Did I get robbed?

[newyork2e]

I sold my old iPhone looking forward to having a little extra spending money. They buyer claimed it had no volume, which I knew was likely bogus but I proceeded to allow the return as seems reasonable.

Well, eBay refunds the buyer immediately and I never receive the return. I reported the buyer but it appears that may be done without me ever hearing what happens? What now, there's like literally no way to even contact eBay without receiving poor info:

We are sorry to hear this has happened. We strive to make eBay a safe place to sell, and so we appreciate your report. If you have not already, please go to your Return Details and ask us to step in and help.

I've been on eBay since 2002 both as a seller and buyer. I don't recall getting ripped off like this ever.

Well the return details page has absolutely no way to "ask eBay to step in" that I saw. I'm utterly confused how I might have just lost $400. No reply contacting buyer of course. 

Any help, greatly appreciated. 

max (eBay user since 2002)

[dbfolks166mt]

     For some reason I cannot see the IPhone you sold but it may have something to do with your listing. I get very few return requests but my listings all offer 30 day returns. The last return request I had was for a NAD which I believe was a remorse return in disguise. I simply approved the return request with a full refund to the buyer once the item was returned. Once I had done that eBay automatically sent the buyer a return shipping label. The item was returned, in the condition it was shipped in about 7 days later. I was preparing to refund the buyer but eBay automatically did it before I could. I assume they were following the return shipping waiting for the item to be delivered to me. 

[newyork2e]

Interesting. Ok, so I just checked out the listing and turns out I didn't offer returns -- which may have been how I was able to get screwed over? Basically the seller claimed the item didn't work, which was by all measures false, in order to put through the return. 

I actually don't understand the upside to the policy that ended up robbing me. For instance if eBay proved the buyer returned the item, then refunded, what would be the harm? Rhetorical question, already got screwed and don't expect eBay's backwards policies to make any sense to me. 

[titipeo]

I've read this thread, and I hate to say this, but you where not robbed, your lack of response on May 20 allowed eBay to refund buyer, you did agree to the refund. Your no return policy on your listing is meaningless, as eBay has an excellent buyer's money back guarantee that far outweighs a sellers return policy. There are times when a no return makes sense, when the shipping cost to/from exceeds item cost, when you actually do not care in receiving item, low value item, etc.

Some buyers are using eBay as a rental center, getting something, using it, and then returning it within 30 days and getting money back, while you received an item that has been used. Others, will send a box of rocks, and eBay refunds and buyers keeps the item. There is no way to verify is there was indeed a problem with the volume, it worked the last time you checked, but it could've been rattled during transit. Too many variables. 

As for CS, as others mentioned, eBay makes it such that you get discouraged. Heck, even this forum is mostly buyers and sellers alike offering help to others. 

[katzrul15]

Was it sold on another ID?

[newyork2e]

Ok so first off, I typically allow for returns and thought that would have been the default here. It wasn’t set that way for any principled reason, but ok that was my first mistake. The short of it is that when I was notified the item didn’t work I accepted the return — since even though I had it set for no returns, the item not being described was sufficient for the return. There was not resistance there. 

I was fine with eBay refunding the amount before I received the item but I figured there would be some accountability for the person to actually send it. Like I didn’t realize it was this easy to fall into this trap having not done a few things that don’t strike me as intuitive. And of course the item could have broken in transit -- it just seemed a red flag to me, among others to follow. Once it was clear the buyer was pulling funny business, I thought I’d at least be able to get in touch with eBay and receive legitimate help since I was no longer hearing from the buyer who was supposed to return the item. In the last 20 years I’ve been on eBay I've had a handful of disputes and all had worked out fairly so yes, the fact that this can so easily happen in 2022 is surprising to me. 

I agree that eBay has an excellent buyer's money back guarantee that far outweighs a sellers return policy. But PayPal’s protections are also pretty serious, and again I’m just surprised this ability to scam still exists. 

Curious to know why you don’t think I was robbed since I lost both the iPhone and my money? I'm getting radio silence from the buyer, I figure they're long gone. 

[newyork2e]

No, I sold it on my only account -- Newyork2e -- have had this account since around 2002.

Is something unusual, dbfolks166mt above pointed out the same thing. 

[newyork2e]

WOW, ok, so thanks to your questions I did a little digging and realized the address I sent to is associated with a scam.

Refer to this Reddit forum: https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/8f6xvu/guy_is_trying_to_scam_me_on_ebay/

Cannot believe eBay even let me mail to this address since the address is apparently reported to eBay. 

The scam address I mailed to: 

nana otiashvili
8 mcculough dr u 149616

Any idea if I might have recourse? Any advice appreciated!
new castle DE 19726-0001

[bonjourami]

Most all of these freight forwarders have some scams involved, but most transactions go smoothly. Ebay refunded that buyer without him returning the phone because you didnt respond with a return label by the May 20th date indictated.