eBay

brle · ‎10-05-2021

New seller here and need help.

-A new buyer created their account and purchased my listed item on the same day; they have no feedback.

-International sale through GSP (global shipping program); buyer is in Canada.

-Payment made through eBay (not PayPal). I'm unfamiliar with eBay payments but thought PayPal had more seller protections.

-Because the item purchased is a limited edition/ discontinued/rare toy and no longer in production/ difficult to replace in the condition that it is in (new in original packaging), I'm concerned about scams.

I'm reaching out to eBay's community of experienced sellers for advice.

1) What type of scams exist, and what kind of seller protections are there through eBay and GSP?

2a) What can sellers do if buyer fraudulently claims item "not as described" when received?

b) Would seller be responsible for return shipping - from GSP warehouse (KY) or from buyer's location (Canada)? What if buyer sends back an empty box or a totally different item?

c) Would a video showing the operational toy being packaged and given to USPS clerk protect a seller from dishonest claims?

Thanks in advance!!

1tuna · ‎10-05-2021

canada is easy to ship to and just as safe as USA shipping I think

the payment is sort of inconsequential. ebay equals MP payments......... very safe

this sounds like an easy sale to a new buyer

Germantown proud Germantown strong
up the whiskey hickon
moving right along
19144

greatstuff80 · ‎10-05-2021

I strongly suggest you read up on all the policies. As a new seller, you are a scam magnet, especially for expensive items. Buyers do get away with most any excuse these days. Read around this board and you will find many cases of sellers losing both the item and their money and even getting charged $20 extra for ebay "handling" a credit card charge back. It has become common and even experienced sellers are getting scammed frequently. There are too many scams to even list.

Photos and videos are useless as ebay will claim they can be faked. It will NOT protect you. Same for returned items. Rule #1 with ebay is the buyer is always right. Rule #2 when the buyer is wrong or scamming, refer to rule #1.

inhawaii · ‎10-05-2021

@brle wrote:
New seller here and need help.
-A new buyer created their account and purchased my listed item on the same day; they have no feedback.
-International sale through GSP (global shipping program); buyer is in Canada.
-Payment made through eBay (not PayPal). I'm unfamiliar with eBay payments but thought PayPal had more seller protections.
-Because the item purchased is a limited edition/ discontinued/rare toy and no longer in production/ difficult to replace in the condition that it is in (new in original packaging), I'm concerned about scams.

I'm reaching out to eBay's community of experienced sellers for advice.
1) What type of scams exist, and what kind of seller protections are there through eBay and GSP?

It's impossible to protect yourself from ALL scams. Anyone can file a false claim
against you and win.

2a) What can sellers do if buyer fraudulently claims item "not as described" when received?

Nothing. Accept the return if you want the item back. Refund the buyer and let the seller keep the item if you don't want the item back.

b) Would seller be responsible for return shipping - from GSP warehouse (KY) or from buyer's location (Canada)? What if buyer sends back an empty box or a totally different item?

In a not as described return, the seller pays the return shipping. If the buyer send back a totally different item, but in a "he said, she said" dispute, the buyer usually wins.

c) Would a video showing the operational toy being packaged and given to USPS clerk protect a seller from dishonest claims?

No. Ebay does not accept videos or photos as evidence.

Thanks in advance!!

If it makes you feel any better, I have NEVER had a fraudulent GSP claim from a buyer in another country, unlike those unscrupulous Americans. 😉

Good luck!

Sea Of Love - The Honeydrippers

kensgiftshop · ‎10-05-2021

@brle wrote:
1) What type of scams exist, and what kind of seller protections are there through eBay and GSP?

To many to list here.
If the item is lost or damaged during shipping, they'll take care of it.

2a) What can sellers do if buyer fraudulently claims item "not as described" when received?

Pay to have something shipped back from their country or refund and let them keep it.

b) Would seller be responsible for return shipping - from GSP warehouse (KY) or from buyer's location (Canada)?

If they file an INAD, you pay return shipping from their location.

What if buyer sends back an empty box or a totally different item?

Buyer will still get a refund.

c) Would a video showing the operational toy being packaged and given to USPS clerk protect a seller from dishonest claims?

No, videos wouldn't prove anything and they wouldn't even look at it.

Have a great day.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎10-05-2021

Let me say first, that in 10+ years of selling on eBay, I have never had a fraudulent buyer. Most transactions go off without a hitch. So keep that in mind.

Next, I am glad you are asking these questions, but you are doing so after the fact. The time to assess one's risk tolerance is prior to listing the item. Once it's sold and paid for, you are obligated to ship. Seller-initiated cancellations can earn a defect on one's account. It is a cardinal sin on eBay to fail to follow through with a sale. So I don't recommend risk management through cancellations. The only safe cancellation is when the buyer requests it, or there is a problem with the address. Then no defect is applied.

To answer your questions:

1) There are as many scams as there are scammers. It is impossible to list them all.

2a) There is nothing a seller can do when a buyer opens a bogus Not As Described claim. This is one of the risks of selling here.

2b) From Kentucky. Empty box scams can only be mitigated if you have Free Returns or are a Top Rated Seller with at least a 30 day return policy. Then you can deduct 50% of the purchase price from the refund.

2c) Videos are not accepted as proof of anything by eBay. They will not review such recordings.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎10-05-2021

@greatstuff80 wrote:
I strongly suggest you read up on all the policies. As a new seller, you are a scam magnet, especially for expensive items. Buyers do get away with most any excuse these days. Read around this board and you will find many cases of sellers losing both the item and their money and even getting charged $20 extra for ebay "handling" a credit card charge back. It has become common and even experienced sellers are getting scammed frequently. There are too many scams to even list.
Photos and videos are useless as ebay will claim they can be faked. It will NOT protect you. Same for returned items. Rule #1 with ebay is the buyer is always right. Rule #2 when the buyer is wrong or scamming, refer to rule #1.

@greatstuff80 I am curious what documentation you have to back up such a claim. Experienced sellers are as vulnerable as any other, but where is the evidence this set of sellers is suffering frequent scams? Anecdotal evidence from reading the forums will give a skewed view of the number of scams. The majority of those who post here come to deal with problems. Those who experience few problems have little reason to post their successes. I agree new sellers need to be educated about scams, but it is also important not to fear there is a scammer behind every transaction.

greatstuff80 · ‎10-06-2021

A head in the sand does not change the problem. ebay seems to be very good at that.

"Anecdotal evidence from reading the forums will give a skewed view of the number of scams."

"The majority of those who post here come to deal with problems. "

Then there sure are a lot of problems for sellers to complain about.

How many do you think never post their issues here?

I do not fear scammers behind every transaction but it pays to be informed.

FYI... an advanced search for your ID turned up nothing. EBay said you do not exist.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎10-06-2021

@greatstuff80 wrote:
A head in the sand does not change the problem. ebay seems to be very good at that.
"Anecdotal evidence from reading the forums will give a skewed view of the number of scams."
"The majority of those who post here come to deal with problems. "
Then there sure are a lot of problems for sellers to complain about.
How many do you think never post their issues here?
I do not fear scammers behind every transaction but it pays to be informed.
FYI... an advanced search for your ID turned up nothing. EBay said you do not exist.

So you did not answer the question, @greatstuff80.

What evidence supports your statement that experienced sellers are getting frequently scammed? I do not believe there is any information available on such percentages. It is one thing to warn new sellers about potential scams. It is another thing altogether to give them information not backed up by fact.

The number of sellers that come to the forums is infinitesimal compared to the millions of sellers on this global platform. One cannot use the forum as gospel on the frequency of scams in the wider seller population.

greatstuff80 · ‎10-06-2021

ebay says your ID does not exist, so why should I or anyone else believe you? Good bye

dbfolks166mt · ‎10-06-2021

I often think it is more than their head that eBay has stuck in the sand. Since eBay is never going to publically document the scams and losses sellers undergo, about the only thing anyone has to go on is the postings on this forum. New sellers appear to be a bigger target often because of inexperience and not understanding things like posting items with no returns does not mean no refunds, never list an item you cannot afford to take the loss on, failure to fully understand the implication of the MBG and externalities like chargebacks.

There is no way to tell what may be accurate and what may be skewed. EBay publically announces it's GMV in every quarterly report I always wondered what the NMV looked like.