Buyer claims wrong item sent

[honeybee-388]

I had a buyer message me if I would take 150.00 for an item. I messaged the buyer and said I wasn't taking offers on the item that I had just listed. The item was priced at 169.99 and I had just sold another of the same item a couple of days before. I log in to my account the next morning and the buyer had bought the item for what I had it listed for. I printed the shipping label and packed the item up. Ran it to the post office that morning. Mailed on the 2nd of February was delivered on the 5th. Wake up log int my account on the 8th  and the buyer has filed an item received what was purchased and provided eBay with pictures of an item that is worth around 40.00. I sent the correct item that was listed, I take pride in providing good customer service to my buyers. I reached out to the buyer and politely asked if they would look through their orders and see if they had made a mistake. Crickets no response.   Received the item today and it was the same item as he showed in his case.  I know eBay is going to give the buyer back that 169.99 as I will not personally deal with someone who is not being honest. Is there any chance I win an appeal? Very very frustrating and it isn't easy to talk to customer service at eBay. Any advice or help is much appreciated. Seem like eBay lets a buyer do whatever they want.

[femmefan1946]

You can try.

The phone reps have a terrible reputation for getting you off the phone as soon as possible even if that means giving you the advice you want to hear instead of the advice you need to have.


https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/ — Message button in upper right on landing page.

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/


https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-do-I-contact-Customer-Support/m-p/32016431#M1783851 -> Automated Assistant, type AGENT -> enter. You will then get more options.



The social media Chat accounts are covered by trained eBay employees with some authority.

And you get a transcript so you can compare what you heard with what you were told.
 

[honeybee-388]

Thank you!

[12345jamesstamps]

To back up to the beginning of your story...when a buyer ask for a discount on a good deal already in which I don't let buyers "make an offer"to me...I block them and just move on.

I suggest you give the refund and not let eBay do it....within that time frame...so as not to get a "ding" from eBay.

And the buyer can come back and do a credit card dispute and still get their money. These buyers are getting very smart these days. It's a part of selling and a lot of us have been there. I would not contest it.

Photos, emails, etc. will usually not help in anyway.

[honeybee-388]

Thank you for the advice! Just can't stand a liar. I don't mind a legitimate return, but this is an out right lie from the buyer. One person can really ruin your day. 

[ckimodog]

@honeybee-388 

@femmefan1946 

Gave you some good advice.  Follow thru with it and hopefully they can help you.

Good luck to you!

[colfaxstation]

If you shipped USPS file a case for fraud. Time to take these types of scammers to court and get convictions. If USPS doesn't follow through contact your local Congressional representative. They most likely will give the Post Office some incentive.

[inhawaii]

My opinion/advice...

There is absolutely NO chance of you winning an appeal.

Issue the refund. Take the loss. Learn from this. Move on.

Sorry this happened to you.

[glenvonnie]

Report the buyer, if they do this often enough Ebay will catch on and ban them or take away their ability to request returns or refunds.

[isaiah53-57]

Very sorry this happened - I would file police reports and fraud reports with the carrier as well as IC3 internet crime site and use that information when filing for an appeal.

I totally agree with your statement: "Seem(s) like eBay lets a buyer do whatever they want." We stopped listing for many reasons, but a biggie was  a hefty loss from a scammer who had tons of false positive feedback over the previous year - After talking with other sellers who had been victimized we found a large amount had reported the buyer, yet there the buyer was, still buying and scamming with impunity... We knew then what kind of company we were really dealing with...

Best of luck to you...

[honeybee-388]

Thank you to all who replied to my situation! Refund issued and I feel sick. Wants to make you quit using eBay. The customer is always right even if the are lying. They grab up fees from your sales but give zero support to their sellers.  

[dentalsales4u]

Sorry this happened to you.

Please be sure to report the buyer for returning something other than what was sent.

Add them to your block bidder list.

I would seriously consider filing a fraud report with the post office too. 

[sextons-sweet-deals]

So, they swapped their cheap item for yours?

Many questions:

1. did you review the buyers complete profile / feedback before shipping?

2. did you goggle map the address? Did it look solid or iffy?

3. entertain shipping with signature required? A little coin spent will detour scammers. 

4. did you get a receipt from your shipper showing actual weight? If so, how does it compare to what you received? 

Sellers have to keep their guard up! We have to remember that we never see these buyers in person. 

I know some bash me for signature under something like $750 eBay threshold, but again, it weeds out the scammers and it also makes a secure delivery to the honest buyer. 

You have some cool NASCAR stuff. I dated former NASCAR driver Kenny Irwin's sister years ago. 

[redlinear]

@honeybee-388 
   Refund the buyer, then open a case, with several photo's and a good explanation.
I've had eBay take care of me every time I've done that (when buyer ships back something different).
  HOWEVER, I have only done that on bigger ticket items.  The little stuff, I just refund and go on.
I don't want to push my luck on little stuff.
  SO, I'd suggest in this case, refund and move on.
Save your luck until somebody buys a $500+ item and returns something else.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

The only protection you have is really your spider sense.

When I potential buyer sets it off before they buy blocking them  from buying is your only tool. And it is not perfect since they may buy through another account.

Law enforcement is a tool which works eventually to punish the buyer if you submit reasonable proof and if they have a pattern of bad behavior.

You have sold enough die casts that if this is the first s***bag you have encountered I won't malign the category you sell in.

Retail businesses have shrinkage, and have to plan for some losses. It doesn't matter if you are a small independent or Walmart or Target it is stolen profit.