eBay

iam-the-walrus · ‎08-31-2025

I sold an item to an Amerikan. UPS confirmed the seller refused it because of Cheeto Mussolini's tariffs and the UPS fee adding $70.00 USD to the cost at his end.

He wanted me to pay it.

I have the chat transcript where the eBay agent confirmed I had done my part in shipping to this 'buyer's' registered address and CONFIRMED my money would not be claw back for this fool.

MUCH later UPS phoned me and said they tried 3 times to talk with this Amerikan buyer and he would not answer.

The package was "abandonded".

Then eBay gave the seller the ENTIRE amount paid and I'm out an item worth over $100 PLUS my shipping costs.

Fleabay THEN sent me a survey asking me to rate my experience!?!?!

My response:

After 26 years on eBay: I closed all my listings, removed the app from my phone and am just compiling and collecting all the materials for my credit card company for the charge back to reverse eBay's FRAUD!!!

Check my **bleep** feedback.

My guess is this guy is buying a LOT of items to flip and passed some kind of threshold.

So yeah:

F**k eBay and the (obvious) MAGAt employee there who made this decision

I've been using Fleabay since 1999.

I've cancelled all my listings ahd have instituted a fraud investigation with my credit card company to get my money back.

Some of the text I sent to my card company:

I am not responsible for the tariff incurred by this importer. I made 'fun' of Trump in my correspondence with the eBay rep and with the seller, (I have all those emails with the seller on eBay if needed, though, to be honest, with the HOURS I've spent, the info in this document is more than enough to charge back this fraud), so my guess is a Trumpanzee who works at eBay decided to give this money, illegally, back to the seller, in full while I'm also out the shipping I paid UPS.

Ebay wrote me and said I had to respond to the buyer when they put in the claim. So I did, reiterating what I told him in emails and what the eBay agent said: Bad idea to refuse it.

They then followed up saying he'd get MY money if I didn't supply the tracking number and proof of delivery:

Which was all on the eBay website as I BOUGHT the UPS postage ON eBay.

To me this is clearly an indication that the fraud was coming but I didn't see it then.

They buyer, put in this claim soon after UPS contacted me, telling me the buyer wouldn't answer the phone and I said I'd not pay his import fees nor the exorbitant amount to have the item shipped back to me.

Ebay CONFIRMED I'd sent it to the registered eBay address.

marnotom! · ‎08-31-2025

@iam-the-walrus wrote:

MUCH later UPS phoned me and said they tried 3 times to talk with this Amerikan buyer and he would not answer.

The package was "abandonded".
Then eBay gave the seller the ENTIRE amount paid and I'm out an item worth over $100 PLUS my shipping costs.

I’m assuming you mean that the buyer received a full refund.

The way this is being explained, it sounds as though it just automagically happened, but I doubt this is what happened. Did the buyer file an “item not received” case and did you respond with the tracking number with a note that the item was refused or abandoned because of customs and tariff-related charges?

flipistics · ‎08-31-2025

Talk to the agents through social media and explain that the buyer refused the item due to tariffs and should not have been refunded. You *should* be made whole under eBay's seller protection policy. Now the UPS charge, THAT you're on the hook for. UPS has to prepay the tariffs before the item crosses the border and they're NOT refundable. I believe it's stated specifically in the UPS terms and conditions that you have to check off acknowledging that you read them.

When you talk to the agent, don't go into all the name calling about Trump, etc. Just keep it professional and stick to the facts. Specifically mention eBay's seller protection policy.

reallynicestamps · ‎09-01-2025

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?...

100milehowie · ‎11-15-2025

Trump has created such a mess that touches so many of us and it will be a daunting task to repair the damage that has been done.

bayman709 · ‎01-02-2026

Sent a package of scrap RAM sticks to 'murica ( value was about $150 = $23 in shipping)

Got a message from the buyer that UPS was looking for $369 to release the package. Called UPS and was told it was for import fees. Asked them to return to sender.. Thanks Donald!

mrdutch1001 · ‎01-03-2026

I don't understand why anyone would agree to ship scrap RAM sticks to the USA these days...those metals contained within are highly tariffed...and that should be of concern to any Canadian seller and let this be a lesson to any Canadian seller who still thinks they can ship those types of items to the USA without consequences...

john_koenig99 · ‎01-03-2026

@bayman709 wrote:
Sent a package of scrap RAM sticks to 'murica ( value was about $150 = $23 in shipping)
Got a message from the buyer that UPS was looking for $369 to release the package. Called UPS and was told it was for import fees. Asked them to return to sender.. Thanks Donald!

And know you'll have to pay said import fees, if you want them returned to you.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎01-03-2026

@mrdutch1001 wrote:
I don't understand why anyone would agree to ship scrap RAM sticks to the USA these days...those metals contained within are highly tariffed...and that should be of concern to any Canadian seller and let this be a lesson to any Canadian seller who still thinks they can ship those types of items to the USA without consequences...

For the gold salvage. If you have quantity and know the process it adds up.

As of January 3, 2026, the current spot price of gold is approximately $4,330 to $4,348 USD per ounce, which equates to about $139 to $140 USD per gram. In Canadian dollars (CAD), the spot price is approximately $5,922 CAD per ounce or $191 CAD per gram.

Older ram sticks have slightly over 1 gram per on the contacts.

mrdutch1001 · ‎01-03-2026

I am very aware of the gold content and its value, thank you...(back in the good ole days of eBay I did list/sell/ship that sortta thing to the USA) , but to continue to sell/ship to the USA under current situation & not think there would be any issues was/is my point!!

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎01-03-2026

@mrdutch1001 wrote:
I am very aware of the gold content and its value, thank you...(back in the good ole days of eBay I did list/sell/ship that sortta thing to the USA) , but to continue to sell/ship to the USA under current situation & not think there would be any issues was/is my point!!

As it stands there is a varying degrees of knowledge when it comes to shipping internationally compared to the past. Next to impossible to keep up with all the rule changes implemented in the last 350 days and counting made by the Orange haired, thick blood, extra strength aspirin taking, critizer of anyone that doesn't think how he thinks, frequent golfing (with cart) President. (Did I miss anything?)I can only imagine the faces of customs inspectors reviewing the hourly updates and them trying to stay on the same page. Leaves sellers and buyers, foreign and domestic in a similar predicament. Re: OP. So most likely a seller trying to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak...whatever the risks.

reallynicestamps · ‎01-03-2026

And know you'll have to pay said import fees, if you want them returned to you.

No.

The buyer would have to cooperate and mark the package as Returned Merchandise, but no import fees are due (from the importer or the exporter) when there is a Failed Transaction.

And again, eBay does not require the Seller to refund anything if the Buyer refuses the shipment.

Be aware of course that the Buyer also has recourse to their credit card chargeback service.

These stories tell me one thing-- that it is a Bad Idea to trust a private, commercial shipper like UPS or FedEx.

Better to stick to Canada Post, or have a third party like eBay's eIS involved.

With eIS in particular, all import fees are paid in advance by the Buyer before the Seller gets the shipping address.

Problem solved.

With Canada Post, we are paying 10% of the Buyer's tariff and I have strong political and patriotic objections to that.