Buyer said they received a different item than what I sent

[ksmiles12]

I am in need of some help. I sent a buyer a coach purse and wallet. I packed them myself and brought it directly to the post office. The buyer sent me an email and said they received two books from me. They had a picture of my correct box, and then two books I have never seen. Either someone tampered with it in the mail, or more likely, this person is scamming me. They want to keep the coach wallet and purse, but then also get their $86.00 back. Help, I don't know what to do. I called ebay today and they said we will have to wait and see if the buyer requests a refund and then see what ebay decides. I don't have anything to "prove" that I sent it besides my word and the tracking number, and this person could have taken a picture of something just lying around their house. I know ebay wouldn't go as far to do this, but they can fingerprint those books ... they will never find my prints on them becuase I didn't send them. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Thank you.

[tiramisu41]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

If your buyer is a newbie scammer, the thought of a PO Inspector knocking at the door may make her suddenly "find" the purse and wallet. 

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Just for good measure (and giggles) I would revise what you suggested @southern*sweet*tea and add the following...

"Please hold on to all packaging as well as the books you received so they can be thoroughly examined and checked for fingerprints. You will be contacted by a USPS inspector soon, who will want to see all packaging as well as the items you received as part of his/her investigation."

😉

[southern*sweet*tea]

Darn it!

I forgot to mention that tampering with the mail/mail theft is a Federal felony that carries a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison.

[radtech1971]

🤣 haha y’all are so bad...Seriously, I am so sorry this happened.  It is a popular scam this week, I saw a guy lost a very expensive camera a few days ago to the same “I received a book” ruse.  I don’t know what the answer is to put a stop to this flagrant abuse, we sellers are completely unprotected from the crooks.

[ksmiles12]

As soon as I sent them this message (without the fine part ... shoot) they responded by saying how will that help them, and then offically requested a refund.

[tiramisu41]

@ksmiles12, out of curiosity, did you look at the feedback this buyer left for others?  If there's a pattern there, it might be helpful to you in trying to appeal with eBay...

[ksmiles12]

I'm the only one they have sent feedback to. They have 8 "good" posts for them being a buyer, but they have never left a seller feedback.

[ittybitnot]

hey responded by saying how will that help them, and then offically requested a refund.

I have used that "letter" in one form or another in the past, acting totally dismayed at the "switching" of the merchandise.  Always leaving the liar buyer an "out" so to speak about asking family members etc. and saying I would gladly file the lost/tampered mail report  (it is called something else now) with the Postal Inspectors.  I would tell them that I would file on their behalf on line, and would receive the case number within 24 hours and would forward it to them.  Only once was the merchandise not by some miracle quickly found.  The only hold out, quickly caved when the case number was actually forwarded  to them so they could keep abreast of the situation. 

File it now, and forward the case number.  See what shakes loose. 

[bubbleman2010]

If they've opened a dispute good bye item good bye money....

[bubbleman2010]

The simple solution is ebay needs to get out of the MBG program all disputes can be handled through the buyers CC company they make real short work of problem children...

[ksmiles12]

Thank you. Will do.

[tiramisu41]

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@ksmiles12 wrote:

I'm the only one they have sent feedback to. They have 8 "good" posts for them being a buyer, but they have never left a seller feedback.

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@ksmiles12, the only kind of feedback sellers are allowed to leave for buyers is "Positive."  Keep that in mind, as a 100% positive feedback score for a buyer means absolutely nothing.  What's usually most revealing is what feedback *they* leave for others...

[ksmiles12]

Good to know. Thank you.

[tiramisu41]

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@ksmiles12 wrote:

As soon as I sent them this message (without the fine part ... shoot) they responded by saying how will that help them, and then offically requested a refund.

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@ksmiles12, what was the reason for the return?  "Item Not Received" or "Item Not As Described?"

[jela_7588]

@ksmiles12

You should contact the person who posted this thread and see if there are any common post offices the packages passed through

[tenbigdogs]

Hi @ksmiles12, I'm sorry this happened to you.  I'm not faulting you, I'm just telling you that you are a low feedback seller who listed a high scam item, a designer handbag.  I've heard it said many times that eBay always sides with the buyer, but no one here has access to any actual statistics on that.  This is a complaint board, and few sellers complain about winning an Item Not As Described case.  A seller just posted on another board about winning one. 

As to the letter, I disagree with that approach.  You can see where it got you.  A buyer who was complaining, but hadn't taken the time to file a Return, took the time.  If there was ever a day when people were naive enough to fall for hallow threats, that day has passed.  If someone is really a scammer, they know the post office isn't going to do much.  If your buyer is a scammer, they aren't very good at it.  A scam for an $86 item?  That's pretty low rent.   Going forward, if a buyer contacts you with a problem, whether you believe a word they say or not, respond professionally.  Respond like you believe them.  It doesn't change your actions, it preserves your winning attitude.  Nonsense will turn an honest buyer with a problem into a ticked off buyer who is no longer your trading partner, but your adversary. 

So what do you do now?  You answer the Return INR claim as honestly as you can.  No threats, no bluster, no accusations, just straight forward I shipped the item described in my listing.  If you honestly want to file a case with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), an arm of the FBI, then let the buyer know that you will be filing from your end and that they can file from theirs so you can get to the bottom of this.  You can give them the link:   https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx    Good luck!!