Did I almost get scammed?

[1knighking]

Hello all. I haven been a buyer and seller for almost 15 years here on ebay and I had my first ever serious problem. I sold a galaxy s22 phone. I used it till a few days before I sold it on ebay. The buyer responded after a few days and said the phone was working fine till he updated and it started over headed and turning off. He wanted a partial refund to go get it looked at. I refused since I know it was in %100 working condition.  A few more days later and he opened a request to return the item. I accepted and sent shipping label. He then contacted eBay and said item was hazard to send back since it over heats and cannot send it back. Ebay responded and said he doesn't have to send it back and gets a full refund. I freaked out since something like this has never happened to me and I had a ebay agent call me. I explained the situation and they granted me a appeal and reversed there decision. Was this a scam from the buyer? How can I prevent this from happening again in the future?

[duncanvr]

Yes its a known scam get onto ebay for business and get them to look at the hazard nonsense. You need to speak to real people at ebay to get this resolved other wise the scammer gets away with it. 

[1knighking]

Oh wow. I thought it was crazy how fast ebay closed the case in his favor without even talking to me. 

[reallynicestamps]

the phone was working fine till he updated and it started

He changed it.

The MBG ended right there.

You need to speak to real people at ebay to get this resolved

The "real people" that is eBay trained and paid employees, are not on the phones. Those are subcontracted and don't have authority.

You need the employees assigned to social media.

The phone reps have a terrible reputation for getting you off the phone as soon as possible even if that means giving you the advice you want to hear instead of the advice you need to have.


https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/ — Message button in upper right on landing page.

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/


https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-do-I-contact-Customer-Support/m-p/32016431#M1783851 -> Automated Assistant, type AGENT -> enter. You will then get more options.



The social media Chat accounts are covered by trained eBay employees with some authority.
And you get a transcript so you can compare what you heard with what you were told.
 

[broto_64]

The buyer most certainly didn't want to return the phone, seems to me if the phone was useless they wouldn't have had a problem returning it... Just turn it off, let it cool down, right?

So if you ask me the phone is in working condition, but as was stated the instant the buyer updated / upgraded the software they voided the Money Back Guarantee.

[1knighking]

I used the help section on the ebay app. I was finally able to figure out how to get a agent to call me to talk about the situation. 

[1knighking]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. But the case details said this

We received documentation from the buyer that confirms the item is hazardous to ship. The buyer will not be asked to return the item to you.

I wonder what documentation the buyer sent them.

[duncanvr]

I've seen other sellers lately having to deal with the same scammer hazardous nonsense talk to ebay for business on Facebook, there usually were better reps there. The case was closed by an auto bot. You can also appeal since thousands of phones are shipped there is no way they are hazardous, a real person needs to see this and hopefully reverse the case to your favor. He's def trying to keep your phone for free, you can also open a police report on him for online theft which I heard some sellers do this when scammed. ebay needs to do something whereby standard products do not get auto closed in favor of the buyer because they say hazardous to ship. They are lying / stealing and would have provided fake documentation.

[ittybitnot]

@1knighking 

To what city, state did you ship this phone? 

[lonebuck-books]

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@1knighking wrote:

 Was this a scam from the buyer? How can I prevent this from happening again in the future?

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How can you prevent this, honestly just don't sell a cell phone on eBay.  Really, it seems like cell phones have the highest problem/scam percentages of all items on eBay.  Laptops might be in the same level but I personally wouldn't think of selling a cell phone on eBay regardless of how good or old it is.  Your odds of running into problems/scams are so high in that category it is literally like playing roulette when you ship one out.  There are other places to sell them where once they get it they have 3 days to file a claim, after that they own it.  Also there is selling local for cash.  eBay is a really bad place to sell a cell phone.

[ckimodog]

@1knighking 

Electronics, phones, laptops, etc. are the most scammed items on the internet.  My advice is to never sell anything you cannot afford to lose.  Be careful because this person can still do a chargeback on their CC/Paypal account.  I'm glad all worked in your favor.  By the way,  you may want to post that you accept returns from now on because as you know, no returns does not mean no refunds.  

Happy Selling!

[luckythewinner]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

the phone was working fine till he updated and it started

He changed it.

The MBG ended right there.

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I disagree completely.

Regular updates to the OS of a phone are the very definition of "functions as designed".

And I think eBay would agree with me.

[1knighking]

New Castle, DE

[sextons-sweet-deals]

This does seem to be the new work-a-round for scammers. Especially those who use a freight forwarder. 

Selling any electronics on eBay has to be in top 5 of scams. I would only sell as pick-up only / pay then or just donate to a local women's shelter since this is a phone. Claim as a tax deduction.

Sellers have to do their homework on their buyers before shipping. eBay is not going to do it! 

[1knighking]

Very true. I have sold a few phones in the past with no issues but it has been a few years since i sold a phone. I mostly sell parts. I will definitely have to do more research on the buyers in the future.  His account did look fairly new with very little feedback. What is a freight forwarder?