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Need expert help dealing with a possible return, feels like a scam.

 In early August, I sold a hard drive for very little money ($15 plus $3 shipping). Listing states no returns. Today I get a message from the seller basically stating that it did not work and he wants a refund. Just that, no attempt to figure out what could have happened, and 2 months and change after the item arrived to his location.

 

What gave me pause at the beginning was that this was going to a Miami address and had a bunch of weird characters and names in the 2nd line of the address. It sounded like those services that receive packages for people overseas and then send the product somewhere else where the final cosumer is. Perhaps somewhere in South America or Europe.

 

After 2 months, I cannot believe that this person had it sitting there and did not use the hard drive, so it probably failed after they have been using it, or are just trying to get the item for free. If I have to end up eating the cost (and again $18 is not something I consider a large sum) I might as well stop selling the 3-4 things I sell a year on eBay. It seems like things have decended a bit.

 

Should I ask them to return the item first? I have the serial number, so perhaps that dissuades them from actually going through. Or should I reach out to eBay per se since it has been 2+ months since the transaction happened and he received the hard drive? But if I have to return the $18, I want them to sweat it a bit, since it clearly smells like a scam to me since they are not messaging me to help figure out the issue, just that it does not work and he wants a full refund.

 

What do you all say?

Message 1 of 5
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Re: Need expert help dealing with a possible return, feels like a scam.

After 30 days from delivery,  buyers cannot start a case.  It was delivered to the reshipper's address, so I'm assuming that would count as delivered.  Also, I believe if they have the item reshipped they lose seller protection.  So frankly I would nicely decline to accept a return because of the length of time involved.  Don't poke a bear with some smart remark....

 

Ebay should back you.........the buyer can go to paypal, but paypal will make them pay return shipping.......

Message 2 of 5
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Re: Need expert help dealing with a possible return, feels like a scam.

As above. Just tell him that you're sorry he's not satisfied, and that he should return it for a refund. Nothing more needs to be said. (To be clear, I don't think he's really going to return it in the first place.)

 

Yes, it does sound like he purchased it through a reshipper, and he will need to return it that way before it can be sent on to you. He may be hoping to bully you into a refund without return, which you do not need to do. He's way past his deadline for leaving feedback, too, if that hasn't happened yet. Leave the ball in his court.

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Re: Need expert help dealing with a possible return, feels like a scam.


@dhbookds wrote:

After 30 days from delivery,  buyers cannot start a case.  It was delivered to the reshipper's address, so I'm assuming that would count as delivered.  Also, I believe if they have the item reshipped they lose seller protection.  So frankly I would nicely decline to accept a return because of the length of time involved.  Don't poke a bear with some smart remark....

 

Ebay should back you.........the buyer can go to paypal, but paypal will make them pay return shipping.......


@carbonero15

Yes, all of this^^^^

Decline and wait/see if buyer opens a PP case.

Reshipped items which it sounds most certainly it was, do not qualify for ebays MBG.

 

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Re: Need expert help dealing with a possible return, feels like a scam.

If you contact eBay, let them know about the time lapse and that you do not believe you will receive the item back in the same condition in which you sent it. Not only because you suspect it's a forwarding service but also could've been damaged in Hurricane Irma. MO
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