Buyer returned a different item! Help!

[stac_ho]

Hi ebay Family,

I recently sold my beloved late 2012 retina MacBook Pro and the buyer returned a broken down computer and got a refund! I am absolutely furious with this but so far ebay has been saying that it's my fault that I wasn't careful enough. What do I do?!?!

Thanks fam,

A traumatized seller

[ittybitnot]

"The Returns team recently added a feature to the returns flow that allows a seller in this situation to report the incident to eBay. Sellers can and should immediately escalate the return case to eBay should a buyer attempt to return an item that was not the item the seller shipped. "

Griff

OK Griff.  You said there was a way for these to be escalated.  Care to tell this seller how?

I don't think that there is a poster on this board that believes that nonsense.  
A seller that "escalates" a phony SNAD loses, and gets a defect.  An appeal for a faulty return is typically given the old "we treat ebay sellers as a business, and as with any business there are risks....yada yada.."  Which for the most part means it is the seller's risk, not ebay's, and too bad to bew you. 

On ebay, the buyer has many "shots" at a fraudulent scam....ebay, PayPal, and then their credit card.  Other sites where PayPal is tossed to the curb has a buyer rely on their credit card for redress, and the amout of fraud seemingly is reduced.  

The only time I have seen faulty returns paid for by the ebay marketplace (seller reimbursed)  is when they go public and make the news.  

[baantiques]

I would call the local constabulary and file a report for theft.  It is probable that nothing will come of it, but in the event the slime does it again and again, and those people also file reports, all of a sudden there is a pattern, and the cops will hopefully dig a little deeper.

[missjen831]

---

@baantiques wrote:

I would call the local constabulary and file a report for theft.  It is probable that nothing will come of it, but in the event the slime does it again and again, and those people also file reports, all of a sudden there is a pattern, and the cops will hopefully dig a little deeper.

---

How is there to be a pattern unless the sellers are all in the same city/county? Filing police reports at the local level will not establish a pattern for law enforcement to connect the dots with.....

[z50com]

Did you install the program called "Find My Mac"?

If you did, did you call the buyers local police and report it stolen.

In fact you should still call them even if you didn't install that program.

Give them the serial number and address of your buyer.

You might get some help, you might not but it's worth a try.

Be sure to call eBay and also Paypal if that's how they paid.

[nawlinsron2]

Still more proof that ALL IND and SNAD claims should be handled by an independent arbiter.
The item MUST be returned to them...that alone would deep six many claims.

[jaelzion]

@nawlinsron2 But how would the independent arbiter know exactly what the seller shipped out to the buyer? It would be one person's word against another's...

[campesinoplastic2014]

The bottom line is, it's just so much easier for EBay to reach in your pocket and hand your money out like it's candy, than it is for them to fix the problems they have had here for years. It's not their money they give away, so it's quick, easy and free as far as they see.

[nawlinsron2]

"But how would the independent arbiter know exactly what the seller shipped out to the buyer? It would be one person's word against another's..."

Ever hear of PROBABILITY?
How likely is it for a seller with 100% 5,000 feedback to ship out a pound of bricks in lieu of an $800 laptop?...especially to a buyer with ZERO feedback?
Little things would come into play that ebay would NEVER consider.

[campesinoplastic2014]

I am sad to announce that I doubt if an independent "arbiter" would fix these issues.

I think common sense in California would fix these issues

[campesinoplastic2014]

There are serious problems with this type of thing in Russia (Russia Post employees).

People now go stand in line and film themselves and a RP clerk sealing the package and handing it over to the clerks, (or opening it if they are the recipient.)  It may come to that some day.

[stonevintage]

Apparently, consumers are going all online for purchases.  That said, name ONE selling organization that does not have a rock solid defense against this type of claim. This, via their national credit card assn that we individual sellers are not eligible for.  

This is **bleep**. Large wholesalers and retailers have many millions of dollars set to defend fraud claims. We small sellers are expected to meet with mega seller volumes when we obviously do not have that.  We are expected to compete right there, though its obvious we can't take the losses.

Just crazy and unreasonable.

[campesinoplastic2014]

Nothing is 100% safe, but none are as sure to be anti-seller as this one.

Nowhere is the risk to the seller as great as it is here, no matter what the circumstances!!! The lack of common sense! They could care less, it is not their money they are dishing out !!!

[jonathankirkland]

If I have said this once I've said it a hundred times...

I wonder how long it will be until a class action lawsuit is filed against eBay and Paypal for this never ending stream of SNAD scams?

eBay and Paypal need to be held accountable for years and years of gross negiligence involving hundreds if not thousands of victims...

Don't get me wrong. I love ebay. It has potential to be great again, but they need to be held accountable and shell out a settlement in the 8 figure ball park to wake up and smell the coffee...

[auctionpet]

---

@stac_ho wrote:

Hi ebay Family,

I recently sold my beloved late 2012 retina MacBook Pro and the buyer returned a broken down computer and got a refund! I am absolutely furious with this but so far ebay has been saying that it's my fault that I wasn't careful enough. What do I do?!?!

Thanks fam,

A traumatized seller

---

Weren't careful enough? Exactly what is that supposed to mean?!

Ebay allows these items to be sold and allows anyone to register and purchase them. They allow for returns for any reason and refund without even verifying the item sold was returned. Only if the buyer stated they were shipped a different item should something other than what was shown in the listing been returned! Ebay even disregards their own policy stating the item must be returned in the same condition as listed.

I'd surely want ebay to clarify on what the seller was supposed to do that wasn't careful. It's just so easy to blame the seller, when it's ebay who allows these fraudsters to get away with this theft and rewards them for it! Now the 'buyer' will just move on to the next seller victim, for another freebie.

I'd love to know how often a B&M or a Big Box website allows a buyer to return a different item and refunds their money! I'm betting the scammers wouldn't even attempt to pull these stunts there! Only ebay, with their independent sellers, allows for this open platform of shoplifting and turns a blind eye.

[chrysylys]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@chrysylys wrote:

griff@ebay.com

---

happy to clarify next steps in this situation. A seller would be able to open an appeal if the return has already been decided. We would review the details of the case and while a lot factors can affect the options we have available, providing reimbursement is one of the protections we may be able to offer. While the Return Request is open, a seller would have the option of reporting a different item being returned directly within the case details. I unfortunately do not have a screenshot to share, but look for this within your next return and let us know if you have trouble finding it.

---

Somebody needs to take the extra steps when these are brought to the board here and look deeper into them.

These posters who are victims need guided help from the inside.