Cancelling order from suspected scammer

[dj4-7030]

Hello, another posting-only-ID here.  I've been selling under my 'regular' ID for years (mainly books, etc.) and decided to put up some of my old clothes for auction.  One item actually managed to go for over a couple hundred dollars (far more than I expected), and the seller paid on time.  I contacted the buyer and let him know that the item would be on its way soon.  However, due to the high winning bid I did some research on the buyer and some red flags came up.  These include, but aren't limited to, his previous winning bids being mainly for items that you wouldn't associate with the item he'd won from me, negative feedback as a seller, and mention on at least one other non-eBay site that he was a scammer (as a buyer).  Don't have any hard proof, but I have the feeling that I'm being set up for the 'return-an-empty-box' scam.

I intend to cancel the order, return his money, and take the ding if need be.  However, this is admittedly my first time in this situation, so I'm not sure the best way to communicate with the buyer that I'm cancelling the order (don't think "sorry, I think you're a scammer would go over too well).  Not to mention which reason should I use to cancel the order.

[emerald_door]

If the buyer claims that the item was damaged in shipping, insurance might help IF you can get his cooperation and IF USPS determines that you packed it properly and it was their fault.  However, if the buyer claims that the item is not as described, insurance will not help.  He is then free to send back used shoes.  

[gamersbaystore]

This is why I put disclaimers in my higher priced listings that if items are damaged during shipping, they must be inspected by USPS prior to being returned or no refund will be given.

I started adding that disclaimer to higher priced items at ebay's advice after a buyer refused to have a supposedly damaged package inspected and I lost a bunch of money because USPS said the insurance was void since the item wasn't inspected prior to return.

Sellers need to make it clear in their listings what their terms and conditions are. When buyers purchase something, they are agreeing to those terms. There are things sellers can't do though, like demand restocking fees, ebay wont allow that anymore.

One disclaimer I use on every listing I've made for years states, "We will not be held liable for items returned as undeliverable by USPS." meaning they are on the hook for the shipping costs if the item comes back due to issues with their address, I will not refund it. 

[mam98031]

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@gamersbaystore wrote:

This is why I put disclaimers in my higher priced listings that if items are damaged during shipping, they must be inspected by USPS prior to being returned or no refund will be given.

I started adding that disclaimer to higher priced items at ebay's advice after a buyer refused to have a supposedly damaged package inspected and I lost a bunch of money because USPS said the insurance was void since the item wasn't inspected prior to return.

Sellers need to make it clear in their listings what their terms and conditions are. When buyers purchase something, they are agreeing to those terms. There are things sellers can't do though, like demand restocking fees, ebay wont allow that anymore.

One disclaimer I use on every listing I've made for years states, "We will not be held liable for items returned as undeliverable by USPS." meaning they are on the hook for the shipping costs if the item comes back due to issues with their address, I will not refund it. 

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I certainly understand what you are trying to do with your disclaimers on your listings.  But I can see where issues may arise for you because of them.

You can't require a buyer to participate or help with an insurance claim.  Ebay will not support you in that effort.

The part about if the buyer's address is undeliverable when you ship to the address on the payment notification, that is a good one and is fully supported by the Ebay rules.  One of the very few seller protections that actually work and that Ebay is very good at enforcing.

I do however caution you about your statement about sales tax.  It makes it appear that Missouri is the only state that you will be charging sales tax on.  While technically that may be true as it is the only state you charge sales tax for, the reality is that there are 38 states in which Ebay charges sales tax to the buyer.  There is nothing on the invoice that says Ebay is charging the buyer, it just appears as sales tax due.  So your buyers will see it as if you were the one charging them sales tax.  I'm just saying because you call this out on your listings, it could lead to some unnecessary misunderstandings.

I completely respect why you want disclaimers.  Just best to have ones on there you can actually enforce.  IMHO

[luckythewinner]

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@dj4-7030 wrote:

 previous winning bids being mainly for items that you wouldn't associate with the item he'd won from me

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I buy mainly music memorabilia. 

But occasionally I buy swimming pool filters. 

I had no idea I was sending up a red flag! 

[mam98031]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@dj4-7030 wrote:

 previous winning bids being mainly for items that you wouldn't associate with the item he'd won from me

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I buy mainly music memorabilia. 

But occasionally I buy swimming pool filters. 

I had no idea I was sending up a red flag! 

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I'm in full agreement.  This along with being a casual buyer seems to be things this OP considers issues, even though there, by the OP's admission, there are no red flags in the buyer's FB received or left.  But an internet search of their name caused them reason for pause.  And as we all know, the information we might find on the internet is always right!?!?!?  😎

[pjcdn2005]

Absolutely!  Everyone knows that everything you read on the internet is true.

(sarcastic smiley)

[mam98031]

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@pjcdn2005 wrote:

Absolutely!  Everyone knows that everything you read on the internet is true.

(sarcastic smiley)

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I know, just ask my Mom.  I'm not kidding.  She does.  It has given us many interesting conversations over the years as I'm sure you can imagine.  LOL

[city*satins]

However, this is admittedly my first time in this situation, so I'm not sure the best way to communicate with the buyer that I'm cancelling the order (don't think "sorry, I think you're a scammer would go over too well). 

You're right. It wouldn't.  But giving the buyer any other reason than the truth would be dishonest, especially since you're worried about the buyer being dishonest, it seems disingenuous to give a dishonest reason for cancelling a paying customer's order.

Not to mention which reason should I use to cancel the order.

Choose a reason that gives you a transaction defect. 

....his previous winning bids being mainly for items that you wouldn't associate with the item he'd won from me...

Given that a buyer's purchase history isn't visible without some serious scrambling and digging through feedback from and to sellers, you apparently spent quite a lot of time looking at what this buyer has previously bought.

So are you saying that if a buyer usually buys for instance  DVDs, and suddenly buys a coat, that's a sign of a scammer?  I question that reasoning.

[city*satins]

I am a TRS Seller, but I only do 14-day returns ...

You can't set up your listings' Return Policy for 14 day returns.  You'd better look at your listings again.

You're a TRS seller?  You may not have noticed that your listings defaulted to 30 days quite a long time ago.  14 days hasn't been an option for over a year.

[otaku45]

And as we all know, the information we might find on the internet is always right!?!?!?  

You mean like feedback on auction sites? 🙂

[otaku45]

Okay, that came off snarkier than intended (and probably contributing to "thread drift"), but yeah some information on the internet (such as feedback boards) is considered to be more reliable (or at least we rely on more) than (insert-crazy-filled-website-here).

[mam98031]

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@otaku45 wrote:

And as we all know, the information we might find on the internet is always right!?!?!?  

You mean like feedback on auction sites? 🙂

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Maybe, you certainly have to take it with a grain of salt to be sure.  But there aren't many sites similar to ebay that even allow auctions, so clearly you are likely referring to Ebay.  Ebay, while they still allow auctions, it isn't the main part of the site anymore and hasn't been for years.