I am dealing with a fraudulent return. I was told "accepting" the return is best.

[jennifairy]

This story is so long that I will try to simplify it. I am a victim of a reshipping scam. The buyer is based in Russia and used a reshipping center as the listed address. The reshipping center shipped my $500 item to the buyer using USPS international Express. After receiving the item, he claimed it was empty. I've filed a police report which is the reason why I know all of this. I have so much evidence, including the weight proving it was not empty, and the police report, that the buyer would be in jail by now were he in USA. I have the buyers real name and address in Moscow thanks to the police report. Though I want this buyer to face justice, I am not sure if that's possible since they are overseas. I need to protect myself first too by ensuring I do not lose in this scam. The eBay rep said escalating this will leave it up to the system and it may decide against me, while accepting the return will leave me with more options and the buyer would have to return it and I could file a fraudulent return if received. I am so confused and tired from all this. This is not my first time with fraudulent returns but my first on eBay's website actually, as I am a managed payments seller. Sellers would often go to PayPal first in my experience. Which choice is best - accepting or escalating? 

[whattheactualfox]

Since they are overseas and this is international, its hard to say legally if they could face justice. I would assume not but I really cant say.

As for that item I guess having the buyer return the item and the fraudulent item case is your best bet. There's really not much you can do here. First time I've heard of this honestly

[magic*moonbeams]

You're in the US, I guess, the only advice going forward is, don't ship internationally, and if you used eBay's Global Shipping Program to allow international buyers, don't use it anymore 😞 

The eBay rep will ALWAYS tell you to either #1, refund the buyer, #2, accept the return, or 3# (as in a case I had regarding a blocked buyer who was told they are not welcome to buy, but then opened a new account and bought the item anyway ( a CLEAR violation of eBay's "policies") the buyer paid so just ship the item.... 

Yup that's the lame moronic advice I got when calling about a buyer who clearly was in violation... but hey, I'm just the seller, so who cares about me, right?

If you already called/spoke on the phone with, an eBay rep, and they are telling you that escalating it will leave it up to the system and you may lose... You are most likely going to lose.. Otherwise, most times when you call before answering/dealing with the issue at hand, the person on the phone will help you right then and there if there is any chance you are going to win...

That's just my experience here, but I've dealt with enough to know what's up.

Before accepting and giving up, I'd at least escalate... but the odds are not in your favor 😞 ( and I hate having to say that, and hate even more that that's the honest truth 😞

Good Luck. 🙂

[bonjourami]

Do not escalate the case, Ebay sees that as an unresponsive seller, you are asking them to step in. They will refund the buyer, and he is not required to return the item. Accept the return, and when the case is closed, file an appeal, thats all you can do, Im sorry.

[jennifairy]

For the record, while I hear your concerns regarding shipping overseas and the GSP, I should clarify that the reshipping center is located in the US, and it shipped to the buyer that way. It wouldn't have made a difference if I did not accept international orders. 

[vintagecraze50]

Buyers claiming empty box whether it is US shipment or international shipment is a loose loose loose situation. International shipments of expensive high scan items are extremely risky period. Sell these items US only or local pick up.

[kensgiftshop]

@jennifairy 

If the buyer filed an INAD, accept the return and provide them a return shipping label.

You'll have to pay the return shipping, but only from the freight forwarder.

The buyer will have to pay to ship the empty box back to the freight forwarder.

If you escalate the case, they'll find in favor of the buyer.

[jennifairy]

This is similar to magic*moonbeams advice. It is good advice, but I don't think its applicable in this situation since the buyer used a reshaping center based in USA. Currently, the only options I have for overseas is GSP. I do not think this could have been avoided even if I disabled GSP.

[jennifairy]

Also, I think what saddens me throughout this is that I do not know of any precautions to take for this step. I haven't ran into this stuff much as a PayPal seller, maybe because of verified addresses. But on eBay, most buyers look the same.

[jennifairy]

I've decided to accept the fraud return. This is good advice. Yours along with bonjourami. I can only hope for the best at this point. There is no proof lacking from my side, so if I lose, then you know it's because of ebay's absolute belief in buyers.

[papa486516]

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@jennifairy wrote:

the buyer used a reshaping center based in USA.

I do not think this could have been avoided even if I disabled GSP.

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So @jennifairy the buyer is not covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee, see here

and is not eligible to return the item for a refund.

[luongttr_0]

Thank for a postting ! 

have a good day 

[bonjourami]

Since the case was filed at Ebay, Ebay does not consider their GSP to be a third party shipper.

[shadow_dave]

I am in a similar boat as you as far as a buyer making a fraudulent return.

In my case , even though my ad said "no returns", ebay forced a return on me because the buyer made a "not as advertised" claim.    I have proof the item is EXACTKY as advertised.

I did get the item back but I am getting ripped off of almost $70 in ebay fees, shipping both ways and paypal fees on a $100 item.

All ebay reps do is send me boilerplate saying how I am a valued seller and they understand my frustration but there is nothing they can do.  **bleep**.

I will not sell on ebay again.

[gwgw-73]

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@bonjourami wrote:

Since the case was filed at Ebay, Ebay does not consider their GSP to be a third party shipper.

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True, but that is irrelevant.

OP shipped to "buyer used a reshipping center as the listed address" i.e. a freight forwarder, not via GSP.