eBay

rickdudester · ‎10-05-2023

I sell tiny amounts of food additive chemicals (citric acid, sodium citrate, dendritic salt, etc.)... like maybe $20 - $50 worth every month and my profit is negligeable. It's just something I started that goes along with my main business.

Every now and then I get a message from a buyer saying that they got an open box with nothing in it or something like that. I realize there's nothing I can do. But today something bizarre happened!

This guy claims that he didn't receive his sodium citrate, but a box of hardware pieces. He sent me pictures along with my shipping box to prove it. I've never seen these things in my life. And I know how it's going to go-- he'll open a claim and I think, just to cause him some work, I will ask that he return said items prior to me refunding his money ($10? Seriously? I think the return shipping is worth it because I'm annoyed.)

But, wow, how brazen. It's like he's saying, "I'm going to let you know that this is **bleep** and I know there's nothing you can do about it!"

ittybitnot · ‎10-05-2023

It's like he's saying,....

@rickdudester

This is eBay, and the statement would be correct. Just about anything for sale here can be had for free (at the seller's expense) with the right kind of phony claim.

Perhaps in the past if you just refunded in the past instead of requiring a buyer to file a claim and return for refund, you now have a "following". Yes, buyers are required to post a photo for a "not as described" claim, but the picture can be of anything. I have a feeling nobody is looking at them anyway.

themayqueen · ‎10-05-2023

the problem with returning something heavy is that ebay will make you reimburse him or else send him a label at your expense. If he dings the " not as described" button. So just report this buyer to ebay and they can keep a tally of his hijinx . these people tend to do a lot, not just once. Then ebay gets an idea of who to believe, the innocent person victim, or the scammer. After they get enough complaints.

but i think you are betting on him just giving up? well i hope he does in this case, as your account of his actions seems rather brazen alright, and intentional. Be sure to block him so he can't repeat, at least not with YOU.