I was scammed on eBay and eBay refuses to help!

[scroogeman01]

I was scammed on eBay selling a intel i7 processor for $290. The buyer was brand new opened days before the sale and after a few days said the CPU was broken and asked for a refund. I agreed to the refund and sent a RMA label. The buyer did not use my label and used their own label and mailed something to a COMPELTELY DIFFERENT ADDRESS but in the same zip code. I called the US Postal Inspectors Office  and they confirmed the address was not mine and that the package weighed only 2oz. I provided this to eBay several times and they said they'd give me a manual refund but each time they deny it saying that the tracking for the package was "delivered" to my "address" when the tracking only shows a zip code and that I didn't provide proof or documentation. 

I have called ebay TWO DOZEN times now and emailed customer support a dozen times. Each time the customer service says they will help but only refer me to "account specialists" who are different each time and just restate that the package was delivered. I don't know what to do anymore. This has been so frustrating and difficult. I can't get a supervisor on the phone or anyone in charge. Please please please help me!

[ittybitnot · Accepted solution]

@scroogeman01 

First, this scam is NOT new.  Sending it to an address in your zipcode instead of to you is even an older version of the scam.  You need to go to your local post office and have them provide you with a note saying the (bogus) 2 oz. parcel was NOT delivered to you.  They can tell exactly where it went via the GPS coordinates but are likely NOT to tell you the exact address. 

Once you have that, or any documentation you may have received from the Postal Inspectors, and contact ebay via the ebay for business facebook page.  Use the messager to give the details Your name, address, ID, transaction number, order numbers, etc. and that of the "buyer" as well as a photo of the documentation your received as to the parcel NOT being delivered to you.  Outline the procedures you have already tried. 

I say this because this seems to be the ONLY way sellers are getting any help on this issue.  eBay customer service basically will only throw you under the bus because they are only allowed to to use the "something was delivered" mantra.  Appeals dept. is not proving to be any better.  The ebay staff that come to the boards will no longer provide help other than to tell you to contact customer service (who has thrown you under the bus already) . 

ebay has already refunded the buyer from your proceeds.  Any redress they give to you has to come from ebay, and they sure don't want to do that.  

Read this.  It is long, but will give you some information on how this sort of thing is working out (or not) for sellers that are victims of this.  This is only ONE.  There are many going back quite a few years but this is one of the most recent. 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Cheated-by-Buyer-Unable-to-send-proof-to-appeals-department/m-...

 

[scroogeman01]

The eBay facebook business page is different from eBay customer support? Won't they just refer me to customer support again?

[ittybitnot]

Yes, it is different. 

You don't know what will happen until you try.  In the last few threads I read about 'using phony tracking information to satisfy a return  requirements',  the people that attend to the Facebook messages are the only ones that seem to help any of these sellers.  They are ebay employees, but tend to stop the cycle of continuously going in circles with the regular CS "help" avenues. 

Good luck with this.  I hope they do right by you. 

@scroogeman01 

[scroogeman01]

Thanks, I will try to speak to them. Appreciate it and I will try to report back.

[vintagecraze50]

I am sorry this has happened and I am even more sorry that this type of theft happens on THIS WEBSITE.  Please continue to work with Ebay via their facebook crew. Please go to the post office and get PROOF that this scammer did this and have them completely remove people like this from buying on here EVER AGAIN. This kind of stuff on here makes the hair stand up on my arms. Scary.

[jahood1984]

Great post!  I didn't know there was a reshipper in Delaware but reviewing my prior  international fees charged for being a domestic shipper, many went there.  We used to be able to see a shipping address with offers but now it's only a zip code and a pending sale I've got now is going there too.  That means another international fees for being a domestic seller, sigh.

[vintagecraze50]

Ebay has got to do something about buyers NOT USING THE LABELS sent by the seller to return items. This sets up the potential for buyers to commit these crimes. It should be use the label provided and they should not be allowed to post any other tracking info for sellers who DO provide free labels. Do something about this ebay.

[bbravo65]

...what is another way to contact eBay for help if a seller does not have Facebook account...?

[mshelton1984]

Exact same scenario happened to me last year. Expensive CPU, new account with no feedback who used a dropshipper (I only ship to US) and returned the item without using the shipping label I provided. I ended up having to go to my local post office and they provided me all the documentation I needed to prove the return was shipped to a random address in my zip code. Next I called ebay and explained the situation. They provided a link where I could upload the scanned documents for the appeal case. Thankfully after submitting everything ebay ruled in my favor.

[ise710]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

[Require buyers to] use the label provided and they should not be allowed to post any other tracking info for sellers who DO provide free labels.

Do something about this ebay.

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eBay did. There's no longer an Add Tracking button, just Print Label and Email Label buttons. And  the assigned return tracking number is already displayed right there on the page.

Plus, it fails when a buyer tries to construct the URL that previously allowed adding a return tracking number. Also, eBay no longer says on the page that you can "get your own" return label.

[ise710]

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@bbravo65 wrote:

...what is another way to contact eBay for help if a seller does not have Facebook account...?

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A new Facebook account for strictly to contact eBay just needs a throwaway you-will-be-spammed email address, birthdate, and text phone number. You're not going to post photos, make friends, etc.

[scroogeman01]

I did that too except my local post office would not help me, I had to call the US Postal Inspection Service, Postal Police and I got the letter. I uploaded the docs and they denied me TWO TIMES now saying that I did not provide proof and that the buyer provided proof that the tracking showed delivery. 

[scroogeman01]

To my knowledge the buyer called ebay and told them a shipping number and they manually added it.

[scroogeman01]

UPDATE: 

I messaged the eBay Facebook Business and they helped me put in another case (third) and finally a day later I was refunded! Thank you for this suggestion!