Buying claiming items are missing, but I sent them.

[nsuter]

I shipped a board game which was in about 15 small boxes inside one large shipping box.

Absolutely everything was in there when I shipped it. (I've done this 300+ times).

The buyer is claiming 5 of the items are missing.

Am I going to be forced to accept a return, refund the buyer, pay the high return shipping cost, and then discover the 5 items missing (stolen)?

[myescape]

Am I going to be forced to accept a return, refund the buyer, pay the high return shipping cost, and then discover the 5 items missing (stolen)?

Yes as you can not prove the buyer stole anything

[48hrs-clothing]

It is possible that package got damaged in transit and some of the contents are genuinely lost.

It is also possible that buyer is making a false claim.

Should your buyer open a return case then if you want your item back with or without the missing pieces then you have to accept the return and pay return postage.

I assume board game with 5 missing items is of no use to buyer or to you and if your buyer returns the item then either he has changed his mind and he does not want to pay return postage or he is genuinely missing the pieces.

[nsuter]

Good point, I will ask if the package was damaged in transit. The 5 missing items are not essential to playing the game as they were optional. This transaction was fishy to begin with as he kept asking me to ensure there is no value shown on the label or any other document. The buyer has 115 feedback, and a verified US address, so I had some confidence he was just legit. 

[fab_finds4u]

Yes.

[katzrul15]

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@nsuter wrote:

The buyer is claiming 5 of the items are missing.

Am I going to be forced to accept a return, refund the buyer, pay the high return shipping cost, and then discover the 5 items missing (stolen)?

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Probably.  Unfortunately, e-Bay will likely side with the Buyer as otherwise, would be to call the Buyer a liar.

Before your Buyer files a "claim" with e-Bay - I would report your Buyer for what you suspect is abuse of a Return.

In the transaction view, select "Report Buyer" and detail what you think (allege) has occurred.  

How "big" are these 5 items?  Anyway the Buyer could be confused?

[48hrs-clothing]

Noted that missing pieces are not essential to playing the game.

Based on details you have shared in your 2nd message suggest buyer is either overseas or has bought the item as a gift for some one.

You may consider offering a partial discount equal to 50% or 60% of expected return postage as this may be what your buyer is looking for and if you disagree on principal  then I fully understand this.

If he agrees then issue partial refund and I would add buyer to BBL and would also report it to eBay as abusive buyer.

I hope all works out to your satisfaction.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Before you do anything check and see where this item actually was sent to. If it went through a freight forwarder to a foreign buyer (check their account) then according to every eBay cheerleader out there when the item was delivered to the freight forwarder your job was done. Once the freight forwarder shipped it forward all buyer coverage under the MBG was gone. Force them to file an eBay case do not work any kind of refund outside the system. 

[katzrul15]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

     Before you do anything check and see where this item actually was sent to. If it went through a freight forwarder to a foreign buyer (check their account) then according to every eBay cheerleader out there when the item was delivered to the freight forwarder your job was done. Once the freight forwarder shipped it forward all buyer coverage under the MBG was gone. Force them to file an eBay case do not work any kind of refund outside the system. 

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Would not apply if they file a Chargeback.

However, if a FF, OP needs to alert e-bay to same now and allege the "missing" is as a result of the FF and not the OP's shipment, etc.   If it is a FF, the Buyer is not going to want to ship it back from outside the US and that will likely result in a chargeback from what  is posted on these boards.

[mypalrocco]

No value on the box or document = it's a gift. I see nothing suspicious about that request. Now, if the buyer claims the pieces are missing, you will lose the case.

[coffeebean832]

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@nsuter wrote:

This transaction was fishy to begin with as he kept asking me to ensure there is no value shown on the label or any other document. 

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Sounds like someone using you as a drop shipper. Their buyer filed a complaint which then gets passed on to you.

[mypalrocco]

I've only had one return claim under false (scamming) pretenses made against me and I talked to eBay about documenting the buyers return policy abuse. They went ahead and documented it on the buyer file...and forced the return. It does noting to prevent it from happening, it only helps at establishing a pattern by documenting it. Meanwhile, you can rest assured that this seller will again be in possession of this board game soon, minus 5 pieces. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     Agreed NOTHING is going to protect you from a chargeback and seller will probably loose if the buyer goes that route and generally the CC Company or Bank does not worry about logistics and the buyer gets their money back, retains the item and eBay keeps its fees.

     If it is in fact a FF I don't believe eBay will require the return of the item before it decides in the favor of the seller, at least according to what everyone has posted. The buyer has no protection once the package has reached the freight forwarder, according to what everyone has posted. 

[katzrul15]

@mypalrocco 

You want to report the Buyer "before" they file the claim with e-Bay.  As a Seller, there is a method to this sequencing.  

If it is indeed a freight forwarder, you need to make e-Bay aware BEFORE a claim is filed and indicate it is your belief the Buyer is not entitled to the MBG and that all items were there before it was shipped and any delta that is missing is due to the FF.

[carmarc2329]

Hello, some shipping services, weigh the packages when it arrive at the premises or they weigh it when they leave to be delivered. If the weight you declared matches the weight that the shipping ser

vice says the package had when it left the premises then it is proof that what you sent was what arrived.

now if 5 objects were removed from said package, it would weigh less. in this case, upon receiving the return, it would be proof that this was altered by the client.

This has happened when customers claim that when buying a cell phone they only received the box. and the weight proves that the cell phone was in fact there

Then with that you make a claim to eBay or you can sue them for losses of your money and reputation and for unfair application of the rules of use.