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Scammed on My First Major Sale: A Buyer's Deception and Lack of Support
Last week, I made a significant sale on eBay, listing an item for $450, making it my most expensive item sold to date. Unfortunately, the transaction quickly soured when the buyer returned the item, stating dissatisfaction. Although I received a notification on Saturday evening confirming delivery, the item never arrived at my home. Concerned, I contacted support on Sunday, but by Monday morning, they had closed the case, siding with the buyer who allegedly had "proof" of delivery.
This proof, however, only included the city and ZIP code, and since the USPS does not operate on Sundays, I couldn't verify the information until Monday. When I visited my local post office, they confirmed in writing that the item had not been delivered to my address. Despite this evidence, eBay dismissed my appeal, continuing to favor the buyer's ambiguous proof.
In desperation, I reached out via Facebook, only to be advised to revisit the post office, which was futile since they couldn't provide further details about the delivery location. As a result, I not only lost the item but also incurred shipping costs, plunging my initial foray into selling into the negatives.
This experience has been one of the worst in my early selling career, and it's left me puzzled about how to protect oneself from such scams. This wasn't a case of clicking a suspicious link or disclosing credit card information; it was simply an unfortunate decision to sell high-value items on eBay. Moving forward, I've resolved never to list expensive items on the platform again. This ordeal has taught me a harsh lesson about the risks new sellers face in the online marketplace.
kh-cathy
·1 year 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.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year ago@thereclaimroom This is an old thread & will be closed. If you need assistance, please start your own thread, as old ones may have info that is no longer correct.
ittybitnot
·2 years ago@leonidasloot
To what city/state did you ship this product? If it was purchased by an international buyer and shipped to a US freight forwarder, they may be some recourse for you. These places are typically in Florida, Delaware, Oregon.
You can check your buyer's actual country location here which will also tell you if they are still a registered user: https://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/feedback-login.html
There are additional protections for sellers that ship to these places SO LONG AS THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AND WHERE TO GO FOR ASSISTANCE.
Check on this, and let us know.
leonidasloot
OP2 years agoNo, the shipment was not international. I do not handle international shipping.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoNo, the shipment was not international. I do not handle international shipping.
@leonidasloot
To what city/state did you ship this product?
soh.maryl
·2 years agoHow is this "a buyer's deception"? The buyer apparently did not receive his $450 item. He has to be just a little bit upset right now.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoHow is this "a buyer's deception"?
@soh.maryl
Buyer returned "something" to the seller's zipcode (not to their address) to satisfy the eBay bot that a return was made. This is typically accomplished by the buyer providing their own return label, OR altering the eBay provided one to reflect changes in the address.
Here are some more examples:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Buyer-using-USPS-return-scam-Ebay-decided-case-in-buyers-favor/m-p/34225035#M2339548
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Help-Miami-Freight-Forwarder-says-wrong-item-sent-and-returning/m-p/34234105#M2341629
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Getting-screwed-over-for-months-as-a-seller-on-on-an-blatant/m-p/34253728#M2346631
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Ebay-refunded-a-buyer-without-me-getting-my-item-back-from/m-p/34267762#M2350243
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Return-scam-nothing-new/m-p/34302635#M2358896
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/The-new-buyer-scam-and-eBay-s-ignoring-Policy/m-p/34301810#M2358639
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Return-Scam-so-simple-but-super-effective-What-should-I-do/m-p/34350235#M2371144
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Scam-and-ebay-ignores-it/m-p/34356453#M2372717
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Seller-Beware-of-Buying-amp-Return-Scam/m-p/34386391#M2379744
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoThis is a fraud return.
slyders_finds
·2 years agoEbay doesnt care. File a fraud report with ic3.gov and a fraud report with the USPS.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoEbay needs to proof of where the package actually ended up and the GPS will tell them that.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoThe buyer will care when they get a notice from the United States Govt for mail fraud charges.
mam98031
·2 years agoThat is unfair. In all likelihood Ebay doesn't even know about the issue with the seller. Assumptions is what will often simply add to the problem at hand.
As a buyer I've had this happen twice on Ebay. Both times I gather my evidence and supplied it to Ebay. Both times I was refunded my money.
I also support reporting the seller to USPS for Fraud and any other viable agency that might possibly help.
https://www.ebay.com/help/action?topicid=4022
https://www.uspis.gov/
https://fraud.org/
https://www.justice.gov/
https://www.usacops.com/
https://www.fdic.gov/resources/consumers/consumer-assistance-topics/complaint-information.html
https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoIt is unfair to assume ebay will not try to assist this person. They just need to get the right documentation to them.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoIt is unfair to assume ebay will not try to assist this person. They just need to get the right documentation to them.
@vintagecraze50
It is not unfair to assume at all. According to the OP: "When I visited my local post office, they confirmed in writing that the item had not been delivered to my address. Despite this evidence, eBay dismissed my appeal, continuing to favor the buyer's ambiguous proof."
mam98031
·2 years agoOK, but I didn't say that.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoIf this was a scam continue to do as I said in my two posts. Get that GPS info to ebay. Scammers bet that you will not pursue this and let the whole situation go in their favor. Smart and efficient sellers take care of their business and do the extra legwork to CATCH these people. Do it!!!
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoI had a buyer claim non receipt of a very expensive item as well. I called the postmaster at the destination PO AND HE called me back and gave me the GPS coordinates (Global Positioning Scan) where this package was dropped off. This is absolutely proof of where packages end up. Buyer was informed, postmaster called buyer. Buyer suddenly found package.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoIn my case, the postmaster agreed to email me the results of the GPS scan. This to upload in an email to ebay. Get back on Facebook with ebay and discuss this.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoGo back to your local PO and get the postmaster to give you the GPS coordinates of where the package was delivered. If this was USPS. THEY KEEP A DATABASE, of where packages are scanned off for delivery. They know exactly within a few ft or less where this package landed. Then submit this information in an appeal to ebay. Get the postmaster to provide documented proof of the GPS location. They cannot share the actual address but the GPS says it all.
pcobra93
·2 years agoMake sure you file a police report in the buyers town along with the FBI cyber crimes division.....and any others you can think of. That is about all you can do unless you want to pay them a visit in person.
ten_o_nine
·2 years agoWhen I visited my local post office, they confirmed in writing that the item had not been delivered to my address.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How did they confirm in writing? because they should be able to confirm where it was delivered to.
a_c_green
·2 years agoCertainly mine did last month. The circumstances leading up to it were a bit different, but basically I was getting tracking notifications (via the USPS network) for a package that I assumed was coming to me, but ended up at a different address in town. When I brought the tracking number in to my PO and asked them where it went, they printed out a report from their in-house intranet that included a street map zoomed in to the exact driveway (and address) where it had been delivered.
So yes, the PO is capable of displaying the GPS coordinates of the delivery. From past events here, it should be possible to scan and send the USPS letter (on USPS letterhead) to eBay to confirm that you really did not get the package because it was directed somewhere else within your City and ZIP.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoAnd from another perspective ... it should also be possible to use Photoshop to send a fake letter to eBay that looks like it confirms that you really did not get the package because it was directed somewhere else within your City and ZIP.
Perhaps that is why eBay likes online viewable delivery confirmation directly from the USPS site.
leonidasloot
OP2 years agoThey provided a formal letter confirming that the item with the specified tracking number was not delivered to the address listed in my return settings. I have attached the letter to this message for your reference.
ten_o_nine
·2 years ago@leonidasloot
Did you provide the return label?
leonidasloot
OP2 years agoNo, I did not provide the return label myself. As far as I'm aware, eBay automatically generated the label for this transaction.
ten_o_nine
·2 years agoI assume on the return case, you clicked on "Provide an eBay label", if that's the case, I would call eBay again and provide the document you shared stating it was not delivered to your address but another address.
Here are some eBay customer service phone numbers.
- General customer service: (866) 348-9519
- Hacked accounts: (866) 961-9253
- Report fraud: (866) 643-1607
- Customer service: 1-866-540-3229
- Customer service (alternative): 1-866-643-1587
Be persistent and you will win the case.
mtgraves7984
·2 years ago@leonidasloot
No matter who generated the label (you approved the claim, or eBay stepped in), it certainly had your correct Return address on it, no? (Ruling out the possibility that an old address is one you have on file...)
Do you even know the zip code where your package was 'delivered'? Still trying to figure out the address difference... 🤔
mam98031
·2 years agoYou need to talk directly with Ebay.
On each Ebay page there is a link to contact Customer Service at the top of the page and again at the bottom of the page.
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/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid
https://www.ebay.com/help/home
ten_o_nine
·2 years agoYou should have also filed a fraud investigation since you have the tracking number stating it was delivered to you, and not the other address.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoYes, the PO knows where it was delivered. But they are apparently allowed to withhold the actual address from the complainant (buyer). All the buyer needs is the confirmation in writing that the package was NOT delivered to him.
isaiah53-57
·2 years agoSo very sorry to hear this happened to you - Really, there are no real answers other than I recommend filing reports with Police departments, a mail fraud report with your PO, and an online crime IC3 report. Also, file a BBB report. Use the information gathered to file an appeal.
Again, sorry - The only thing more I can add is BUCKLE UP - In my opinion buyer fraud is going to get WAY WORSE here before it gets any better and there's no guarantee it ever will get any better, so just plan for WAY WORSE, imho...
Best of luck
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoUH no, as far as doing nothing about scams. I am Buckled IN my seat and will report these people to police IC3, AND GET OFF MY BUTT AND GET THE GPS scan of the final location for delivery . Like I said scammers may not even realize that all this can be proven, or count on sellers to not act. The GPS scan with this fake delivery different name and address, same zip code thieving CAN BE THWARTED. ALSO, scammers doing this are setting themselves up for mail fraud charges which are pretty steep with prison time and fines.
thereclaimroom
·1 year agoIt just happened to me. I sold a brand new espresso machine factory sealed. Buyer bought it, and then opened up a "not as described claim". When I received the machine back, it was damaged, and the.buyer swapped the new porta filter out for an old used one. eBay still refunded the buyer. eBay is facilitating criminal behavior on the sellers dime. The options are to stop selling on eBay (won't have buyers without sellers) or take the losses. Considering I got my first one after 60 sales, and eBay rewarded the behavior by refunding the scammer anyway, I expect the eBay market is full of scammers as there's no consequence. Im looking into other sites as this isn't a good business model for new businesses. We don't have the profit to take losses like this 1 out of 60 sales. 😔
luckythewinner
·2 years agoGenerally speaking, any buyer can steal any item from any seller by filing a fraudulent dispute. This has been true since 2008 when eBay introduced the Money Back Guarantee for buyers.
Even if the item had been delivered to your address, your buyer could have shipped an empty box and you still would have been forced to refund.