eBay

scott36353 · ‎05-12-2022

Help! I have bought and sold items on ebay for over 10 years with few problems
and 100% positive feedback. Occasionally I will have a seller want to
return an item that I accept with little issue. A month ago I sold a very
expensive lens I no longer use. Today I see a notification for a return
request. Okay fine, but the buyer claims the item was not in the
package. I look at the request and the buyer has taken a picture of an
open package where he replaced the lens in the box with a filled spray
bottle. How do I handle this? Who will ebay side with and should I file a
police report? Buyer is in the US and had positive feedback on his
account. However, item was shipped to Florida but a closer look at the account says he is located in Paraguay. Also buyer claims the package arrived yesterday in the return message when it arrived two weeks ago according to USPS. Either the buyer is scamming me, or the buyer had it shipped to someone in Florida who stole the lens and then shipped him the box without the lens.

alcoforever · ‎05-12-2022

If I'm not mistaken, once an item is forwarded, the buyer loses all MBG protection.

Hopefully another poster will come along with more detailed info for you.

heckofagame · ‎05-12-2022

If they chose to use a freight forwarder, they are not covered by the MBG, assuming there was tracking and it showed delivered to that forwarder.

scott36353 · ‎05-12-2022

I do not know for certain if package was forwarded to him by someone else. Buyer claims it arrived yesterday but my USPS tracking shows it was delivered in Florida two weeks ago.

donsdetour · ‎05-12-2022

Tell them to contact their freight forward system to complain about stolen item...

Se what response you get back. May become very useful:

As some are saying such systems lose buyer protection: which unless you (the seller) can prove it was forwarded: it is covered.

heckofagame · ‎05-12-2022

If the shipping address provided was Florida, then you have your proof.

heckofagame · ‎05-12-2022

See if you can get a pic of the shipping label on the alleged empty box.

donsdetour · ‎05-12-2022

@scott36353 wrote:
I do not know for certain if package was forwarded to him by someone else. Buyer claims it arrived yesterday but my USPS tracking shows it was delivered in Florida two weeks ago.

Of course if you do a search on the addy you shipped to it will 90 percnet of the time in this situation be a freight forward system.

excuse me 98 percent of the time....

scott36353 · ‎05-12-2022

Thank you for the help, the address was a freight forwarding service. I will let eBay know

jahood1984 · ‎05-12-2022

Problem is that the buyer knows better than to admit use of a FF and will possibly even claim they work there. If you can get them to admit it, eBay will read the message and close any claim in your favor. I'd definitely respond with the please check with your freight forwarder, it was delivered safe and complete with them.

wrong66 · ‎05-12-2022

Make sure you respond to the Request within the given time frame.

stephenmorgan · ‎05-12-2022

@scott36353 wrote:
I do not know for certain if package was forwarded to him by someone else. Buyer claims it arrived yesterday but my USPS tracking shows it was delivered in Florida two weeks ago.

Receiving item two weeks after it arrived in Florida is not unusual for item leaving the US.

Yea, it sounds like they would have a claim against the Freight Forwarder.

In the future if you view you Transaction Details and you see the International Fee of 1.65%, this means it was paid for from a foreign source. That there is a very good indication that item may be leaving country. Nothing wrong with this, just good to know.