Buyer Counterfeit Claim 90 Days After Transaction

[leghalf]

So what does the Board think about this situation.

I sold a pair of shoes that were delivered Feb 26, 2024. Yesterday June 14, 2024 the buyer contacted me indicating he’s been ill and finally looked at the shoes he purchased. Upon examination he now asserts:

- the shoe size on the shoes must be incorrect because he knows his shoe size

- the shoe construction indicates they are obviously “fake.. laughably counterfeit”. 

He goes on to say he is a litigator and I he is appalled that I knowingly should counterfeit merchandise to the wrong person. And closes by saying I should be ashamed for selling obviously fake merchandise and I have not heard the last of this.

I told him I didn’t agree the shoes were counterfeit but I would contact eBay for guidance on how to handle. Ebay told me the return period is 30 days and  I had no obligation to take any action. But if I wanted to negotiate a resolution with the buyer outside of eBay I could. 

When I post my listings I …

- include 15 + pics showing every possible aspect of the product offered for sale

- include a detailed description which included the shoe size and tape measurements

- ask potential buyers to contact me w/ any questions before bidding and

- state I don’t accept returns. Despite having this listings I have actually accepted return when buyers have contacted me within 30 days or less. 

I informed the buyer I had spoken with EBay and they indicated that given the extended time return for refund through eBay was no longer possible. 

Frankly if the buyer seemed reasonable I would have made arrangements to refund them as long as the shoes were returned in the same condition I sold them in. I sold a few month earlier a similar paid of shoes of the same brand and that buyer left a glowing review. If this buyer’s initial response was a different tone I would have agreed to take a chance on working with them outside eBay. But frankly this buyer’s initial message just suggested this would be a real headache to work with so I opted to just disengage. 

What does the community think? Did  I handle correctly? Any advice on a different approach? 

Thanks for the feedback!

[caldreamer]

I think it is outrageous that customer would try and return shoes after 3 months.   Obviously this customer is trying to pull a scam on you.

However, you should be aware that customer has 6-month to contact credit card company and get "payment reversed" (keep both shoes + money).   Usually credit card company will give customer "whatever they want" (I just hope that because 3 months have passed...they don't accept customer's story).

Sorry this happened to you...

[kensgiftshop]

Buyer will go to their funding source and probably get a refund and keep the shoes.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

buyer is a scammer!

you stated: He goes on to say he is a litigator.  

meaning: One who litigates cases by preparing cases for trial, conducting discovery and pretrial motions, trying cases, and handling appeals.

The scams just keep coming. Did you ever look at the buyers complete / full profile before shipping?

[leghalf]

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate comments. 
Regarding the buyer’s profile, yes I did check. 
- on eBay since 2013

- about 113 transaction 

- 100% positive rating

However I looked more closely at his feedback and noticed two things:

1. Primarily a buyer

2. Purchases primarily from about 5-7 repeat sellers. But the strange thing is the buyer has 10 seller feedback comments in a row from different sellers who all posted the same feedback “Good buyer, prompt payment, valued customer, highly recommended”. 

Then there are 5 in a row again from different sellers that say “Great communication! A pleasure to do business with.” 

This same pattern continues with different sellers all posting the exact same feedback for this buyer. Strange and highly suspicious!

[leghalf]

Thanks for your comment and confirmation I handled in a reasonable manner!

[leghalf]

Thanks for your comments. Yes I understand the buyer has other options for getting reimbursed.

My instincts after nearly 400 transactions on eBay was that this seller is likely problematic and  best not to engage any further. 

[paxilill]

Stuff like this is why ebay in my unpopular opinion should require buyers to leave seller feedback to lock them into the transaction. I suspect scam buyers don't leave feedback because they know that it's a bazooka option for getting a refund outside of eBay's ecosystem. 

They know that leaving feedback locks them in as evidence of item recieved and that they're happy with it. IMO eBay has no skin in the game and sellers are just supposed to take it on the chin up to six months after. 

[kensgiftshop]

---

@leghalf wrote:

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate comments. 
Regarding the buyer’s profile, yes I did check. 
- on eBay since 2013

- about 113 transaction 

- 100% positive rating

However I looked more closely at his feedback and noticed two things:

1. Primarily a buyer

2. Purchases primarily from about 5-7 repeat sellers. But the strange thing is the buyer has 10 seller feedback comments in a row from different sellers who all posted the same feedback “Good buyer, prompt payment, valued customer, highly recommended”. 

Then there are 5 in a row again from different sellers that say “Great communication! A pleasure to do business with.” 

This same pattern continues with different sellers all posting the exact same feedback for this buyer. Strange and highly suspicious!

---

That's kind of normal for feedback left from sellers.

Ebay gives a seller 5 or 6 standard feedback comments and a lot just use them.

[onlinecentral]

I have sent an 'authoratative' message to several buyers and never heard back from them.
eBay considers 'all sales final' after 60 days. That is also our store policy.
A buyer can not submit a return request. Menu choices disappear over time.
A buyer cannot print out a return label.
A seller cannot issue a refund.
The seller fees are not refundable.

[rugerskick]

If the buyer is such a great litigator he'd know he had 30 days to ask for a return.

And block his account immediately.

[vintagecraze50]

If I got someone like this I probably would have IGNORED THE MESSAGE. This person is looking for a fight. That they started this 90 days after the fact is completely insane. I would have ignored and then waited for a possible chargeback which DOES HAPPEN SOMETIMES WITH THESE TYPES. OR maybe they would just give up with no response. 

[vintagecraze50]

---

@leghalf wrote:

So what does the Board think about this situation.

I sold a pair of shoes that were delivered Feb 26, 2024. Yesterday June 14, 2024 the buyer contacted me indicating he’s been ill and finally looked at the shoes he purchased. Upon examination he now asserts:

- the shoe size on the shoes must be incorrect because he knows his shoe size

- the shoe construction indicates they are obviously “fake.. laughably counterfeit”. 

He goes on to say he is a litigator and I he is appalled that I knowingly should counterfeit merchandise to the wrong person. And closes by saying I should be ashamed for selling obviously fake merchandise and I have not heard the last of this.

I told him I didn’t agree the shoes were counterfeit but I would contact eBay for guidance on how to handle. Ebay told me the return period is 30 days and  I had no obligation to take any action. But if I wanted to negotiate a resolution with the buyer outside of eBay I could. 

When I post my listings I …

- include 15 + pics showing every possible aspect of the product offered for sale

- include a detailed description which included the shoe size and tape measurements

- ask potential buyers to contact me w/ any questions before bidding and

- state I don’t accept returns. Despite having this listings I have actually accepted return when buyers have contacted me within 30 days or less. 

I informed the buyer I had spoken with EBay and they indicated that given the extended time return for refund through eBay was no longer possible. 

Frankly if the buyer seemed reasonable I would have made arrangements to refund them as long as the shoes were returned in the same condition I sold them in. I sold a few month earlier a similar paid of shoes of the same brand and that buyer left a glowing review. If this buyer’s initial response was a different tone I would have agreed to take a chance on working with them outside eBay. But frankly this buyer’s initial message just suggested this would be a real headache to work with so I opted to just disengage. 

What does the community think? Did  I handle correctly? Any advice on a different approach? 

Thanks for the feedback!

---

Oh and the LITIGATOR stuff is most likely a false not as decribed statement. LOL!

[vintagecraze50]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

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@leghalf wrote:

So what does the Board think about this situation.

I sold a pair of shoes that were delivered Feb 26, 2024. Yesterday June 14, 2024 the buyer contacted me indicating he’s been ill and finally looked at the shoes he purchased. Upon examination he now asserts:

- the shoe size on the shoes must be incorrect because he knows his shoe size

- the shoe construction indicates they are obviously “fake.. laughably counterfeit”. 

He goes on to say he is a litigator and I he is appalled that I knowingly should counterfeit merchandise to the wrong person. And closes by saying I should be ashamed for selling obviously fake merchandise and I have not heard the last of this.

I told him I didn’t agree the shoes were counterfeit but I would contact eBay for guidance on how to handle. Ebay told me the return period is 30 days and  I had no obligation to take any action. But if I wanted to negotiate a resolution with the buyer outside of eBay I could. 

When I post my listings I …

- include 15 + pics showing every possible aspect of the product offered for sale

- include a detailed description which included the shoe size and tape measurements

- ask potential buyers to contact me w/ any questions before bidding and

- state I don’t accept returns. Despite having this listings I have actually accepted return when buyers have contacted me within 30 days or less. 

I informed the buyer I had spoken with EBay and they indicated that given the extended time return for refund through eBay was no longer possible. 

Frankly if the buyer seemed reasonable I would have made arrangements to refund them as long as the shoes were returned in the same condition I sold them in. I sold a few month earlier a similar paid of shoes of the same brand and that buyer left a glowing review. If this buyer’s initial response was a different tone I would have agreed to take a chance on working with them outside eBay. But frankly this buyer’s initial message just suggested this would be a real headache to work with so I opted to just disengage. 

What does the community think? Did  I handle correctly? Any advice on a different approach? 

Thanks for the feedback!

---

Oh and the LITIGATOR stuff is most likely a false not as decribed statement. LOL!

---

THIS BUYER knows being a member of Ebay that you do not have to get all fluffed up with saying they are a litigator and threaten you to get a refund on here under ANY circumstances unless this person has a grand sense of remorse for buying the item, 90 days have past and they know ebay has a 30 day policy, can’t re sell them as planned or something of that nature I would imagine. This being said because I am trusting you DID send them an authentic item.

[vintagecraze50]

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@paxilill wrote:

Stuff like this is why ebay in my unpopular opinion should require buyers to leave seller feedback to lock them into the transaction. I suspect scam buyers don't leave feedback because they know that it's a bazooka option for getting a refund outside of eBay's ecosystem. 

They know that leaving feedback locks them in as evidence of item recieved and that they're happy with it. IMO eBay has no skin in the game and sellers are just supposed to take it on the chin up to six months after. 

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Right. Leaving approval of item feedback is one way to effectively win a chargeback from CC company as well. My opinion is with you on ebay trying to get buyers to leave that feedback like mercari does etc. Approval of transaction is important.