC Canada.  3 weeks of that time, the letter was still in the US.  Not blaming anyone - just how it is for the foreseeable.  With respect to eBay, I'm not shipping out of Canada at present, or I'd be faced with a deluge of "where's my thing ?" complaints demanding refunds,...  and matching eBay penalties.

by: CanBrit

@Michael

I hear you, but so far I haven't had a problem. I tell every customer after they purchase of the delays and the extent of them. That I haven't had an item go missing yet out of 50 shipments. Not too bad. But patience is required.

by: COVID-19

Only stupid people are still selling anything at this point, unless you have your own private fleet of delivery vans or are willing to use FedEx or UPS at a higher cost.  US Postal Service workers are refusing to work and sellers are having their packages stuck.  Amazon-trained buyers are still expecting their items in what, 3 days or something?  They cry to eBay and then guess what?  eBay forces sellers to refund these impatient buyers for "Item Not Arrived" even though tracking says these packages have already been sent out and are just stuck at USPS' mega distribution centers.  Then just a few days later, packages get delivered to buyers.  Now the whiners get to keep your refund money and your items too.  Bad buyers win.  You lose!

by: CanBrit

@COVID-19

I guess you didn't read my post. 50 packages, not a single item not received claim. It's called informing your customer. Excellent customer service is even more critical these days, regardless if eBay doesn't provide any to anyone.  

by: toolguy

@FeelingFroggy

I have a basic store


Need more help?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chat with our automated assistant Quickly get the help you need to easily solve any issue

Have us call you 2 min wait time

by: Marie

Ebay does have CS available.  The OP does not say they even tried to call.  They may be assuming they can't call and therefore didn't try.

There also may be more to the story as this is not typically how Ebay handles an INR.

by: Paul W

Anchor store CS is excellent--calls generally answered by a human in the US within a minute or two.

As to USPS, I ship about 400 packages a month and have experienced not one INR from a US buyer.  OTOH, packages arriving here from overseas generally get to rest in an ISC for a week or two before they get to me.  One from Germany took over two months to get here.

by: ox-mix

If you need to contact eBay CS then use the option to have them call you. Be prepared for the estimated time to be longer. I used this method and the estimated time for them to call me was 27 minutes but it took almost 45 minutes longer. But someone in Utah did call me back.

by: Go tell the Spartans

If all else fails, you have the small claims court. Most states have an online presence and the cost is negligible. Remember, eBay is a corporation, so they need to hire an attorney in your state to respond. Now, do you think they are going to spend $400 an hour to fend against a $100 claim? And, by the way, there's nothing in the TOS that prevents you from filing a civil complaint in small claims court.