Buyer returned an empty box

[mummylittlemonst]

Hello All,

A buyer has returned an empty box. The buyer did have zero feedback. I offer free returns and they did it exactly on day 30.

The part where I made a mistake was issuing a refund prior to getting the item back. I know this was the wrong move but I average 1-2 returns for every 900 transactions so I prefer to resolve the situation immediately.

As an honest person and seller I feel violated.  The item was only $30 (which I do not expect to get back) but the fraud aspect is what gets my gears going. I saw some steps on another post which I've posted below.

Has anyone fully gone through with this and what is your experience?

Any thoughts and feedback are appreciated.

Steps from another post:

1. Notify the buyer that you did not receive the correct item back and that you will be opening a mail fraud / theft complaint with the USPS.
2. File a mail fraud complaint with USPS.
3. File a complaint at IC3.gov
4. File a police report with your local police and request they send a copy to the buyer's local precinct.  Be insistent as this is a Felony.
5. Open an appeal with eBay and upload the documentation above.  eBay could decide to refund you, but from everything we know they will only do so if you do the above filings and send the proof.
6. Report the buyer as an abusive buyer.

[Anonymous]

No that easy. Buyer can claim that seller is trying to avoid a refund by saying an empty box was recived. Buyer has proof item was sent back,how can seller proove he recived an empty box??? Courts are all about evidence. Seller can report to whom ever they want,without propper evidence his case wont fly because they can easly be doing a scam them self,try to avoid a refund. 

[rosemary6525]

If the item was weighed after being returned and showed different from  what the weight was when sent?? Maybe got claim at USPS   doubt it ever weighed though.   If you are a  top rated seller and since u offered free returns u can get back 50% back from EBAY.   Also if you look at details SALES RECORD u have the buyers name, address and possibly phone number.     Also if u will got to chat window u should be able to get that 1 NEG FB removed.   Buyer bought item parts not working and left NEG FB cause it did not work?????????????

[stuff4divas]

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@Anonymous wrote:

No that easy. Buyer can claim that seller is trying to avoid a refund by saying an empty box was recived. Buyer has proof item was sent back,how can seller proove he recived an empty box??? Courts are all about evidence. Seller can report to whom ever they want,without propper evidence his case wont fly because they can easly be doing a scam them self,try to avoid a refund. 

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OP refunded BEFORE receiving the return.

@Anonymous 

[stuff4divas · Accepted solution]

@mummylittlemonst   since u already refunded, the buyer was not 'legally' obligated to return anything, but 'morally' yes.

[ms.rodriguez*]

Zombie post.  Ebay needs to close these old posts after 2-3 months.   This one is from August.