Why do sellers give wrong tracking codes?

[danco_2904]

As i said, the seller sent me a wrong tracking code on purpose then asked me to create a Virtual Shipment so he could give the right one (seller has 2000 evaluations, most positive ones) , as a new buyer i am not sure if this is common but it sounds very fishy to me. The wrong code is scheduled to arrive today.

I just ask to protect myself since i spent quite a bit of money on this order. I, of course, already asked the seller to provide a correct code, but what should i do if they set the shipment as “delivered” and insists on me opening Virtual Shipment?

Should i immediately ask for a refund (since i paid with paypal) and, in this case, should i send the seller’s emails to ebay to support my case?

[mudshark61369]

@danco_2904,

Sellers are not supposed to add a bad/wrong tracking number to a sale, then send a different one through messages. They should not ask you to create a "Virtual" shipment either.  It might help us if you post the ebay item number (12 digits w/ no hyphens) so we can give you better information.  If you bought one of the Pre-Order items the seller has listed we definitely need the ebay item number to be able to help you. 

 "(seller has 2000 evaluations, most positive ones)".

If this is about the seller who left you your last feedback, I would not have bought from them, without checking their feedback profile page first.  You do that by clicking on the number in (  ) to the right of their username. Yours is currently (3).  On the page that opens you can click on the numbers of neutral and negative feedback a seller has received, to read only those comments.   The seller has feedback that states people knew they were not buying the original "studio" figures, but knock offs, which is a violation of ebay's policies.

[danco_2904]

This is the item number, 284848052186

Of course i checked the reviews but the negatives which spoke about damaged goods were so little in percentage that it could be attribute to accidents during shipping.

[mudshark61369]

@danco_2904,

 "Of course i checked the reviews but the negatives which spoke about damaged goods were so little in percentage that it could be attribute to accidents during shipping".

If you take the number of negatives as being very few out of the seller's 2K total, they look very good. However, feedback percentages are based on feedback received in the last 12 months, and neutrals do not count against a seller's percentage. If you count those in, their percentage would be lower than it is.  A deeper dive into their profile does show they have sold knock offs in the past.

The release date for that figure has been pushed back several times, the information I found about  the release date is now 4th Quarter 2022.  If you look at the other items that seller has listed you will note that many are listed as in stock, while others are listed as Pre Orders.  Without a firm release date the seller is violating ebay's pre order policy which states those items cannot be listed unless the release date is 30 days or fewer away. That is probably why the seller is asking you to create a "virtual" tracking number.  They do not have the figure yet. 

The listing also states in the seller's terms of sale   "please don't open case or leave any bad feedback, and  Your buyer should contact you within 60 days after receiving the item". 

eBay's Money Back Guarantee (MBG) policy is only good for up to 30 days from tracking showing delivery, or the last estimated delivery date posted on the listing, if there is no tracking.  The seller asking you to change the tracking is a way to try and get around the MBG policy. 

"The wrong code is scheduled to arrive today".

If it does not arrive today, tomorrow you can open an Item Not Received dispute, by clicking on the Return item button in your purchase history. That will open a menu of reasons why you want to file a dispute, one of which is I have not received my item.  You might also want to try using the link below to check the speedtrak tracking to see if they have even received the package.  Before filing a dispute.

https://www.ordertracker.com/couriers/speedpak

If you open a dispute the seller may send a message through regular ebay messages  asking you to close the dispute in order to send a refund, or offer to re-ship the item. If you close the dispute, you lose your MBG protections. If you accept the re-ship option, the seller will try to drag things out until your MBG protections end, 30 days after a dispute has been filed.   If they do send either of those messages, go to your disputes which will be shown on your my ebay summary page, and ask ebay to step in immediately.  Leave a negative before receiving a refund, or you will not be able to. 

Read and bookmark the link to ebay's MBG policy below.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

[danco_2904]

Thank you for your help, the seller seems nice overall as they offered to cancel the order after i showed my doubts but they also said ebay would protect me for 180 days, a statement i largely doubted, i think i might decide to ask a refund after all as i do not wish to risk without being backed by ebay.

Again, thanks for the help.

[donsdetour]

Come back and let us users know how this goes for you...

Hope they cancel to order and you get your money back.

[mudshark61369]

@danco_2904, @donsdetour ,

If you request or agree to canceling the listing, it means they never shipped the item. Also if you do that they escape being able to receive a well deserved negative feedback, for listing items they do not have in hand.

Chinese sellers are known for being polite right up to the point where they cost you your MBG protections, then they cease communications. 

The MBG protections are only good for up to 30 days from the last estimated delivery date, or from tracking showing Delivered.  If the tracking you received does not show delivered today, then file an item not received dispute tomorrow.   PayPal on the other hand does offer a 180 day protection policy. 

[donsdetour]

---

@mudshark61369 wrote:

@danco_2904, @donsdetour ,

If you request or agree to canceling the listing, it means they never shipped the item. Also if you do that they escape being able to receive a well deserved negative feedback, for listing items they do not have in hand.

Chinese sellers are known for being polite right up to the point where they cost you your MBG protections, then they cease communications. 

The MBG protections are only good for up to 30 days from the last estimated delivery date, or from tracking showing Delivered.  If the tracking you received does not show delivered today, then file an item not received dispute tomorrow.   PayPal on the other hand does offer a 180 day protection policy. 

---

This is already a scam due to already sent a tracking number:

And that is the why I asked:

This seller also uses private listings to boast their feedback when a neg or neutral shows up...

China seller doing presale and high dollar amount:

What can go wrong with this mess????

This is why I asked em to come back and let us know how this goes.

[danco_2904]

I didn’t want to escalate things so i asked for a refund and they gave it to me.

I know i should have called out their **bleep** but really, i was far more concerned with having my money back as soon as possible instead of reporting the seller (and probably don’t even getting them banned). I know it was the wrong way but i don’t really feel comfortable starting a mess on this site as i usually don’t buy here. The only reason i was here was to get that Figure i couldn’t find anywhere else (that didn’t seem a scam).

Well, i guess i will have to search elsewhere or give up now.

[justafemster]

Right off the bat, the seller lied to ebay with a virtual tracking number.  Then the seller lied to you by saying you have 180 days (it's 30 by the way).  

Your credit card MIGHT offer you 180 day protection, but ebay doesn't. 

The sellers not 'being nice', the seller is trying to get you over the 30 day period, where they keep your money and you get nothing in return.  

You did the right thing in asking for a refund.  Now make sure that refund actually happened.