Issues with buyer return. Looking For Ebay Customer Service Phone #

[sebreg]

Hi guys, long story short, I'd like to talk to a customer service rep at ebay over a return issue but have been unable to find a working #. This involves a high value item and the buyer is (imo) using a return excuse that goes beyond the pale in terms of bs. The last # I could find was 866-540-3229, but it is no longer working.

If anyone has a working # for ebay customer service would greatly appreciate, thank you for any help/leads!

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by sebreg

Hi guys, long story short, I'd like to talk to a customer service rep at ebay over a return issue but have been unable to find a working #. This involves a high value item and the buyer is (imo) using a return excuse that goes beyond the pale in terms of bs. The last # I could find was 866-540-3229, but it is no longer working.

If anyone has a working # for ebay customer service would greatly appreciate, thank you for any help/leads!

It's been a couple of weeks or so but the last time I had to talk to Ebay Customer Service, I had to have them contact me (there should be a contact me option on the website) and they call the number that is linked to your account

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by Chris P

It's been a couple of weeks or so but the last time I had to talk to Ebay Customer Service, I had to have them contact me (there should be a contact me option on the website) and they call the number that is linked to your account

Super, thank you! will try and do that.

[sebreg]

Unfortunately haven't been able to find the option to have them contact me via phone, seems disabled, at least regarding return issues.

[messier2]

So, the guy wants to return a card...what's his excuse?

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by messier2

So, the guy wants to return a card...what's his excuse?

The card went down 40% in value and there is a microscopic scratch on the slab which really stands out at 500x's magnification. I am glad I haven't sold anything on eBay more than $10 recently. The excuses for returning must be piling up.

[nman84]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

The card went down 40% in value and there is a microscopic scratch on the slab which really stands out at 500x's magnification. I am glad I haven't sold anything on eBay more than $10 recently. The excuses for returning must be piling up.

This has happened to me once this year and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again with the Kyrie I sold last week

[armyml]

who is this dude so I can block him?

[sebreg]

Ok, will provide a bit more context. I try my best to operate in good faith as both buyer and seller which is why this one kind of aggravated me because it honestly struck me as beyond the pale. Now, I know some would just say hey, accept the return quitely, this is the cost of business in this game. This position I understand, but to me I am not going to take things laying down and will attempt to counter what I consider scumbaggery.

The buyer bought a 7k BGS 9.5 graded chromium card from me about 12 days ago (2003 Topps Chrome Lebron James rc). It has since strongly corrected. They filed a return request claiming missing parts, with the explanation "card is obviously trimmed" and therefore they want a return because the item is defective. Now, I took that as an egregious abuse of return policy (I have accepted return requests before, especially when they are within reason). I have kicked it up the ebay chain outlining my points contesting the return request. Ebay is obviously heavily weighted towards buyers, but we shall see, I at least try to counter and worst case scenario have to accept return. Here was my write-up to ebay:

Why I believe this return request is an abuse of the return policy:

Buyer claims a graded, authenticated card is obviously trimmed. I believe they are making a false claim of this nature because the only issue with the card is the value of the card has gone down since they bought it, not that the card is defective in any fundamental way.

1. The card was authenticated and graded by a well-respected 3rd party, one of the most respected companies in the space (Beckett Grading Services). If the buyer is so confident an egregious mistake was made in grading (which is a very unlikely issue with a chromium graded card), before accepting such a claim I believe the sensible and fair step would be to have the card reviewed by either Beckett Grading or another high level company in the grading space like PSA to confirm. If it is confirmed as trimmed I would be more than happy to accept the return.

2. I believe the buyer is treating this card like a stock, and because it went down in value since they bought it I believe they have fabricated this claim in order to abuse a return from a no return shop. This is problematic for a seller especially when a seller has delivered upon the sales contract in good faith. The buyer is looking for the best of both worlds, keeping the card and taking upside if card goes up, and return if card goes down. Which in my opinion is a gross abuse of the return policy, I am very confident to have delivered a non-defective as-described item, fulfilling the sales contract in good faith.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I do apologize for going this route but I only kick this up because I truly believe it is a gross abuse of the return policy. Given the claim of trimming, I believe the buyer should have the card reviewed and trimming claim confirmed by the grading company.

Regards, SM

[SunDevil2422]

He's obviously abusing the return policy and is a huge douche, but as I understand it, not much you can do about it. Ebay doesn't seem to care.

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by SunDevil2422

He's obviously abusing the return policy and is a huge douche, but as I understand it, not much you can do about it. Ebay doesn't seem to care.

Yes, unfortunately I think you are likely correct. I figure I at least try to put up the best fight/argument I can, let chips fall where they may. If I lose this one will likely start deleveraging from the ebay platform, and use other avenues like IG more. I know no platform is perfect, but nevertheless will just shift my business elsewhere. Ebay has made good money off of me, so as a consumer that uses their platform both ways I will vote against them with my $, especially if I feel unprotected as a seller.

[jetcollectibles]

I just dealt with customer service for a bad buyer this weekend. It seems they are moving everything towards their automated chat feature under seller help. You have to click through the prompts that you don't have the answer until finally you will be given the option to have them contact you via call or email. They called me almost immediately. Good luck!

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by jetcollectibles

I just dealt with customer service for a bad buyer this weekend. It seems they are moving everything towards their automated chat feature under seller help. You have to click through the prompts that you don't have the answer until finally you will be given the option to have them contact you via call or email. They called me almost immediately. Good luck!

Thank you! I will see if I can track that info down, talking to Geechquest and some of my other card friends they really emphasized the importance of getting someone on the phone for an issue of this type. It's been impossible for me to track down but I will explore the ebay options on the page and see if I can stumble across that option.

[sebreg]

Ah finally got someone on the phone!

initially the rep told me to accept return so I don't get defect on my record. I say no, I will absolutely risk a defect on my record because if I accept return then I will get card back and have no way to contest the egregious return claim.

Then rep tells me ok, that makes sense. This case will get kicked up in a few days, in the meanwhile i should message buyer and ask for evidence.

(I love this, ask for nonexistent evidence from a BSing lawyer/buyer is a lawyer, of course)

Once the 3 days goes up, rep told me to have ebay call me back again but my step in process now is to ask for evidence from buyer. I am having my sister review before I message buyer, she is also a lawyer. I am trying to be very careful with my language use, in these situations you can get trapped using the wrong words. I will ask for either photographic evidence of the trimming and/or ask buyer to get grading company to review the card to confirm trimming claim.

Do I win this case? who knows, but I don't want to make it easy on this scumbag lawyer.

[rogueriver]

Good luck while I know nobody is going to like the answer but you need to accept this return because if you dont there is a chance the buyer will get the money and the card....When it comes to issues like this you the seller have very little protection. Just the facts. I dont sell cards on ebay but I have a large presence on ebay with the items I do sell and trust me when I say it is almost always the best policy to accept the return. It all fairness it does suck post a picture of the card I am curious as to if it was trimmed or not now

[messier2]

Ok, can't the buyer just say they change their mind and return it? No need for this whole trimming-thing...no? Or, am I missing something?

[sebreg]

ok, this all may be an exercise in futility, but here's the message sent to buyer regarding their claim:

Dear Mr. XXXXX:

I received written notification that you submitted a return claim on Monday, June 14, 2021 regarding the “LeBron James Rookie Card 2003-04 Topps Chrome 111 BGS 9.5” item you purchased from me through eBay on June 4, 2021 for $7,000.00 (LeBron Card). The LeBron Card was delivered through registered mail with the United States Postal Service and delivered on June 14, 2021 (no. RE340941230US).

The written notification indicated you allege the LeBron Card has been trimmed. The LeBron Card has been graded by one of the most respected 3rd party graders in the sports card industry, Beckett Grading Services.

I kindly request that you please provide photographs of the alleged trimming of the LeBron Card to aid eBay and me in our investigation of your claim. Your return claim expires in two days, so I recommend providing the requested documentation within this period.

Lastly, if desired, I would also be willing to work with, and even pay for, Beckett Grading Services to investigate and resolve your claim.

Regards,
SM

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by rogueriver

Good luck while I know nobody is going to like the answer but you need to accept this return because if you dont there is a chance the buyer will get the money and the card....When it comes to issues like this you the seller have very little protection. Just the facts. I dont sell cards on ebay but I have a large presence on ebay with the items I do sell and trust me when I say it is almost always the best policy to accept the return. It all fairness it does suck post a picture of the card I am curious as to if it was trimmed or not now

Shoot, yeah I've already gone ahead with contesting the claim. I've never had experience with this stuff. Let me try to figure out how to post pictures (never really got the hang of that). Card is posted on my IG at cardcollecting82, nearer beginning of my posting history. In the meanwhile, I'll try and see if I can post a picture on here.

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by messier2

Ok, can't the buyer just say they change their mind and return it? No need for this whole trimming-thing...no? Or, am I missing something?

This was what bothered me the most. A claim of trimming i find to be so extraordinary and ridiculous on a high-graded chromium card which from what I've heard are notoriously difficult to trim. I owned this card for 6 years. In my shop policies it's not a blind return acceptance policy, but if buyers tell me there is an issue that wasn't disclosed, like on a raw card, I always accept the returns in good faith.

[sebreg]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/190656...posted-public/

Here is a link to the card from my Flickr. Their claim is that specifically it is "obvious" that the right side has been trimmed.

[salthill]

Interested to hear how eBay goes on this case. Expecting the worst, hoping for the best.

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by salthill

Interested to hear how eBay goes on this case. Expecting the worst, hoping for the best.

Thank you! appreciate the sentiments. Agree, have to expect worst but I don't want to take it laying down either haha. So we do what we can, go for broke.

[Schmoove]

Originally Posted by messier2

Ok, can't the buyer just say they change their mind and return it? No need for this whole trimming-thing...no? Or, am I missing something?

Fairly certain Ebay changed the card return rules a month or so ago to eliminate buyers remorse returns. So now you have to lie to get a return.

[KhalDrogo]

Should provide some explanation for why he believes it’s trimmed.

I will say that I recently had to return a high value item that was graded by BGS because it was obviously trimmed. The set has a unique cut, and I’ve handled enough to know some moron trimmed it. So yes, it can happen.

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Should provide some explanation for why he believes it’s trimmed.

I will say that I recently had to return a high value item that was graded by BGS because it was obviously trimmed. The set has a unique cut, and I’ve handled enough to know some moron trimmed it. So yes, it can happen.

100% possible for sure. But this is why it is important to ask for photographic evidence in such a case. If card is obviously proven trimmed I would absolutely respect and take the return.