Sellers, be alert when buyers don't pick up from USPS
I sold an item to a buyer in New York City and sent it as a registered mail. The buyer wasn't there (or pretended he wasn't there) to sign for it for two delivery attempts, and ignored the pick-up slips left by USPS. He waited long enough to contact me with abusive languages and threated "million-dollar lawsuit" against me, claiming the package was never shipped and asked for a refund. I checked and found the package was retained in his post office and told him to claim it. Instead, he reported to eBay that he didn't get it. Since the package was retained in USPS, the status showed "in-transit," so eBay just issued him a refund as "it's past delivery estimate." After securing the refund, the buy went claim and sign for the package, so now he got BOTH REFUND AND THE MERCHANDISE.
I appealed to eBay, showed them the delivery record, delivery confirmation, buyer's signature, and whatever documents I have. The team never looked into my documents carefully and rejected my appeal and charged me for the refund for reasons that are not substantiated: we already gave the refund so you cannot appeal it (so what's the appeal measure for); the item was delivered but too late (have you seen the delivery record); it's the carrier's fault (it arrived earlier than eBay's estimate); invoice the buyer and get money back yourself (from a scammer?).
I was furious about eBay awarded the scammer and punished honest sellers like me. What happened to seller money back guarantee? I'm still fighting it but kept getting rejected no matter what I do and present.
So be very alert when your package is left unclaimed in the USPS, and know eBay won't help you when things like this happen.
deltilogical
·3 years agoAbsolutely fraud. The Post Office police will go right after someone using their po box for this kind of activity - and they demand bank level ID to open a box so they should know the boxholder.
What is crazy is that after all this time Ebay has no mechanism to reactivate these refunded listings so sellers (and ebay at that) can get paid.
This person has probably done this a lot and will continue to do so.
lonebuck-books
·3 years agoWould this not also be considered using the postal system to commit fraud? Sure sounds like it to me. If so, file a fraud report to the postal inspector. They can be ruthless on this kind of thing.
anasazirose
·3 years agoThis scam is very similar to what international buyers do by leaving their items in customs, waiting for the date to pass then claiming the item after their refund. It was asked about in the EIS chat with ebay, and they said they'd look into buyers doing that.
I expect that with sellers keeping the sale and ebay handling refunds with the new EIS, that at least the international fraud may stop as ebay will stop their own loss.
Have you mentioned the blatant fraud to ebay customer service or did you reach out to the ebay for business on Facebook? They seem more knowledgeable and willing to help, and they're ebay employees, unlike the CS agents in India.
This practice ebay has of letting bots and scripted reps handle problems really needs to stop. Ebay needs to take appeals seriously, and they also need to add to refunds a disclaimer stating that if the item is delivered, the refund will be reversed.
Are you able to message the buyer? If they haven't blocked you, maybe mention that you'll be contacting their local police and post office to file mail fraud charges.
Another question that may help future cases, once a refund is issued, is there a way for the seller (sender) to intercept (stop delivery of) a package?
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Ebay needs to step up and protect sellers when fraud is so blatantly obvious that a child could understand it.
peifenho
OP3 years agoTried eBay for Business on Facebook. They are of no use as well. Again didn't look carefully into the evidences, mixed up the timeline, came up with lame excuses to reject my appeal. At this point, I believe they did this on purpose. If they reverse their decision, that means they admitted they made a mistake in the beginning so they don't want to look bad themselves. No customer interest in mind. So eBay charges us service fees but didn't provide a safe and fair platform for transaction. I'm out of here. Keep safe and watch out for yourselves because eBay won't.
rustydalmatian
·3 years agoI would never send an item registered unless the value was over $25,000. Registered mail takes forever to deliver, as the postmaster at each stop is legally responsible for registered items. They spend so much time locked in a safe, and the postmaster must sign it out.
Certified with signature confirmation and whatever insurance you need is fine.
krazzykats
·3 years agoTry to report the buyer.
Abusive buyer policy | eBay
monica-sells
·3 years agotake what @ebooksdiva posted....
go to ebay for business on facebook
present the facts (timeline and refusal to accept) with that policy and see what transpires.....
if it is worth it to you....pursue it.....
Unavailable member
·3 years ago@monica-sells
I removed it thinking it was the wrong advice. Also the buyer initially refused to take delivery of package wouldn’t that void MBG ?
@peifenho
I wouldn’t worry too much about a law suit filed by the buyer..he’s just blowing smoke.
monica-sells
·3 years agoAssuming the tracking indicates "attempt" or "holding for" in the proper post office/zip code
@ebooksdiva
@peifenho
I think your initial post was correct...
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210
in addition there is this:
Evidence of successful delivery
We require all of the following to prove a successful on-time delivery:
peifenho
OP3 years agoI have all evidence of a successful delivery. USPS letter of delivery confirmation, a complete delivery record showing all events of the package (1st attempt, 2nd attempt...), along with image of buyer's signature. Ebay still wouldn't honor the policy. First withheld my money from another transaction, then charged my credit card for the remaining amount. I lost money and my merchandise. Zero protection to sellers.
monica-sells
·3 years agohttps://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness
Contact-explain the facts-have your stuff ready
Just Click "Leave Message"
peifenho
OP3 years agoThanks I'll try.
rugerskick
·3 years agoSo ebay should not have rejected his claim, he had info on the attempted delivery dates, that would show the attempts were within the estimated delivery timeframe.
a_c_green
·3 years agoJust for background, the OP is in Taiwan, and this apparently involved shipping a $60 dress to New York. The buyer seems to be a complete Looney-toon; the feedback already left for the OP is somewhere between bizarre and sad.
peifenho
OP3 years agoYes buyer appeared irrational and hysterical during communications. Sadly eBay chose to believe him and still wouldn't restore my credit and justice.
a_c_green
·3 years agoJust out of curiosity, what does his or her Feedback Left for Others look like? I doubt you are the first seller to be on the receiving end of a meltdown by that buyer.
gwenscupboard
·3 years agoIsn't that feedback that buyer left eligible to be removed due to the statement of lawsuit or some such ??
I would report buyer and request eBay to remove that.
peifenho
OP3 years agoI have asked eBay to remove that. Ebay asked me to send the request to buyer...
dbfolks166mt
·3 years agoYes buyer appeared irrational and hysterical during communications. Sadly eBay chose to believe him and still wouldn't restore my credit and justice.
EBay customer support these days is abysmal they simply tell you what you want to hear or offer up some lame excuse. If eBay took the funds from your bank account or charged them to your CC you could always try opening a chargeback with your bank or CC. It is probably covered by law under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act.
Get a few sellers taking this approach and eBay having to deal with direct chargebacks aimed at them may get some movement to correct some of these issues.
peifenho
OP3 years agoI told my credit card company to decline the charge. Ebay then took my money from my latest sale, and put the remaining on my account. I haven't paid it, Two days later my selling privilege is suspended.
dbfolks166mt
·3 years agoI told my credit card company to decline the charge. Ebay then took my money from my latest sale, and put the remaining on my account. I haven't paid it, Two days later my selling privilege is suspended.
Gotta hand it to them for creative theft. To bad they don't focus a bit more attention on the scammers and buyers out there that are ripping off sellers.
Unavailable member
·3 years ago.
slippinjimmy
·3 years agoRegistered Mail is the worst possible service to use for eBay order, especially low value shipments such as you recent sales.
buyselljack2016
·3 years agoSorry that this happened to you.
Not an uncommon thing. read about it happening on international sales. Not so much domestic where the sender can ""intercept/recall" the shipment.
I would expect that doing this is among the "tricks" shown on youtube videos about how to get things for free on eBay.
bonjourami
·3 years agoTheres been several complaints on this scam in here lately.