Basic advice when selling via Ebay and a warning.

[gazgod]

That's the whole problem with Ebay and Paypal. They're not designed for the buyer. Only for the seller. Ebay charges the seller to sell and item. Paypal charges the seller for the price of the item sold. They make money off the seller, not really the buyer. Hence, they're always going to side with the seller first and foremost.

I found this week that eBay has changed drastically to the buyers advantage, I had long know about seller not able to give negative feedback. But this week I listed some CB gear that belonged to my brother who died last year. When I built the listing I was told of an automatic payment hold on these items where if you list in certain "problem" categories electronics and computers where amongst some listed, paypal automatically holds the money until the buyer submits positive feedback or 21 days passes without the buyer raising a dispute! To my mind this is a classic example of guilty until proven innocent.

Today eBay decided to pull the listing with no real explanation, I consulted the prohibited item section regarding radio equipment and it said nothing about frequency of the equipment or licensing conditions in there. yes these rigs are strictly speaking illegal to use for CB in the UK but are legal for amateurs to use and it is perfectly legal to buy and sell them within the UK. So I'm now waiting for a reply to my strongly worded email to eBay support asking for the reason my listing were removed as i did not list prohibited items according to their own list and when I can expect a refund of my listing fees.

IMHO eBay as gone from been all about the sellers as it was in the nighties and early millennium to been all about the buyers.

Gaz

[gazgod]

@gazgod

First off, I am sorry to hear about your brother :-(

Unfortunately, you will simply get a boiler-plate automated response. If you respond to that, you will likely get a secondary boiler-plate automated response. If you respond to the 2nd being very clear you demand to hear from a human being, you may get a response but it is unlikely they will bend.

Thanks Red, it was over a year ago but its difficult to handle when someone dies with no warning at 41.

I expected an automated response, but actually received an email saying the listing were removed in error and I'm free to relist, They have also contacted all bidders to state it was there error and that the item will be relisted!!

I must say that better than I expected.

Gaz