Deadbeat Scamming Customer Files Return Request on Item they are now selling on Mercari

[vintagecraze50]

I posted earlier about a buyer making a false claim on a 10k ring we sold them a few days ago. This same buyer has an open return request for a the item and we discover they have this item now for sale on Mercari using our photos from ebay. I stumbled upon it today. Same customer, has her name on the Mercari account same ring. This person has a total of 10 purchases on ebay and 3 sells on Mercari, a newbie infrequent buyer (scammer) and seller on both websites. The customer was reported to ebay for their false claim and we sent a screenshot of the item for sale on the message system here to the buyer. We also warned the buyer that they better send us back what we sent. Unbelievable what these scammers will do on here.  We congratulated, LOL! THE BUYER FOR HER 300 PERCENT MARKUP ON THE ITEM. WE SOLD IT TO HER FOR LIKE 220.00. SHE HAS IT UP FOR SALE FOR 480.00 ON MERCARI.  The item is fairly rare so IMPOSSIBLE for this to be another ring this person has to sell OTHER than what we sent them. 

[golfingaddict]

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@gurlcat wrote:

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But I'm curious, did he photograph them on the shelf or something before taking them back to the layaway counter, for his listings?

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Back in the early days of eBay most items did not have photos.

Digital cameras were fairly new, you had to find a way to "host" the photos off site and you needed to learn HTML to add the photos.

I would guess that he sold them without photos.

I remember buying my first Sony Mavica digital camera.  It was  a big deal back then.

[vintagecraze50]

And here is my funny ebay friend making me laugh once more. You are a riot.

[gurlcat]

Ha, my first digital camera was my first purchase ON eBay, in 2003.   It was also the first refurbished thing I ever bought so I was kinda nervous about it, but it was great!  

[gurlcat]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

While we are on this interesting subject. Suppose this buyer contacted me and said I am willing to give you 15 percent non refundable to buy this ring and then if it does not sell I will agree to return it to you and you can keep my 15 percent. ABSOLUTELY impossible on here. Can you imagine the SNADS, grabs AND BLABS THIS WOULD CREATE. Lol!!!!

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But the thing with layaway was you didn't get to TAKE the item until you paid it off.  If I recall correctly there wasn't even any kind of added fee or interest-type accumulation, but you did have to pay a minimum amount every month, or else.  I guess the stores' incentive for doing it was revenues from people who forfeit their deposits (like how banks make money off people overdrafting), and also getting sales they wouldn't have gotten from people who couldn't afford to buy things outright.  I believe what caused layaway to go extinct was credit card companies making it easier to get cards (with high interest). 

I really miss layaway; I think a little bit of delayed gratification is good for character.  I remember Toys R Us had it and my daughter would do her chores so cheerfully to get the expensive stuff she wanted.  Since they didn't require i.d. I would even have her go in and make the payments herself, to get used to that kind of 'adulting.'  But I did drive her there each time, unlike me who was taking the city bus alone all over town at age 12.  

So anyway, the actual eBay analogy would not involve any risk on the seller's part.  The buyer would just pay 15% for you to take your listing down and hold the item for X amount of time while they try to sell it, and if they succeed they pay you the remaining 85%; if not you get to keep the 15% and put the listing back up to sell to someone else.  -I don't know if you'd go for that, and ....hmmm, I'm not sure if I would myself; it's an interesting thought.  One thing's for sure, at least the buyer would have an EXCUSE to use your photographs since they wouldn't be able to shoot the item themselves.  -That's another part of this nobody is talking about with this Mercari chick.  I KNOW (person in this thread who's keen to defend this chick at every turn for not being a textbook scammer) I know it's not illegal or against eBay policy for anyone to use our photos for any reason they want, but it still adds another layer of lowdown, opportunistic, LAZY scvmbag.  

Or maybe it's just that your photos were so glorious she knew she couldn't do them even slightly better.  

[turtles-trading-post]

But I'm curious, did he photograph them on the shelf or something before taking them back to the layaway counter, for his listings?

I don’t remember, this was 25 years ago! I just remember how proud the guy was about the angle he figured out!  He was the guy who told me about eBay and my first listing had no photos. We didn’t think anything of it since our only point of reference was newspaper classified ads. 

[gurlcat]

Yes that's what golfingaddict said.  I'm 50 so I remember the classifieds very well, but then again you had to go pay for items in person, so by default you got to see them before forking over the dough.  I wish I could remember what eBay looked like when I first started buying here.  I know it was 2003 so not too long after it launched, but I'm pretty sure there must have been photos by then or I wouldn't have been comfortable buying my digital camera without seeing it.  

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

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@gurlcat wrote:

Ha, my first digital camera was my first purchase ON eBay, in 2003.   It was also the first refurbished thing I ever bought so I was kinda nervous about it, but it was great!  

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My ffff...  Fffir... LOL

Oops!

My first digiCam didn't have batteries, wasn't portable.  I'd have loved to have seen its prototype.  Plug it into the wall take photos at night, everytime the flash go off peoples lights blink for blocks in every direction.  It really didn't draw that much electric but a funny thought.

Before that I'd used a desktop scanner.  I remember my first Desktop Scanner, OH MY GOSH was it loud. Stick a few jewel case items in it and do the scan and watch the fish tank gravel shaking.  LOL.

Now I use the anti-smartphone.  Yes I've acclimated into the culture of when asked, "What do you think?" I point my finger at the phone then simply smile or frown and begin twitching.

[vintagecraze50]

Well we have an update. The buyer returned the ring but kept the original box with certificate of authenticity. Presumably so they can use that box and cert to scam someone else with something not what it is. Let me tell you guys we got through this because we did what we did by reporting them, calling them on their phony claim and hopefully this kind of buyer will not be visiting anybody else on here. Thanks for all the support and help. You all are terrific and what makes ebay great.

[mam98031]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Well we have an update. The buyer returned the ring but kept the original box with certificate of authenticity. Presumably so they can use that box and cert to scam someone else with something not what it is. Let me tell you guys we got through this because we did what we did by reporting them, calling them on their phony claim and hopefully this kind of buyer will not be visiting anybody else on here. Thanks for all the support and help. You all are terrific and what makes ebay great.

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I'm certainly glad you got the ring back.  Since they didn't return everything, did you reduce their refund?  I think I likely would in this position as the certificate is a very important piece of this transaction IMHO.  

When you reported them, did you also report that they did not return everything to you?

[vintagecraze50]

I choose not to get into any other entanglements with this buyer. Full refund. I just put in the message in the return when you go to do the refund that buyer did not return box or original paperwork. I could do a call to the concierge and let them know just so they know they probably need to do something about this account.

[vintagecraze50]

Also no real loss to us with the box and the certificate. We are long term dealers in this merchandise and have plenty of surplus as far as manufacturer’s boxes and certificates. We can order them from the manufacturer if needed. We have an account with them.

[vintagecraze50]

Thanks to you for helping me keep my head on straight with this as well. You do a lot of good on here.

[mam98031]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

I choose not to get into any other entanglements with this buyer. Full refund. I just put in the message in the return when you go to do the refund that buyer did not return box or original paperwork. I could do a call to the concierge and let them know just so they know they probably need to do something about this account.

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That is a good idea.  

I am however very glad that this buyer did not scam you.  They certainly caused you far more work and grief that it ever should have been, that is for sure.  I do hope the buyer gets sanctioned by Ebay.

[fern*wood]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Also no real loss to us with the box and the certificate. We are long term dealers in this merchandise and have plenty of surplus as far as manufacturer’s boxes and certificates. We can order them from the manufacturer if needed. We have an account with them.

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Probably just as well you didn’t withhold anything, since depending on what you withhold might net you less after losing the final value fee refund.

[mam98031]

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@fern*wood wrote:

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Also no real loss to us with the box and the certificate. We are long term dealers in this merchandise and have plenty of surplus as far as manufacturer’s boxes and certificates. We can order them from the manufacturer if needed. We have an account with them.

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Probably just as well you didn’t withhold anything, since depending on what you withhold might net you less after losing the final value fee refund.

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Why would they lose the FVF refund?