Empty box scam - Do I have to agree to the return?

[aviv_r]

I sent to a customer with zero feedback an expensive drone product.
The customer reported an empty box and of course a request to return the product to me.
I realized that I need to give an answer to the customer within two days, I have just filed a complaint with EBAY about fraud and their answer will come within two days. What to do?
Give the customer permission to send me an empty box at my expense?
What do you suggest?

[caldreamer]

Sorry this happened to you (obvious this person is a scammer).    Unfortunately, even if customer returns an "empty box" EBAY will force you to give customer a full refund (purchase price + shipping BOTH ways).    If you refuse to "accept return" EBAY will automatically give customer refund (with your money) and you will get a "defect" on your account.

It would be cheaper "for you" to give customer and refund (and let them keep the item....otherwise you will have to pay "return shipping" for an empty box).

EBAY will not protect you from scammers.   EBAY always rules in favor of customer (even if they are a scammer).   Never sell more than you can afford to lose (any customer can "reverse credit card payment" after they receive your item (keep item and your money).

[inhawaii]

I'm very sorry to say... 

Count on losing your ebay complaint against the buyer.

It's he said/she said situation and ebay bay will usually side with the buyer.

You do have the option to file a police report, USPS mail fraud report, internet crimes report.

I would let the buyer know in a very strongly worded message that you plan on doing so.

The thought of being "under investigation" will sometimes deter a scammer. 

As far as the return, it's up to you if you want to pay for the return of the empty box or not.

I think I would want it returned to me just to use as evidence.

Good luck to you. 

[aviv_r]

It's so ridiculous, I've been trading on EBAY for 22 years, my feedbacks are always 100%, in front of me is a guy with zero feedbacks and EBAY protects a crook. This policy probably serves something, I wonder what?

[a_c_green]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I think I would want it returned to me just to use as evidence.

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It also makes the scammer work a little for his free item. He might (might) back off if he finds that he's required to return the allegedly-empty box before getting his refund. A newbie scammer might not want to pile that transgression on to what started as a simple fake empty-box claim in the hopes of getting the refund right away.

Putting it another way, @aviv_r : you don't have much to lose by demanding the return of the package. I see you're registered in Israel, and I don't know where your buyer is located, but in the U.S., you can send the buyer a return postage label (domestically) and are not charged for it if the buyer does not use it.

[winklers549]

How did you ship it? If USPS they will have the weight of the box at each processing center of what the box weight when it was scanned

[aviv_r]

The guy is from Mexico, shipping costs a lot.

[dhaga]

Sorry but I don't see how you can prove fraud happened in this case. Suspicions don't really hold up in something like this. 

[greatmidwestcoin]

Mexico - there's your problem.  I quit shipping outside the US a decade ago. Not worth the hassle.

[aviv_r]

Shipping is done by EMS and there is a record of the shipping weight.
The product that "disappears" from the package weighs 80% of the package's weight.

[powell-memorabilia]

Packages arriving empty does happen - I wouldn’t say that the buyer is clearly a scammer.  Going through multiple countries, waiting in customs gives a good opportunity for someone to swipe something valuable.