Curious about "scammed" returns

[biederboat1]

I just accepted a return on one of two control boards I sold (dishwasher control panel).  Long story short, I didn't take a photo of each item but I'm suspecting the buyer didn't return the one that I actually sold.  It has a different mfg date on the label than on the one I listed but I didn't take a photo of both (they were the same part but may have had different mfg dates).  Just curious if anyone else has noticed this happen much.  Overall, I'm not that worried about just this one that much because I make good money oveall (I parted out a broken dishwasher for more than my new one cost!)  but would like to avoid this in the future if possible.  I've thought about making "hidden marks" on things so I could tell if the one I sold is the one they returned.  I still have issues where people claim a purchase is "bad" and want a refund and when I tell them to file a return I never hear anything back and I suspect they are hoping that I just offer them a refund to keep the items (happens on about 50% of all claims). 

Thanks,

BB1

[octa-hex]

Take a picture of the serial number or any number or stickers on the board/item that you are selling so if you get a return you can compare. Also post these pictures in your listings. There is no guarantee that a buyer will send the same item back so there is always a risk, that's why I shy away from high priced items on ebay.

[Anonymous]

Even with pictures, all the buyer has to claim is that theirs is not the same and you're hosed. As a seller, pics do nothing for you.

[justafemster]

When I sold video game consoles several years ago, I input the serial number on the packing slip and in the feedback I left for them.   None were returned, but I did get some messages *after christmas* of course.  I always stated "return for refund"  with the systems serial number included in the message and that the system must be returned new and unopened or a percentage would be withheld.  Now I can't be sure there was any nefarious intentions, but I didn't receive a single return.     

It used to be that you could use a "sellers mark" and be covered, now, there's nothing.  

[monster-deals]

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@biederboat1 wrote:

 would like to avoid this in the future if possible.  

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Wouldn't we all.

There is nothing you can do to win a INAD case. Pictures, sworn testimony, secret UV marks...nothing.

Your role is to get scammed every now and again from ebay enabled buyers just like the rest of us and make it up in volume.

[biggymoe · Accepted solution]

This sort of thing is becoming more and more common.  Unfortunately not much can be done.  eBay's seller protection is a phantom figment of someone's imagination.

[biederboat1]

Okay, that's pretty much what I expected.  No more responses needed but thanks everyone.  Just to confirm, I factor in my "overall time and earnings" and don't sweat an occasional "scam".   My strategy is to always offer free returns which overall seems to increase sales/profits more than create any scams.  There has definitely been a few times when it's been on me for a return (didn't notice something on an old/used item.  As I mentioned somewhat in the beginning, I think there's a strategy many buyers use to try and get a refund and keep the item, which I never do and has kept a few sales in place even though I need to wait a long time for the item not to be delivered.

Thanks all,

BB1

[Anonymous]

You may want to build in a loss reserve into your business model, say 10% or so.

[jonathankirkland]

@biederboat1 

I know you said no further response needed, but I'd like to at least provide you this link if you have not fully read it before:

https://pages.ebay.com/ebay-money-back-guarantee/

It's important for every seller to understand exactly what they are getting themselves into and what is at risk. Essentially, even though it is a felony (wire fraud) to falsely return a used or item other than what they were originally sold, many are bold enough to do it because they feel they will never be caught/prosecuted.

The problem is there is no such thing as any kind of 'proof' as to what was sent, even though probably 99%+ of sellers are completely honest these days. Ebay has at least attempted to mitigate this in some categories with authenticity programs, but those have plenty of nightmares in their own right (including ebay falsely identifying items as fake and/or returning someone an old dirty shoe in place of their mint condition ones!)

Best of luck to you OP, hope you don't continue to get any of those false returns. 😞

[monster-deals]

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@jonathankirkland wrote:

The problem is there is no such thing as any kind of 'proof' as to what was sent,

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Nor is there "proof" of what was sent back but ebay believes the buyer which is why this few years long return policy experiment is unsustainable.