I am being scammed and eBay wants me to refund this jerk. Seriously need advice.

[art_young_collection]

I am completely at a loss, I know this buyer is scamming me but eBay is siding with him. I have been loyal to eBay with Top rated seller status for years without not ONE return, defect or bad feedback.

Here is the issue:

Buyer bought a ring from us for 4500$ and claims it arrived broken. (I believe he broke it when he received it in order to create a reason for initiating a refund). These are photos taken of the ring right before we sent it on Oct. 11th. Continue reading after these photos:

See here https://imgur.com/a/TchshYf 

As you can see, these are photos taken right before shipping with the ring with FedEx (in 2 boxes covered in bubble wrap) on October 11th. The ring was in perfect condition with zero issues.

...............

And now these are the photos sent to me by the buyer today. As you can see here, the ring is broken (as if done purposefully and intentionally if you look carefully at the crack marks) and the glue was visibly put on seemingly minutes before taking these photos:

See here https://imgur.com/a/5ElJo3h 

We know buyer is responsible for the breakage, because he even called us to say that the ring didn't fit on his wifes finger! BTW, you can even see the glue he slathered on the sides of the crack the second photo.

ALSO, buyer just opened his account on October 3rd!! Ebay wants me to refund this prick! This ring has lost all value.

I am not sure what I am supposed to do. Please advise, guys. And thanks in advance.

D.

[klhmdg]

Approve the return and refund after you receive it (or something) back.

Report the buyer for misuse of buyer protection. 

If you dont refund, with return or without, eBay will refund the buyer. You will not get your fees returned and will get a defect on your account.

eBay will not look at your proof or the buyers proof. Buyers always win so the best you can do is require return and then refund.

Also add this buyer to your BBL so he cant do this to you again.

[calicorecordsandcds]

You should be able to argue the point to refund only the minimum amount.  Just take the time to talk to Ebay it may take a lot of phone time but, I am sure they will allow you to refund the minimum.  You will have to refund some.  But I agree should not be all.  You have the information to argue your case.

If ebay will not allow min refund then you should contact Attorney General in your state concerning this as well as a Lawyer.

v/r

gunz

[art_young_collection]

I should also let you guys know what ebay told me after I brought the issue to their attention, here was their response:

I've reviewed the details of this request and found that the buyer is claiming the item was delivered not as described.

When a buyer receives the wrong item, it arrives damaged, it doesn't match the listing description, or the buyer files a return within your return policy, they can return it to you for a full refund (including original shipping costs). Because the reason is outside of the buyer's control or within your return policy, we're also asking you to pay for return shipping.

I've placed the request on hold for 4 days to give you time to arrange return shipping with the buyer. Please note that if you don't resolve the issue by 22nd October, we'll issue the buyer a full refund on your behalf without requiring the item to be returned.

[kensgiftshop]

---

@art_young_collection wrote:

I should also let you guys know what ebay told me after I brought the issue to their attention, here was their response:

I've reviewed the details of this request and found that the buyer is claiming the item was delivered not as described.

When a buyer receives the wrong item, it arrives damaged, it doesn't match the listing description, or the buyer files a return within your return policy, they can return it to you for a full refund (including original shipping costs). Because the reason is outside of the buyer's control or within your return policy, we're also asking you to pay for return shipping.

I've placed the request on hold for 4 days to give you time to arrange return shipping with the buyer. Please note that if you don't resolve the issue by 22nd October, we'll issue the buyer a full refund on your behalf without requiring the item to be returned.

---

That actually come from CS?

Can't believe they finally gave out the correct information.

[klhmdg]

@art_young_collection  This is 100% correct and what they will do. 

The other poster has given you incorrect information. eBay will not side with you and going to the Attorneys General is not going to help.

This is part of eBays MBG and sellers have agreed to Terms and Conditions to sell here.

The sooner you approve the return of the item the better. Also even if eBay agreed with you the buyer can then go to their CC and do a charge back which will allow them to keep the item, be refunded and you will be charged another $20 on top of the eBay fees. 

[ckimodog]

@art_young_collection 

You offer free returns...tell them to file a claim SNAD and return the item to you.  Send them a return label and once you receive the return, then refund them.  Don't refund until you receive the returned item. 

I love your shop.  Also a photographer.  Awesome. 

Good luck!

[donsdetour]

---

@art_young_collection wrote:

I should also let you guys know what ebay told me after I brought the issue to their attention, here was their response:

I've reviewed the details of this request and found that the buyer is claiming the item was delivered not as described.

When a buyer receives the wrong item, it arrives damaged, it doesn't match the listing description, or the buyer files a return within your return policy, they can return it to you for a full refund (including original shipping costs). Because the reason is outside of the buyer's control or within your return policy, we're also asking you to pay for return shipping.

I've placed the request on hold for 4 days to give you time to arrange return shipping with the buyer. Please note that if you don't resolve the issue by 22nd October, we'll issue the buyer a full refund on your behalf without requiring the item to be returned.

---

Yea correct advice given from a CS:

As to the topic ebay has no idea what was delivered or what will be returned: they dont care.

Return for refund or let them keep it and refund.

Your choice;

See you agree to eBay,s money back guarantee by using eBay.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

The O.P. is in Portugal. Has only been a member for a little over 2 years with 172 feedbacks. 

Stating they have been a member for years raises the question if they are operating under multiple I.D.'s?

I'm not buying this story!

[caldreamer]

It is very risky selling expensive jewelry on EBAY (too many scammers).    Also any customer can "reverse credit card" charges AFTER they receive your item (keep item and your money).

I am sorry this happened to you but unfortunately your only option is to "accept the return".    EBAY Money Back Guarantee allows customers to return items by claiming "defective, not as described, counterfeit".  Customers are not even required to prove their claims.

[calicorecordsandcds]

Thank you for adding to what I said.  Yes, you must approve return for sure once you have the item back that is when you can adjust how much you refund, I did one and was on phone with ebay rep explaining why I was only giving the smallest amount I could back to the buyer.  

In my case the buyer changed mind then sent my album back without any protection through the mail needless to say it was destroyed  by the time it got to me.

Also great advise on BBL do that for sure.

[art_young_collection]

I have 2 eBay accounts, the other is 8 years old..

[art_young_collection]

What exactly are you implying???

[hurley_byrd_ias]

You have no choices here. Approve the return and once it arrives back at your facility..... mark it as damaged by buyer and start that process. You may wish to call eBay pronto upon the return.   More than likely you will eat this and that is part of doing business on eBay. If you want more control, open a brick and mortar business with more security cameras than a bank so you can show a perfect ring going into a box while handing it to the customer.

[mbenson0622]

This is my biggest fear of selling on eBay. I would never dream of stealing someones money or merchandise, but these jerks are everywhere. I hate the fact that a buyer knows all of your ratings and what went right and what went wrong. Yet, the seller has none of that information about the buyer. I wish they had a rating on buyers who didn't pay, have complained x number of times, how many times they have canceled a payment, how many accounts they have, and how many times they have been issued a refund. If I knew that information I could set up my listings to not let someone with too many of these bid on my  items. I realize it could still happen, but it would make the chances less frequent.