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How To Deal With A Scammer?

First: Why can't I phone Ebay anymore? This is a complex issue and I don't know what to do about it! It needs immediate attention. 

I sold a pair of vintage prescription designer glasses last week to Joe. When I ship an item, I always put a Thank you note inside that includes my phone number. Last night I got a phone call from Fred saying that the glasses were described as NONprescription. 

It turned out that the buyer (Fred) had purchased them on Grailed, but phoned my number because of the note. MY buyer (Joe) had tripled the price, lied in his description, and listed them on Grailed, providing Ebay with his buyer's address, not his own. 

Apparently Fred has opened a Paypal case against Joe, and Joe has contacted me saying the glasses are NAD. 

I really don't know what to do! WHY CAN'T I PHONE EBAY?!

NOW what do I do? 

Message 1 of 121
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120 REPLIES 120

Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

How To Deal With A Scammer?

 

This case is complicated but, in general, when a buyer opens a "not as described" case, you either refund outright or supply a prepaid return label and authorize the return for a full refund.

If you try to fight the claim, you will lose.  eBay will refund from your backup funding source, and will end up with a strike for a case "closed without seller resolution", probably a neg, and your final value fee will not be credited.

eBay and PayPal do not get involved in mediating between the buyer and the seller, no matter if you disagree that the item was actually "not as described".

Your are running a business, which means you will not make money on every sale; and you have to capitalize your business with enough reserves to pay all of your business costs.

 

eBay customer service is available by phone, Facebook, and Twitter.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. ~ Anais Nin
Message 16 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?


@*eponymous* wrote:

How To Deal With A Scammer?

 

This case is complicated but, in general, when a buyer opens a "not as described" case, you either refund outright or supply a prepaid return label and authorize the return for a full refund.

If you try to fight the claim, you will lose.  eBay will refund from your backup funding source, and will end up with a strike for a case "closed without seller resolution", probably a neg, and your final value fee will not be credited.

eBay and PayPal do not get involved in mediating between the buyer and the seller, no matter if you disagree that the item was actually "not as described".

Your are running a business, which means you will not make money on every sale; and you have to capitalize your business with enough reserves to pay all of your business costs.

 

eBay customer service is available by phone, Facebook, and Twitter.


The problem is tht the seller(OP) described the item correctly and Joe snad-ed the description in order to sell the item at a higher cost.  Not the OP's fault.  And Joe could be thinking that since the item isn't being shipped to him, he will also be cut out of any dispute.

 

Again, I would be checking out the dispute/return/refund process that the other site has.  It might benefit Fred and the OP.

(*Bleep*)
Message 17 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

With the dangers of having to lose shipping costs on both inital shipping and return false snads, it's become clear to me to not leave enough meat on the bone for resellers. They're the worst. 

Took a lower than usual best offer recently and then it was claimed snad and was not...and I think I know exactly why the person decided it would be difficult to resell. 

Message 18 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

I wouldn't respond to 'Joe' at all unless he opens a case. At this point, the problem is only between Joe and Fred.

 

 

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"
Message 19 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

You shipped the item to whos address that was shown on the paypal payment?

Message 20 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

The address supplied was Fred's. He only called me because I always put a note inside the package. His address is also listed as Joe's on Ebay. It's not just between Joe and Fred -- Joe wants to return the glasses to me -- anyway, I've told Fred to deal with him separately from me, but to NOT return the glasses to me since I didn't sell them to him. I don't know if that was the wrong thing to do --

Message 21 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

Joe is your buyer, not Fred. Joe can return them to you for a refund. You do not need to refund anyone before you get the glasses back. It doesn't matter whether it's Joe or Fred sending the glasses back to you; the main thing is that you get them back first.

Message 22 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?


@cataliner wrote:

thank you, but I'm guessing Joe will tell Fred to ship the glasses back to the address on the package -- mine. I don't want to accept a return from someone I didn't sell to. Otherwise, good answer.


Even if Joe gave you Fred's address as the Ship-To: location with his PayPal payment, Joe is your customer, not Fred. Even if Fred is the one who sends the glasses back to you, Joe is the one that you refund, because he is the one who made the purchase from you.

Message 23 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

Yeah, but who's to say Joe won't get the refund for the ebay purchase but never refund Fred through the other site?  Nobody.  This is why Fred needs to deal with returning his purchase to Joe BEFORE Joe deals with his purchase from you.  You might want to mention that to Fred since returning the glasses directly to you will leave him wide open to losing everything.  And needless to say, Joe needs to be blocked so hard his mommy cries.

 

The whole thing stinks to high heaven.




Joe

Message 24 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

Oh, and I am no way the Joe in question.




Joe

Message 25 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

@cataliner Tough situation but you are getting some good advice and support here.  My only comment would be not to put your phone number in any shipments ... its not necessary and, as you have seen, can cause problems.

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor
Message 26 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?


@tellmemama wrote:

Yeah, but who's to say Joe won't get the refund for the ebay purchase but never refund Fred through the other site?  Nobody.  This is why Fred needs to deal with returning his purchase to Joe BEFORE Joe deals with his purchase from you.  You might want to mention that to Fred since returning the glasses directly to you will leave him wide open to losing everything.


True, but that's Fred's problem, not yours (in any way), and you don't need to be talking to Fred (about anything). Fred is Joe's customer; Joe is your customer. When you get the glasses back (from whomever; I doubt you could conclusively prove which one of them sends the glasses back to you anyway), you refund Joe. Any further difficulties with Joe are entirely Fred's problem, not yours.

Message 27 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?


@tellmemama wrote:

Yeah, but who's to say Joe won't get the refund for the ebay purchase but never refund Fred through the other site?  Nobody.  This is why Fred needs to deal with returning his purchase to Joe BEFORE Joe deals with his purchase from you.  You might want to mention that to Fred since returning the glasses directly to you will leave him wide open to losing everything.  And needless to say, Joe needs to be blocked so hard his mommy cries.

 

The whole thing stinks to high heaven.


Since it's a paypal case, Fred needs to return the glasses to the return address in paypal, regardless of who lives there. 

Message 28 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

way to go Joe.

 

OP, this mess is gonna be hard to lay aside I am sure, but I would also advise you to not speak with Fred (tell him to call Joe),  and wait to see if you get the glasses back.  Or get them on a three way if this if that sounds like more fun.  Maybe everyone could see eye to eye.

 

No, but seriously this was not your problem and you can just not partake in it if you choose not to.

 

 

Message 29 of 121
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Re: How To Deal With A Scammer?

I'd just hit delete and wait for a dispute to be opened. Just to fishy someone has a address to someone else they are selling a item to on their paypal account. If a dispute is opened I'd go with using false contact information to curcumvent the system...

Message 30 of 121
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