Buyers claim missing item in package

[jdl_66]

Alright, so I know this has been discussed before. I have a persistent buyer wanting to buy my item. I initially sold it, but was weary as the buyer is also a seller from China, but his ship to address is in California. I cancelled the transaction and that was that. He has offered to purchase the item again. This item is close to $5000, so I'm very suspicious of the buyer. I have a feeling the buyer will claim the item is missing from the pacakage and file a claim with ebay. I know ebay will side with the buyer, but what if I UNO reverse this and get the payout first and delete my bank account before ebay withdrawls the money if there should be a claim. Apologies for this, but I have already received the 3rd offer from the buyer and have a gut feeling this will happen. I want to sell the item but I want these fraudsters to learn a lesson too.

[gurlcat]

What ...on .....Earth.  First of all, what reason did you select from the menu for cancelling this buyer's purchase?  Do you realize you can only do that a couple of times before your account goes Below Standard and your selling fees skyrocket?  You can't just cancel sales because you suspect this or that.  TONS of buyers in China have their items shipped to freight forwarding companies in California and Oregon, happens all the time and it's totally FINE.  In fact, after the freight forwarder receives it, your responsibility is over -no way for the buyer to do a return.  

Now, where did you get this fantasy of the buyer claiming the item was missing from the box?  Has that happened to you before?  Do you have any reason to suspect this buyer has done it to anyone before?  

If you just want to avoid this one particular buyer for whatever reason, just put their name on your blocked buyer list, done.  But if you want to avoid selling to people in China, whether they are also sellers or not, you're out of luck.  There is no way to avoid sales to people based on their ethnicity or what address they have officially registered with eBay. 

As for getting the money and closing your bank account .... if there was a claim that eBay deemed you responsible for, then eBay would SUE you.  What Uno card would you call that? 

[mam98031]

You have nothing up for sale that is even close to that dollar value.  I also don't see anything for something in this price range in your sold items.  So it appears you don't have any issue at all.  They can't purchase something you don't have posted.

"I know ebay will side with the buyer, but what if I UNO reverse this and get the payout first and delete my bank account before ebay withdrawls the money if there should be a claim."

BAD BAD BAD plan.  Well unless you don't care about your credit rating.  Behaving like this could significantly affect your credit rating.  Plus Ebay has procedures in place to prevent sellers from doing things like this.  

If this is really something you are considering, then maybe internet sales in really not for you.

[gurlcat]

I can't help but wonder if this is a prank post or something, lol.  

[jdl_66]

This is not based off ethnicity. I have shipped to freight forwarding companies in the past that are legitimate companies. Fantasy or not, when the address is a residential address and the buyer is selling from China with minimal seller reviews and an account that was recently opened, that always bring a suspicious eye. I did not know you could block sellers,if that was the case then that would be my first option. 

Wow, I come here for some type of advice, and I get childish responses. Good luck in your future sale fails..

[jdl_66]

Again, childish responses. I have 2 separate accounts. A personal and business one. Unfortunately I did not realize I sent this "advice request" on my personal one. 

Ebay does have procedures in place, in a situation that I forsee happening is not in the sellers best interest and I was looking to see what options I have. My sales have ultimately declined on ebay in the past few years, as their polices have ruined it for many sellers, so at this point Im not to worried about my "ratings" with ebay.

Thank you for your "kind" response..next

[mam98031]

You can block Ebay members.  If you put a seller on your BBL, then they just won't be able to buy from you.

[jdl_66]

That was a straight forward response. Thank you!

[mam98031]

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@jdl_66 wrote:

Again, childish responses. I have 2 separate accounts. A personal and business one. Unfortunately I did not realize I sent this "advice request" on my personal one. 

Ebay does have procedures in place, in a situation that I forsee happening is not in the sellers best interest and I was looking to see what options I have. My sales have ultimately declined on ebay in the past few years, as their polices have ruined it for many sellers, so at this point Im not to worried about my "ratings" with ebay.

Thank you for your "kind" response..next

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OUCH!  "Childish"???  Because I didn't answer in the way you wanted me to?  Great, you have two accounts.  Could I have known that??  No.  But I'm "childish" for asking?  Or is it your response?

"... as their polices have ruined it for many sellers, so at this point Im not to worried about my "ratings" with ebay."  What policies have caused this for you?  Ones that would prevent you from getting away with what you suggested in your original post?  Or is it something else?

[mam98031]

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@jdl_66 wrote:

That was a straight forward response. Thank you!

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What?  You called it "childish" in your other post!!

[gurlcat]

You're preemptively imagining a multi-step fraud and counter-fraud storyline like a game of Uno, but we're the childish ones?  

I was trying to help you avoid trouble.  In my adult-est voice, I hope to assure you, you cannot just cancel orders for no reason.  It is the #1 most non-tolerated thing a seller can do, in eBay's eyes.  If you want to show the fraudsters a thing or two, don't sell a $5000 item online.  Sell it locally for CASH money.  

[dbfolks166mt]

     Since this appears to be your posting account I cannot see what the item is. There are obviously a few risks here the firs being you are selling a $5K item. As for the shipping address it could be a couple of things. The buyer could be utilizing a freight forwarder although most of those are in Oregon since there is no sales tax or they could simply be sending it to friends or family in CA. You can check this by googling the address after the buyer pays. EBay does offer the seller protection when the buyer utilizes a FF or a third party shipping service but that protection is useless in the face of a NAD CC chargeback. I have shipped a number of items through FF'ers and never had an issue and if fact have more problems with domestic buyers. 

     With the value the shipment is going to require signature receipt, if it is going through a FF this would be a signature from the FF indicating the package arrived at the FF. Again not sure what the item is but there is always the risk of shipping damage or loss so insuring the item to the $5K value is probably warranted. If it is going through a FF most would probably not sign for an empty or damaged box as long as they could tell there was an issue, again I don't know what you are shipping. 

     I am not sure what your selling volume is but given the high cost of this item and potentially your infrequency as a seller eBay may in fact place your funds on hold for up to 30 days. If you receive the funds and try to avert any potential refunds to the buyer by closing/undoing your checking account information eBay will simply turn you over to a collection agency if you refuse to refund the money should the buyer file a eBay claim or a chargeback. 

     Bottom line I would never list anything on eBay with that high of a value but each seller has to evaluate their own situation with regards to potential risk. Always remember the #1 rule as a seller and that is to never list anything on eBay that you are not prepared to take the financial loss on.