How to Handle Case Where Buyer Returned Empty Box Instead of item? (Have video proof of opening)

[gemmintcard]

Ebay just sent me a notice that my dispute case against my buyer had been found in their favor because they sent back an empty box using the label I paid for. I would like to open a dispute and include the video I have of myself opening the return and it being empty. Has anyone been able to fight a case like this, any help is much appreciated.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Video is NOT an accepted proof of anything, since it can be altered.

Someone may be along to give you some 'other' advice- but the scam is done by a thief and is pretty much fool proof within the systems on ebay. 

[12345jamesstamps]

Video, emails and anything else won't help.

Buyer can always turn around and do a credit card dispute.

It's just a bad buyer. Block the buyer.

Doing a dispute with this you might get charged another $20. if you lose. I have been there.

I am hoping it was the inexpensive item and not the expensive item.

[mybigsale]

@gemmintcard 

How to Handle Case Where Buyer Returned Empty Box Instead of item?

If the item had free returns, in most cases you would be allowed to limit the refund up to 50% if you accept the return. You can appeal, but eBay starts with the presumption that any evidence can be falsified. So, if eBay assumes your evidence is unreliable, you're not going to have a very good chance of winning. Be sure to report the buyer to eBay Report a buyer (ebay.com)

I have heard of eBay giving courtesy refunds to sellers if they provide police reports for mail fraud/theft in their and the buyers jurisdiction in some cases. You can also file a report with USPS and IC3.gov.

Seller protections | eBay

[bonanza125]

Call Ebay to report the theft. 

[kensgiftshop]

Sorry, but about all a video would prove is you can make a video.

See if you can get a letter from the carrier stating what the package weighed when returned.

File mail fraud with USPS.

If you have a receipt showing the weight when you shipped and a letter showing the return weight, you might be able to appeal the case.

[gemmintcard]

I mean video showing a package being completely sealed and opened on camera is typically pretty good proof for most platforms. It seems like it would be a very rare occurrence for a seller to fake such a video. I never had access to the shipping label/ so I would have to fake that as well. Can it be done? Sure, but its pretty crazy to assume that.

Evidently you can get anything you want on here for free by simply filling an "Item not as described" return and sending back an empty box.  What a joke. 

And now Im being charged over $300 in fees, on top of the $35 in shipping I already spent, and I still dont have my item back!

[gemmintcard]

So you think it is a common occurrence for sellers to fabricate evidence like that? Seems ridiculous to make such a claim as I know many people take video of packages being opened when it comes to high dollar items.

For some unknown reason Ebay only gave me the option to have the item shipped back to me via FedEx, even though I originally shipped via USPS. I looked everywhere to change it but that simply wasn't an option. The buyer then was able to drop the package off at a local drug store, so I dont think it was actually weighed on return. (FedEx tracking shows the weight as .1 lbs/ .05 Kgs) 

[frankenhobbit]

Unfortunately, a video isn't proof. They could just claim you opened the package from the bottom (so leaving the label intact), removed the item, sealed it up again, flipped it right side up and then started the camera. You could even place the package on your porch again and then film opening the door. 

I'm not sure if filing a police report in the buyers jurisdiction would be worth a shot?  Many, if not most departments allow you to do that online now. 

You are unfortunately not the first, and you wont be the last. There are videos out there telling people exactly how to do this scam. 

[winklers549]

you can go to the post office and request what the return package weight was. Also file mail fraud with the post office.

[kensgiftshop]

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@gemmintcard wrote:

Evidently you can get anything you want on here for free by simply filling an "Item not as described" return and sending back an empty box.  What a joke. 

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Right, that's why you don't sell anything you can't afford to lose online.

[aba365]

I just had the same thing happen to me on 2 different items. Both buyers from Delaware with seperate addresses. I sent them costume jewelry and both of them sent pictures of some grainy photo that I couldn't make out. I just received an envelope with a thank you card inside from one buyer. That was it. I keep getting messages from Ebay to refund them, I put in a complaint but it is so vague. There is nowhere to post pictures of the return item. I am so frustrated. I don't know who will listen to me or see what I received. 

[gemmintcard]

Sorry, probably a few days too late as I know ebay only gives  a few days to refund. In my case there was an option to open a dispute right before I accepted that I received return and that it was ok to send the funds back. 

It should be pretty easy to show that the one buyer never returned anything and the other only sent a card (weight should be way off). All I can say is document everything as well as possible, if the dispute gets decided against you appeal with new evidence provided! Good luck

[gemmintcard]

Update! In a surprising turn of events Ebay has approved my appeal and returned the funds to my account. Not sure whether the buyer was actually charged or ebay decided to take a the hit but I was made whole.

I believe a large part of this had to do with the claim being handled by the "High Value Claims Department" due the items value. Here is what I included in my appeal in case this helps anyone else:

-Screenshots of the video showing each side of the package and label clearly

-A picture of the police report # I filled, on the card they gave me (Had to call in the report, not do it online as the "suspect" was known"

-A screenshot of the FTC report I filled 

-A screenshot of a small part of the convo I had with the buyer where they oddly claimed the package in my video was not the same box they had used to send the return because it was a different size than the Fedex info (which I pointed out is usually the size given on the prepaid label not an actual measurement taken when dropping it off). 

Hopefully this helps someone, document EVERYTHING!

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@gemmintcard wrote:

Update! In a surprising turn of events Ebay has approved my appeal and returned the funds to my account. Not sure whether the buyer was actually charged or ebay decided to take a the hit but I was made whole.

I believe a large part of this had to do with the claim being handled by the "High Value Claims Department" due the items value. Here is what I included in my appeal in case this helps anyone else:

-Screenshots of the video showing each side of the package and label clearly

-A picture of the police report # I filled, on the card they gave me (Had to call in the report, not do it online as the "suspect" was known"

-A screenshot of the FTC report I filled 

-A screenshot of a small part of the convo I had with the buyer where they oddly claimed the package in my video was not the same box they had used to send the return because it was a different size than the Fedex info (which I pointed out is usually the size given on the prepaid label not an actual measurement taken when dropping it off). 

Hopefully this helps someone, document EVERYTHING!

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Like I told you; video and pictures are NOT accepted as proof- after all, I can 'video' an empty envelope/box etc. and who's to know if this was REALLY the package or not? (you can 'show' the label and then 'edit in' 'another package- been done since the 90s' (photoshop for video etc.)