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How to handle scam return?
Summary: No content was included in the discussion about handling a scam return initiated by scratchpaddy. There were no details or advice shared in the recorded interactions from scratchpaddy or the subsequent response from rfmtm, leaving the subject unaddressed.
After 13 years on eBay and 100% positive feedback, I just had my first scam buyer. A user with a new account and a strange address bought a $680 graphics card. I was nervous, but I didn't really have a choice: they paid, I shipped. One day after they received it, they opened a "not as described" return, which eBay automatically approved and provided a shipping label. I sent the buyer a polite message expressing my surprise and asking what the issue was, but they never responded. They also then waited more than two weeks before actually starting the return shipment.
Today, the "return" was delivered. It's an empty paper envelope. They didn't even bother returning the box I shipped it in. Also, they used FedEx somehow, even though I originally shipped the item through USPS.
What am I supposed to do? I reported the buyer for abusing the return process, but I'm not sure if that's actually linked to the return. The only option on the return page is for me to refund the buyer. According to the help page "Ask eBay to step in and help for sellers," there should be an option to "Report problem" or to "Ask eBay to step in and help" on the return details page, but neither option is there for me.
scratchpaddy
OP4 months agoI know you're right. I've had weeks to wait for this "return" to arrive, and spent them reading story after story here and on Reddit of people in situations exactly like mine (empty box returns) who got completely screwed over, with eBay siding with the scammer despite all evidence to the contrary, and the seller having to fight tooth and nail to get their money back, and still not succeeding sometimes. I couldn't find anything super recent, though. I don't know if I'm just lucky, or if it's because I'm a long-time member that's never caused problems for eBay before, or if eBay is maybe quietly changing their policies.
Selling on eBay is a minor side-thing for me, but I have sold over 150 items so far, nearly all of them electronics, a high-risk category. That includes several laptops and even a few graphics cards before this. I've had very few issues before (including two legit returns), and this is the first time I've actually had a buyer acting in bad faith. Still, it's disconcerting to know that any buyer can decide they want to keep the seller's item and their money, and eBay's cool with that. I never realized the money-back guarantee was that lenient on buyers. There's absolutely nothing I could have done differently to avoid this situation, save for just not selling on eBay.
scratchpaddy
OP4 months agoQuick update, in case anybody ever reads this. I was able to get eBay on the phone yesterday by telling the support chatbot "contact agent" over and over until it stopped giving me info I already had and offered to have a human call me. After explaining the situation and waiting on hold for about ten minutes, the agent came back and said they had opened a case, and it would be decided in my favor as soon as I signed and returned a form they would send me. I did so right after getting off the phone. They didn't want pictures, they didn't ask for evidence of anything, which disappointed me a little, because I had the evidence. But they just wanted me to sign a form saying I didn't get the return, or that it arrived damaged, missing pieces, etc.
I just got a message this morning saying my funds have been released, and there are no black marks on my account for this episode. They also said they provided the scammer a full refund as well, out of their own funds. I can kind of understand why ("money back guarantee" and all that), but this is going to keep happening more and more if they keep handing out money to flagrant scammers like this. Oh well. At least it wasn't my money. Not this time, at least. Next time? Who knows.
rfmtm
Mentor4 months agoYou were lucky as graphics cards are high scam items that are risky to sell here on ebay, except for maybe local pickup.