Getting screwed on EBAY! HELP! Need advice!

I need advice. I listed a B+W 72mm XS-PRO Kaesemann KSM MRC Nano CPL Circular Polarizer Filter on Ebay that I recently bough in Nov. and I listed it as mint. When that filter left, there wasn't a scratch, or a flake of dust on it. I sent the filter in the original packaging, (Hard case), which then was wrapped up and put inside a hard box. Just to be safe, I then took that box, and put in in a UPS box. So, there is no way it could of been damaged in anyway.

I just got an email from the seller stating

Thanks for the fast shipping. Unfortunately, the filter arrived with scratches. I shot a video to show you:

https://vimeo.com/5745​9649

Because the item was described as "Mint" I would like a reduction in price or I must return it.

There is NOWAY in HELL that is the filter I sent. Impossible. First I wouldn't attempt to sell a filter in that bad of shape. And even if I did, i would never use the word MINT. Come on now! And if I received a filter that bad, I would certainlly not ask for a price reduction! I'd want all my money back.

Here is the pictures I used in the listing.

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Cropped pic and lightened.

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He has great feedback on Ebay and has bought and sold B+W POL filters. But, does that filter in the video look like a 72MM filter? It seems to be bigger and why is he Partially showing a small section? I'm opening up a ticket with Ebay as we speak, but should I contact him first and ask him to videotape him taking filter out of case, then show scratches under light? I'm not sure what to do first. If I ask him before I submit ticket, then being guilty (which he is), could go straight to Ebay and demand the money back. Or If I submit a ticket first he might not be willing to show a new video


Are my pics good enough proof?

I'm grasping at straws, but this is absolute BS and I'm steamed!

Ebay is where the scammers go. I would always try to avoid that place and do Craigslist instead.

You should do a crop on your images of the section that he shows on his video (the MRC part). Then compare them. I see some white scuff marks on his to the left of the words. Compare that to your images and see how different they are. I bet he has a bad filter laying around and wants to send the bad one back to you and keep the good one that you sent him.

This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. Don't offer him his money back. There's a good chance he could have scratched it himself. Leave a kind reply on his feedback and offer to send anyone with doubts about your service on Ebay these pictures to prove him wrong

Well one thing ebay/paypal both don't accept videos as proof, I've tried it before. But yeah sounds like he's trying to jip you. That's why I always insure everything over $40, it's only like $3. That covers you with shady buyers like this, I was on e-bay for over 8 years with 100% feedback in both buying and selling but I've had enough of their crap and just left.

The customer will get it resolved in their favor. OP you are screwed. I stopped buying/selling on EBay shortly after they implemented new policies giving buyers the run of the business.

Especially after they removed the ability of sellers to comment negatively on buyers, but allow buyers free reign to vent on sellers.

The only time I would ever consider selling on Ebay would be an item with a serial number that can be easily identified, and not easily copied. Keeps away the rif-raff that buy a good item to replace a broken item they have. Sounds like that's what happening to the OP.

Sorry.

So, if I dont' give him his money back, won't eBay come after me or my Paypal account? and I kindly asked him to take a video of the entire filter (Just noticed and remembered there is a 72mm printed on it, and asked what type of price reduction he's talking about. I haven't sent my ticket to Ebay yet.

Buylongterm wrote in post #15492665
So, if I dont' give him his money back, won't eBay come after me or my Paypal account? and I kindly asked him to take a video of the entire filter (Just noticed and remembered there is a 72mm printed on it, and asked what type of price reduction he's talking about. I haven't sent my ticket to Ebay yet.

No, what will happen is that the buyer will complain to EBay citing 'item received not as described'. They will put a hold on your paypal account, sweep the money, and refund the customer.

The customer may OR MAY NOT be required to return the item. Many times they are not. So they get their money back, you get hosed and most likely will not even get your filter back.

I wouldn't even negotiate a 'reduction' in price. I would just ask that he send it back for a full refund, then never bother with ebay again. It's not for small sellers anymore.

Here is just a sampling of the Ebay 'Buyer Protection' Terms of Service...that you agreed to by selling on Ebay.

http://pages.ebay.com …otection.html#r​esolution1

ABSOLUTE BS! NEVER EVER AGAIN WILL I USE EBAY! The world is a crooked evil place.

I sent him this.

Matthew,

Good afternoon. I promise you with all my heart when that filter left here it was in mint condition. I have pictures of the filter and even if you open the pics up in Photoshop and play with the levels, you can clearly see that there is not a scratch on it and if you enlarge the pics again not a scratch on it. Were the shipping boxes damaged in anyway? I'm an honest person and I hope you know that I would NEVER try to sell an item in that bad of condition and if I did, I would never use the word MINT. No normal human being world! And your track record on here is flawless so I don't think you'd be lying either. Since I'm the seller it's my job to make things right. What type of price reduction are you thinking about?

For my sanity (I'm so upset its scratch), can you take a video of the entire filter?

Thanks,

He replied....

I believe you truly thought the filter was in mint condition. Perhaps something happened in shipping. Although, the packaging appeared to be fully intact when the item arrived.

The first thing I did was check it under a high power light. I found the hairline scratches to be visible only at certain angles. It took me awhile to set up the camera, light and upload the first video. I would rather not do that again today.

The problem is that I spent nearly $120 on this because I thought it was mint. When I can get the filter new for $142.50 here:

http://www.ebay.com …lters&hash=item​416f562040

I'm picky about my camera equipment. I would probably pay about half the cost of the new filter for one that is scratched. So, either a refund of $50 or it must be returned. In the case of a return you must also cover the shipping cost.

Like yourself, I'm honest and have the track record to prove it. I'm sorry it worked out this way and know it must be frustrating, but I have to look out for my best interest.


And I didn't truly believe it was in MINT condition, I know it was. So, Should I just eat the 50.00 or ask him to take pictures or another video? Again if he's guilty, which he is, he won't be able to and then He will get all pissy and just say I'll return the filter and I want a full refund. Or do I call his bluff?

It would appear your buyer had a really beat up filter and needed a new one. So...he buys yours, sends you that video of his beater...and he will have netted a mint filter. Your choices are request the filter back, you know which one you'll get back and I'm sure it won't be the one you sent him or give him a generous refund and move on.
You got taken. I'd give him the $50 and forget about it. You'll net $70, which is a lot more than that filter he'll send you back will fetch.

Yea, I agree with Rick. Eat the partial loss and move on. Better than eating a full loss.

If he wants $50, give him $25 as a show of good faith which he will be mostly happy with and chalk it up to experience. He will be getting a great price on the filter.

eBay's policies have completely soured me on the site. I used to have over 1000 positive sales and purchases. I had a 100-400L for sale with a "buy it now" and clearly stated no shipping out of the USA. So some scammer in South America bought it and of course didn't pay or even respond to request for payment. Even though i filed the complaint, I was told that if the seller chimed in saying I refused to ship, that the fee would come out of my pocket. I waited the 45 days on pins and needles for the SOB to write his response which luckily he never did.
I'm done with eBay.