AuctionCut

Changes to the eBay User Agreement

Dear eBay Community Member,

I'm writing to let you know that the we've posted an updated eBay User Agreement to help us implement some policy changes. This agreement is effective immediately for new members registering on or after today, and on September 22, 2009, for current members.

The biggest change to the agreement covers our updated, expanded and renamed eBay Buyer Protection. eBay Buyer Protection offers coverage for more buyers and allows eBay to deduct amounts due to buyers under the program from seller PayPal accounts. If sellers don't have sufficient funds in their PayPal accounts, sellers will be asked to provide an alternate payment method. We've moved the bulk of the program details to the eBay Buyer Protection Policy, referenced in the User Agreement. For more information, you can review the Seller Release details announced July 27, 2009.

As with earlier updates to the User Agreement, we've made other minor changes to reflect eBay's current product and service offerings and industry legal standards. For example, we've made a few changes to the way we describe use of our catalog content.

You don't need to take any further action to accept the new User Agreement. If you don't wish to accept the new User Agreement, please refer to this Help page for instructions on how to close your account. We hope you find that these changes make eBay more useful for you.

Thanks for being a part of the eBay community!

Sincerely,

Scott Shipman
Senior Counsel
eBay Inc.

Heres the updated buyer protection plan:

Resolution of cases under the eBay Buyer Protection Policy

Buyers who have been unsuccessful in resolving a problem directly with a seller can contact eBay via the Resolution Center. We will review the case, run a fraud check, and confirm where necessary that the buyer has already attempted to work with their seller. If the buyer is in good standing and the case meets the requirements of this policy, we will review additional transaction information to determine if the case is ready for resolution. For example, we may review the messages sent between the buyer and seller through eBay's messaging system. Depending upon the nature of the case, resolution may not be proper at that time. For example, if the item is still in transit, we may ask the buyer to wait.

If the case is ready to be resolved, eBay will contact the seller about the case. The seller will have 7 days to reach a resolution with the buyer. If the case is based on an "item not received" claim, then a resolution would include:

*

Responding to the case by providing proof of delivery (for items valued over $250, we also require signature confirmation)
*

Coming to an agreement with the buyer to send the item or a replacement item

or
*

Refunding the buyer

If the case is based on an "item not as described" case, the resolution would include:

*

Responding to the case by providing proof to eBay that the item was described properly (for example, providing documentation that supports "original," "first edition," or similar claims)
*

Agreeing to send a replacement item after the buyer returns the original, if this is what the buyer would prefer

or
*

Refunding the buyer

After 7 days, eBay will check with the buyer to see if they are satisfied. If the buyer is satisfied, the case is closed. If we don't hear back from the buyer within an appropriate time, we won't refund them or hold the seller accountable for the transaction. If the buyer is still working with the seller, we'll check back in another week.

If the buyer informs eBay that no resolution has been reached, eBay will review the case. If we find "item not received" cases in the buyer's favor, eBay will refund the cost of the item and original shipping to the buyer. If we resolve "item not as described" cases in the buyer's favor, we will in most circumstances ask the buyer to return the item to the seller (which may be at the buyer's expense). Once the item has been returned to the seller, eBay will refund the cost of the item and original shipping to the buyer.

Refunds will be made with a PayPal credit. Buyers with an active PayPal account will simply log in to PayPal to claim the refund. Buyers without a PayPal account will be asked to create one with their eBay registered email address to claim the refund. Full details on PayPal accounts can be found in the PayPal User Agreement. If in the unlikely event we are unable to send refunds to a PayPal account, we may provide refunds in another form, including a voucher redeemable for purchases on eBay. Refunds will not be made in any other manner.

We understand that there will be times where both buyer and seller may be right. In those cases, eBay may—in its sole discretion—opt to reimburse the buyer without any impact on the seller.

See the entire Updated Buyer Protection Policy here http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buyer-protection.html