Possible scam by Russian buyer claiming he received a different item

[dawn19788]

I sold a new pair of Nike trainers to a buyer in Russia. Shipped via UPS international tracked as always, delivery was slightly delayed because of Christmas but they were delivered around 3 weeks after posting. The buyer has now opened a case on EBay saying that the trainers he received are not what he ordered. He has enclosed a photo of a completely different pair of trainers to the ones which he ordered and which were posted by me (which look fake to me) and the box in the photo does not match the trainers shown (still Nike but a different type). eBay have said I need to accept a return and then refund him in full as they cannot prove he hasn’t received what he ordered. If the shoes he returns to me are fake I’ve lost the cost of the originals I posted (£320) plus I have to pay for return postage. He’s now asking for £118 to be paid to him by PayPal for the return postage, they cost me £23 to post via UPS. So I feel like I’m being scammed twice! But there’s nothing I can do is there? I can’t prove that I posted him what he paid for. Have I been scammed?  I’ve been selling for years and have never had this before. I feel very angry. Thanks for any advice. 

[ittybitnot]

 Have I been scammed?  

Most likely, yes. 

[jayjaspersgarage]

Between Brexit and trying to sell to Russians I would say you are SOL.  And you are posting on the U.S. member board instead of your own.

There is some kind of shoe authentication program here in the U.S.  Fraud is rampant in the on-line selling venues at the moment.  There is literally no protection for sellers of expensive items these days so Seller Beware is the new catch phrase.  

[1grandmashope_1]

Unfortunately,  the likelihood is yes. A scam. 

People are people, no matter where they hail from. Good, bad and unpredictable. 

Selling online is always a gamble no matter which whom you deal.

Take a breath and may this be the worst that happens to you in 2021.

Best moving forward, 

Grandma 

[jayjaspersgarage]

"Take a breath and may this be the worst that happens to you in 2021."

Now THAT is optimism to the max!

🙂

[donsdetour]

Posible scam YES....

As other have said this it the US comunity not the UK:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/ 

Our rules and policy are return for refund; or refund with out return.

That is your choice due to eBay had no clue what you sent: or what the buyer sends back.

If you get some thing different back file a report on the buyer with ebay for abuse of returns as well as law enforcement in your, and if possible; their location.

'Good luck with this..

[*smedley*]

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@dawn19788 wrote:

Have I been scammed? 

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most definitely...

[caldreamer]

EBAY guarantee allows customers to claim "not as described, defective or counterfeit" and they get full refund (plus postage BOTH ways).    Customers do NOT have to provide any proof.

Sounds like a scam to me (they are hoping you will give them full refund without having to return shoes).   Scammers know that SELLERS don't want to postage from Russia.

I would put this person on your block list.  And you may want to limit foreign countries you are selling to.