An empty parcel has been received

[vinevijegun_0]

What should we do if the buyer says he has received an empty parcel ? I hope to start selling on eBay in the future. ✍️

[ittybitnot]

@vinevijegun_0 

The "empty box" filed as an eBay claim is a "not as described issue".  There is no seller protection for not as described claims, and one way or another you will be refunding in full. 

[donsdetour]

Try this:

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/ebay-for-business/ebay-academy 

[ckimodog]

There's nothing you can do.  The item could have been lost or stolen in transit and there's no way of proving it. You are the seller and your are responsible.

You will have to refund the buyer.  

Good luck on your new selling venture!

[onlinecentral]

Sellers have sent these messages and then received a reply from the buyer that they found the missing items, along with a story about a roommate or relative opening the package first.

Thank you for your purchase, we are again sorry with the issues with USPS; We have filed a formal report with USPS and also with the local police concerning your empty parcel and will report back to you as soon as we know more. Thank you again!

I am so sorry to hear that your parcel arrived without the contents. I will do everything I can to assist you in this matter. I will file the lost/rifled/stolen mail report (the report is called something else now, you will have look this up for the correct name) with the United States Postal Inspectors on your behalf. Even in these trying times they usually respond with a case number within 24 hours. I will forward that to you when it is received so that you can track the progress of the investigation as well. Do you have a daytime phone number that I can include in the report? That way they can contact you directly as well.

I will also speak to your local postmaster and mail carrier about this package. If it had broken open, the USPS typically tags the box as such, so a photo of that stamp will actually help. Please keep the packing materials in case they are needed as well. Thank you so much for your cooperation.

[ittybitnot]

@onlinecentral 

That is sort of useful if your buyer is in the US.  Not so much if the US seller's buyer is international, since they are not under jurisdiction of US postal authorities or law enforcement.  

One of my favorites was a buyer who "suddenly found" the missing  product at the bottom of a snow drift in a neighbor's yard down the street in an area that had no  snowfall at all recorded in months.   Another "holdout" sent an overnight cashiers check for the full amount upon receiving the P. Inspectors 'case number' I so graciously filed on their behalf. 

Don't know what a seller in SL can do after they lose such an eBay case. 

[onefootflipper]

Pumpkin Seed powder and 99 cent items drop shipped from China are not large targets for the empty box scam. Also, you will never be sure if your drop shipper didn't send any empty package in the first place. Many drop shipping companies will run scams on Sri Lankan sellers and never ship or ship worthless trinkets instead of the real product, knowing that 99 percent of them stop selling within 60 days anyway.

[kensgiftshop]

@vinevijegun_0 

If the buyer files an INAD, you'll be refunding.

[johnrj1226]

Had a buyer "try" returning an empty box after I had  advised the buyer to "return for refund".  I was aware of what USPS does when a package appears to have been opened, and  is much  lighter than  the  posted  label weight.   USPS applies  little sticky note type arrows of shipping issues noted and places the package in a clear plastic  bag.  This package was returned to our street side  mail box.  Saw  the package  and the  little labels when I opened the   door the proceeded to take pictures as delivered, took pics out side the mail box and close ups of each label issue and the shipping label and the  half  torn up closure lid.  Sent off to eBay.  exchanges  a couple  messages.  In the end I DID NOT have to refund  not even a Yankee dime or a plug nickel.

[partfinds]

Did postal clerk wighted (put package on scale) the box? Do you have the receipt from dropping off package and showing the weight?

then you have a proof that box was not empty. You report it to ebay. Sent the receipt picture through message to buyer and call Ebay. If buyer gets refunded then you can appeal with proof of box weight (by postal clerk). Maybe you can report to post office that mailmen took the box content and the post office has to investigate. They will find out from carrier whether box was opened/damaged and empty.

[skeletonstore]

re-gift

[sextons-sweet-deals]

the seller has not given much in detail of the issue.  What was the item? The weight when shipped? What was the buyer's status & feedback? All I see is a box with a bag. Did the seller ask for additional photos from seller? 

seller has only been a member for less than 2 weeks and has no active listings!? Is this seller now operating under multiple I.D.s? At times, I think some are seeking information for future scams and fraud games. 

as benz_li stated.  Do you have the receipt from dropping off package and showing the weight?

[wastingtime101]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

the seller has not given much in detail of the issue.  What was the item? The weight when shipped? What was the buyer's status & feedback? All I see is a box with a bag. Did the seller ask for additional photos from seller?

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Because the OP posted a hypothetical. There is no empty box claim.

[onefootflipper]

Everyone. This person never had this issue. This is someone who bought into some Sri Lanka scam teaching them how to do ebay that told them to come post here.

Unfortunately, Ebay from Sri Lanka is essentially impossible right now. At least it is impossible in any way anyone is trying it. The number of competitors willing to lose money on every sale to build their store (that they will abandon as soon as the claims start coming in) make it impossible to succeed.

[maxine*j]

Now, now.  No cheating on Seller School assignments.

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