eBay

6514steve · ‎03-12-2012

I recently sold an Apple iPhone to someone in the Ukraine. The item was shipped and I provided a shipping number to the buyer. Shipment was made through USPS via PayPal. The buyer recently emailed me saying the phone never arrived and now wants their money back.

At this point, I have called USPS, PayPal, and eBay. USPS told me once the item leaves the US it cannot be tracked. PayPal told me to wait until 20 days to see if the buyer files a "claim". eBay told me there has been extensive problems with iPhones purchased through eBay to the Ukraine and Eastern Europe and the matter needs to be investigated.

At no point was I able to open or leave feedback about the buyer which doesn't make sense. This entire case appears to be a fraud. I guess the sellers are the victims.

Please be aware of this problem. If you are going to ship items overseas then ship by FedEx or UPS. I WILL NOT SHIP ANOTHER ITEM INTERNATIONALLY!

There is NO protection for sellers if you ship something internationally via USPS. It's simply ridiculous.

Please feel free to contact me if you have had similar experiences. This is the second time I have been stolen from.

turginis · ‎01-23-2015

You can check it, it's 100% true. I helped many ebayers with that.

wayneind · ‎02-19-2015

I just went through this with a buyer in India, however buyers PayPal address & eBay was a Portland OR address but buyers location is India. Now you have international buyers sending to a U.S. address. Buyer bought iPhone 6 plus 128GB Gold from for parts & repair only. Less then 3 hrs after delivery buyer said did not like power button & box was not fresh ( whatever that means). Told buyer no refund sold for parts & repair only. several days later I get a FedEx envelope from India with packaging slip & customs form stating correspondence No Commerecial value 0.00 is listed from customs, inside was a newspaper & booklet from India ( not in english ). Few days later buyer is trying to do a charge back on his credit card through PayPal, he told PayPal he sent the iPhone back to me & gave them the tracking number from FedEx that was sent to me from India. Of course PayPal in the beginning sided with buyer till I filed an appeal. Little did this buyer know, I video tape opening returns & take pictures, plus I also sent copy of customs forms that state he only sent documents from India, & why would I get a return from India, when item was to OR. Spoke to a very nice guy & lady from PayPal explained what was going on & they gave a different email to send all video & photos. Less then an hour PayPal sided with me & can see I was being scammed. Sellers make sure you video tape opening return package, this will protect seller & buyer.

kover21 · ‎02-21-2015

YES ! THIS IS SO AGGRAVATING!

I AM CURRENTLY OUT OVER 600$

just today ANOTHER case was opened against me

ALL IPHONES
ALL INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
ALL OUTSIDE OF GLOBAL SHIPMENT PROGRAM
ALL VIA USPS FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL

SCAM SCAM SCAM !

IM SO **bleep** OFF I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU !

I dont know what ebay will do if anything - all they care about is if their fradulent buyers keep buying!

mbpctek · ‎02-27-2015

sorry for all who fall for this.. or the other way around i bought an android tv usb stick and air mouse and the person from china sent me a piece of metal and showed tracking.. i got my money back ofcourse and paypal sided with me.. this is why items that i sell i only deal with my country canada and usa, not saying there are scammers out there in our country but it's less likely we get any scammers doing this here at ebay. plus shipping to those countries are outrageous too boot.

jrs43086 · ‎03-28-2015

Wish I had read this prior to getting scammed. Unreal that eBay cares less about the seller and continue to refund the buyers and let this scam continue.

ambe_gorz · ‎04-28-2015

This same exact scenerio happened to me. Did you have to reimburse the money to the buyer or just lose out on the item?

lacjo02 · ‎05-11-2015

thanks for posting-i was suspicous of a recent sale where the buyer of my iPhone was from Ukraine ( i forgot to select US only)

i simply told the buyer I am not shipping to Ukraine and relisted

you post confirmed and probably saved me some time and aggravation

thank you!

@6514steve wrote:
I recently sold an Apple iPhone to someone in the Ukraine. The item was shipped and I provided a shipping number to the buyer. Shipment was made through USPS via PayPal. The buyer recently emailed me saying the phone never arrived and now wants their money back.

At this point, I have called USPS, PayPal, and eBay. USPS told me once the item leaves the US it cannot be tracked. PayPal told me to wait until 20 days to see if the buyer files a "claim". eBay told me there has been extensive problems with iPhones purchased through eBay to the Ukraine and Eastern Europe and the matter needs to be investigated.

At no point was I able to open or leave feedback about the buyer which doesn't make sense. This entire case appears to be a fraud. I guess the sellers are the victims.

Please be aware of this problem. If you are going to ship items overseas then ship by FedEx or UPS. I WILL NOT SHIP ANOTHER ITEM INTERNATIONALLY!

There is NO protection for sellers if you ship something internationally via USPS. It's simply ridiculous.

Please feel free to contact me if you have had similar experiences. This is the second time I have been stolen from.

capricorn100 · ‎09-01-2015

Shipped an iPhone to Albania and buyer claims to have it not received.Yes,like you guys I think that I may be taken to the cleaners.The only thing which may save me is that I took a picture of the IMEI Serial number etc.So,if this phone is ever activated,it will be locked! To the best of my knowledge,Apple has a record that I was the previous owner.Did anybody had a similar experience?

genericname44 · ‎10-07-2015

I too just got scammed on an iPhone. Ebay ruled in the buyer's favor even though I did everything correctly.

jlaw08 · ‎10-11-2015

I fell for the $100 eBay coupon for selling your iPhone on eBay mess. I listed it, got a good amount, sent two invoices, opened unpaid claim. Now one day before I am able to request my fees be refunded, he messages me saying I want to pay, but I need the IMEI to see if I can use it with another carrier. Listing clearly stated for ATT so why is he just now asking this question. I feel uneasy about the whole thing so I'm not sending him my phone or the IMEI. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I've read about too many iPhone eBay scams.

dysfuctionaldoll · ‎10-12-2015

(user name) purchased iPhone from me I shipped it (this number is the "client ID") then 22days AFTER I mailed item I received notifications that they have opened a case against me claims they never received package!! Of course I am disputing this. I did call eBay customer service spoke to a woman asking HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE POSSIBLY BEING SCAMMED BY EBAY USERS: that list this address( meest - america ) & then claim items not received?!?!? eBay is now looking to see how many times this user( ua-lukia ) has opened cases claiming "nothing was delivered".... I suggest that others call eBay customer support to voice your concerns about this company: meest - america

music-sponge · ‎10-13-2015

WOW! This just happened to me: iPhone sold to Belarus...

Wish I had seen this sooner!

I feel like not refunding their money!

eBay provides me, the seller ZERO recourse!!

I've been selling since '99!!

Very **bleep** Off!!!

makatcgmail · ‎10-21-2015

same happend to me. and what i can do? nothing 😐

tippyalways · ‎10-24-2015

All of you have no one to blame but yourself.

And why should Ebay warn you of Ukraine,Nigeria,Russia,Mexico,Peru?and the United Nations?

If you sell on Ebay and accept Paypal, you should familiar yourself with online viewable tracking,online viewable signature confirmation if payment is $750 and more. and import/export restrictions.

Domestic scammers are just as bad as foreign scammers.

Foreign buyers can also set up a mail dropoff place in US and then complained INAD and sent back a perfume sample,

It happened to one seller,he did not realise it was the iphone return and threw it away.

louis9698 · ‎11-12-2015

Happened to me last month. Was marketed by eBay to sell my iPhone with them for top dollar. Buyer in Ukraine. eBay knowing and harboring this illegal loophole USPS scam. Never selling anything on eBay ever again. Ever.