eBay

broto_64 · ‎09-04-2025

The items sold were in a box weighing just under 3 pounds.
What was returned was an empty padded 4x6 envelope.
The buyer is now NARU, it was not a guest account.

If I contact Ebay on Facebook what are my chances, I mean I do NOT want them to 'escalate' the return!

I could withhold 50% of the amount but it does bite.

christworks · ‎09-04-2025

I don't know what NARU is.

First, report the buyer. You can submit photos when you do, so take clear ones showing exactly what you got back. After you report the buyer, issue a 50% refund. Do not refund the original shipping, if you charged separately for it. After a couple of business days have passed (to give it long enough for your buyer report to get though), then contact eBay (on the social platforms if you want) and ask if they will subsidize the 50% you had to refund. They will appreciate that you took the proper steps and didn't immediately complain. They may or may not help you out on refunding you, but at least you asked. If they don't, document it in your business records and take the loss on next year's taxes. When you make a lot of money in Q4, you will appreciate being able to take a little off next year.

chapeau-noir · ‎09-04-2025

NARU = no longer a registered user.

_______________________
“I have a year, and who knows what might happen in that time. The king might die. The horse might die. I might die. And perhaps the horse will learn to sing.”

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

inhawaii · ‎09-04-2025

My opinion.

Withhold what you can.

Chalk up the rest as a loss.

I don't think ebay can/will do anything for you.

Zero To Sixty In Five - Pablo Cruise

broto_64 · ‎09-04-2025

@inhawaii wrote:
My opinion.
Withhold what you can.
Chalk up the rest as a loss.
I don't think ebay can/will do anything for you.

You know...
Much as it bites I have to agree with you.
Easier to just refund, worst case scenario they escalate it and then all funds are pulled *and* I get a defect.
I did already contact facebook ebay but I'll just refund 50% now, because if they want to do anything positive they can still do so and hopefully my refunding will negate anything negative they could do.

In fact it may prove near impossible for the buyer to try and get the other 50% as a courtesy refund now that they're NARU, and I'm pretty sure once the refund has been issued that it won't be possible to file a chargeback either.
It's too bad I can't see their feedback anymore, I don't think it's the first time they've pulled this scam.
I am keeping the name and address posted to a notice board so if they order again I will know right away.

broto_64 · ‎09-05-2025

UPDATE!!
UPDATE!!!

Ebay on Facebook got back to me and said this:

Because the buyer is no longer registered with eBay, your buyer isn't eligible for our eBay Money Back Guarantee.

Unfortunately it appears that because I already sent half the money back that I'm out of that.
Not a terrible loss but definitely lessons learned.
We're talking $140 so half of that was $70.

So the best answer, is contact ebay through social media first.
Do so asap because time is of the essence, and don't issue refund until they get back to you on what to do.

Cases are counted as "closed without seller resolution" when eBay is asked to step in and a decision is taken in favour of the buyer. In this case the buyer couldn't have asked eBay to step in as they were no longer registered with us, and therefore no longer covered under the eBay Money Back Guarantee.

I was able to leave "Follow Up" on the feedback I had left, through my own feedback under "Left for Others"

broto_64 · ‎09-08-2025

UPDATE!
UPDATE!

After issuing a partial refund the buyer has to CONFIRM it!!!
And since the buyer is NARU they shouldn't be able to do that!
So I get my half the refund back in some order.

I couldn't be happier right now.

broto_64 · ‎09-19-2025

Latest update, the saga continues:

Buyer has filed a payment dispute with their financial institution for the $70 balance.
I also do NOT get the original $70 half refund back as I previously thought.

Presently filing IC3 report.
IC3 completely filled out, went to submit and...
We are presently experiencing service outage (ok that's paraphrased but basically nothing was filed).

So I contacted ebay on facebook and they said to dispute it, which I did and got this in response:
This dispute qualified for seller protections We haven't received the dispute outcome from the buyer's payment institution yet, but this dispute qualified for seller protections. Nothing will be deducted from your funds. We’ll close this when we hear back.

So hopefully I at least get to keep half...
What a load.

spreadlovelikefire · ‎09-19-2025

Same exact thing happened to me recently. 4 lb box and received a tiny empty envelope back. Ebay had kicked them off prior to receiving the return back. Didn't refund anything because they were no longer a registered user. They opened a credit card dispute two days ago. I filled it all out methodically, uploaded all 5-pictures and used every single one of the 1,000 words I could type out. Very professional and straight to the point. I submitted it and at the top of the claim is does say "this case has seller protection by eBay, we will let you know when it closes out". Which means it doesn't matter if you win or lose, eBay covers it. Check the top of the case after you submit everything and see what it says.

house*of*paws · ‎09-19-2025

@chapeau-noir wrote:
NARU = no longer a registered user.

NARU = (Also meaning) Not A Registered User

eBay at one time distinguished between the two meanings … but I forget how. 🤔😋

marnotom! · ‎09-19-2025

@house*of*paws wrote:

@chapeau-noir wrote:
NARU = no longer a registered user.

NARU = (Also meaning) Not A Registered User

eBay at one time distinguished between the two meanings … but I forget how. 🤔😋

My recollection is that a “no longer” registered user is one who was permanently removed from the site, while a user who is “not a” registered user may have been temporarily suspended.

broto_64 · ‎09-19-2025

Omg YES!!!

That is so weird, in my case the address it was returned from did match the address it was sent to the but the buyer's name and the recipient's were different.
Like you I typed it all out and then "AI'd" it which I have to admit did look better, here's the verbiage that I submitted in the dispute:

Your response

Why you challenged this dispute

The buyer has disputed the item, claiming it does not match the description; however, I contest this assertion as the correct items were sent. The buyer later initiated a return request but returned only an empty padded envelope, resulting in their suspension from eBay. Although I mistakenly refunded half of the total order amount of $140 without receiving the items, it seems the buyer is trying to keep the items while obtaining a refund. Furthermore, the buyer's details do not match those of the recipient, and the provided phone numbers are no longer in service.

(and like yourself I included a picture of the items and the returned envelope with the tracking number and everything all visible).

Must be a new scam, I have always heard of receiving a box of rocks back but it has never in all the years happened to me.

kraftique · ‎09-19-2025

I do not know where you live. But I got help from my Local Postmaster when I had a problem with a Package. He went out of his way to verify what I told him. He looked over the envelope, checked the weight and size , talked with the Mail Carrier, did the gps and wrote a letter up for me to sent off to Ebay.

That worked wonders.