Buyer didn't read and keeps changing their story.

[beacamp2014]

So, it started that I listed a Samsung Galaxy S7 box some time ago (over a year) for $50 or best offer (honestly I figured someone would offer $15 at most and that would have been good for me). I'd done this after seeing other listings, and thought maybe people bought them as collector's items. I don't know. It was listed in the "cell phone accessories" section, the title included the word "READ", and the body stated "Just the box."

Also, in January, I updated all my listings to state that I only accept cancellations on a case-by-case basis and it depends on the reason. (In other words, if they didn't read it, tough cookies.) The listing in question also boasted a "no return policy" and a 10% donation to a charity.

All in all (and I confirmed this with eBay), pretty clear. I thought.

So, a buyer purchases the item. I call eBay just to be sure it was clear before I pay for shipping, because I'd had issue with a previous buyer and I had actually forgotten about the listing at that point (lots going on). EBay confirmed that I should be alright, so I paid for shipping and took the package to one of those blue USPS pickup boxes.

When I returned, I saw that the buyer had asked for pictures of the phone (what phone? There was no phone; only a box.) This message included a phone number (why?). A second message stated they wanted to confirm the cancellation. Well, I hadn't even seen that there was a request for cancellation, and eBay apparently auto-declined that when I purchased the postage.

I reply to the first message that the listing was for the box only, and cited quotes from the listing. I reply to the second message with, essentially, an apology but that it was too late and the item had been sent out.

The next morning, I receive another message, stating that they didn't want to box and to just not ship it and since the money was going for charity anyway (only 10% - not ALL of it!) and to send them a receipt. I was dumbfounded. I called eBay again, just to keep them in the loop. This was the most bizarre thing I'd ever heard of.

A few days go by, and the package is delivered. What do you know? I get a return request. They claim the item was "Ordered by mistake". I respond, repeating myself, and stating that any return would be marked "RTS" and refused. I follow-up by making a report with eBay.

Then this evening, I open my email to find claim has been opened with PayPal. I look to see that the reason selected was that the item never arrived. (How can you open a return on eBay for something you never received? Fishy.) I was watching a movie with my husband at the time, so I waited about 20 minutes for that to finish, and called them. Meanwhile, I attempted to upload the tracking number (which refused to work). After a bunch of hold time (I busied myself with other stuff) and maybe 10-15 minutes on the phone (part of which was spent with them investigating), they closed the case in my favor. Then I contact eBay to report the suspicious activity of the changing story. No big, right?

Except...I know they still have one potential last course of action -- at least if they used a card. *sigh* What do you do if the buyer changes their story every time they try to get their money back? Can that help my case if they go to their CC for a chargeback? To be honest, I'm hoping they won't think of it and they'll take the closed case as the end of it. But...as I've seen that's not always the case.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@readabouthorses wrote:

@coolections

Ah, you are funny. I grew up on a farm so I know bad decisions had consequences. Better to make sure before you do something so you don't have to deal with it later.

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Amen to that!

[beacamp2014]

"No one changed their story."

Really? Sounds to me like you didn't read, but I'll clear that up. Yes, they did change their story. First, they said the listing said it was a phone, while selecting the option that the item was "Ordered by mistake". They couldn't even acknowledge not reading the listing, and tried to put the blame on me. Then, they tried to say they never received the item. I call that a change in story.

 "Who would purchase a box for $50"

Who would purchase an item in the ACCESSORIES section, and who would think they're getting a legitimate, NEW Samsung Galaxy S7 PHONE for $50 (with offers accepted) in the accessories section under cell phones? I did a search, and even for parts they're being listed at at least $40.

It's also worth noting that, while the title didn't state "box only", the word "phone" was nowhere in the listing, including the title.

"This is why it needs to be mandatory the Ebay allows returns"

Even from a buyer perspective (and I buy more than I sell here), I disagree with that.

"But I don't see anyone paying $50 doesn't seem worth it."

Most of my listings (most are things like gaming pieces) include the "best offer" option for this reason. They can then make an offer if they think it's worth less than the listed price. I'm not obligated to accept it, but I wouldn't put it there if I would only accept that price.

[yuzuha]

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@beacamp2014 wrote:

So, it started that I listed a Samsung Galaxy S7 box some time ago (over a year) for $50 or best offer (honestly I figured someone would offer $15 at most and that would have been good for me). I'd done this after seeing other listings, and thought maybe people bought them as collector's items. I don't know. It was listed in the "cell phone accessories" section, the title included the word "READ", and the body stated "Just the box."

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But did the title include the phrase "BOX ONLY, NO PHONE" in great big letters so the buyer had no excuse for saying they didn't know it was just the box?

[yuzuha]

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@beacamp2014 wrote:

It's also worth noting that, while the title didn't state "box only", the word "phone" was nowhere in the listing, including the title.

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I'm sorry, but that is being deliberately deceptive.  You're selling the box only; why on earth would you not make that very clear in the title unless you wanted someone to believe you were selling the phone?  If you're selling the box, why wouldn't you want to make it very clear that you were selling just the box so that it would be easier for buyers who were looking for a box to find your listing?

I don't buy your excuses at all.

[nowthatsjustducky]

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@coolections wrote:

No one changed their story. You sold them a box and they thought they purchased the item. This is why it needs to be mandatory the Ebay allows returns. Who would purchase a box for $50 ? IMO you should have given the person their money back as they returned you your empty box..

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For modern stuff that is rather silly, yes.  But for vintage collectibles, there are plenty of collectors who do want the empty packaging to make their collections more complete.

I still smile thinking about the Vectrex video game system we found at Value Village back in the early days of Internet sales (eBay was still fairly young, and buying and selling through relevant USENET newsgroups was still popular).  The package came with its original box and several cartridges with their manuals and screen overlays; all for $5.00.

Since I was not interested in collecting boxes, I decided to list it here.  I think I started it at $5.00 (Buy It Now did not exist here yet), and was very pleasantly surprised that it got bid up to $25, with the high bidder being in Finland.  It was even in rather poor shape (faded with some crinkles, but otherwise still structurally sound).

And just because of that, I will not toss out any retail boxes (yes, that does include some modern stuff just in case...) until I can determine whether or not there is demand for them.  It is not my place to question why a given individual may want just an empty box.  My job is to connect shoppers with what they are shopping for.

In that instance, it was the box for one of these treasures...

[chichille77]

Hello everyone,

This thread is getting a bit heated.  Please remember that it’s fine to disagree with others, but discussion should always remain courteous and respectful.

Thank you for your cooperation.

[myangelandmyprincess]

There are a few choices for asking for a return.   Ordered by mistake would have been acceptable the buyer would have had to pay to return.  They ordered a box instead of a phone by mistake.  You say if they had just been honest you would have.  That was an honest reason right there 

[jonathankirkland]

Yes I completely understand boxes being an integral part of vintage collecting. This applies to video games and other electronics and increase their value by double or even a lot more sometimes, which is great.

I think even for modern products though it does make a listing a lot more attractive if you can say "all original packaging and accessories included" or even if you can just say "includes original box". These offers are a lot more enticing to some people purchasing even used phones and laptops. I honestly think there might be some kind of psychological affect it has, that if all the original stuff is there, then the item must be in good condition and well cared for. It creates that illusion. I think I can safely say that because as a buyer also I always feel that way as well, and it almost always ends up being true.

So in conclusion, if you are selling a phone, laptop or whatever and have the original box, it will absolutely help to sell that item better and for more than one in the same condition without it.

[lewisburggold]

We just looked this over and cant help but to say wow.   You sold a empty box for 50 dollars and then tried to force them to keep it.   WOW just saying.

[castlemagicmemories]

My interpretation is somewhat different, and the two reasons coincide.

Buyer said bought by mistake, he thought he was getting the phone.

So since he didn't get the phone, he put never received.  The two reasons are compatible in this case.

I don't know why the title did not include box only, to make it very clear what the buyer was buying, and I wouldn't call a box an accessory.

JMO YMMV.

[beacamp2014]

UPDATE:

I found out from PayPal that, apparently, after having the package since the 23rd, they have refused delivery today (26th). It's actually kind of weird, because the tracking info on eBay and USPS's website is different. Both seem to be missing certain information.

I'm not going to speculate on all that, though.

[chrysylys]

A box is not an accessory.  This almost should have been listed in Miscellaneous, Everything Else.

For many years, it was not policy to allow listing empty boxes.  Part of it was this kind of thing, but the bigger angle was that it enabled counterfeiting.  Bad guys could buy genuine packaging to list their cheap knockoffs.  It hasn't bee too many year ago that the policy changed.

But I wish they had opened a new category for Boxes Only.  Maybe had a secondary confirmation screen with a check box to acknowledge 'I understand this is an empty box only.  No product is included.'  You wouldn't be able to check out without clicking it.

[memphiskansasgirl123]

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@readabouthorses wrote:

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@coolections wrote:

No one changed their story. You sold them a box and they thought they purchased the item. This is why it needs to be mandatory the Ebay allows returns. Who would purchase a box for $50 ? IMO you should have given the person their money back as they returned you your empty box..

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Who would do that? Humm ... let me think. Some really really really dumb person who just saw a listing on their phone, didn't read what it was really about and then just hit click click click without even thinking about what they were doing? You know ... those people who stand in the aisles at the grocery stores blocking the way for everyone else with their phone in their face trying to figure out what they need for a recipe? Those people who shop in Walmart and have no clue where their children are in the store because their face is in their phone?

Has society lost the ability to read, investigate, comprehend before they act? And they have also lost the ability to realize they made a mistake (bought a box when they thought it was a phone) and admit they were wrong?

And I sort of know how the OP feels ... I sell horse magazines and I once had a lady ask when she would be getting her horse. I wonder how Ebay's return policy would have handled that?

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And,  those sellers who offer Free Returns, will feel the burn by those buyer types.  

[d-k_treasures]

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@chrysylys wrote:

A box is not an accessory.  This almost should have been listed in Miscellaneous, Everything Else.

For many years, it was not policy to allow listing empty boxes.  Part of it was this kind of thing, but the bigger angle was that it enabled counterfeiting.  Bad guys could buy genuine packaging to list their cheap knockoffs.  It hasn't bee too many year ago that the policy changed.

But I wish they had opened a new category for Boxes Only.  Maybe had a secondary confirmation screen with a check box to acknowledge 'I understand this is an empty box only.  No product is included.'  You wouldn't be able to check out without clicking it.

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That would be intelligent. That's why we'll never see it here.

[michael_atw]

But did the title include the phrase "BOX ONLY, NO PHONE" in great big letters so the buyer had no excuse for saying they didn't know it was just the box?

Irrelevant.