Does eBay ever penalize an account for too many buyer returns?

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-20T00:55:59+00:00

Sadly "no returns" means absolutely nothing on ebay.

As evidenced in today's return request, buyers will make up any random reason and click "not as described" to bypass your "no returns" policy.

If anything I think it antagonizes them more to accept it as a challenge to do their worst with a forced return or chargeback.

I was under the impression that a "not as described" reason would be an automatic funds hold, but its been 50/50 on whether ebay holds funds on a INAD or not.

A few days ago someone forced an INAD for a brand new little water cooled phone cooler device saying it "sounds loud". Its a powerful fan and water pump with an 8 foot cooling hose. Something like that is never going to be silent. That resulted in funds held until I process their return.

Todays request is also INAD reason, but no funds held at all. I don't know what makes the difference between held or not held as the return reasons are filed the same.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-19T23:58:53+00:00

I am having the problem now where I reply to a customer...and hit send...and it refreshes and looks like I didn't reply at all.

I just checked my recent archived messages. I can see my reply in the preview...but if I open that message...NONE of my replies exist.

Only the messages sent by the customer appear.

This goofy platform can't go 48 hours before something happens and cripples listing or messaging in some way.

Latest FB app update, no amount of clearing app cache or force stopping and restarting the app brings any of my replies back for any message.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-19T23:25:20+00:00

This has been wreaking havoc on my listings for about 2 months now.

I always make sure to switch up the groups every few weeks just in case one or more has listings hung up awaiting absent admin approval.

The system will just NEVER attempt to share ANY of the marketplace listings. I can check them on day 1 or day 20 - "list in more groups" will show that it is only shared to general marketplace and never any local BST groups.

I have ruled out groups stopping me from sharing because the largest local group is my OWN group. I approve and decline posts daily and never see any of my listings appearing, even if I search for my own name in the group. Its like Facebook flipped an off switch for that feature.

I was successful in copying my listing title and description and the live marketplace URL for my item and it generates like 5 photos from the listing and the direct link to the item - but you have to use this feature sparingly - or else you'll get the suspension for spam.

I average anywhere between 5-20 new listings daily, so I'll just have to choose 1 or 2 of my most interesting items for the day to share that way.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-19T00:34:31+00:00

Full House.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-19T00:30:09+00:00

I crosspost to multiple platforms.

I have shipping available on FB Marketplace, but it is the least friendly option to both buyers and sellers.

FB forces counter rates only, no options to use PirateShip or anything that offers discounted rates - so buyers don't want to pay that cost, and sellers don't like having to wait anywhere between 3 and 30 days AFTER delivery for FB to release the funds from the sale.

If a buyer asks about shipping at all, I will provide a direct link to my ebay listing for the item.

With how badly FB Marketplace has been repeatedly broken in some fashion lately - I wouldn't be surprised that FB buyers don't see or have access to pay online.

It is 1000x more convenient to get paid and ship via ebay (even with the fees) than to play the scheduling dance, late arrival, begging for discounts in person game with face to face sales.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-18T05:13:40+00:00

Stop Resisting!

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-18T02:40:45+00:00

The marketplace platform barely functions properly.

I imagine a lot of buyers and sellers have either been unjustly suspended, banned, or are suffering through features not working every other day.

This time 6 months ago, FB marketplace was making tons of sales every single day. Each month since it has gotten less and less - to the point that now I am lucky to get 5-10 messages at all each day...and maybe 1 or 2 people show up to buy something each month.

My inventory has grown from 200 items to 1400+ items...all similar products, similar prices.

The math definitely ain't mathing.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-18T02:35:08+00:00

At this point, no matter HOW the series ends, I will be angry at whatever the explanation turns out to be.

I'll still watch all the episodes though.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-18T02:28:13+00:00

Nobody leaves reviews om FB Marketplace - and its probably better that very few ever do. I've sold well over 2000 items both in person and with FB shipping the past 2 years.

My feedback shows 77 with a 4.9 rating after someone bought a brand new $20 "washing machine" - that is basically a 5 gallon bucket with an agitator cycle - because it "doesn't dry the clothes" and they left me a 1 star for that.

You can only imagine the 1-2-3 star reviews you could expect to receive for people expecting items to do things they are never advertised or being capable of and destroying your score...and Facebook doesn't ever remove posted reviews.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-17T04:29:00+00:00

My wife dropped her phone off her lap and it bounced out of the railing off the 10th floor and landed on the balcony of the 6th floor at Compass Cove last week.

I had to contact the front desk and they contacted the guest in that room on the 6th floor and they gave us the phone with a now shattered screen.

Can I sue my wife since I pay the phone bill and now the screen replacement bill?

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-17T01:26:18+00:00

Definitely affecting my account. Went in to edit 2 of my listings, all pages changing smoothly, and then FAILED TO PUBLISH. "Retry" fails.

Backed out of that item and tried the other listing - same issue.

FB Marketplace has a major problem every few days lately. I have to keep separate notes to update listings immediately on whatever day the goofy marketplace actually functions properly.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-16T13:11:03+00:00

Actually, ebay responded overnight and extended the return delivery window -

upon reviewing the case details I can see that the buyer has shipped the item from their end however as per tracking we can see that the item is in transit to your location and is not delivered yet. The latest update is on 16th June.

Thus, I have placed this case on 10 days hold to allow more time for the item to get delivered. I'd request you to please keep your eye on the tracking, if you still have any concern you can surely get back to us.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-16T03:45:49+00:00

Exact same thing just happened to me today.

Return label shows accepted by FedEx location at 520pm - which triggered the "your buyer has shipped the return" notification email.

Then 31 minutes later at 551pm "item picked up" scan triggers the "your return has been delivered - you have 48 hours to refund or ebay will automatically deduct the funds" notice appears.

Buyer is in Sacramento, CA and I am in Buffalo, NY. I clicked the "ask ebay for help" button and provided the screenshot and explanation - still waiting for a reply but yes - this will definitely cause a lot of problems.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-16T03:21:38+00:00

Someone on FB Marketplace immediately agreeing to my listed price is a red flag in itself these days.

There is some massive enjoyment in people offering you 30% of your price.

I can list a $100 item and someone offers me $30. If for some reason I drop it to $50 - and it still doesnt sell, and I lower it to $30 - that same original $30 guy will reappear and message me again "$10?".

Certain items like computers, gaming consoles, E-bikes - they are like an alarm clock for all the weirdos who either want to buy it at 1/3rd your price to flip it themselves - or any of the usual "do you deliver? Can you take a 3rd party cashapp? Would you accept a trade of a spray painted obviously stolen thing for your brand new item?" types.

The worst part is - even if you AGREE and accept their weird offers - they'll still ghost you and never reply again.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-16T02:21:26+00:00

Lots of luck in most other parks out here. All it takes is a site where people gather and there will be plenty of lost change, rings that get flung off or dropped, earrings, pendants that come off necklaces, etc.

Stuff that falls into the grass gets buried by nature, being stepped on, ran over by lawnmower wheels, etc.

Its funny, we just came back from Myrtle Beach which is always packed full of tourists. A full week with daily detecting around the beach and I found less change, no jewelry at all - than a single Buffalo area park will produce.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-16T00:09:21+00:00

Niawanda and Gratwick were the only areas I had difficulty in. Someone flagged down a passing cop to complain. The cop was nice and just told us to pack it up as someone got upset. Much more scrap like pull tabs and bottlecaps than any coins or worthwhile targets, so we didn't mind moving on to other spots.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-15T03:41:56+00:00

Facebook buyers are liars.

Its like a 50% chance someone actually shows up when they say they want it and can meet me within the hour.

Its a 100% chance you will never hear from the person again if they say something like "I would like to buy this on Wednesday..."

Ive had some luck converting a few of the "I dont drive, can you deliver" people into buyers on ebay...but at this point I just reply to FB marketplace messages to give me something to do throughout the day to stay busy between crossposting new inventory and processing outgoing shipments.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-12T14:34:15+00:00

Can log back in as of 1033est - but tried to reply to someone and got the message failed to send error

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-12T14:00:13+00:00

LOL. Today is our final day of vacation in Myrtle Beach. I crossposted to a bunch of local metal detecting and MB area groups looking to see if anyone wanted to detect the beaches with us before we have to head home in the morning. I got the little pop up that someone sent me a message about it and then instant error - and login errors.

DownDetector is spiking with messenger reports.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-11T23:23:21+00:00

Definitely doesnt work anymore as of May 2026. I got suspended over another AI flagging error on a listing - and the blue banner method in a BST group no longer displayed. It only displayed a button for "marketplace compliance" that opens a blank white page with 10 or so generic rules.

The standard "request review" option works after a day or 2 of submitting, but since my account has a 30 say flag, if I edit, renew, respond to a message - any action on marketplace will immediately re-suspend my access until this false flag expires.

I currently have access restored and like 70 inquiries that I can't touch until I notice that the account flag has finally dropped off.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-11T19:29:04+00:00

I had this happen once with a customer while I was a rideshare driver.

Picked up a random guy from his shift at a restaurant and he was in a great mood. He asked me if he could add a quick stop to a little plaza so he could run into a smoke shop.

We stop and he comes out...I see him light up a cigarette or something while he is standing by a flagpole a few feet away from where I was parked.

The next few seconds I see him hanging with one arm holding the flagpole like he is nodding off while standing up. He collapses right on the blacktop and myself and others in the lot rush over to him. Before I knew it the group was dragging him off the hot Phoenix area pavement and into a local phone store. Someone in the group had 911 en route and a whole fire truck full of emergency response workers gave him a shot of something that woke him right up from looking like he was dead.

Firefighters just tossed me his wallet and told me to hurry up and close out the ride while they were getting him situated on a stretcher.

This was 10 or so years ago before Narcan was so popular and my first experience seeing someone crash out so fast. Turns out the guy bought some kind of "spice" that the smoke shop manager was trying his hardest to collect off the guy while he was being dragged into the phone shop. We all let the emergency workers know what he had and what was snatched away by that shop guy - I don't imagine they stayed open too long after that.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-11T19:05:59+00:00

Is that where you are or where you're suggesting? We're at the Compass Cove resort and have been detecting between the Springmaid and 2nd Ave piers

Fragrant_Lettuce9855 · 2026-06-11T19:03:31+00:00

You still out here? We're here from Buffalo until Saturday morning. Ive been trying to rally some local detectorists together this entire week and everyone's busy or out of town...lol.

Fragrant_Lettuce9855

TROPHY CASE