What to do when a buyer is about to do a scam return on you?

[billythekid16]

A buyer from South Carolina bought my lot of empty printer ink tanks this week.  Within less than an hour of the package's delivery confirmation, he filed on eBay for a refund. The reason? They "arrived damaged" and "they were used." He posted this photo to both eBay and me:

[coolections]

I do not see that listing in your solds section so it is hard to tell whether the listing was set up properly. Did you list it in the for repair and parts only section? Did you put in the title they were empty?

[redlinear]

Doubt it's a scam.  Looks to me like a buyer that didn't read (or understand) the listing.  
What you do is:  Accept the return, and refund when returned.  
After that, if the return is not what you shipped?  You then start a case yourself in hopes that eBay will refund you.

[mtgraves7984]

@coolections 

Could this be the listing? >> Lot of 15 Genuine Canon 280/281 XL Empty Ink Cartridges VIRGIN/Never Refilled | eBay

If so, it's not listed as 'Parts', but it lists 'Empty' about half a dozen times. Hmmm... 🤔

[coolections]

No. The picture the OP supplied is completely different then that listing. I rechecked. OK, maybe it is just scattered cartridges made it look different. You are correct, not the right category. Saying used is not the same as saying trash.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Because that's the photo the buyer sent him?

[rosszonebricks]

I agree this is doubtful a scam.  Likely they bought from a picture alone, zero reading comprehension... we've all had those buyers.

Do the return, and refund when it's returned.

[mtgraves7984]

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@redlinear wrote:

Doubt it's a scam.  Looks to me like a buyer that didn't read (or understand) the listing.  
What you do is:  Accept the return, and refund when returned.  
After that, if the return is not what you shipped?  You then start a case yourself in hopes that eBay will refund you.

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@redlinear 

That would work in a perfect world, but if the seller issues a refund/protects Metrics, the seller can't appeal the refund that he/she issued. But, @billythekid16 could report the buyer, though.

[billythekid16]

To everyone here: I am so sorry. I accidentally pressed Post and thus my original message was incomplete. This is the rest of my story:

The red flag in the photo is the 281XXL ink tank...I never sent him that.  And the fact that the packing slip is in pristine unfolded condition, and flipped over so as to not see if it has my mailing address on it.  I folded the packing slip before mailing it, so it should have had four folding creases. Another red flag.

His responses to me were evasive. I tried to get an explanation from him, but they were short - "send shipping label" and "used, not new."  I am expecting to get back a whole different set of ink tanks, if he does make the effort to mail it back to me.  But is there anything else I can do, aside from accepting this as a loss?

Sidenote: I can't think of what motive this guy has.  Empty ink tanks for those who want to refill them to save money on printer ink seems (to me) an unlikely target for scammers.  Unless he found some way to get more money from eBay through the refund, it just seems odd.

[billythekid16]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

@coolections 

Could this be the listing? >> Lot of 15 Genuine Canon 280/281 XL Empty Ink Cartridges VIRGIN/Never Refilled | eBay

If so, it's not listed as 'Parts', but it lists 'Empty' about half a dozen times. Hmmm... 🤔

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Yes. That's the listing. I never had a previous problem listing it as such.  Had previous success with it until this week.

[redlinear]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

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@redlinear wrote:

Doubt it's a scam.  Looks to me like a buyer that didn't read (or understand) the listing.  
What you do is:  Accept the return, and refund when returned.  
After that, if the return is not what you shipped?  You then start a case yourself in hopes that eBay will refund you.

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@redlinear 

That would work in a perfect world, but if the seller issues a refund/protects Metrics, the seller can't appeal the refund that he/she issued. But, @billythekid16 could report the buyer, though.

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Can to. That's how it's done.  
I've had two fairly expensive "not my items" returned to me.  I did as required.  Refunded as soon as the returns arrived.  Immediately opened a case, explained what happened, and both times eBay paid me for the items (refunded the scammer also...but, paid me also).
   You have to refund (or else eBay will do it for you).
I don't suggest pursuing it further, UNLESS it's a substantial amount though.  I don't assume eBay to be that generous very often.  So, save it for something that counts.

[mtgraves7984]

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@billythekid16 wrote:

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

@coolections 

Could this be the listing? >> Lot of 15 Genuine Canon 280/281 XL Empty Ink Cartridges VIRGIN/Never Refilled | eBay

If so, it's not listed as 'Parts', but it lists 'Empty' about half a dozen times. Hmmm... 🤔

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Yes. That's the listing. I never had a previous problem listing it as such.  Had previous success with it until this week.

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@billythekid16 

Well, I'm one who protects my Metrics, so I'd approve the Return and refund upon the cartridges' return to me.

Then... I suppose I'd call it a lesson learned (dang it!) and not list them in that category again. Hang in there...

[redlinear]

Buyer may be upset with a different seller and just thinking it's you.  
If you can't get through to the buyer though, you simply have no other option than to accept the return and refund when a packages arrives.....or refund now and let them keep the cartridges.
If you don't...eBay will do it for you. 

[johnrj1226]

Found the OP sold a lot of 15 empty cartridges on April 18 2023.

I am a bit confused about the term VIRGIN in their headline description.

[billythekid16]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

Found the OP sold a lot of 15 empty cartridges on April 18 2023.

I am a bit confused about the term VIRGIN in their headline description.

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Virgin cartridges are empty inkjet and toner cartridges that have NEVER been refilled.  That's a term people who refill these tanks understand.