How to stop getting scammed by buyers claiming to not receive items

[genx-collects]

I mostly sell Magic The Gathering cards and average sale is not over 20 dollars so I use the eBay standard envelope. The problem is getting out of hand with people claiming to not receive their orders and eBay always forcing me to refund.  I am really at wits end. I make pennies on these cards after the fees from eBay and my cost for shipping supplies so I can't justify continuing if eBay just refunds the scammers. It is very similar to the DoorDash scam that is out of hand where the delivery driver keeps some of your items and you just have to get a refund in the app no questions asked. Can any veteran sellers let me know a solution? I am about to cancel the orders I have and just pull out of eBay altogether. Thanks in advance for any help.

[youn2240]

It's because not all but a large enough percentage of tcg neckbeards are savage toddlers in adult bodies so if you aren't shipping with a good tracked package like ground advantage the man child is going to see that there is no delivery notice after they get their item and file against you.  I don't know if there is anything that can really be done because of the customer base you are entertaining. Some of you card buyers are great but there is obviously a large enough amount of **bleep** scammers in the tcg world that it's nearly impossible to sell them and not run into issues. just basing off the posts put on here. 

[luckythewinner]

I use the eBay standard envelope. I make pennies on these cards

eBay requires delivery confirmation to win INR claims. If the eBay standard envelope does not provide consistent delivery confirmation, there is no solution I know of that will prevent buyers from claiming INR.

One alternative is to sell something else that allows you to ship by a more reliable service.

[buyselljack2016]

@genx-collects 

ESE................  if you get any scan at all during the processing of the ESE you can file with eBay for the insurance that eBay provides when the buyer claims they did not get the item.

Note: ESE cannot be scanned at the PO, or by the delivery carrier. Just processes as "metered mail" and gets scanned at regional processing centers along the way.

I don't do ESE, and do not have the link for the insurance, but it has been posted that it is a very simple process.

[genx-collects]

Honestly that was an a-hole answer but you are right. I am seeing a side of people that is pathetic.  I can't even imagine having a life in which I would buy a 3 dollar card and then take the time to file a report to get refunded just to scam someone. That is about as sad as it gets. Thanks for the blunt answer. I need to just focus on other Platforms that don't refund scammers.

[genx-collects]

Thank you. I will probably just focus on other platforms. My friend and his wife had an eBay business for 18 years and warned me.  They said they were closing their eBay down because of fees being to high but MAINLY because of refunds.  And they didn't do small items, they do tools and equipment in the 100's to 1000 dollar range. I should have listened. 

[gurlcat]

Sincere question: When someone files INR on one of these card purchases, how do you know they actually did receive it? 

To be perfectly clear, what I'm not asking is: 'When lots of buyers file INR on these, how do you know at least some of them must be scammers?'   

[a_c_green]

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@gurlcat wrote:

Sincere question: When someone files INR on one of these card purchases, how do you know they actually did receive it? 

To be perfectly clear, what I'm not asking is: 'When lots of buyers file INR on these, how do you know at least some of them must be scammers?'   

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My informal opinion of an answer here is that eSE mailings are, in the post office eyes, perfectly valid and deliverable just like everything else. Thus if the percentage of unverifiable non-delivery claims is way higher than that of tracked mail, then you have to look elsewhere for an explanation, which might be that the recipients are fibbing because they know it's an instant refund for them if they choose to file an Item Not Received claim.

On the other hand, eBay has more or less admitted as such, by offering reimbursement (up to $20) to sellers who have had to refund for an INR claim as @buyselljack2016 has mentioned above. If someone can post the proper link for claims here, @genx-collects, then you should be able to get reimbursed for such claims.

[buyselljack2016]

@genx-collects 

Did the work for you 😁

Scroll to the bottom to read about ESE claim file.

My understanding is that it is quite simple, and fast to be refunded as long as there was one "scan" somewhere in the process.  Even if the tracking shows delivered if there is an INR claim the insurance can still be claimed.  "Delivered" is just an "automatic event" that is shown after the ESE is scanned at a regional facility and does not mean that it was actually delivered.  That could happen 1,2,3,days, or a week (unusual) later, or not at all.

eBay standard envelope | eBay

[pastimpressions]

If you want to continue selling in that category & on this platform perhaps it might work to bundle multiple cards together & ship in a USPS Ground Advantage envelope/package that has confirmed tracking/delivery.

I get that single cards are difficult to ship at that cost.

Just a thought.

Best of luck with shop & sales.

[genx-collects]

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@gurlcat wrote:

Sincere question: When someone files INR on one of these card purchases, how do you know they actually did receive it? 

To be perfectly clear, what I'm not asking is: 'When lots of buyers file INR on these, how do you know at least some of them must be scammers?'   

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So to be perfectly clear: I don't know anything other than that it is a FACT they do it with DoorDash because my mother's boyfriend DOES it just like a lot of the Driver's who deliver my items. In the case of these cards, all I know for sure is that they file a claim and eBay forces me to refund.  I do everything to get the card into the mail and that should be the end of it. Are people scamming? Maybe not. Maybe it is a perfect world and I am the problem right? I get an order. Print the label. Put the card in a sleeve and card saver. Put it in an envelope. Attach a thank you sticker. Seal it. And then I just keep it and scam eBay buyers right? Nope doesn't work like that because eBay has my money so it is not me doing anything wrong it is buyers who know how to get free stuff. Thank you for your advice though. Absolutely golden.

[buyselljack2016]

File the  &&(*^%$%#$ (ESE) insurance claim 😂

[genx-collects]

Bro it says to wait 30 days.  I will try it on older orders but anything in last month I can't do yet. But thanks for the link. I am wondering though, I just got a claim on a 2 dollar card. My profit is roughly 17 cents. Is it better to just quit while I can or spend additional man hours to file the claim?

[gurlcat]

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@genx-collects wrote:

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@gurlcat wrote:

Sincere question: When someone files INR on one of these card purchases, how do you know they actually did receive it? 

To be perfectly clear, what I'm not asking is: 'When lots of buyers file INR on these, how do you know at least some of them must be scammers?'   

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So to be perfectly clear: I don't know anything other than that it is a FACT they do it with DoorDash because my mother's boyfriend DOES it just like a lot of the Driver's who deliver my items. In the case of these cards, all I know for sure is that they file a claim and eBay forces me to refund.  I do everything to get the card into the mail and that should be the end of it. Are people scamming? Maybe not. Maybe it is a perfect world and I am the problem right? I get an order. Print the label. Put the card in a sleeve and card saver. Put it in an envelope. Attach a thank you sticker. Seal it. And then I just keep it and scam eBay buyers right? Nope doesn't work like that because eBay has my money so it is not me doing anything wrong it is buyers who know how to get free stuff. Thank you for your advice though. Absolutely golden.

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I didn't give you any advice.  I simply asked a question, and look how defensive you got.  I asked you in another thread if you wouldn't want compensation if you ordered something and didn't receive it.  I'm starting to suspect that has never happened to you, or if you have ever even been on the buying end of a transaction. 

The fact is, if you sell something online YOU. ARE. RESPONSIBLE.  for it getting to the buyer.  YOU. chose the carrier and tier, so that is YOUR business with THEM. 

[gurlcat]

Well my question was about how with untracked (or kinda-but-not-really-tracked) transit, basically every INR claim is a Scrhodinger's Cat scenario.  It's either a legit claim from a buyer who doesn't deserve to lose their money for nothing, or it's a POS a scammer taking advantage of a flawed system to basically steal from a seller.  And my addendum was to say that, sure, if there's a lot of INAD's then some of them must be scammers, but without being able to know which ones, it's not legit to call the whole lot "scammers."