19 replies to this topic

[Mdwsta4]

I recently sold a set of brand new steel on SLS. Ship it the same way I always do; tape the blades, wrap them in plastic, then sandwich them between two sheets of cardboard. This is typically how I receive steel as well.

Buyer is claiming the steel is warped. Has anyone experienced this happening in the mail? I gotta imagine SLS will side with the buyer and of course their insurance won’t cover the amount I sold the steel for so I’ll be in the hole more than I already was.

[Golden Gate Sharpening]

This is how I've always sent steel as well. I seriously doubt they would be bent by USPS, especially if you're referring to that pair of black Step Steel you were selling. I believe the buyer is having buyer's remorse and trying to get a refund. Ask the buyer for proof of warping with pictures and make sure to contact SLS about the issue beforehand. 

 

If for some reason you lose the case and they are returned to you, you can send them my way and I can inspect and fix them if they actually are warped/bent. 

[daveski7]

Agree, they have to take pictures and prove their case. If steel was taped together and protected the whole setup would have to be bent meaning both blades. When you shipped did they lay completely flat against each other?

[Mdwsta4]

Thanks for the confirmation guys. It wasn’t the Step steel, but the True Onyx steel. Regardless, yes everything was flat against each other at the time of shipping. The seller claims the shop noticed one runner was warped when they were sharpening them. I’ve never sharpened skates before so it it possible the shop warped them somehow as they were sharpening them?

I’ve reached out to SLS so we’ll see what they say.



Here’s a photo the buyer sent me.
https://media.fotki....amVjmzx1YqB.jpg

[Golden Gate Sharpening]

 

It appears the person taking the picture put something under one side of the steel to prop it up. It's always within the realm of possibility that the blades could have been slightly warped/bent, but I'm calling BS on this one. Things like this have happened to me multiple times before on SLS and eBay since people know these sites almost always side with the buyer. You may just have to accept the return and sell them to someone else. 

 

Any decent shop should be able to straighten bent runners, either with a blade straightener or another method like a clamp. 

[Miller55]

This is typical SLS buyers remorse or trying to knock something off the price. Sketchy. What pro shop can't fix this?

[Mdwsta4]

Unfortunately, as you would expect, SLS sided with the buyer so the steel is being returned to me. No longer new, sharpened by some random person, and possibly warped. I'll take them to my sharpening guy next time I see him and if one is in fact warped ask if he's able to straighten it.

[Mdwsta4]

Got the steel returned to me. Literally every angle lays flat on my table. Took photos of all 4 sides and sent to SLS, not that it'll matter. Buyer was newly registered and clearly had buyer's remorse or didn't know what the hell he's talking about. Frustrating since the steel has now been sharpened and is no longer new, but hopefully I can still sell them to at least recoup some of the costs

[Miller55]

That's messed up and puts SLS in a really bad spot. You shouldn't be able to go get steel sharpened until the transaction is complete.

It's nice as a buyer to be able to check something out to make sure the condition is as listed, but it's a whole different thing if someone can use an item and then return it. If it were me I would definitely be contacting them about appealing this and getting their policy together. This whole accept/reject thing should be voided as soon as the buyer uses the item.

[Mdwsta4]

Great point! Doing some digging, SLS lists twice in their buyer protection and refund policies that “The order also becomes non-refundable once the item has been used.” The buyer should have notified SLS that the item was ‘damaged’ and opened a claim then. Good that I have that in my back pocket if they get back to me

[Miller55]

Good luck. Makes no sense.

[jgp799]

Yeah, good luck. A few years back I sold a helmet that was brand new and still had the tags on it and everything. The buyer took the tags off and clearly wore it a couple times and then had buyers remorse and wanted to return it. Sure enough ebay sided with the buyer and allowed him to return the item even though I clearly showed them pictures of the helmet before and after, with and without the tags. On top of it all the buyer then decided to leave me negative feedback. That was the beginning of the end of me selling items on ebay, but sounds like sls isn't any better.

[Mdwsta4]

Nope, they're no better. They got back to me basically telling me to pound sand and ignoring their own policy. Advised me to file an insurance claim with USPS for damages, which I tried, only to find out that the shipping label SLS provided doesn't have insurance on it! So I'm still the one holding the bag. Unbelievable 

[Miller55]

Yeah this is why I never feel bad when I end up taking a sale off of SLS platform and doing via text and PayPal. The funny thing is that sideline has all this protection for buyers that screws sellers and now in getting daily emails basically begging me to list items.

[daveski7]

My favorite is that they constantly encourage the buyer to drop the price. You no sooner drop the price and someone favorites your item. You then immediately get an email to send an offer to that person which further promotes dropping your price. Clearly only looking out for themselves just to make a sale. Now the 1099 bullshit when everything I have sold on there I have already taken a beating on. So much for a hobby!! Guess this should have been in the "rant" section. Haha

[Mdwsta4]

I know ebay is doing the 1099, but has SLS stated the same? The $600 limit is brutal and will be something I'm actively trying to stay under seeing as most things are sold at a loss. I also wonder if that $600 limit is gross or net sales? If it's gross, that's even more f-d up seeing as sites take 13-ish%

[Miller55]

It's net. It's still absurd, but I guess part of 1099 is that you can write off expenses, so for most of us selling at a loss it's not going to count against us tax wise. Still a pita. SLS has not issued anything on my account. I think they eventually going to try to get PayPal, zelle, Venmo and other such options also into this.

[Monty22]

It's net. It's still absurd, but I guess part of 1099 is that you can write off expenses, so for most of us selling at a loss it's not going to count against us tax wise. Still a pita. SLS has not issued anything on my account. I think they eventually going to try to get PayPal, zelle, Venmo and other such options also into this.

They already included all the online payment options. 

 

https://www.nbcnews....s-irs-rcna11260

[Miller55]

They already included all the online payment options.

https://www.nbcnews....s-irs-rcna11260

I know, but they have not figured out how to track commercial transactions other than goods and services payments. My accountant said they're going to try to figure something else out eventually. Meanwhile, he said that Cash App is the easiest to use

[Golden Gate Sharpening]

I just received Mdwsta4's steel in the mail to inspect. As expected, nothing was wrong with either of the runners. No warping whatsoever. I was able to sharpen and profile them, then put them back on SLS. I hope it works out for you!

 

On topic: SLS is now forcing free shipping down our throats via email & updates, in addition to already encouraging discount after discount. I understand SLS's main user base is teenagers with very little money, but it's still frustrating trying to sell more valuable items. If you're already going to take a beating on your prices, might as well just take them to Play it Again Sports. They at least give cash/credit on the spot and you don't have to worry about fees, lost packages, BS buyer's remorse, and returns. Some PIAS locations offer consignment, which gives you 50% of the sale price after the item sells rather than 30% on the spot.