Fraudulent package
My son used his Christmas money to buy a Star Wars Lego set. The package arrived today without any Star Wars items -- it was a box stuffed with junk. I never buy on Ebay. How do I handle this? Obviously, my son is very upset (of course, I warned him not to buy from this site), but I want my money back because this is simply wrong. And how shameful to scam a child. What do you suggest I do? Am I supposed to contact the seller? I don't think it's worth contacting them because they scammed me.
12 comments
michfranze_0
OP1 year agoI've learned my lesson. I saw 96.9% and thought that would be OK. Like I said, I never buy on Ebay, so I didn't know.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoNo, on Ebay, 96.9% is pretty bad.
I won't buy from a seller unless they have 99% or above.
michfranze_0
OP1 year agoThis is good to know -- thank you!
wastingtime101
·1 year agoIt's not all about percent. For example a small hobby seller with great feedback can run into one problematic buyer that leaves a neg and because that seller is low volume, the one neg kills their FB percent. So check actual comments and not just the % @michfranze_0 .
The reason that seller's feedback is as high as it is: volume. With a seller like that you'll frequently get what you purchase, but it's made clear on their about page they sell liquidation and customer returns. Some of their inventory is acquired when they buy return pallets from Walmart, Amazon, etc.
So you may get what you wanted and you may end up with what you did - a buyer from a different retailer stuffed random things in the lego box, kept the lego set, returned the box and that made its way to the seller who did not open the box to check what was inside. Why do some large sellers do that? Probably because at that volume it's more costly for them to pay staff to inspect everything than it is for them to deal with returns, and they're OK with not having a stellar reputation as long as they're making money and their customer satisfaction rate is within a certain percent. They probably do limited inventory checks and pay more attention to electronics.
Sellers like that typically don't give you a hassle when you file a return request and will often refund without requiring a return, but you are taking a gamble when you purchase from them when it comes to getting what you expect. You may notice they frequently have low prices because their business model allows it. Shopping lowest price has its pitfalls - gotta vet the seller and listing, not just the price.
Same goes for buying from a 3rd party seller on any marketplace. You'll run into these problems with sellers on Amazon and Walmart same as you will here on eBay and typically the same sellers are on all 3 platforms.
That doesn't mean there aren't excellent sellers on all marketplaces, too. You just have to pay attention before you click the buy button.
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoWhy does eBay allow sellers like this on eBay? Shameful.
Seller has 239 negative feedbacks in a month and 166 neutrals in a month.
Sellers like this give eBay a bad experience.
janet9988
·1 year agoI agree... BUT ebay makes a lot of money off this seller and that is why they keep them.. The seller has high volume AND uses promoted listings.
Buyer satisfaction does not really matter in this windfall, money making scenario.
krazzykats
·1 year agoI have purchased from this seller before, and I believe that previously returned items are resold without inspecting them.
The item I purchased had a sticky protective covering that I couldn't remove-it peeled off in itty bitty pieces and was too time consuming, so I returned it. At the time, think I lost $ on the returned item, can't remember exactly why, probably wrong return reason.
You might get a great deal from them, and you might not. But eBay does have the MBG. ðŸ˜
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoAlways check the sellers feedback and that sellers is terrible.
qeqo_0
·1 year agoObviously that Walmart returns liquidator is not a scammer. Obviously they don't inspect the returns, and obviously don't look inside the box. Obviously you don't have to talk to nobody, and just click RETURN THIS ITEM to start a return request for the WRONG ITEM SENT reason, obviously.
You will obviously either @michfranze_0 get a refund no return needed, or a prepaid return label to obviously return everything for a refund. But if you don't hear back by 3 business days, come back on Friday to ask eBay to obviously stomp on it to get help with your refund.
doc-holmes
·1 year agoObviously.
fab_finds4u
·1 year agoHave you not read the Money Back Guarantee?
The seller will be forced to pay return shipping and refund in full. This causes him to lose double shipping money and the Legos, which I suspect the package was tampered with during transit. Every seller knows they can't get away with trying to scam you so it makes no sense they would send you junk.
File a not as described dispute and get your money back.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoFile a return request and use the reason "received wrong item."
Instructions here: https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/return-item-refund?id=4041