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Ebay is a bunch of crooks
seems like I found out the truth to what some folks are saying about ebay...that they are a bunch of crooks just like some of the scammers are ON the platform of ebay,,,I had an issue with a seller that said my order of 2 pks of carrots was delivered? I had clear proof even that VERY day from the photo that the fedex guy took of a house that was NOT mine and I even provided a photo of my house to what fedex took and that still??? was not enough proof to ebay...so they asked me to contact fedex and get them to send me an email stating that it did not go to my house...and it did not have my name on it and so on....ok...after 2 days of getting the other proof ebay asked for for this case...tonight was the last time of the case and guess what? with all the proof that I was ask of as well as the difference of 2 photos of the houses...ebay still ruled in the scammers favor??? so what does that tell you about ebay...well it tells me that ebay are as crooked as the scammers that are on their platform...cause even if you have clear proof and what they ask for you to do for MORE proof they will still screw you out of your money and rule in the scammers favor??...I after 23 years on this site...after I get the rest of my orders and contact my friends I am moving to Amazon where they treat you better and close my account with ebay and tell them to go **bleep** themselves....for of you cannot trust them to help you with a case and you got all the proof in the world but still will turn a blind eye....just how can you trust them with your personal info and stuff...after this **bleep** tonight I do NOT trust them at all......ebay all u have done is prove to me that you are as crooked as your scammers...congrads
kh-light
·8 months agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
sjf6
·8 months agoThey are Crooks. I lost postage costs when a buyer cancelled an order despite not even posting the item and only downloading the label. When I tried to claim it back they took the money out of my account a second time. **bleep**. Its then a load of weariness trying to contact them. They know most people will give up. Disgraceful
tobaccocardyahoo
·11 months ago@artist_in_the_attic
The best solution to the fake tracking scam is opening a dispute (aka chargeback) with your credit card issuer. Their normal procedure is to request proof of delivery from the seller with an address. The credit card issuer generally will verify the address against your account.
Avoids the privacy barrier which stymies Ebay.
16966667
·11 months agoI agree 100%. Once you get sucked into buying something that will not accept returns, eBay does nothing to help you. Do not get sucked into auctions. As soon as it’s accepted you are locked in and cannot cancel. Rip off. I’m done with this nonsense. Buyer protection is **bleep**.
soh.maryl
·11 months ago1. Original message dated 04/15/25. You might do better to start your own thread and explain your issue.
2. On eBay, if the item you bought is not as described, you can open an NAD case and that "does not accept returns" claim flies out the window.
3. Once you make a purchase, if you change your mind, you can request that the seller cancel, but he isn't required to do so.
4. Many of the problems encountered by both buyers and sellers could've been avoided by just a little bit of careful reading BEFORE buying or selling.
mudshark61369
·1 year ago@mi-149964 ,
Did you open the link in my previous answer to see what can be done to beat the scams? When I wrote that reply, I forgot to mention that ebay and shipping companies are hamstrung by Federal Postal privacy regulations, that do not allow anyone but the sender of a package access to the address on a shipping label. USPS clerks may write a note stating In General that the tracking number one received did not have an address that matches the one given to the supposed recipient's. The Private companies will not allow their clerks to do even that. eBay also will not accept emails from shipping agencies because they can be faked by scammers.
There is a social media option for beating the scam, and it is manned by actual ebay employees, not 3rd party phone/chat services. Those emloyees are familiar with the scam and can accept and check info the 3rd party customer service reps cannot. They also have the power to overturn previously lost disputes and/or appeals and issue refunds.
ye-won6
·11 months agohi mudshark , I had high hopes and took you well-meaning advice and used facebook messaging last night about my fake tracking, talked to Jennifer and she was not helpful at all, toed the company line, here is what she wrote:
"I had a closer look at the case and unfortunately, we would need to deny this appeal. This order was delivered on the 5th of September to your confirmed zip code. When we decide the outcome of an 'Item Not Received' case, we use the tracking number provided to make the decision. A tracking number is a 3rd party impartial source of info, and the seller can not be held responsible in a situation where tracking confirms delivery."
I understand that's Ebay's position, but if she is experienced well trained staffer, she should have advised me to go get the "delivered to wrong address proof" from Post Office. After all, it is one of the grounds to appeal on their website. I believe you social media may be more useful, but not in my experience so far. Maybe it depends on whom you talk to.
Also seeing that OP 's appeal was rejected even with the better proof from Fedex Ebay had requested him to get, there may be a chance even with Post Office proof on their letterhead, Ebay may still reject my appeal.
I agree with OP that Ebay is complicit, maybe not intentionally, but definitely lazy or negligent. I used to think Ebay has a good system to catch the scammers, but my most recent experience shatter that confidence. The scammers are good at taking advantage of the loopholes, and Ebay is too slow to respond.
mi-149964
·1 year agoYes, Ebay is complicint with the nefarious characters using the platform to sell their scams. I no longer use it for that reason. It's just turned into a platform for crooks and thieves.
mudshark61369
·1 year ago@artist_in_the_attic,
The fake tracking scam is very hard for ebay to deal with because they cannot access the actual shipping label information due to shipping company's privacy policies which only allow the sender to see that info. If you open the link below and click on the Go To Best Answer button, You will find out what you can do to win an Appeal or if you lost an appeal how to reach actual ebay employees through their social media platforms. links to them are posted in the reply immediately above or below that answer.
Unfortunately, the Appeal process is now handled by a hired 3rd party center and they cannot do much of anything to help no matter how much info you provide them. The SM reps can access more info and do more research to verify the info you provide.
For future use you may want to sign up for the Free enhanced tracking info available from;
USPS - Informed Delivery, FedEx - Delivery Manager, UPS - My choice.
They all have info that can be used to win an appeal or SM report.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Need-advice-item-not-received/m-p/34621715#M496499
ye-won6
·11 months agoAlso, I have Enhance Informed Delivery, but in my case it's useless. You are correct there are useful info in there, but I uploaded my Informed Delivery showing zero package was delivered on the day tracking supposedly showed delivery, I also uploaded from my USPS account the packages received summary showing packages delivered on eariler and later dates only. I can understand the computer would ignore these info at the initial case review, but the facebook rep Jennifer also totally ignored them, I don't know if they are stupid, lazy, or incompetent. It doesn't put too much faith that a review by a live person will get a better outcome.
kathiec
·11 months ago@ye-won6
I've had packages delivered that never showed up on my Informed Daily Digest, and I've had packages show up on it that weren't delivered until days later. It's not accurate enough for eBay to accept as proof.
ye-won6
·11 months agooh ok, thanks for letting me know, to me they seem to be pretty accurate, but I never actually cross checked either, at any rate, Ebay seems to impose an almost impossible hurdle to the kind of evidence they'll accept, I dealt with credit card disputes and lesser forms of proofs suffice most of the time
house*of*paws
·11 months agoHi @artist_in_the_attic / @mudshark61369 / @ye-won6
When I was hit with the 'Fake tracking info scam' several times within a couple of weeks ... I had a chance to see how Amazon dealt with the scam. [This was several years ago ... before Amazon copied eBay in hiring overseas CS reps.]
The Amazon rep simply phoned FedEx or UPS ... I forget which one it was ... while I was still on the phone with them. It took only seconds for the rep to confirm with the shipper that my name and address were NOT on the package with the tracking number I was given ... and I received an immediate refund. [Sadly, Amazon is no longer able to perform that simple maneuver.]
NOTE: I've been the victim of the scam while buying stuff from eBay, Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot ... with UPS, FedEx, and USPS being the shippers. I had the opportunity to request written proof from all three shippers that my name/address weren't on the respective packages. All three complied ... and I was surprised that the 'proof' included and name and address of the actual recipients of 'my' packages. [So much for shipping companies 'privacy policies'.]
For some inconceivable reason, eBay has been exceedingly slow in producing policies to handle this very, very, common scam. Were I to have this problem with another eBay purchase ... I would go directly to my credit card company, request to speak to their Fraud Department, and request a chargeback. I would NOT bother to file a claim with eBay at all. [I would do this ONLY for the 'Fake tracking number scam'. I've had no difficulty filing claims on eBay for other problems.]
I don't intend to stop buying on eBay ... as every company is good or bad in certain areas ... and I continually find items listed on eBay that I cannot find elsewhere. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
EDITED TO ADD: When I initially replied to this OP I hadn't noticed it was posted 5 months ago. I'm letting my reply stand in case others find value in it ... but I apologize for tagging 3 peeps to the thread who may no longer find it useful.
ye-won6
·11 months agoI don't mind being tagged and find your info useful, like you i buy a lot from ebay, amazon, home depot, HD and amazon are excellent, never have problems, and luckily havn't run into any problems, had there been problems, I believe HD and amazon would handle this fake tracking scam much better than Ebay.... given how rampant the problem is, if Ebay can not get on the phone with the shipper or solve proactively on behalf of the buyer, at least they can give a suggestion to buyer to make it easier, something like "please go down to your Post Office get proof and submit for a refund ", unfortunately they never do or care
house*of*paws
·11 months ago@ye-won6
I just wanted to reiterate ... because of the length of my previous post ... that I've had no problems whatsoever getting refunds from eBay for any issue other than the 'Fake tracking number scam'. They are inexplicably dim-witted in catching up with this one, particular scam.
ye-won6
·11 months agoyou said eariler you had no problem getting written proof from all shipper, RE: USPS may I ask did you get it as a hand written note from them as many suggest on the forum ? or some other ways
2nd question is once you get the proof, why you still had problem getting refund ? was the proof not enough ?
I am asking because I need to do the appeal, a bit anxious if and how they will even provide the proof and if the proof is going to work, thanks
house*of*paws
·11 months agoHey @ye-won6
#1. I phoned my local post office and gave them my name, address, and a tracking number ... and I asked them if the name/address I gave them was on the package associated with that tracking number. They said a different name and address was on the package ... but that the ZIP Code was the same as mine.
I then asked if they could put that statement in writing so I could get a refund on the item. They agreed ... and told me to come to the post office to pick it up, which I did. [Both FedEx and UPS had attached the statement to an email to me, but USPS doesn't do it that way.]
The 'statement' was a printout of all the information on the package ... including the recipient's name/address, the sender, weight of package, etc. [This is similar to what FedEx and UPS had provided me.]
I don't recall whether I ever needed to SHOW the statements to anyone in order to get my refunds. I think I just talked to the respective Customer Service reps, who then contacted the shipping companies themselves to verify my information. Getting the statement was mainly proof to me of the scam ... and allowed me to deal with CS reps with confidence. [Otherwise, I couldn't be 100% sure that the package hadn't been stolen after being delivered to my home, in which case I wouldn't be entitled to a refund.]
#2. I don't think I needed to file an eBay claim for this scam. I had purchased the item from a new eBay seller, who used a dropshipper. I messaged the seller and explained that I had proof of the 'fake tracking number scam'. I told that seller that I realized that they, themselves, could be innocent, but that I needed a refund and would use my proof to get it. The seller refunded me quickly, so I didn't have to file a claim. [I believe the seller was likely another victim of the scam ... and that the dropshipper OR their supplier was the guilty party ... but I don't have proof of that.]
I read a lot of posts in the eBay Community ... and it is from other buyers that I've known for years about the difficulty in getting refunded from eBay for this scam. That is why I tell eBay buyers to go directly to the Fraud Department of their credit card company for a refund. I did that when another venue made it difficult getting refunded for this scam. Credit card companies are VERY familiar with this scam, and I advise you to use them IF you paid with a credit card. [You can try doing the Appeal with eBay first ... and THEN go to you CC company.]
Good luck!
ye-won6
·11 months agothanks for taking the time for a detailed reply, yours will act as a roadmap for me to how to get my USPS proof, I hope I can get as detailed a proof as yours. The more details on the proof the better. Also it's been encouraging to see other people having no problem getting the proof from USPS. I was worried they may turn me down.
I also bought from a new seller. Now I know 100% he's a scammer. Your seller might as well be one, but you were acting diplomatically and armed with the necessary proof made him realize he could not win, might as well refund you. Going to the seller first is very smart move !! My experience so far is dealing directly with Ebay is hard in these fake tracking scams.
You are correct credit cards 100% have our backs. Too bad I bought with gift cards. Not only do I not have CC protection, but I have a hunch Ebay is less willing to side with me as they know I don't hve CC backing me. Therefore in the future I will not use gift cards again, at least no in high risk situations.