Need HELP with handling a return request - abusive buyer or scam?

[stalco01]

I sold an MSRP $1600 camera used for $950 to a (0) rating buyer. Eighteen days later, he opens an "item not as described" return request.

In the listing, I described the item saying, " I bought it new at a store in August 2019". He is taking the position I implied the camera was manufactured in 2019. I don't know when the camera was manufactured. The camera was originally released in 2015, and it is still being sold "new" in stores today. The manual has a 2014 copyright registration mark, which made him go ballistic. The registration of the copyright has nothing to do with manufacturing date. The camera has only 4000 shutter clicks; it is rated for 500,000; it is basically new.

We went through 31 emails of him asking all kinds of questions and me patiently and timely answering. It got to the point where he started swearing at me. I kept my calm, and his last email was, in short, "It's ok. I apologize. You took good care of me. The camera takes great pictures." Eight days later, he files a return request because I supposedly lied in the listing. It's getting kind of abusive. Crazy.

I would love to decline the return request, but that option is not available. I had a no return policy in my listing. Here is what I am afraid of: I accept the return, and the buyer sends me a broken camera back. He also said he used it. Do I have to deal with this madness? What do I do?

[morste_3351]

Accept the return and pray you get your camera back

[kensgiftshop]

@stalco01 

Since the buyer filed an INAD, you have two choices.

Refund the buyer and let them keep the camera.

Or, accept the return, pay return shipping and give a full refund once something is returned.

If you don't and the buyer ask Ebay to step in, they could refund the buyer from your account and let them keep the camera.

[titipeo]

If accepting return, can seller request insurance to protect himself? 

Also, and this is more to the OP, when did the 31 email exchange took place, after goods delivered, or while in transit? Seems indeed rather crazy all the questions, considering the $950 that exchanged hands.

[fab_finds4u]

Here is what I'm afraid of.  All your dilly-dallying around will cause the buyer to get a refund and be told by eBay they don't have to return it. So if you are wise you'll issue a return label and tell him to please return it for a refund.

[tutwa-20]

Accept the return, when the return arrives issue a refund.

[stalco01]

It seems that I have no choice, but to accept a return, despite the no return policy.

How does eBay protect sellers, to make sure they get back what they shipped?

Half of the emails were during the listing, the other half after the auction closed.  I should have blocked the bidder., but thought everybody starts with (0) history.

[stalco01]

The buyer just issued the request today. My understanding is I have 3 days to deal with it. What are a seller's options, if the item returned isn't the one the seller shipped? 

[ljmgoods]

well  hate to tell ya  this ...e bay don't care about  you  your a seller .see  when the seller  wins  the  case  e bay has to pay. they dont want that. they want the buyer to win, then no money comes out  of e bays pocket  . there crooks and they will  fall and i cant wait.....

[ljmgoods]

well sorry to tell ya  this ........e bay don't care .even if you call spend  hours on phone. take pictures send them to e bay .   they don't care .see eBay  got  paid . there's no way there going to refund your money  cause that's the way  they  work. .sellers  mean nothing  to  e bay  unless you have a store in japan  or anywhere  but  the  USA there forcing people to  join  manage payments ....from some  fly by night  i p o from Amsterdam 

[ljmgoods]

and if you send a prepaid shipping . you pay twice .and guess what  if they don't send it  . you lose  it  its happen several times  buyer gets refund  keeps  the  item  . get this  1  buyer did this and  i went to there  sales and they sold my item they didn't send so i lost item  and shipping  and  showed e bay that the guy sold my item  they don't care 

[vintagecraze50]

You should absolutely accept the return request. You can buy a label with insurance and send it to the buyer via a file sent to them to their email.  The free return labels automatically sent by ebay are USPS first class and with a 900 dollar plus item that is a bit risky especially with USPS being prone to losing things and all other shipping calamities right now. If they send you back a different item and scam you,  email them here and tell them you are filing a mail fraud and FBI report through a website called IC3 run by the FBI. Have a postal clerk witness the contents of the package if you can do this, to support a mail fraud claim.

[vintagecraze50]

Next time you sell an expensive item offer free returns and shipping here and if you get scammed you can deduct up to 50 percent off the refund.

[vintagecraze50]

It really does not matter whether you have a zero feedback buyer here or a 3000 feedback buyer here in terms of a potentially bad customer. Scammers here can get their accounts closed and then start another account. Some of my best customers are new users. Ebay cannot protect you from a buyer who chooses to commit fraud period in terms ot return fraud. It is one of the most terrible problems with selling online and costs sellers billions of dollars every year. It is ther nature of this business online. Unfortunately.

[luckythewinner]

---

---

It seems that I have no choice, but to accept a return, despite the no return policy.

A no return policy does not absolve sellers of Not As Described disputes. If eBay allowed sellers to immunize themselves from "Not as described" claims, then unscrupulous sellers would be free to lie in their listings with absolutely no consequences whatsoever and eBay would be out of business in a matter of months. 

How does eBay protect sellers, to make sure they get back what they shipped?

They don't. On eBay, any buyer can steal any item from any seller at any time by filing a fraudulent dispute.