Ebay has been an online auction choice for millions of people around the world. The major reason that consumers put their hard earned money in trust with purchases made on Ebay is the BUYER PROTECTION PROGRAM which states:
"We'll cover your full purchase price plus original shipping if your item doesn't arrive or it's not what you expected". Sounds pretty good right? Your purchase is protected, right?
Not really. Like any classic bait and switch, what is advertised rapidly takes on another nature due to those fine print terms and conditions. If you ever buy an item "as is" on Ebay, you can pretty much forget about Buyer Protection unless you write a book of questions to the seller (and get answers) that any corporate attorney would be proud of BEFORE you win the auction.
OK, so you don't buy an item as is. Then you're protected if the item isn't what you expected. No you aren't! Ebay excludes buyer's remorse and uses this "switch" to exclude many valid claims for ISNAD (items significantly not as described). So Ebay's Buyer Protection has no obligation to refund your money on an item that's "not what you expected". This report will not address the nightmare that is known as the Ebay Resolution Department - as that is another subject addressed in other reports. Suffice is to say that this department determines your claim with the same scrutiny of any life changing insurance claim! Don't call them, they'll call you... Or not!
Unlike credit card protection, Ebay can take its jolly ol time with a Buyer Protection Claim, and they really don't want to see any evidence that what you received was not what was pictured or described. Oh, and about the "refund"... Read the seller's return description and terms. If the seller says "no returns", you are probably stuck with the item unless it is "clearly" fraudulant. If the seller says "exchange", Ebay will almost always make you permit the seller to exchange your item at least once (costing you shipping to the seller). But the seller can escalate the claim to where they don't have to talk to you anymore... And you wait and wait for an "exchange" to occur with no way of knowing what's going on.
From my limited experience with the Ebay Buyer Protection, (and I have bought and sold over 200 items in over 4 years on Ebay), the high end items ($200) are subject to more scrutiny and claim objections than are low end items. If you are dealing with a "power seller" or seller in good standing (Ebay makes their money from sellers) then good luck on your Buyer Protection claim.
In summary, it is very bad business to make a buyer feel that they have a guarantee that ensures product delivery and minimal quality standards with "protection" that is entirely at Ebay discretion. Do not be fooled into a false sense of security with that little "E" shield. It often doesn't mean much in the fine print when you don't get what you paid for!
People buy and sell on Ebay everyday and most transactions go well, and sometimes, you can even get a good deal (imagine that). However, don't ever feel protected unless the buyer offers it. Ebay's Buyer Protection is not true to its advertisement.
This is not to bash the legitimate Ebay sellers, and most are. They pay 9% to sell their stuff and another 3% for pay pal (Ebay really wants sellers to offer pay pal)... Ouch. They cannot leave negative feedback on deadbeat bidders and sellers sometimes get the short end of the stick. But Buyer Protection does not protect buyers either. Then who is protected? You guessed it, EBAY!
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