eBay

calntom · ‎10-07-2021

I have an Item Not Received Case to be resolved by Oct 9th

This was an $84.00 order. Buyer shows as United States. An eBay vetting of the buyer shows the account looks good. Buyer originally messaged and said he only received 5 of the product instead of 7 shipped. I distinctly remember counting these out. 7 were shipped. The last 7 I had in stock.

There is a dollar amount of $21.12 with the item not received dispute. Never seen this before but I rarely ever have an INR.

When I google streetview the address, it is a reshipper in Miami. EPS Logistics. The buyer used an incorrect zip code on the order and the shipment is delayed. No delivery scan.

The reviews are horrible. Bing shows EPS as closed. Google shows EPS open with terrible scam reviews.

I have heard of a scam before. Different zip code, package delayed. Buyer files Item Not Received case. Gets refund. Package delivered at a later date.

I filed a “return to sender” request for ~$15 with USPS. I also filed a missing package request.

Soooo, what is with this $21.12 partial refund the buyer is asking for when the package is not even delivered? I smelled something fishy when the buyer messaged and said he only received 5 of the 7 and wanted a partial refund. I never responded to the buyer. I figured he could go ahead with the next move.

Again, I have to respond to the INR case by the 9th.

That is all I can think of right now. I would appreciate any advice and will also answer any needed questions. I will check back periodically over the course of the day, evening and tomorrow. Thanks to all. --- calntom

eBay Tracking shows:

Oct 5, 2021 9:43am

PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CLOSED 31153588

MIAMI, FL 33191

Oct 5, 2021 8:20am

PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CREATED 31153588

MIAMI, FL 33191

Sep 25, 2021 11:45pm

PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY

MIAMI FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 33152

9400108205497609401843

Latest on the tracking at USPS site:

September 29, 2021

In Transit, Arriving Late

Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.

September 25, 2021, 11:45 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility

MIAMI FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

September 25, 2021, 11:27 pm

Arrived at USPS Facility

MIAMI FL 33122

calntom · ‎10-07-2021

@soh.maryl wrote:
Again, if the delivery has not happened yet, why is the buyer able to open a case of any kind?

If it is past delivery date, as it is....

bangordiscount · ‎10-07-2021

Define "always". I've had an account 20+ years and can tell you it hasn't always been "always".

dbfolks166mt · ‎10-07-2021

If it is past the delivery date I could understand the INR. What I cannot understand about the INR is how the buyer knows 2 of the items are missing if the package has not been delivered yet? Something really odd about that.

calntom · ‎10-08-2021

@dbfolks166mt @bangordiscount @soh.maryl @fa_8305 @mr_lincoln @bigdeals.etc

There is no delivery scan.

Buyer says they only received 5 of the 7 I shipped.

Is this just a guaranteed partial refund?

So is this case just a slam dunk for the buyer?

If the $21.12 is refunded, can the buyer open a Not as Described case after the Item not Received is closed?

I realize that a CC chargeback could also loom.

dbfolks166mt · ‎10-08-2021

So there are a multitude of problems here. First the USPS most recent tracking information, I checked the status this morning 8 October, shows the package still in transit to what I am assuming is the freight forwarder. I am not sure of the class of postage you used but below is the timeline for filling a missing/lost case with USPS. If the class of postage was one of those that is insured and USPS cannot find the package you are entitle to compensation for the value of the item. They will not refund the postage cost however.

If in fact the buyer used a freight forwarder, is located outside of the US (check their account and see what country they are registered in, then according to eBay's policy they are not covered under the eBay MBG. See not covered below. It is not a slam dunk for the buyer in fact it should, according to eBay policy, not even be a viable case for the buyer. I would respond to the case as having USPS proof of delivery problems but buyer is claiming items were partially received but buyer utilized a FF and is located in another country and is not covered under the eBay MBG according to policy.

If the $21.12 is refunded, which it should not be the the buyer could potentially open a NAD case but again it should not be a viable case for the buyer if they truly used a FF. As for a chargeback that is a whole different ball game since eBay is pretty much out of the picture and has no say in the decision and the eBay policies do not apply. The CC company is in 100% control of making the decision and the seller is only allowed minimal input to the chargeback generally related to delivery which you cannot prove at this point in time.

calntom · ‎10-08-2021

We can’t really prove that a buyer has had the package forwarded. Buyer shows as located in the United States. It was a 1st Class Package.

@dbfolks166mt Wrote: "I would respond to the case as having USPS proof of delivery problems but buyer is claiming items were partially received but buyer utilized a FF and is located in another country and is not covered under the eBay MBG according to policy."

I appreciate the suggestion. I see it as possibly creating problems because an eBay rep that "might possibly" read it would just throw their hands up and refund and move on.

This is a weird deal.

dbfolks166mt · ‎10-08-2021

At this point I would probably check into the following.

1. If you purchased insurance on the first class package I would file a claim with USPS for a lost package. The soonest you could do that would be Monday 11 October. If you didn't purchase insurance then this is a non-starter.

2. If the buyer shows as a registered US buyer then they probably did not use a FF which would seem odd but I have discovered a lot of odd things happen on eBay.

3. At this point if it was me I would probably just approve the refund of the $21.12 and move on. There is no way to really prove delivery at the present time and you are out of time to respond to the case. If the buyer asks eBay to step in you will probably loose. Very messy and convoluted situation indeed.

What the buyer can do post INR case closure is not really clear I cannot find any precedence for this situation.

calntom · ‎10-08-2021

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
At this point I would probably check into the following.

1. If you purchased insurance on the first class package I would file a claim with USPS for a lost package. The soonest you could do that would be Monday 11 October. If you didn't purchase insurance then this is a non-starter.

2. If the buyer shows as a registered US buyer then they probably did not use a FF which would seem odd but I have discovered a lot of odd things happen on eBay.

3. At this point if it was me I would probably just approve the refund of the $21.12 and move on. There is no way to really prove delivery at the present time and you are out of time to respond to the case. If the buyer asks eBay to step in you will probably loose. Very messy and convoluted situation indeed.

What the buyer can do post INR case closure is not really clear I cannot find any precedence for this situation.

This is one of the things that concerns me. This is a fishy deal. What is next? Is there another move the buyer can make after the refund?

The address was to a frieght forwarder. The buyer could be drop shipping to their buyer out of the country.

It seems that anyone could purchase 7 of an item. Claim they only received 5 and get a slam dunk partial refund.

dbfolks166mt · ‎10-08-2021

This is one of the things that concerns me. This is a fishy deal. What is next? Is there another move the buyer can make after the refund?

Unusual case and not something I could find a precedence for. I would imagine his options going through eBay would be limited but the fact that you can't prove delivery leaves this pretty wide open for a chargeback. Not a good situation to be in.

The address was to a frieght forwarder. The buyer could be drop shipping to their buyer out of the country.

Agreed and if you could prove delivery to the FF that may have been sufficient but since the buyer has a registered US account it really complicates the picture that much more. It could also be possible the buyer while having a US account is in fact outside the country but only the FF would know if the package got forwarded.

It seems that anyone could purchase 7 of an item. Claim they only received 5 and get a slam dunk partial refund.

You would be 100% correct about that and most buyers would have filed a NAD case and eBay sides with the buyer 99% of the time. Seller would have had options on how to handle the NAD case through eBay including partial refund. If the buyer filed a chargeback for NAD you are pretty much screwed. You would probably loose the item, the buyer would get refunded and eBay would keep their fees. I would for sure add this buyer to my BBL if you have not already.

fab_finds4u · ‎10-08-2021

YES, I agree. WHEN could you give less than a full refund on a not received case?

albertabrightalberta · ‎10-08-2021

My guess is that the item was delivered but USPS didn't scan it as such and had the buyer filed INR, the OP would lose the case.

Had tracking shown delivery, buyer would have lost the case for what should have been SNAD, not INR.

My concern is that if you issue the partial prorated refund, the buyer can might still come back to file INR for the whole package and without tracking proof showing delivery, he'll get the remainder of the refund.

albertabrightalberta | Volunteer Community Mentor
"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you."

calntom · ‎10-08-2021

@albertabrightalberta wrote:
My guess is that the item was delivered but USPS didn't scan it as such and had the buyer filed INR, the OP would lose the case.

Had tracking shown delivery, buyer would have lost the case for what should have been SNAD, not INR.

My concern is that if you issue the partial prorated refund, the buyer can might still come back to file INR for the whole package and without tracking proof showing delivery, he'll get the remainder of the refund.

I suppose that is the main concern at this point. Wondering what other options the buyer might have after the partial refund?

Anyone have ideas?

calntom · ‎10-09-2021

As expected, I went ahead and processed the $21.12 refund.

vintagecraze50 · ‎10-09-2021

Buyers hit the hot button INR when packages look late with USPS. When they get hot you respond with your item is on it’s way, it is delayed. Call ebay and get extensions put on any hot button INR’s.

vintagecraze50 · ‎10-09-2021

USPS will often close a package research case when the item is still in transit. We do not know from OP whether they got any info from USPS on their ability to locate where te package was, if found. If it was still in transit to FF, then OP should have just asked Ebay for an extension of the INR case.