Buyer says they received wrong item.

[artie43]

I sent buyer 1 oz gold coin 3 to 4 weeks ago. They opened case today saying they just got around to opening today and they say and show pictures that they received a regular Kennedy Half dollar in the box. The way I see things with everything I read is that I am out of Luck with this. Any tips or is a waste of my time trying to do anything. Thanks

[ted_200]

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@dirk12955 wrote:
Don't get all worked up with the details. Who cares if this person waited 29 days and 23 hour plus 55 minutes to open a case. The sellers on the hook and looking at a Grand or more loss.

Telling the "Buyer" that the seller intends to file a theft report with the buyers local PD and have the postal inspector investigate for inside theft might just motivate the "Buyer" to email the seller,

"Oops, Found the coin, My mistake, Sorry"

Push that "Buyer" as hard as you can.

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That's all they can do.  eBay isn't going to help any.  And it's doubtful USPS or the police are going to be any help either, the only hope is to somehow convince the buyer they might. 

[dirk12955]

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@ted_200 wrote:

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@dirk12955 wrote:
Don't get all worked up with the details. Who cares if this person waited 29 days and 23 hour plus 55 minutes to open a case. The sellers on the hook and looking at a Grand or more loss.

Telling the "Buyer" that the seller intends to file a theft report with the buyers local PD and have the postal inspector investigate for inside theft might just motivate the "Buyer" to email the seller,

"Oops, Found the coin, My mistake, Sorry"

Push that "Buyer" as hard as you can.

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That's all they can do.  eBay isn't going to help any.  And it's doubtful USPS or the police are going to be any help either, the only hope is to somehow convince the buyer they might. 

That's exactly right.      A shop lifter sees a camera at the local 7-11 he probably won't steal anything.   It matters not whether the camera works or not.    It only matters that he thinks that it MIGHT work.

The buyer is running a bluff to see if the seller can be pushed into refunding the money spent and actually let this person keep the expensive gold coin.

It's not a sin or a crime for the seller to try to convince this person that they (The seller) might actually involve the authorities.      Bluffs can go both ways.      And for this kind of money I'd try anything to 

pin this guy to the wall and either keep my money or get my coin back. 

We're all adults here.    It's time to stop crying about what ebay will or won't do and stand up for ourselves when something like this happens.

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[kitschy*loot]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

Why do you think someone at USPS stole it,

I think her use of scare quotes is meant to indicate a joke.

We really need a graphic designer to develop a sarcasm font.

USPS workers are pretty unlikely* to jeopardize a secure job with union pay and benefits to steal a random package that is just as likely to contain beloved family photos or someone's divorce papers as a commercially valuable item. Domestic mail does not disclose the contents, unlike customs labels. 

*Short of mental illness.

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At my aunt's post office in Louisville, Kentucky, postal workers were stealing random packages for a while. There were a few who actually got caught with opened packages in their cars, or opened small ones in their lockers. During their reign of terror, it was a bad idea to even think about sending any kind of greeting card through there.  

[missjen831]

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@kitschy*loot wrote:

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

Why do you think someone at USPS stole it,

I think her use of scare quotes is meant to indicate a joke.

We really need a graphic designer to develop a sarcasm font.

USPS workers are pretty unlikely* to jeopardize a secure job with union pay and benefits to steal a random package that is just as likely to contain beloved family photos or someone's divorce papers as a commercially valuable item. Domestic mail does not disclose the contents, unlike customs labels. 

*Short of mental illness.

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At my aunt's post office in Louisville, Kentucky, postal workers were stealing random packages for a while. There were a few who actually got caught with opened packages in their cars, or opened small ones in their lockers. During their reign of terror, it was a bad idea to even think about sending any kind of greeting card through there.  

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I think most would be surprised by how many will risk their jobs and retirement. I know someone who was fired after about 30 years as a mail carrier. Lost his retirement as a result too. All over a $5 giftcard he took from the dead mail room. How the PO discovered it missing, I don’t know. But they did and he lost his job and his retirement. 

[melmurdock]

Just a note...my long time USPS carrier also was an ebay seller. He was knowledgable that the ebay ID number is printed on ebay labels. He used the Ebay ID to identify the contents of packages (for whatever reason). When I found this out I turned this feature off immediately. So ANYONE familiar with ebay labels can know the contents of your package just by looking it up by the Ebay ID number.

[pauls-parts]

If you believe you've been victimized by a scam involving the U.S. Mail, you can get help by contacting your nearest Postal Inspection Service office in one of three ways: Call 1-877-876-2455 (press option “4” to report suspected mail fraud). Visit postalinspectors.uspis.gov to report suspected fraud online.

How to Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - About USPS

about.usps.com/publications/pub300a/pub300a_tech_024.htm

Hope this helps. But I think you may have to wait until he actually sends back the other coin back. 

[kcdcpa]

Sorry that this happened to you.

If I were a betting person, I would bet that the department at the Post Office that handles insurance claims is goint to ask you if you can prove to them that you mailed a gold coin instead of a Kennedy half dollar.

Especially since you could have just insured the package for the value of the sale, and still mailed something different.

For your sake, I hope that the Post Office believes you and approves the claim.

Unless the buyer already has multiple fraud claims filed by sellers with Ebay, I hate to say it, but I think that you will be out of luck there.

The general rule of thumb that I use about selling on Ebay is:

If I can't afford to lose 100% of the value of the item, plus the shipping, plus the return shipping, then I won't list it !

[coins_artifacts]

When I get it back I will not open the package. I will give it along with the picture I took of your order (that clearly shows the Gold Coin) to INSERT NAME HERE. He is a Detective with the USPS Inspector General's Office. I have already texted him and made him aware of the situation but he cannot become involved until you use the mail service in your scheme. At that point it becomes a Felony Mail Fraud case and he will become involved. He is anxious to open the package you return and begin his investigation.

Do not think for one second that your distance from me will in any way shape or form affect my ability to have you prosecuted for Felony Mail Fraud. There are many sellers who would roll over and accept this loss. I am not one of those. Think carefully about what you are doing before you do it,. This will not end well for you. Govern your self accordingly.

[sugarpotpye]

Did your buyer use a freight forwarder?

I ask because of the different names and the time line the buyer is giving for opening the package.

D

[nomad3]

Yea....I just found out once again Ebay favors buyers that are cheats and liars. This time around they refunded the buyer the item price  and shiping without the lying buyer even sending the item back. First of all I have 14 day returns. The buyer requested a return 29 days after buying it. Even with that I told him to send it back, but he did not. He waited until the request expired and then made a claim. Ebay didn't have the courtesy to even answer my emails I sent them concerning the item and the claim and how obviously the buyer was lying, but he could just send it back. It all fell on uncaring people at Ebay. They then put the clain on hold for 5 days, never communicated to me about it after I wrote to them twice. Then in the 5th day they sent the cheating low life all his money back from my account and I never got my item back. I went in cicles with their trained puppets tonight for over an hour and they would not budge an inch. I am ready to start a class action suit with other sellers who have been taken by ebay this way. It is outright theft of our products. I am sorry to say, don't expect to get anything back from ebay, as they will always side with the dishonest buyers.  

[ted_200]

Sometimes a bluff will knock the item loose, but I'm not suggesting just a bluff if it doesn't.   Actually do that stuff.  All of it. 

If I were a betting person, I would bet that the department at the Post Office that handles insurance claims is goint to ask you if you can prove to them that you mailed a gold coin instead of a Kennedy half dollar.

They might.  OTOH, they might have heard from someone else on an insurance claim to this person recently, which now makes both claims credible.  The "postal employee switched it" theory is not at all likely here (given the circumstances), but if the USPS has dozens of such claims for mail going through some particular facility... you might get paid on the insurance.   Five people may have called the local police already over such incidents, the person could be on their radar already.  You never know... but I'd put forth a little effort for a $1450 scam.

[auctionpet]

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@artie43 wrote:

I discovered today in looking at the paypal transaction that there is a name associated to the ebay account another name under who paid for the item and yet another name in the ship to address which is where it was received. The buyer tells me they live alone so nobody else could have took the coin. All these names associated with this transaction raise some flags to me. Will find out if it matters

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As I mentioned earlier, you need to find out who signed for the package. Was it the individual it was addressed to? This should show on the USPS site.

The buyer can claim they live alone, just like they claim you sent them a half dollar! They know you can't prove either.

[budandangis]

Believe me they worry more about the buyers. Switching to free shipping and free returns was a no-brainer since you lose most cases anyway

[twnpopcards]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@18704d wrote:

I agree that the OP should file for the insurance on his package with the USPS.

It's "obviously" been rifled during USPS handling, the contents stolen and switched.

Lynn

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Why do you think someone at USPS stole it,

If you were expecting an expensive item, would you take 3 eeks to a month to open the package?

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No I wouldnt but the price of gold has dropped quite a bit plus it appears what he originally got for it was a premium price also (not bashing you at all - just stating a fact is all).  So the buyer bought a speculative coin and is now down about $250 in less than a month, which is probably what brought on this suddenly created story.

Now the Seller needs to worry that he even gets back the original coin or he is going to also be out the $1200 item having now been stolen by a thief and Ebay will do nothing at all about it.  However i would definitely file an insurance claim with USPS (assuming you insured the item) and they will be in contact with the buyer who will have to sign under penalty of perjury that they did not receive the gold coin.  After reading the story, I have a feeling that the Postal Inspectors will be watching that buyers activities very closely.  I would also check for sales of that exact coin since then in case they have sold the coin under another name and you can also give that information to USPS when filing your report/complaint.

[ted_200]

No I wouldnt but the price of gold has dropped quite a bit plus it appears what he originally got for it was a premium price also (not bashing you at all - just stating a fact is all).  So the buyer bought a speculative coin and is now down about $250 in less than a month, which is probably what brought on this suddenly created story.

This is why it's permitted for sellers to have "No Returns" on bullion without affecting their TRS Plus eligibility.  Unfortunately, just like with every other No Returns sale, there is nothing to stop the buyer from over-riding it with a bogus MBG Return Request, in this case a fraudulent bogus one.