Fraudulent return request

[pijankengur]

Hi all

I've had maybe 15 eBay sales of Lego over the past few months, and unfortunately just encountered my first problem as a seller

The set was sold for $700 +$50 shipping, and the buyer has raised a return request with the following message:

"In description its say new but its not when you shake the box you can clearly hear at box have lose bricks probably sealers was carful glue or something. And box is not in best condition. I believe this was a reason why seller write no returns".

A photo of the set in question was also shared, but it had dents that definitely were not in the set I had sent.

The typos included exactly as he wrote. I've got a 100% feedback with 80 eBay score (or whatever that means)

Just seeking advice on the best way forward here?

When I click respond to return request, it only offers me the options to let him keep it and refund, or refund/partial refund upon return

Seeking advice on best way forward here? It'll be a case of who do you believe, but from my perspective I am certain he is scamming me with the glue comment and the picture that is of a set he obtained elsewhere most likely. 

Thought I'd add, I fully expect eBay to tell me to contact the buyer. But given I am so sure he's scamming me based on the above, I don't see any value in it. Do intend to reach out to eBay support tomorrow during business hours (the return request only just came in just after 7pm)

Buyer has a 100% positive feedback with 500+ score, so i just got pretty unlucky that he's decided to be scammy on my listing..

[fbusoni]

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@pijankengur wrote:

Just seeking advice on the best way forward here?

When I click respond to return request, it only offers me the options to let him keep it and refund, or refund/partial refund upon return

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@pijankengur 

I'd' recommend accepting the return and issuing a refund once the item is back in your possession.

--Do NOT contact the buyer.  Just work through eBay's automated system and put the onus on the buyer to return the item.

--Do NOT reach out to eBay and get eBay involved ... there is no need to do so.    You run a very real risk of losing your item and the money earned.

Damage may have happened during shipping.  It's possible.

Selling high priced items and getting scammed (I am not saying that this happened in this case) is par for the course on eBay, no matter what you sell.

And it's never a good idea to say "no returns" on your listings, for the simple reason that eBay's money back guarantee ensures that an unhappy buyer will get his / her money back, one way or the other, whether you claim to accept returns or not.   

In my experience on this platform, and after reading hundreds of posts here on this same topic, it's become clear to me that when a seller says "no returns" on their listings, they are actually inviting dishonest people -- who know how to manipulate the system here -- to purchase their items.

[pijankengur]

I have an issue with accepting the return heavily based on the message he sent. "Glue" and "loose" pieces in his poor English suggest to me that he will be sending back something scammy, a second hand box with random junk in it etc.

Despite this, from all my googling looks like eBay always side with buyers..

[fbusoni]

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@pijankengur wrote:

I have an issue with accepting the return heavily based on the message he sent. "Glue" and "loose" pieces in his poor English suggest to me that he will be sending back something scammy, a second hand box with random junk in it etc.

Despite this, from all my googling looks like eBay always side with buyers..

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@pijankengur 

No offense, but your analysis of the buyer's motivations is weak.  

(And you may have an issue with accepting the return, but you now know the consequences of failing to do so.)

Perhaps English is not his native language?  

If the box has random junk in it, report the buyer and block him.  

You can also contact facebook/eBay and chat with a rep there, they may / may be able to assist you. 

I meant to ask: did you sell a set with loose pieces?  Or was it a completed item of some sort made of bricks?  

[pijankengur]

It was a brand new unopened set. I've sold multiple sets that cost over double the price of this one without issue

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/186706794913?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=zDOBHNYgR_K...

[cobra_viper]

It doesn't matter how you go about it, Ebay will force you into a return of the item.  

You can either do it the easy way and accept it now and get it over with or wait it out and Ebay will require that the item be sent back to you (sometimes they let the buyer keep the item).  Either way the buyer will get the money back.  

Unfortunately this is the risk of selling on Ebay.  It sucks, I've been there myself, but it's better to bite the bullet and get it over with instead of waiting for Ebay to get involved and getting a strike against your account for "case closed without seller resolution".  You really don't want that.

[fbusoni]

@pijankengur 

Perhaps the buyer thought he was purchasing a fully assembled spaceship.  

Hence, his reference to loose pieces.  

Just guessing, of course.  

Anyway, as we say in the USA, shi* happens.   Good luck.

[soh.maryl]

Sorry -- your reply to the OP somewhat implies incorrect information.

Here's the way the Money Back Guarantee actually works:  IF/when this buyer opens an item not as described case, the seller's options are these: (1) send the buyer a prepaid return label and refund that buyer in total when the returned item is received (2) do not send the buyer the return label and allow the buyer to keep the item (3) do nothing and eBay will tell the buyer to keep the item and refund the buyer from the seller's funds.

[soh.maryl]

"If the box has random junk in it, report the buyer and block him."

For what? Receiving random junk and wanting to return and get a refund? 

[pijankengur]

Just for clarity - a common scam that occurs in the Lego world is people will get a second hand box, seal / glue it up nicely to make it look brand new

The buyer is obviously trying to paint that I had done this (glue, loose pieces) without even having checked the box. This is why I'm so certain this isn't just a misunderstanding but rather a completely fraudulent return claim

[cobra_viper]

I just went through two returns (me returning to sellers because of items not as described) where the sellers ignored the return requests.  Once Ebay got involved, they required that I send the items back to the sellers before getting my refunds.  

Ebay did not let me keep the items and get my refunds.  They required that the items be returned.

[lonebuck-books]

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@fbusoni wrote:

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@pijankengur wrote:

I have an issue with accepting the return heavily based on the message he sent. "Glue" and "loose" pieces in his poor English suggest to me that he will be sending back something scammy, a second hand box with random junk in it etc.

Despite this, from all my googling looks like eBay always side with buyers..

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@pijankengur 

I meant to ask: did you sell a set with loose pieces?  Or was it a completed item of some sort made of bricks?  

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My guess is the buyer shook the box and it sounded like the pieces were loose in the box instead of in plastic bags like new Lego sets are shipped.  There is a different sound when you shake a factory sealed new box VS a box that has been opened and re-glued after the set has been used.

Edited to add: Lego sets also have tamper seals on the edges, not just glue.  They can be removed and reused but it takes some skill to do.  If the seals were present and intact when shipped, it was most likely unopened and the seller is correct.

[soh.maryl]

The seller required that the items be returned.  It's the seller's decision to make.  And in that case he needed to send you a prepaid return label.  

[soh.maryl]

OK; however, as mentioned here, you have several options when a buyer opens a not as described case.

The fact that it is possibly a "completely fraudulent return claim" in your estimation does not make a whit of difference.  

[jerseyboymusic]

Hard to make a call when this account has no sales or listings.

I don't feel there are "fraudulent return requests". Not knowing if the OP refuses returns would be a help, since Ebay MBG overrides a seller's "no return" policy (if that's the case here)