@maryinlikely wrote:
You got a buyer that is replacing their old damaged item with your item. Call Ebay and see if they can help you since the shipping box does not show damage.
I agree that the old "switch" scam is likely what's happening. It's an easy and simple way for a scammer or even a simple opportunist to get a free replacement for their own damaged item.
About 15 years ago, I had a similar situation with a $50 book I sold, brand new, factory shrinkwrapped and very well protected against shipping damage. The buyer messaged me (didn't file an INAD case), and included photos of supposedly the same book, looking like it got run over by a Mack truck. I messaged back to the buyer, "Even though it is in pieces, please return the book. As with all expensive books, we had placed an invisible secret mark on one of the pages. When we confirm that the book is the one we sent, we'll gladly refund your entire purchase price and you can keep the item or dispose of it as you wish. Then we'll notify the USPS Postal Inspectors so they can get to the bottom of who created the damage..."
I never heard from the buyer again, and he went onto our Blocked Buyer's List. If his damage story was real, he would have sent the book back in anticipation of receiving a refund. I didn't really have a secret mark on one of the pages, but what I said flushed him out. Sometimes we sellers have to take the extra steps when buyer fraud is blatant or even merely suspected.
Cheers, Duffy
