Buyer is stealing from me, eBay is complicit

[derekdunlop4256]

Learned some new things about eBay today and I feel like anyone selling on their platform should know that eBay is complicit in helping fraudsters steal items from sellers on the platform.

I sold a Dive Rite CCR wing on eBay a few weeks ago and promptly sent the item out to the buyer. Shipped the CCR wing in a large USPS flat rate box and provided the tracking number in the eBay platform.

Upon delivery of the package, I was alerted via email that I had received negative feedback on my page and that a case was opened by the buyer. In the case he stated that I did not send him the CCR wing and that he received three pieces of fabric from Dior. He provided a photo of my box (not even open) along with what I’m assuming are three counterfeit items (scarfs?) in some cheap plastic wrap.

I immediately called eBay and told them that this was an obvious scam and that I sent him the exact wing in the picture. They agreed with me and said that it was strange that the picture provided by the buyer showed an unopened box. So they told me to write everything up and submit it in the case report.  On top of the unopened box picture, despite the address being a street address, USPS says it was delivered to a parcel locker.

One week later (today). I get another notification from eBay telling me that a decision was made in favor of the buyer and that he will be allowed to return the item to me. Obviously I anticipate he will be sending me back his worthless pieces of fabric and keeping the $350 wing I sent him. Furthermore, I am responsible to pay for the return shipping, because according to eBay, I sent him the “wrong item”. In the meantime I have still not been paid for the wing, or reimbursed for the initial shipping I paid to send the item to him.

To add insult to injury, I am not allowed to leave negative feedback for the buyer! eBay only allows positive feedback now for buyers. eBay protects these scammers! I’m sure this guy has done this numerous times before l, and maybe if I was able to see those negative reviews, I would of been spared from dealing with this guy. Instead he is allowed to scam on, unabated.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Sorry this happened to you but that is the down side to the eBay buyer money back guarantee. These things happen and the board is full of these type of postings. About all you can do is absorb the loss and move forward but I would for sure add the person to you BBL. 

[bonjourami]

Sorry for you but in a he said, she said dispute, Ebay will always rule in the buyers favor..best advice I have, is if you cant afford to lose it, dont sell it on Ebay.

[derekdunlop4256]

Don’t sell anything you can’t accept to lose?  

That sounds ridiculous, I wouldn’t want to be an eBay stockholder if that’s the case.  Sounds like a company that is in a death spiral.  What do people do selling one of a kind items?  

Figure I’ve probably spent a few thousand dollars on eBay over the last year.  They make 10% of all those sales, my lifetime value to them should be worth something.  Apparently not.  

[wrong66]

It's not ridiculous. These are the pitfalls that can happen selling online. It doesn't just happen on eBay.

[sunking1]

It is ridiculous. Another ebay partner in theft has stolen another sellers item. These people are not buyers. They are partners and thieves and they are allowed to run rampant at will.

[mtgraves7984]

I'm sorry this happened to you. 'No Returns' doesn't mean no refunds for sure. It's better to be proactive, too.

I take pause with your statement, "...  a decision was made in favor of the buyer and that he will be allowed  to return the item to me." If the buyer wasn't required  to return the item (since the Return wasn't approved by you), then you'll probably get no fabric back at all.

And if Dior fabric comes back to you... list it. That stuff sells! Good luck...

[sunking1]

Fabric? Maybe you should read his post again? He didn't sell fabric...

[mschacha]

As much as I hate to offer free returns, you really should if you are a top rated seller. That way instead of losing your money and your item you can at least recover 50% of your money. With free returns, ebay automatically sends the buyer a return label. There is no refund of any type until the buyer sends you the item back. Now many times they may send you your item back broken or even the wrong item, but you are able to only refund 50% of the cost. The buyer will complain to ebay and ebay will refund the other 50% to the buyer from their Buyer Protection kitty.  I know this stinks, but 50% is better than nothing.  I have had to do this a few times and in the end I broke even or just made a few dollars on the transaction.  If enough sellers did this and ebay had to pay out lots of money to make up the other 50%, they may look at the problem more seriously.  

[allthingssurplus]

Its not a real 50%.  eBay will only give 50% of the item cost and the Seller is out the inbound and outbound shipping cost.  50% just sounds good. it just not 50%.

[stainlessenginecovers]

It's actually a company doing the right thing: protecting the buyer before they protect the seller. 

If they didn't, reputation would be that buyers would simply buy and get rocks sent, or nothing sent etc. and then buyers would be out the money. 

Although sadly, some of figured ways to beat the system- if you report them once the return is received, they won't be able to continue to do it for long. 

[bonjourami]

"Don’t sell anything you can’t accept to lose?  

That sounds ridiculous, I wouldn’t want to be an eBay stockholder if that’s the case. "

I hate to burst your bubble, but its a fact of life on Ebay. Unfortunately, any buyer can file a scam not as described case, and they will always be refunded at the sellers expense. As you just found out.

[mtgraves7984]

---

@sunking1 wrote:

Fabric? Maybe you should read his post again? He didn't sell fabric...

---

@sunking1 

Oh, I read it. The OP didn't  sell fabric, but could  sell fabric. If Dior fabric is returned, it's time to make some lemonade.

[derekdunlop4256]

It is my understanding that the buyer has to return the item for the refund to occur. I anticipate that the item will be that Dior fabric.  I also anticipate that the fabric is counterfeit.  

If eBay continues to do nothing, I plan to contact the buyers local police department and inform them of the situation and say that he is dealing in counterfeit goods.  I doubt that will help me much, but maybe make his life slightly less pleasant.  

[derekdunlop4256]

As of right now, I have received (in my bank account) about $285 of the $305 I was due (cost of shipping).  From my understanding all funds that are currently on hold are held from future sales.  

I’ll be contacting my bank and seeking a block on any eBay payments from my bank account.  I’ll just quit using the site and cut my losses.  I purchase quite a bit of stuff on here but this whole experience and left a real sour taste in my mouth.  

The fact that sellers can’t leave negative feedback for buyers is absolutely ridiculous.  They should just do away with the whole feedback system if it’s so obviously flawed.