Gosh it's quite shocking how they get away with it. Have you contacted trading standards or watchdog? I don't think I've had a response yet (found myself ignoring my email account already!)

thanks for the replies. so ebay have found against me and i have appealed, which means the money is still quarantined. i told them i thought eBay was 'not as described' as their system defaults to no returns but what they really mean is 'no quibble returns at the seller's expense', also that they have exposed me to abuse from the buyer by not reviewing the case more quickly as requested or blocking replies from the buyer; left me out of pocket both in terms of postage and with an item in a now damaged box not to mention the wasted time and distress they've caused. i also mentioned the fact that they buyer has a lot of impecable feedback when they are abusive and dishonest which is misleading to other buyers and sellers. i've had what seems to be an understanding email in response where they've noted that i have tried to resolve the matter amicably. they have asked a lot from me though: to report the incident as an internet fraud to the police. i've called the number on the website they sent me and the man told me it was a consumer matter, not fraud, which tbh feels right to me. eBay want me to also send proof of postage which includes the buyers address (why?!) they want me to send photos showing the damage although they haven't mentioned the fact that the item is complete and so not entitled to a return at all and haven't asked for photos proving that. i will call the consumer number that the fraud people gave me but i do feel like i'm being sent on the run around for the sake of between £8 and probably £20 for the postage + damage, if eBay feel like it. i'll let you know how i get on, but i do feel that eBay needs some tweaking to its procedures - this is not right and i can see from the consumer forum on eBay that other people have been left in a worse situation than me. i guess eBay are hoping i will run out of steam before they do! i'm thinking that if i don't get some compensation from them and the feedback system doesn't reflect what has happened i will see if i can find a group of people to complain together. Surely that will get some proper attention!!

hi everyone, this is only my 3rd sale on ebay, and i have been put right off. looks like i will be left out of pocket with an item damaged by an abusive buyer and a black mark against me. My buyer has over 100 +ve feedback for selling and 3000 +ve for buying but she is a complete nightmare, rude and uncommunicative. she insisted item wasn't as described but wouldn't properly explain the problem, claiming some clips were missing and reported me to eBay. i accepted the return on that basis, feeling pretty stupid for not checking the item properly - it hadn't occured to me that something might be missing as this is so rare these days, i was selling-on a lightfitting from a now bankrupt DIY store because it was too long to hang on my stairs. When i got the lightfitting back, there were spare clips in the box as you would expect. She has damaged the box by sending it back without any packaging (selotape ripped picture off box, box is now v dented etc), which would affect resale value, but frankly i don't want to risk this kind of abuse again - i am selling a few unwanted items to buy secondhand maternity clothes and baby items!!! i have suggested that she send me the postage and i will resend the item to her, given that she has damaged it. as you would expect she has refused but i am gettign no where with ebay and i am going to be out of pocket. i have reported her but this looks like a fruitless tasks going by the ebay community forum. eBay haven't ruled on this yet, but having looked around their community forum i can see that ebay usually find against the seller no matter what. They have quarantined my money from the sale and won't block the buyers emails to me, so in my view are helping her to harrass me. eBay defaults to 'no returns' and advertises Seller Protection, but it turns out they mean 'no quibble returns at sellers expense' i wouldn't have listed anything if i'd known they'd leave me in this position. can anyone offer any advice (other than sticking with NCT sales!!!!) Surely eBay at least have to ensure i am not out of pocket and offer some compensation for the damage? also does anyone know what it really means to have a ruling against you on ebay - do they share information with other multinationals for example? just wondering if they can make my life difficult when i'm buying/ selling elsewhere? Thanks