I've suspected this happening before but could not proove it, and while eBay says they protect sellers as well as buyers, they did nothing to assist me last time this happened. This time I can proove the buyer is dishonest and abusing the system. What can I expect from eBay when I call them tomorrow? Has anyone else experienced this?
Story is as follows:
-Buyer purchases item from me. I print a shipping label through the eBay system 1 hour later, USPS Priority 2 day. Scheduled pickup for the next day.
-Buyer leaves positive feedback the following day, with a message saying that I did not include a tracking number. This is false, I printed the shipping label 1 hour after the buyer made the purchase and scheduled to have it picked up the following day. This tracking number would have updated in the buyers My eBay, as it had mine. Red flag number 1.
-I then check the buyers feedback left for other sellers. They are full of notes from other sellers questioning the feedback left. Example, one negative fedback rating, but the message says the the seller is highly recommended, with a followup message from the seller asking why the feedback is negative if he is highly recommended... red flag number 2.
-Exactly 9 calendar days later, buy opens an "Item not as described case". I honor my return policies, which was a 14 day policy. But first checked the tracking information to see when my item was delivered. According to USPS the item was NOT delivered, indicating a problem with delivery, lost package, etc. The tracking info showed the Priority 2-Day package sat ay my local USPS hub for 6 days, then arrived in the sellers city 4 days later, and then The message was "Delivery status not updated". I leave a note in the return details asking if the buyer ment to open an item not received case instead of not as described. Buyer answers by demanding me to send a return label to send the faulty item back. We all know how reliable to USPS "delivery confirmation" system is, so I figured the mail piece was not scanned when delivered or something, and approved the return.
-To be on the safe side, and because I suspected foul play based on all the above, I paid USPS to intercept my original package that I sent, just in case.
-3 days later, I now have two packages, the original package that I sent to the buyer, and the fradulent package that the buyer sent to me with an identical item inside of it with the label that I paid to have him send it to me through the NAD case that he opened. I have proof of the intercept, and the original tracking number still says "Delivery status not updated".
-My original package has a damaged label, the delivery address was ripped off. The return address area, and barcode portion were all gone. The USPS lady explained that is why the package couldn't be delivered, which of course makes sense. Luckily the portion of the label with the return address was still stuck there, so they were able to bring my package back.
I understand that since the buyer did not receive the item, he is due a refund. But this is abuse of an item not as described case, since the buyer never received the item. I test everything before I sell it, so I knew it was a working item. NAD effects my seller rating differently, than a problem due to USPS ripping my label off. It makes it seem that I am selling shady items if I get hit with enough of these. I use a Zebra labeler with good sticky labels, like Amazon packages come with, so I don't understand how the label was partially ripped off, but at this point this doesn't matter.
What, if anything, does eBay do to the buyers like this that are the scum of the eBay community? I have buyer requirements setup for all my items to avoid buyers like this, but he was still able to make a puchase from me:
- Don't have a PayPal account
- Have received 2 unpaid item strike(s) within 12 month(s)
- Have 4 policy violation report(s) within 6 month(s)
- Have a feedback score equal to or lower than -1
- Have bid on or bought my items in the last 10 days and have met my limit of 1 and who have a feedback score of 0 or lower
Are there any other ways that I can protect myself in the future since eBay isn't going to do it for me, or give me the tools to properly do it myself? I am thinking of getting some "warranty void if removed" stickers that are serialized and tamper evident, taking a picture of it in the listings, and only accepting the return if it's stil in tact once received like the major manufacturers do. If anything, maybe it will divert these type of buyers from my listings, which are mostly categorized as computer electronics, and parts for home and business equipment.
Thanks for your time
