Bogus tracking and delivery confirmation.

[kanokuntz]

I recently purchased an English Longbow (a cheaper Chinese version by Sanlida Archery 68” Royal X8 Longbow Traditional Wooden Hunting Bow Handmade; and I paid $119.00 to the seller. I needed to contact them after a couple days to see when item would ship. When they finally sent tracking information, I waited until the day it was scheduled for delivery; met the postal carrier at the door expecting two packages, one of which was this item in question. It did not arrive, as tracking said it did (tracking confirmed it was delivered THAT DAY, to MY physical address). The postal carrier said he did not have it, had no knowledge of it, and only had the other package I was expecting. I am permanently disabled, and on SSDI. I do not drive (for 26 years now), but a friend took me to our local post office to try to figure what was going on. The lady postal worker did alot of checking on her computer (even checked the package area in the back) and told me that the tracking number was odd; as it was 'associated' with two recipient addresses; mine, and someone else's, which (naturally), she couldn't disclose to me. She said it looked like a "scam tracking set-up", which would show the item was delivered, when in reality it was not (if there was even an item sent). I contacted the seller, and someone calling herself 'Tracy' said she would "check with her distribution carrier", which was her last contact with me. I tried several more times to get 'Tracy's' assistance, but she would never respond, other than to send me the tracking "delivered" notice (3 times). I opened a case finally; then received notice from eBay that the seller had contacted them, and had shown the bogus "delivered" tracking to them; and eBay closed the case!  I raised hell, eBay finally allowed me to speak to an actual human employee, after I appealed the case. I was sent a "Declaration" form wherein I declare I never received the item I paid for; which had to be hand signed with my signature. I immediately fulfilled that obligation, but after sending the 'Declaration' back to eBay, I got no receipt from eBay that my 'Declaration file' was received; so, I sent it again today, and I will send it again tomorrow, until I get a receipt it was received. Case history says that my case has been put on hold with my appeal until the 24th, Christmas Eve. I have been an eBay member for 26 years, and I have NEVER, in all those years received either a neutral, or single negative feedback; nor have I needed to leave one. This seller comes along (I found that the seller has their address in Israel; though the item allegedly shipped from New Mexico) and won't assist me in any way when informed that I did NOT receive my item. What kind of seller is that? I believe that to be a very suspicious seller; one who anticipates the reports of non-fulfillment of paid orders, and that is why they won't communicate with someone they just knowingly ripped off; they just show eBay the bogus tracking that says "Delivered", and eBay will automatically side with them. This seller has three negative feedbacks in the last month. I am very disappointed with eBay for a number of reasons: it is, for one thing, **bleep** near impossible to get assistance with trouble such as this, as their "Customer Service" consists of sending the member on a wild goose-chase of pointless articles to "Help Yourself"; with NO options to even speak to a living "Team Member". When I called eBay, the idiot automated C.S. robot-voice only offers to send links to the same useless and futile articles; with no real or actual "customer service". No option to even speak to a living person. As I said, I am disabled; so, I have ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD to get satisfaction in this matter. This seller picked the wrong mark to defraud and steal from. If, after December 24th, eBay doesn't decide to issue a full refund for this item that I never received, I intend to make it well-known that their "money back guarantee" is worthless; and that they allow scammers to operate without question; and that justice, fairness, 26 years of loyalty and trust, is a thing of the past on eBay.

[ittybitnot]

@kanokuntz 

Looks like you may be one of today's victims.  Please see this post, for it is happening with such regularity that it is almost impossible to keep up.  Note that "December" list is a bit light since the boards were not functioning properly for a week or so, but you will get the idea (see message #5): 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-shipped-to-wrong-address-what-to-do/m-p/34842488#M508566

[bonanza125]

It's a scam which is well known around here. You are not the first person to complain about this. Unfortunately because the tracking says delivered Ebay finds the case closed. Customer service just repeats what you already know. They just say whatever to get you off the phone. There is nothing you can do at this point other than to contact your payment source which may not go your way either.  When you say there money back guarantee is worthless that's not actually true. If the seller doesn't ship then Ebay will have your back. If you have an item which is defective or not as described you can return for a refund. That's not this case. You were scammed. As far as justice is concerned unless the government or outside agency steps in and makes a point there really isn't much that will be done. 

[pcobra93]

The only way to deal with this fake tracking scam is to play the game.....file for a return (not an item not received). The seller will most likely never provide a return label since it was a scam and the case will close in your favor. If they provide a label then send back "the item received"....once the tracking shows it is delivered back to the seller, they have a few days to refund you or the case will close in your favor.

[kensgiftshop]

The seller is dropshipping from Amazon.

[mudshark61369]

@kanokuntz,

What @ittybitnot  wrote in the link posted the first reply will work. Though In this case Making another trip back to the P.O. and speaking to the same clerk may get you the information you need to get a social media rep to issue a refund.  You have up to 30 days from tracking showing Delivered to file the dispute or to use the social media outlets. Given how busy P.O.s are at this time of year, I would wait until after the new year, before going to the P.O..

When you go to the P.O.  You need to bring a copy of your order details page which shows your address and the tracking number with you. If you bought using a phone or tablet, you can bring that to show the clerk the order details which has the tracking number and what it was that you bought so the clerk can check the package info type/size/weight against what the label info shows them. Your shipping address is also on that page.

You want to ask the clerk to check the label address against yours on the order details page, and also to check the Package type/size/weight info to see if was is appropriate for what you should have received.   If the info does not match up, you ask the clerk to write a note on USPS stationary saying in general that the shipping label's address was not yours, and if applicable that the package type/size/weight was not right for what you should have received.  Do not ask the clerk to write specific address or package info, they cannot give it out.  Have the clerk print their name then sign and date the note.

The social media reps know about the fake tracking scams and can authorize a refund, but you will need to have the seller's username and the ebay item number.  You can add a CLEAR photo or a scan of the note  to the message. At the end of your message give them your real and ebay username.  It can take a couple of days before you get a reply at this time of year.  Those reps have the power to issue refunds on their own.

By not filing an Item Not Received through ebay once you file with a S.M. rep leave appropriate feedback, but do not call the seller names, like crook, scammer... It should stick.

FYI. Signing up to use the Free enhanced tracking info USPS Informed Delivery,  FedEx Delivery Manager or UPS My choice will provide information that can be used in the future so you do not have to jump through so many hoops.

[kanokuntz]

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for their informative and very helpful answers and suggestions regarding this incident. I was preparing my case to take this to PayPal, through which I paid for this item and two others with different sellers on the same eBay order. Sometimes being poor financially can be a blessing in disguise, as I used PayPal's "Pay In Four" payment plan. I was fairly certain PayPal would have my back if eBay failed me. Even as I was gathering my various files to upload to PayPal's Resolution Center, I received an email from eBay stating that they reversed my earlier case decision and issued me a full refund for the English Longbow. I thank goodness too, because I was fighting mad, and quickly losing my faith and love for eBay after reading the various links on eBay full of buyers who were scammed in the exact same way with bogus tracking. It would seem that an individual eBay team member reviewed the case, made the reversal, and issued the refund. The only thing that sort of "stuck in my craw", was the reason eBay gave as to why they issued the refund. It states that they "determined the item was stolen after delivery." Even after I told them I have security-camera footage of the postal carrier entering my locked and secure building with his postal pass-key, with only ONE package in his hands for me. The item in question is a 6-foot archery bow, and it is all one piece and does not break down. Clearly, the postman did not have that 6-foot skinny package in hand. My building is secure, no one can come in and steal packages. I suppose they (eBay) had to say what they said about theft to issue the refund, but that doesn't protect future buyers from these lowlife jackasses. So, all I could do is issue the first negative feedback in 26 years for a seller and try to warn others. Thank you all very much for your help. I just wish eBay would find a way to combat this certain scam.

[kanokuntz]

Attention!!! Just received an "Official Warning" from eBay Community Forum Moderator: for exposing the seller's name and listing, which they have now edited out of my original post. They said I am 'naming and shaming' to 'tarnish the seller's credibility' as a seller!!....well, yes, let's hope so. So, in other words; eBay (who is obviously NOT doing anything to end these postal tracking scams) wishes to conceal and hide the sellers who are ripping us good folks off! Looks like eBay is now run by "woke" Millennials who want to protect the criminals and blame their actions on anything, and anyone else (like the United States Post Office, etc.). It should now be known by one and all that eBay protects scammers, thieves, and lowlifes. It is against eBay policy to warn each other about scumbags and predatory thieves. Therefore, eBay policy protects these people; on what used to be an honest trade platform. This makes eBay complicit in criminal activity, does it not? These scamming thieves cannot be mentioned by name; it may 'tarnish their reputations and credibility' as sellers. That shows you right there where eBay's policy, and management, truly is.

[femmefan1946]

First- white space is your friend.
Reading a "wall'o'text" is difficult and means you will get fewer responses.

The Boards are not monitored by eBay, but by a subcontractor, Khoros, and the "name and shame" is a standard part of using the Board, since no one can know whether the shamer or the shamee is the one in the right.