eBay

rix9321 · ‎03-11-2018

Buyer claims shipping damage to a laptop that I shipped him. My wife in a rush to buy the postage left with the package and went to USPS to ship the product and didn't buy shipping insurance.

The buy sent some not so clear, highly suspicious, and self incriminating photos and claims the unit powers on and can see the keyboard light and hear a chime, but no picture on the screen and wants a refund. See the hammer on the bottom right of one of the pictures? The marks on the box look like the hammer was used.

What can I do to prevent being taken advantage of? I've never had to deal with this before, so any help is appreciated!

jpcustomsonline · ‎03-12-2018

@luxe_auto_partswrote:
It makes more difficult to send "replaced" (read: fake, wrong, not originally shipped) item back to the seller. It also will be noticeable, if buyer will attempt to open/disassemble/unplug/etc. something from originally shipped item. These steps may help when another scammer will attempt to open Item is not as described/return case/request.

It won't help, in even the slighest bit. They can literally send you a brick, and you'd still have to refund htem in full.

lintbrush* · ‎03-12-2018

Dear buyer,

Oh wow. That box looks like it was smashed with a hammer. (Did you use the one in the pictures to open it? ) The post office will definitely want to see it in person because they aren't supposed to deliver a box in that type of condition without indicating the damage. They can review its travels to see where the damage took place and why it wasn't noted. With the new APV technology, snapshots of each package & label are taken at every sorting facility.

I will open up an investigation with them. Please hold the packaging for the postmaster. Also, do you have a daytime contact number where the postmaster can contact you? I can ask eBay for it, but it would be quicker this way and you might have a different daytime contact number. Do you know your carriers name? The more information I can include, the faster the investigation will go.

Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention. I'll be heading off to the post office tomorrow with your photos and to start the process.

vanman1029 · ‎03-12-2018

If the package was damaged during transit you wold have been notified.

luxe_auto_parts · ‎03-12-2018

Doesn't filming of the unpacking process help? I though the video-record can be used as an evidence you had been scammed (when it comes to sellers) or didn't do anything to the item you just got (opposite situation, when you're a buyer). I was 100% positive it would help! Now I'm kind of worried. It never happened to me (thanks God), so I'm not sure if it works. I mean I do record every parcel I receive (when I buy things), so I can prove I didn't do any harm to the item I get. It helped me once when I got broken phone (there was a power button problem) and I put my record as an evidence.

byrd69er · ‎03-12-2018

Looks like self-inflicted wounds. Like another member pointed out, the hole is shaped like the hammer head.

And there's a hammer in the photo. I always have a hammer on hnad when opening a package. That packing tape can be a pain.

I'd say, the buyer is busted.

Get a hold of eBay ASAP. They need to see these pictures.

lintbrush* · ‎03-12-2018

@luxe_auto_parts

Nope, video evidence means nothing. A good video editor can make magic and/or re-create just about anything with very little effort.

luxe_auto_parts · ‎03-12-2018

My day only began and I'm already upset. =|

So what do you do to prevent scamming? How can a seller protect himself?

sandmansales · ‎03-12-2018

For me personally, this crosses too many lines. I would take everything this buyer can do (neg FB, SNAD) off the table and really let him have it. Even if ebay were to force a refund, I would file a small claim, police report, etc. Judge Judy\Hot Bench\Mathis lives for cases like this. The entire case including travel would be paid for.

Then I would file another small claim against ebay for forcing a refund on this obvious fraud. You can do the forms online. It's really easy.

Dear buyer,

Postal fraud is a felony with up to 20 years in the federal penitentiary. You probably should have removed the hammer from the photo before uploading. Had the package actually been damaged, the regional origin facility would have wrapped the box and attached a yellow damage report.

Regardless of what happens moving forward. I will be reporting this to the Postmaster General as well as your local police department, ebay and most likely social media as this picture is sure to go viral. I will also be contacting your carrier to confirm delivery condition of the package. He may want to talk with you as well.

After almost 20 years here, I can honestly say I have never seen such a sloppy and laughable attempt at theft as you have presented today. Fortunately I have your name, address and phone number. If there is anything else needed I'm sure one or more of these agencies will be in contact.

Thanks again for your business.

Regards

~Why be a second rate version of someone else when you can be a first rate version of yourself~

mr_lincoln · ‎03-12-2018

@rix9321 Message the Buyer and have them process a return request in eBay's Resolution Center and get the Laptop back. If you want to ask them to send some more "clear" pictures of the alleged damage you may do so but the Buyer is under no boligation to comply. If they simply want a Refund but keep the unit THAT would be a partial refund type scam and it is better to simply ask them to return the item.

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

kensgiftshop · ‎03-12-2018

@luxe_auto_partswrote:
Doesn't filming of the unpacking process help? I though the video-record can be used as an evidence you had been scammed (when it comes to sellers) or didn't do anything to the item you just got (opposite situation, when you're a buyer). I was 100% positive it would help! Now I'm kind of worried. It never happened to me (thanks God), so I'm not sure if it works. I mean I do record every parcel I receive (when I buy things), so I can prove I didn't do any harm to the item I get. It helped me once when I got broken phone (there was a power button problem) and I put my record as an evidence.

Some people will tell you to video you packing and shipping the item and video a box when opening, but it doesn't do any good.

Neither Ebay or Pay Pal will look at any videos.

Have a great day.

kensgiftshop · ‎03-12-2018

@luxe_auto_partswrote:
My day only began and I'm already upset. =|

So what do you do to prevent scamming? How can a seller protect himself?

About the only protection a seller has is a tracking number showing the package has been delivered.

Other then that, there's not much you can do, besides not sell on the Internet.

Have a great day.

coolections · ‎03-12-2018

The buyer had to have been very irate because I cannot see any buyer doing what they did just to not have to pay postage for the return. Can you give some details on what led up to a buyer doing such a thing ? Nobody orders an item just to smash it upon arrival. Did you refuse the initial refund ? Is the buyer claiming the computer had many problems that you did not disclose in the listing ? Did you purchase something from them and give bad feedback/make a claim ? Not saying the buyer is right and in fact he is very wrong, but something seems missing from this story.

lintbrush* · ‎03-12-2018

@coolectionswrote:
The buyer had to have been very irate because I cannot see any buyer doing what they did just to not have to pay postage for the return. Can you give some details on what led up to a buyer doing such a thing ? Nobody orders an item just to smash it upon arrival. Did you refuse the initial refund ? Is the buyer claiming the computer had many problems that you did not disclose in the listing ? Did you purchase something from them and give bad feedback/make a claim ? Not saying the buyer is right and in fact he is very wrong, but something seems missing from this story.

Funny how we read things differently. I see a buyer who is trying to get a refund maybe without having to return the item (or to return/swap their defective one).

But yes, there are people who purposely damage things so they don't have to pay to return. The OP seller doesn't accept returns and if they did, see that $31.80 label cost?

davidelane73 · ‎03-12-2018

@coolectionswrote:
The buyer had to have been very irate because I cannot see any buyer doing what they did just to not have to pay postage for the return. Can you give some details on what led up to a buyer doing such a thing ? Nobody orders an item just to smash it upon arrival. Did you refuse the initial refund ? Is the buyer claiming the computer had many problems that you did not disclose in the listing ? Did you purchase something from them and give bad feedback/make a claim ? Not saying the buyer is right and in fact he is very wrong, but something seems missing from this story.

They do if they want to smash the box up so that they can return their old broken POC.

I had it happen a couple years ago with a printer. The packaging looked like it had been ran over by a vehicle. The the printer itself had a very visible muddy footprint right in the middle of it. When I pointed out the visible muddy foot print on the printer the buyer closed the case and went away.