eBay

derekdunlop4256 · ‎06-06-2021

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.

jonathankirkland · ‎06-06-2021

@derekdunlop4256 wrote:
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.

As others have said, I feel very sad every time I read one of these threads. Unfortunately, it happens quite a bit. However as many cases as there are on these forums of these types of thefts, and even including probably 10x more that are not reported here, it's still a VERY small fraction of all the transactions on ebay. If there were nothing but thieves here of course ebay would've tanked 13 years ago when they first introduced the Money Back Guarantee.

And yes, it is ridiculous that any buyer can return to you whatever they want and be fully refunded.

I applaud and encourage you not to give up and pursue this buyer civilly. I've heard however many police departments refuse to get involved with online thefts, but you can try.

I'd strongly encourage you to also file a complaint with IC3 (https://www.ic3.gov/)

What the posters above have said is sadly the case. And having low feedback such as yours (less than 100) makes you a prime target for scammers to defraud you of valuable items. I DO NOT want to be insensitive but there are people on here who have lost $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 or more in single transactions, so even though $350 is not chump change it could be a lot worse... I hate to say that's a positive thing but honestly it is.

Ebay makes it sound so easy for new sellers to just list and sell their item and get paid but of course they don't tell you how easy it is to be cheated. People are left in the lurch until something like this happens then they are slapped in the face with the harsh reality of what can happen selling on ebay.

You can also keep trying to appeal to ebay, I'd contacted them on FB with all your evidence instead of calling. They may give you a courtesy refund out of their own pocket. I know that doesn't solve punishing the thief but perhaps you can at least recover your funds.

Another sad fact is that the reps at the call centers will only EVER tell sellers what they want to hear to get them off the phone rather than give them useful information or truly help them with their issue.

Again, I truly am sorry and I feel very infuriated each time I read one of these threads, I hope your outcome will somehow become positive.

mtgraves7984 · ‎06-06-2021

It is my understanding that the buyer has to return the item for the refund to occur.

@derekdunlop4256

It is true that the buyer has to return an item for the refund to occur... eBay works from the delivery scan. Like you, I don't expect the return to be either your Dive Rite CCR wing or authentic Dior fabric. Empathizing...

a_c_green · ‎06-06-2021

@derekdunlop4256 wrote:
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.

I would suggest that you keep the focus on your loss, that being mail fraud from him swapping your product for a pile of cloth (or whatever) and returning the switched item for a refund. Once this happens (you don't really have a police report to make until the fraudulent return is received and eBay forces a refund), then go after the buyer directly.

You start with a police report from your local PD, which basically gets you a report number that you can use as a reference, and then take it up with the buyer's local PD. (You need to get the report from your own PD first, as that will act as a kind of character reference for you, to indicate to the buyer's PD that you are not just J. Random Loony with a beef against one of the residents of their town. If it were that easy, every telemarketer that you've ever hung up on could be calling your own PD with fictional complaints about you.)

Your PD may push back by saying that it's a civil matter, but you can state that you need their report for your insurance anyway. Alternatively, you might find a helpful detective who will be willing to at least make a phone call to the buyer's PD, just to make some introductions and see if the buyer is already on their radar.

Contact your local post office to make a report about the mail fraud. This may not get you a successful result, but you will at least put some heat on the buyer, and they may miraculously "find" the missing item after all.

This is not a guaranteed outcome, but the point is that eBay will get themselves out of the dispute as soon as possible by refunding the buyer for the scam return, and at that point it's up to you to take the fight to the buyer's doorstep. Good luck.

tonestar1821 · ‎06-06-2021

Happened to me on an iPhone. I got scammed out of $600.. eBay originally ruled in my favor, then a different department ruled in the buyers favor. The buyer never even responded to my emails. They know how to game eBays system to win cases.

cri1035 · ‎06-06-2021

This is all just not fair. I sold an gold and diamond ring, $465, to something to someone in Korea, but she never received it. BUT the tracking clearly shows it arrived in Korea at their sort facility. It just makes me mad that after the buyer complained, and Ebay originally told me they see it arrived in Korea and wouldn't take the money out of my account to refund the buyer. But like your situation, a few days later they chose to refund the buyer. REALLY makes me mad. NOT FAIR.