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!

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

I did a little visual forensics, and lined up the boxes, and some of the major damage to both boxes do not line up. First...the big heavy gash that wraps around the corner of the outer box has not even left a dent on the inner box. 2nd...the inner box has major damage to the side edge, yet the outer box does not have any damage there.

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

@lintbrush*wrote:
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.

OP should just cut and paste your note in a message to the buyer.

davidelane73 · ‎03-12-2018

The outer box looks like it was damaged without the inner box inside.

timemachine777 · ‎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.

The buyer is banking on a straight out refund, with no return. eBay has been training buyers and sellers to do this practice for years now. It's part of the scammers tools in their toolbox.

castlemagicmemories · ‎03-12-2018

@davidelane73wrote:
The outer box looks like it was damaged without the inner box inside.

Yes, quite a feat there, wouldn't you say?

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

@daneiacwrote:
possibly..but it could have caugth the "corner" of the forklift blade/fork..maybe not hit head-on.. but the corner as forklift was making a turn

I've driven forklifts. If you even lightly bump a box with the corner of the blade, the gash would have and accordion fold of cardboard where the gash stops. ^^^^^^^

^^^^^^^

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

@retrose1wrote:
Help! Am I screwed and SOL?

You are being scammed and yes, you are SOL.

I saw laptop and didn't have to read any farther. Prepare to lose everything, the item and the money, and postal insurance would not cover you because the buyer will not cooperate. Those are the risks of selling on ebay.

There is a reason my signature line is what it is.

Trinton has stated to me in a post last year, ( I believe it was the famous INR one), that if the buyer does not cooperate with a Postal claim, then eBay will not honor their MBG claim.

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

@coolectionswrote:
@lintbrush*
The buyer would not have had to smash it to get a refund. They could have just as easily just opened a dispute saying it doesn' work.

The smashed box tends to add more credibility to their claim, with many eBay reps, and sellers. You seem to believe the buyer...so my point is made.

missjen831 · ‎03-12-2018

@timemachine777wrote:
@retrose1wrote:
Help! Am I screwed and SOL?

You are being scammed and yes, you are SOL.

I saw laptop and didn't have to read any farther. Prepare to lose everything, the item and the money, and postal insurance would not cover you because the buyer will not cooperate. Those are the risks of selling on ebay.

There is a reason my signature line is what it is.
Trinton has stated to me in a post last year, ( I believe it was the famous INR one), that if the buyer does not cooperate with a Postal claim, then eBay will not honor their MBG claim.

I don’t believe that’s what he said. Because he has said the exact opposite on the shipping board. He has said that the seller is expected to refund the buyer regardless and that if the insurance claim is denied by the carrier that the seller can contact customer service because there are protections available to them. In other words, the buyer gets their money back and the seller gets a courtesy refund from eBay. The MBG does not state that the buyer is required cooperate with an insurance claim so eBay has to honor it.

One life is all we have to live
Love is all we have to give

**Formerly known as MissJen316**

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

@missjen831wrote:
@timemachine777wrote:
@retrose1wrote:
Help! Am I screwed and SOL?

You are being scammed and yes, you are SOL.

I saw laptop and didn't have to read any farther. Prepare to lose everything, the item and the money, and postal insurance would not cover you because the buyer will not cooperate. Those are the risks of selling on ebay.

There is a reason my signature line is what it is.
Trinton has stated to me in a post last year, ( I believe it was the famous INR one), that if the buyer does not cooperate with a Postal claim, then eBay will not honor their MBG claim.

I don’t believe that’s what he said. Because he has said the exact opposite on the shipping board. He has said that the seller is expected to refund the buyer regardless and that if the insurance claim is denied by the carrier that the seller can contact customer service because there are protections available to them. In other words, the buyer gets their money back and the seller gets a courtesy refund from eBay. The MBG does not state that the buyer is required cooperate with an insurance claim so eBay has to honor it.

I'll do a search for it in a little while and post it here.

davidelane73 · ‎03-12-2018

@castlemagicmemorieswrote:
@davidelane73wrote:
The outer box looks like it was damaged without the inner box inside.
Yes, quite a feat there, wouldn't you say?

Yep! Even if you flip the inner box around, it doesnt match up. It comes closer to it, but Im still saying they were damaged at seperate times

castlemagicmemories · ‎03-12-2018

@davidelane73wrote:
@castlemagicmemorieswrote:
@davidelane73wrote:
The outer box looks like it was damaged without the inner box inside.
Yes, quite a feat there, wouldn't you say?
Yep! Even if you flip the inner box around, it doesnt match up. It comes closer to it, but Im still saying they were damaged at seperate times

I believe you.

timemachine777 · ‎03-12-2018

@davidelane73wrote:
The outer box looks like it was damaged without the inner box inside.

The outer box does have heavier damage to it that some unknown force protected the inner box from.

lookng2015 · ‎03-12-2018

@castlemagicmemorieswrote:
@davidelane73wrote:
The outer box looks like it was damaged without the inner box inside.
Yes, quite a feat there, wouldn't you say?

Exactly. Easy to tell the damage was done to each box separately

"If a product doesn't sell, raise the price" - Reese Palley
"If it sold FAST, it was priced too low" - also Reese Palley

Anonymous · ‎03-12-2018

That is so crazy Yes I say Damage came from Hammer.. What is up with scammers lately? I had a Guy Buy one of my Hubbys Diecast 1/18 Car, In oribinal box with foam clam shell Wrapped in Bubble wrap and placed in another box, He sent a message says the "Roof" fell off and parts laying all in box...But No damage to paint?Roof Fell off? Its metal Car.. Ask for Pictures of Car damage and Box...... Was last week still waiting on pictures No claim open yet.....