Received empty packages from unknown Ebay seller

[anlint2]

I received two packages today from Ebay purchases. Both of the small packages were empty. I'm having trouble contacting Ebay for help, because the return address is in Chinese, and I can't read any of it. I have purchased several items lately, and I don't know how to contact the seller or file a claim for items not received. I can't even get enough information from the front of the package to know what the contents would have been.

HELP, please, someone.

[mtgraves7984]

A bit confused... so you DO have orders expected, but can't tell if these are your orders? And if you are waiting on "several items"... what are the Expected Delivery Dates on those orders? (Narrow it through elimination...?}

Oh... and if you received ANYTHING, you don't have an INR claim. That would be a NAD Return claim.

[janet9988]

Can you match the tracking information to your purchases?

[frankenhobbit]

Google Translate on your phone (use the camera feature) will translate written Chinese.

[mudshark61369]

@anlint2,

"I received two packages today from Ebay purchases. Both of the small packages were empty. I'm having trouble contacting Ebay for help, because the return address is in Chinese, and I can't read any of it".

If there is a tracking number on the label, match them to the posted ones in your purchase history. You do not need to translate the return address, which is probably a fake one anyway.

"I have purchased several items lately, and I don't know how to contact the seller or file a claim for items not received".

Do not bother trying to contact the seller, and as mtgraves wrote,  do not file an item not received dispute, because you did receive something, even if they were empty boxes.

Once you match the label tracking numbers to ones in your purchase history, use the More Actions button to the right.  File an Item Not As Described dispute, and select missing parts or pieces as the reason.  Once you have filed the disputes they will appear above your purchase history. 

The sellers will have 3 days to respond to them by either sending a return shipping label, If they don't want to pay the return cost they will initiate a refund. They may reply that because they are located in China, they cannot purchase one. 

If they repky to the dispute saying they can't buy a label, do not respond at all, or issue a refund, on Day 4 ask ebay to step in. eBay can purchase a label for them, or issue a refund if they do not reply or issue a refund.

In the future I suggest you check the feedback profiles of any seller you intend to buy from first. Never go by a feedback percentage, and if a seller has less than a 98.6% rating, especially if they are from China, do not buy from them at all. sellers with 91.4% - 93.7%  are horrible by ebay standards for any high volume seller, and even one with a 99% rating may have hundreds of negatives and neutral feedback.  Better yet stop buying from China based sellers at all.

[anlint2]

This is a gemstone bead. I finally located the item and seller. I contacted the seller and told him I received the package for this specific item, but it was empty.  He wrote me back and said he didn't send it because I haven't paid for it.  I have paid for it, but it is hard to prove when a PayPal entry for several items shows the total, not the breakdown.

His answer is ridiculous. If he thinks I did not pay for the item yet, why would he send me an empty package with the item's number on the customs slip?  This is going to take some untangling, and I've probably just lost the money. Worse yet, he is due to send quite a few other gemstone beads that I paid for and may or may not receive.

[anlint2]

Thank you so much.  I did what you suggested, and was able to translate the return address, but it didn't match any of the sellers.

I finally was able to figure out which gemstone bead was supposed to be in the package. I contacted him, and without going through the whole conversation, said he didn't send it.  I have kept the package.

[zgnisaer]

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@anlint2 wrote:

This is a gemstone bead. I finally located the item and seller. I contacted the seller and told him I received the package for this specific item, but it was empty.  He wrote me back and said he didn't send it because I haven't paid for it.  I have paid for it, but it is hard to prove when a PayPal entry for several items shows the total, not the breakdown.

His answer is ridiculous. If he thinks I did not pay for the item yet, why would he send me an empty package with the item's number on the customs slip?  This is going to take some untangling, and I've probably just lost the money. Worse yet, he is due to send quite a few other gemstone beads that I paid for and may or may not receive.

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Don't talk to the seller any more, no untangling needed @anlint2 and no need to prove your PayPal payment, as you wouldn't be able to start a return request if you never paid.

Just click RETURN THIS ITEM, select the MISSING PARTS OR PIECES reason because indeed the item is missing from the empty package, upload a photo of the empty package, type TWO LINES of comments, and click SUBMIT request.

Then come back for more help when your seller accepts your request to return the missing item for a refund, but says that they cannot issue a return label.

[fbusoni]

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@anlint2 wrote:

I received two packages today from Ebay purchases. Both of the small packages were empty. I'm having trouble contacting Ebay for help, because the return address is in Chinese, and I can't read any of it. I have purchased several items lately, and I don't know how to contact the seller or file a claim for items not received. I can't even get enough information from the front of the package to know what the contents would have been.

HELP, please, someone.

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My advice, FWIW, is to throw away and NOT open anything -- especially received from an overseas address -- that you do not recognize.   Empty box or not.  

That was Amazon's advice to me years ago when I received such an item at my front door.

[roccotacodad54]

   Buyer beware of ordering anything from aforementioned country. It seems as if alot of companies have made "special" deals with said country that maybe unintentionally or not  let them take advantage of buyers.

  It's hard to get results from sellers whose leaders don't like us and are uncooperative in the process.

  I was warned of this some time ago and steer clear of buying anything from that part of the world.