SELLER SENT ITEM TO HIMSELF-TRACKING SHOWS ALL PROOF-EBAY TELLS ME TO RETURN ITEM I NEVER GOT
Summary: be_933815 is experiencing frustration with a seller who allegedly shipped an item to themselves instead of to be_933815, and eBay is telling them to return an item they never received. Despite filing a case, eBay supports the seller, prompting be_933815 to contact authorities. Other participants propose that the issue might be a scanning mistake rather than fraud and offer suggestions on filing a case correctly and using eBay's internal policies to resolve the situation. There is also advice on documenting evidence and returning something symbolic if nothing was received.
I am getting zero help from this seller. I paid for an item. Sunday Night 920-2026 at 9:00 PM Central Time. I got up the next morning on Monday 9:21 2026 to see if the seller shipped it yet. Lo and behold, the seller not only shipped it to himself. It was also showing up as delivered to himself. He is in Shelton CT. I am in Rockford, Illinois. That's a difference of a little over 1000 miles. First of all, it's impossible to buy something at 9:00 PM at night and nine hours later having it delivered 1000 miles away. Secondly, all the tracking shows this proof. The order page shows the shipping address, which is me in Rockford, and yet eBay still is telling me to return an item I never got. I filed a case, opened a case and they keep siding with the seller telling me to return something I never got. How do I return something I never got? I'm a victim of A scam here and eBay is taking the seller's side. I'm out $51.67 due to this seller scam.
ryry-jj
·2 weeks agoFirst of all, you can also, when the time comes, file an INR case...tracking needs to show it was at least delivered to your zip code, not just delivered, but to your zip code to be valid.
I too think this is just a case of the mail carrier hitting delivered rather than accepted. Timing lines up too, 9pm purchase from a later time zone, what Il 1 hour behind Connecticut? Nine hours later, and could be closer to 10, drops it off with post office...which could be between 7-8am, are they open that early? Wrong scan shows up as delivered.
kensgiftshop
·2 weeks agoSounds like the clerk scanned it as delivered and it should have been an acceptance scan.
sdneped
·2 weeks agoYou return @be_933815 exactly what you received.
Put that proof inside a box or envelope, affix the prepaid return label, and send it on its way. The seller will have 2 business days to refund after it is delivered. Otherwise, you will see a button to ask eBay to step in refund on behalf of your seller.
If you eventually receive the item and it is exactly as described, please repay the seller.
pamelahe-60
·2 weeks agoRETURN ...AIR... NOTHING...???
OR
PRINT ALL THIS OUT AND MAIL IN THE PRINT OUTS???
sdneped
·2 weeks ago · EditedYes, it's laid out in internal eBay policy:
When you technically have nothing to return but there was 'delivery' per tracking, you would return the nothing. But you should enclose the printouts, to explain why you're returning nothing.
eoma689485
·2 weeks agoWhen a mail carrier or postal clerk scans a package at acceptance, they have to select a toggle on their screen. If they mistakenly leave it on—or click—"Delivered", the tracking system immediately locks in a status of "Delivered" right at the origin point.
That's what it sounds like to me, and if so, the package is still on the way.
be_933815
OP2 weeks agoNot in this case. I have informed delivery. I also know the postmaster at my local post office here in Rockford, Illinois. So they have a more sophisticated way of looking at informed delivery. They could see 56 days out if there's any packages coming to my house. So I went to him and explained the entire situation. And how supposedly on Monday. 9:00 20 26 This was supposedly dropped off or picked up the scam, whatever. So that's 5 days today, tomorrow stay 6. I am in Rockford, 1000 miles away. I'm not in Alaska, which is 2000 miles. Anyway, he's able to pull up in the system and see my address. A very sophisticated. More detailed than normal informed delivery which I do have USPS Informed delivery which shows me photos and gives me. All tracking and all items coming into my mail that day and any particular day. He sees nothing in the next 67 days. I am a victim of a scam. It's plain and simple, they are out there. And if you don't think they are, then here's a little warning for you. There's people out there every day trying to. Scam somebody out of money. And I just happened to find one.
be_933815
OP2 weeks agoOrder date:Sep 20, 2026Order total:US $51.67Order number:27-15162-75525
roastedsaurus
·2 weeks agoeoma689485 described a scenario we have seen before. If it was an incorrect scan setting the info in the USPS system and/or relayed to you via Informed Delivery will not be correct. As far as the system is concerned it thinks its been delivered, but that will not stop the package's actual movement.
pamelahe-60
·2 weeks ago · Editedstill nothing today day 5
seller is being belligerent and rude
scary human being
a real con man!
eoma689485
·2 weeks agoHow the scam works - A seller ships an item, not necessary what the buyer purchased to an address within the buyer's Zip Code, and when a buyer opens an item not received complaint it shows delivery to that Zip Code.
You are stating that the seller shipped it to themselves - then it is not a scam, as the seller does not have proof through delivery confirmation that the item was received to your Zip Code - and in that scenario, you would win an item not received complaint.
As for what to return - which you shouldn't have opened until the last delivery date had past - if the seller sent you a label, ship something back.
Again, more than likely, the Postal Clerk marked it incorrectly - again, not a scam, a mistake.
roastedsaurus
·2 weeks agoTo confirm, you filed a "Item Not as Described" or "Item Not Received" case?
be_933815
OP2 weeks agoCORRECT....
And eBay keeps telling me to return the item by October 6th over and over and over again. And I keep saying to them, how could I return an item I never got? I'm in Rockford, Illinois. He's in Shelton CT. That's 1000 miles away. I physically can't return an item. Miraculously created out of thin air and mailed them an item I never got. So I don't what to do. I'm pulling my hair out with this situation. It's absolutely absurd.
be_933815
OP2 weeks agoOrder date:Sep 20, 2026Order total:US $51.67Order number:27-15162-75525
roastedsaurus
·2 weeks agoeBay is not "siding with the Seller", the system is following the IND protocol, and that's why the system keeps prompting you to do the return.
5-7 days seems about right for the delivery. You may want to give it another day before going further with the IND process.
be_933815
OP2 weeks agoThank you for trying to help me, but you have to understand. The seller lives in Shelton CT. I paid for it at 9:00 PM on Sunday night, nine hours later. It was shown as delivered to Shelton, Connecticut. So obviously he sent it to himself. Now when I go to USPS and continue trying to track it, it keeps showing deliver, deliver delivered. And he is belligerent. He's rude. And he's unwilling. To say that he made a mistake or anything. He took my money. He has the item. I'm looking around the Internet to see if it's been relisted somewhere else on another website. I don't have the item to return. Ebay said you have until October 6th to return it. This guy is laughing all the way to the bank with my money. So there's nothing I can do. Ebay sides with the sellers, 'cause they make the money with the sellers, they don't make the money with the buyers. It's as simple as that. I was ripped off. They don't care, and they're letting him pocket the money plus keep the item that he. Fraudulently sent to me, which he didn't send to me. The tracking shows that it clearly shows my address, Rockford, Illinois as the shipping address. So when it says delivered 9 hours after I pay for it to Shelton CT. Where the seller lives, also in Shelton CT. What do you call that? What is that I call that fraud? I've already contacted the FBI, my local sheriff, my local police. And my County Sheriff and my in the Illinois state. Attorney General's office.
mkaczorsee
·2 weeks agoIt happens…postal clerk scans label as delivered instead of accepted. Mistakes happen.