Dear eBay Queen:

I love to buy items from a certain seller.  I had a small problem with them a few weeks ago, and I just found out when I tried to buy some more items from them that they blocked me.  I don’t know what to do!  I’ve messaged them, and I have not heard back from them.  It’s only been a couple of hours, but I’m worried.

Here are the last two transactions I had with this seller.  I placed a rather large order for 4 different dresses in 4 different sizes.  I wanted to try each size on to see which one fit the best.  As it turns out the medium in one dress fit well and the Large in the other 3 fit well.  I opened a return request for the 12 items, and they accepted the return and I received my money back.

The second transaction was similar, but involved returns on some scarves and a jacket.  I purchase 4 scarves returned 2 and purchased 3 jackets and returned 2.  They accepted my return and I received the money back.

Never have I been rude or mean.  Do you think it’s because of the returns?  They offer free returns doesn’t that mean that it’s ok to return things?

When they message back, I will do anything so that I can buy from their unique eBay store.

Melanie R

Dear Melanie:

I think it probably has to do with the returns.

You purchased a total of 16 dresses.  You returned 12.  Purchased 4 scarves returned 2 and 3 jackets returned 2.  That’s a total of 16 Return requests opened for you.  When you opened that return request was your reason for return that they didn’t fit? or That you didn’t like the item?  OR was it because the items were not as described?

Since they have free returns, they had to pay return shipping on 16 items.  If the shipping was 5.65 per item that is 90.40 in return shipping fees they paid to have your items returned.

If you opened any of those returns for a reason other than “it didn’t fit” or “changed mind”  The seller received an invisible to you strike because your returns were due to the fault of the seller.  If you did that, not only did they pay almost 100.00 in return shipping, BUT they also could have their eBay metrics skewed by your returns.  When a seller receives high “faulty” returns they are charged more by eBay in their final value fees.

I don’t know how to make the seller accept sales from you.  I would be honest and let them know that you did not realize by opening that many requests could hurt their eBay account and bank account.  I might tell them if they let you buy again that you will not open return requests like that, you’ll go through them personally and send the items back in one box.