Lost package/item empty

[alexandegrochal_0]

Hello! I am somewhat née to selling on eBay and ran into a shady situation. I emailed an item via usps priority mail, where item was scanned and delivered. The buyer reached out so I opened a case with usps, and spoke with the local investigator who said this is common for the lady and the item showed gps delivery. eBay sides with me, but now the seller is saying the item showed up 2 weeks later and was an empty box. How am I protected? eBay wants me to refund the money? The lady is clearly lying, won’t they look at the weight of why I shipped and see it wasn’t empty?

[slpentico]

eBay really doesn't protect buyers from scams on any level and generally sides with buyers on any dispute. Unfortunately this is the cost of doing business on eBay. until there is a competitor that treats their sellers better and sellers start leaving eBay in droves, eBay has no incentive to protect their sellers. This is going to likely be a situation where you have to take the hit and keep on going. Sorry this happened to you. Hopefully it wasn't a high dollar item. I try to avoid selling high dollar items since it increases the risk of getting scammed and the financial loss due to the scam. eBay may say they care about their sellers and that they will protect you from scams but its just words and empty promises.

[18704d]

The recipient of your package has officially stated, that it was received empty.

If you sent it Priority.. (free insurance) or any other method that has insurance included...

I'd immediately file the USPS claim for 'rifled package' 'theft in transit'  whatever it's now called.

There is a procedure to cover this with the USPS or whomever you shipped with..

it may work and get you refunded by USPS.. or..

at the least it'll put the buyer on the 'radar' for excess 'rifled' packages coming to their residence.

Lynn

[fashunu4eeuh]

At this stage you cannot fight the return. But, after the case is closed and you refund, you then have 30 days to put together your evidence and appeal to eBay.

The first stage is nearly an automatic win for the buyer. But the second stage, the appeal, will be reviewed by a person. If you can get a letter from the carrier stating your buyer is known for having multiple rifled packages, that would be helpful to your appeal. 

Ebay protects the buyer’s interests, first and foremost. (It is up to the seller to protect themselves.) So in a he-said-she said circumstance, eBay will side with the buyer. But accumulate your proof and carefully follow the steps for the eBay appeal, link below. Best of luck to you. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/appeal-ebays-decision-return-missing-item...

[caldreamer]

You will be forced to give full refund (including postage).   If you don't give refund fast enough...EBAY will do it automatically and you will get a "defect" (for not obeying the rules).   EBAY believes customer is ALWAYS right. 

I would definitely put this customer on your "blocked bidder" list so they cannot purchase from you again. 

[reallynicestamps]

You shipped.
The tracking showed delivery.

The buyer said it had not been delivered.

You contacted USPS, and a local agent was familiar with her and her (bogus) claims.

It's not clear how eBay got involved at this point.

Did she open an eBay dispute?

EBay agreed that the item had been delivered and she lost the Dispute. (If there was one.)

Two weeks later, she says the item has been delivered (again) and the box was empty.

Has she tried to open a Dispute?

While an open Dispute can be changed from Not Received to Not As Described, once closed a dispute cannot be re-opened.

Is eBay telling you to refund her?

Or is she telling you eBay has told her you are supposed to refund?

The timeline and the Disputes are unclear.

BTW- she can also open a Dispute with Paypal for 180 days from Payment and with her credit card company, but they may take the closed eBay dispute into consideration.

[alexandegrochal_0]

Thanks for the response. Yeah, the tracking showed delivered but she was saying it was not. I started a case with usps, and she started one with eBay. eBay sided with me as it was delivered and verified by usps.

fast forward 2 weeks. Now she started a case with eBay saying the package was delivered but was completely empty and missing the 9lb item. I am not refunding this money, just because it’s 100% a scam. But the only option eBay gives is to do nothing, or refund.