Help! Miami Freight Forwarder says wrong item sent and returning different item

This is a posting id.

Can anything be done about this or am I just ripped off? $100 action figure with $20 shipping. Item sent to a big freight forwarding company based in Miami that buys the item with their own account (over 38,000 feedbacks in last year) then sends to actual buyer. My item was delivered on 1/5/24 and today 1/17/24 I get a message from Ebay that a return has been automatically approved with the reason: wrong item sent. Attached to the return case is a photo of a completely different item (very cheap item and not the $100 item I sent).

My package weighed 4 pounds 3.2 ounces according to the post office receipt I received when I handed it to the postal clerk at the post office. The item they supposedly received could not have weighed more than 2 pounds total (packaging included).

1/3/24 Item shipped
1/5/24 Item delivered
1/17/24 Return automatically approved for wrong item sent

modulok!

60 View listings

Posted 2 years ago·Last reply 2 years ago

33 comments

bigbunchoftoys

·2 years ago

2178 View listings

OP here. To answer a couple of questions:

The company I sent my item to is XIPRON Inc. (located in Miami, FL). They are just like that Japanese forwarder, known as Shop Airlines, as they purchase the item off Ebay for the foreign buyer. So there is no way of knowing where their buyer client is located (with other freight forwarders the foreign buyer uses their own account to purchase the item then has it sent to the forwarders US location).

This is a $100 item with $20 shipping.

I am located in North Dakota (somebody asked where I am located).

Yes, North Dakota to Miami is usually very fast for some reason - about 2 days to deliver.

I tried messaging the forwarding company and they do not respond.

The Ebay issued return shipping label has not been used yet (Ebay giving buyer until 2/7/24 to ship it).

I believe this is what is happening (just a guess): The forwarding company received the item on 1/5/24 then shipped to their foreign buyer client which probably received it on 1/17/24 or little earlier. Their foreign buyer client then probably told the forwarding company that they received the wrong item (sent them a photo of a cheap item). The forwarding company then opened a case with Ebay for wrong item sent. OR...the forwarding company repacked my item and accidentally switched out the item (although I am fairly certain the buyer is scamming).

Ebay is giving the foreign buyer until Feb. 7th to get the item into the mail stream, so this gives the foreign buyer time to ship their supposedly received "wrong item" back to the forwarding company then on to me. Or what is probably going to happen: purchase a cheap item from Amazon and have that sent to me as the return. Or they will doctor the return label to have a cheap item sent to some other location in my zip code.

bigbunchoftoys

·2 years ago

2178 View listings

Somebody wanted me to post with my selling id so here it is.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@bigbunchoftoys wrote:
Somebody wanted me to post with my selling id so here it is.

This is never necessary if you are uncomfortable in doing so.. Lots of members post with posting IDs. There is nothing wrong with it.

femmefan1946

·2 years ago

3979 View listings

Phone the company and ask if there has been an error.

This does not sound like a criminal fraud. Just a clerical error.

The weight should be the first clue to the clerk you talk too.

Don't do this instead of contacting eBay. Do both and make sure the forwarder understands that this is a problem to be solved not an accusation.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@femmefan1946 wrote:
Phone the company and ask if there has been an error.
This does not sound like a criminal fraud. Just a clerical error.
The weight should be the first clue to the clerk you talk too.
Don't do this instead of contacting eBay. Do both and make sure the forwarder understands that this is a problem to be solved not an accusation.

I would suggest emailing them and ask if there has been an error so there is a record of what they say. Phone calls can be tricky as there is no way to prove what the other party tells you much less what you said.

Well except the OP said the pic they sent with the claim was not what they sold them.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

@modulok!

Buyers that use freight forwarders forfeit the right to use the Money Back Guarantee. EBay, however, treats it like any other sale. There are added protections for sellers, but it is up to the seller to point out to eBay that a freight forwarder was used. So unless you know to speak up for yourself and who/where to contact eBay for help your situation will not improve.

I don't think the shipping forwarder actually paid. It is a buyer outside the US, that uses that address. Does the ID have feedback so you can see their country of registration? Are they still a registered user? If they are a ZERO feedback member use this link to find out:

https://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/feedback-login.html

Contact eBay through one of their social media platforms.

Here is just one of them. Use the blue message button at the top of the page:

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

@mam98031 gave you links for two more in message #2, but you need only to use one of these.

This leads to US reps that are actual employees of eBay, and more knowledgeable about this and do have the authority to help you. Explain you need help with a buyer who used a freight forwarder, and filed a possibly fraudulent claim.

Regular outsourced foreign call center agents you get in a call back or chat, have no authority for the most part, and you cannot rely on anything they say.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

"Buyers that use freight forwarders forfeit the right to use the Money Back Guarantee. " Only after the item is actually shipped off to the buyer from the FF.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

Only after the item is actually shipped off to the buyer from the FF.

@mam98031

Proof of that is no longer required. Back in the day when it was, Trinton's old "the buyer may actually work there" or "the buyer may actually live at that address" or "that buyer from Siberia is just having his stuff held there until he comes by to pick it up someday" yada yada it soon became a very impractical if not embarrassing declaration. No way 300 or more people from the Russian Federation could possibly work or live at that address in New Castle. Nor was it possible to believe that all those 'empty boxes' arrived there as well day after day. The seller providing proof of reshipment has been basically abandoned.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@ittybitnot wrote:
Only after the item is actually shipped off to the buyer from the FF.

@mam98031

Proof of that is no longer required. Back in the day when it was, Trinton's old "the buyer may actually work there" or "the buyer may actually live at that address" or "that buyer from Siberia is just having his stuff held there until he comes by to pick it up someday" yada yada it soon became a very impractical if not embarrassing declaration. No way 300 or more people from the Russian Federation could possibly work or live at that address in New Castle. Nor was it possible to believe that all those 'empty boxes' arrived there as well day after day. The seller providing proof of reshipment has been basically abandoned.

I didn't say that they did, I actually never knew it was a requirement. I've always gone by if the buyer asks for a return and they are somewhere other than the address the product was shipped to, then the seller wasn't responsible because it had to be reshipped in one way shape or form to get to the new address.

If by chance I do get an INAD from a transaction like this. Approving it usually isn't an issue because the return shipping label is good for the address the seller shipped the item to, which in this case is a US FF. To take advantage of the label, the buyer would have to ship the item back to the FF at their expense, then pay the FF to reship it to me. I never had that happen. I suppose it could, but in my experience it never happened.

There was a time when I sold fragrances that I dealt with a lot of **bleep**.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

To take advantage of the label, the buyer would have to ship the item back to the FF at their expense, then pay the FF to reship it to me.

@mam98031

No, the buyer could forward that label to someone in the US, who simply changes the ship to address to reflect a parcel of air or a packing peanut being sent to the local gas station of the seller. Voila!!! Confirmation of delivery that passes the eBay bot smell test, even though the seller got NOTHING. Same tracking number, same barcode, altered address. Much less expensive for the scammer than purchasing/shipping a cheap trinket from Amazon or Etsy and sending to that seller's local gas station.

New enhanced streamlined version of the fake tracking return scam.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@ittybitnot wrote:
To take advantage of the label, the buyer would have to ship the item back to the FF at their expense, then pay the FF to reship it to me.

@mam98031

No, the buyer could forward that label to someone in the US, who simply changes the ship to address to reflect a parcel of air or a packing peanut being sent to the local gas station of the seller. Voila!!! Confirmation of delivery that passes the eBay bot smell test, even though the seller got NOTHING. Same tracking number, same barcode, altered address. Much less expensive for the scammer than purchasing/shipping a cheap trinket from Amazon or Etsy and sending to that seller's local gas station.

New enhanced streamlined version of the fake tracking return scam.

You are talking about those willing to do dishonest things. That is not most buyers.

If you want all the what IFs, the list will likely be long. But what you describe is not the normal process with most buyers.

bctk5292

·2 years ago

0 View listings

@mam98031 wrote:
@ittybitnot wrote:
Only after the item is actually shipped off to the buyer from the FF.

@mam98031

Proof of that is no longer required. Back in the day when it was, Trinton's old "the buyer may actually work there" or "the buyer may actually live at that address" or "that buyer from Siberia is just having his stuff held there until he comes by to pick it up someday" yada yada it soon became a very impractical if not embarrassing declaration. No way 300 or more people from the Russian Federation could possibly work or live at that address in New Castle. Nor was it possible to believe that all those 'empty boxes' arrived there as well day after day. The seller providing proof of reshipment has been basically abandoned.
I didn't say that they did, I actually never knew it was a requirement. I've always gone by if the buyer asks for a return and they are somewhere other than the address the product was shipped to, then the seller wasn't responsible because it had to be reshipped in one way shape or form to get to the new address.

If by chance I do get an INAD from a transaction like this. Approving it usually isn't an issue because the return shipping label is good for the address the seller shipped the item to, which in this case is a US FF. To take advantage of the label, the buyer would have to ship the item back to the FF at their expense, then pay the FF to reship it to me. I never had that happen. I suppose it could, but in my experience it never happened.

There was a time when I sold fragrances that I dealt with a lot of **bleep**.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@bctk5292 wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@ittybitnot wrote:
Only after the item is actually shipped off to the buyer from the FF.

@mam98031

Proof of that is no longer required. Back in the day when it was, Trinton's old "the buyer may actually work there" or "the buyer may actually live at that address" or "that buyer from Siberia is just having his stuff held there until he comes by to pick it up someday" yada yada it soon became a very impractical if not embarrassing declaration. No way 300 or more people from the Russian Federation could possibly work or live at that address in New Castle. Nor was it possible to believe that all those 'empty boxes' arrived there as well day after day. The seller providing proof of reshipment has been basically abandoned.
I didn't say that they did, I actually never knew it was a requirement. I've always gone by if the buyer asks for a return and they are somewhere other than the address the product was shipped to, then the seller wasn't responsible because it had to be reshipped in one way shape or form to get to the new address.

If by chance I do get an INAD from a transaction like this. Approving it usually isn't an issue because the return shipping label is good for the address the seller shipped the item to, which in this case is a US FF. To take advantage of the label, the buyer would have to ship the item back to the FF at their expense, then pay the FF to reship it to me. I never had that happen. I suppose it could, but in my experience it never happened.

There was a time when I sold fragrances that I dealt with a lot of **bleep**.

Your post is very hard to follow, well at least for me. It is hard to tell what is your comments, again at least for me.

FYI, that **bleep** in my last sentence in the above quote is likely a bot WHOOPs. I had just typed FF for freight forwarder. LOL

dbfolks166mt

·2 years ago

1086 View listings

If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders. They purchased the item directly from you and you would have no idea where the end buyer was actually located.

What was the item number? Did you have it setup to "accept returns"? You need to add the buyer to your BBL there may not be much you can do in this case other than wait for the item to be returned and refund the buyer.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders. They purchased the item directly from you and you would have no idea where the end buyer was actually located.
What was the item number? Did you have it setup to "accept returns"? You need to add the buyer to your BBL there may not be much you can do in this case other than wait for the item to be returned and refund the buyer.

Or they are a business that does the shopping and purchasing of an item that their customer hired them to buy for them. I've had businesses like this purchase from me. These types are typically not a Freight forwarder.

It is unlikely that the OP's buyer was committing Retail Arbitrage. But I do suppose it is possible.

dbfolks166mt

·2 years ago

1086 View listings

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders. They purchased the item directly from you and you would have no idea where the end buyer was actually located.
What was the item number? Did you have it setup to "accept returns"? You need to add the buyer to your BBL there may not be much you can do in this case other than wait for the item to be returned and refund the buyer.

It is unlikely that the OP's buyer was committing Retail Arbitrage. But I do suppose it is possible.

Tend to agree but trying to figure out the OP's actual situation. Without knowing whether this is an actual freight forwarder situation or if it is something else it's difficult to provide suggestions/advice.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

I agree with you.

monster-deals

·2 years ago

56564 View listings

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders.

You just described a freight forwarder.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@monster-deals wrote:
@dbfolks166mt wrote:
If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders.
You just described a freight forwarder.

No, they described Retail Arbitrage, which is against the Ebay rules.

monster-deals

·2 years ago

56564 View listings

@mam98031 wrote:
@monster-deals wrote:
@dbfolks166mt wrote:
If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders.
You just described a freight forwarder.
No, they described Retail Arbitrage, which is against the Ebay rules.

Sigh. The two are not mutually exclusive

dbfolks166mt

·2 years ago

1086 View listings

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
If the receiver actually paid you for the item then they are not a freight forwarder they are simply another seller filling orders.

You just described a freight forwarder.

A freight forwarder would not have been the one to pay for the item it would have been the buyer.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

If the return was automatically accepted, then you need to check your Site Preferences for returns. You would have to have it set up to auto approve claims. Fix that.

If the buyer sent you a pic of something you did not sell or ship, contact Ebay and let them know that right away. Also tell them about the weight difference. Get this on record and recorded with Ebay.

I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the better trained CSRs.

Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service. Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is. Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message. It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.

https://twitter.com/askebay

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

Your options will be on the left. If you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant or Chat box type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options. Not all options are available 24/7. It will depend on staffing available. So sometimes you can request a call back and sometimes you can't. Sometimes you have the Chat option available and other times it won't me. If it is important to you to use one of those options, just try back later.

If you use a cell phone or other mobile device, you may need to turn off your Spam filter so that Ebay can call you.

If you are a seller outside of the US or Canada, you will need to use the Chat Option.

https://www.ebay.com/help/home

modulok!

OP2 years ago

60 View listings

When I go into my account settings I see nothing in the return preferences that says anything about automatically accept returns. Anybody know where this setting is?

siliconalleyelectronics

·2 years ago

3835 View listings

Returns that are INAD (item not as described) are automatically accepted regardless of your return preferences. If this forwarder were deliberately trying to steal from you, this wouldn't be the way to do it. Too many reports of misuse of the returns system will get your account banned. More than likely what has happened is someone working in the warehouse made a mistake at some point and this is the result, these things happen. Unfortunately your only real option is to contact them and try to work things out. Otherwise, the return will be delivered and the funds will be automatically removed from your account if you don't refund the balance yourself within 48 hours of delivery in accordance to eBay's policies on INAD returns. If you meet certain criteria such as being top rated and offering free 30 day returns you can also deduct up to 50% of the value from the return amount.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@siliconalleyelectronics wrote:
Returns that are INAD (item not as described) are automatically accepted regardless of your return preferences. If this forwarder were deliberately trying to steal from you, this wouldn't be the way to do it. Too many reports of misuse of the returns system will get your account banned. More than likely what has happened is someone working in the warehouse made a mistake at some point and this is the result, these things happen. Unfortunately your only real option is to contact them and try to work things out. Otherwise, the return will be delivered and the funds will be automatically removed from your account if you don't refund the balance yourself within 48 hours of delivery in accordance to eBay's policies on INAD returns. If you meet certain criteria such as being top rated and offering free 30 day returns you can also deduct up to 50% of the value from the return amount.

No they aren't, unless the seller sets up their return preferences to auto accept them.

Don't confuse the ability to open a Request for Return with the actual accepting of the claim by the seller. Those are two different things. Sure the buyer can open the Request for Return, then the seller should review it and either accept the return so the buyer can ship it back or send the buyer a message from within the Request if they have questions.

mam98031

·2 years ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@modulok! wrote:
When I go into my account settings I see nothing in the return preferences that says anything about automatically accept returns. Anybody know where this setting is?

Site Preferences

Selling Preferences

and they Return Preferences on the right.

https://www.ebay.com/uas/selling-pref