eBay policy: Buyers should destroy suspected non-authentic items

[Hussulo 6]

What happens if a buyer believes an item is not authentic?

When buyers file a claim alleging that the item is not authentic, we require the buyer to destroy the item. Once a buyer confirms destruction of the item, we will reimburse the buyer or provide an eBay coupon.

From eBay.com:

http://pages.ebay.com/purchaseprotection/index.html

[Hussulo 6]

If it is true and going to be implemented it raises a few questions:

How does a seller who unknowingly sold a bad coin get his money back if the item is destroyed or even know for certain that the item is bad?

Who dictates that the item is bad?

What's to stop a buyer buying a rare date penny for instance and claiming its fake destroying a penny with a slightly different date and claiming their money back?

[RLC35 288]

Huss, The eBay "Buyer Protection" program is a farce. They don't ask you to do anything like what is stated in your example. They want the Buyer and Seller to work it out among themselves.

One thing they don't advertise very well is the full value of the re-embursement. They use to say it was $2,000 maximum, I think it is supposed to be full value now. What they hide very well is that if the Seller does not have over a 50 feedback count...then the total amount awarded is $200.00. And if that is not bad enough...they have a $25.00 deductable, so the actual award is $175.00.

If you lose $1,000 on a coin, and the Seller does not have over a 50 count feedback, then the total amount awarded is $175.00. This information is from actual experience. I lost my tail on an expensive silver dollar purchase that turned out to be a fake!

[Hussulo 6]

It looks policy has been rewritten. The above section quoted from ebay is gone. Closest thing is this.

"What happens if a buyer believes an item is counterfeit?

* Sellers shall work with the buyer in good faith during the resolution process to provide buyer with appropriate documentation or other assurances to satisfy the buyer that the item is not counterfeit, if such information is available.

* If buyer and seller cannot agree that the item is not counterfeit, for covered claims that meet the conditions and are not excluded, buyers are required to send the item back to the seller. Cost of return shipping will be paid by the buyer or eBay in our sole discretion, unless otherwise agreed upon by the buyer and seller.

* Covered claims that meet the conditions and are not excluded will count as a violation by the seller of our prohibited and infringing items policy.

* Sellers shall not list, advertise, or cause that item to appear for sale, barter or trade, on any eBay Inc. (including our subsidiaries, joint ventures, and other members of the group) web site or service located around the world.

* While buyers are not obligated to provide third party confirmation that an item is counterfeit in order to open a claim, in cases where there is written confirmation from the manufacturer that the item is counterfeit, or in additional circumstances where eBay elects to exercise its discretion, eBay may request the destruction of the item by an authorized third party and at eBay’s expense. "

[RLC35 288]

What eBay doesn't tell you is that they will exit the process very quickley, and turn you over to PayPal. It is PayPal that actually has the Buyer Protection program, not eBay (though they are all connected).

After they have settled the claim to their satisfaction...ie a $175.00 settlement max. for an > $1,000.00 expensive coin (seller w/less than 50 feedback), They will allow the seller to again post items for sale again on ebay. The seller will not be allowed to use PayPal though, until they have attained a 98% feedback. It took the seller of the fake silver dollar about 3 weeks to get his 98% feedback rating, and after that he was able to not only sell on eBay, but use PayPal again, as though nothing ever happened.

The seller in my case was 2000 miles away in Arizona, so using a lawyer to correct the situation would cost more than the loss involved with the coin.

Case in Point...eBay makes the Buyer Protection Program look and sound very good, but let the Buyer beware!

I have only had the one negative situation with eBay, but it was a honey...believe me.