Potential Buyer Scam, Requesting Return, Input please!

[midwesthobbyrc]

Hello,

I just had a buyer request to return claiming the "item was not in condition as described" and the the RC truck I sold him/her " caught fire in house". (2 weeks after delivered)

I understand in 9 out of 10 cases, eBay favors the buyer. But here is the reason I believe this is a scam and curious if there is anything else I should consider doing before issuing refund.

Product: Used RC truck, fully tested and cleaned before sold

Buyer:

1) New ebayer, created account same day my item was purchased. 0 feedback

  - Has 1 feedback now as it looks like purchased square trade warranty with my item. (Fishy)

2) Shipping name looks fake. Doesn't resemble a normal first and last name

3) Physical location item shipped to was suspicious

4) Has not responded to 3 messages I sent trying to resolve.

5) The RC truck itself has no ignition source by itself. So it's likely the buyer either abused the RC truck and overheated it or plugged a faulty battery into it frying the electronics. 

So I understand my options here are

A: Accept return and pay the $50 shipping

B: Provide full refund

C: Partial Refund

😧 Message seller

C and D does not appear to be option as buyer won't respond.

So knowing the the "truck caught fire", is it correct to assume if I pay the $50 shipping to return, I will likely get a item of lessor quality back and eBay will likely favor the buyer and make me refund original amount plus shipping. (Even though it likely buyer caused) So then I'm stuck with a supposed burnt RC truck to salvage and out additional $50. Alternatively, I could pay shipping and buyer never sends back, this not requiring refund. (Unlikely.) Or lastly I refund money and don't pay shipping and out cost of goods.

What am I missing and does anyone have any alternative approaches. I have 100% seller feedback and throughly test everything I sell, so I'm confident I did not sell a defective items but everything I read would say I have no choices here but to cave.

Thank you

[kensgiftshop]

---

@midwesthobbyrc

---

Since the buyer filed an INAD, you don't have many choices.

Refund the buyer and let them keep the item.

or

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

[midwesthobbyrc]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is nothing stopping a buyer from purchasing an item like my RC truck, using it for 28 days, then submit a claim item is not described because they broke it and made up potential excuse like "caught fire" right? This was filed 2 weeks after delivered. Just doesn't feel right but I understand eBay favors buyer.

[kensgiftshop]

---

@midwesthobbyrc 

---

On Ebay they have 30 days to file a claim and 180 days on Pay Pal.

I quit selling RC toys, to many returns after they break them.

Sellers have very little protection here.

[gracieallen01]

No, unfortunately, you don't have much of a choice other than to just refund and let him keep the truck or refund and pay for the return, if it is an INAD.  That is ebay's Money Back Guarantee.  What you THINK happened makes no difference to ebay.

However, after you get the truck - or whatever - back, if it isn't what you sent, you can file a complaint with IC3, USPS Postal Inspectors for mail fraud, your, and their, police dept. and then file an appeal with ebay (maybe).  Many times a 'Please return for refund' will short circuit any further action from the buyer.

[midwesthobbyrc]

Very helpful responses, thank you?

Is it fair to say that if I choose to "return for refund", pay for shipping, and buyer sends me back a RC truck that is not of the condition I sold... Even if I request to only provide a partial refund because the buyer damaged the truck, it is likely the buyer and escalate case and eBay will likely force full refund and give me negative mark. Correct?

Is there any way to avoid refunding the buyer in full and avoiding him/her leaving me negative feedback if instead I go that route? Again the frustrating part here is I know the truck I sold had no issues, so this buyer will likely walk away with a free RC plus leave me negative feedback given whole sale felt "fishy" to me.

[midwesthobbyrc]

Didn't mean to put a "?" mark. I seriously meant these quick responses have been very helpful, thank you.

[ittybitnot]

right?

Yes.   By the way, @midwesthobbyrc  did you happen to send this to the Miami/Dade area or Delaware per chance?  

[outdatedrecreated]

You are preaching to the choir I'm afraid. Whether the buyer is being honest or not does not matter in this instance. Welcome to eBay! 

[gracieallen01]

@midwesthobbyrc 

In all likelihood ebay is going to refund the total - unless you are TRS.  Their argument is that they don't know what you sent and they don't know what the buyer returned.  You can only contest the return after the fact (return and refund) from what has been on the boards of late, and that is by appeal.  This is where the case file numbers of the complaints to IC3, USPS and PD can come in quite handy.  As far as feedback goes, unless they violate policy (language, etc.) to ebay, it is the buyer's opinion.  Sorry, but the facts of 'life' on ebay can be, ah, difficult.

I tend to agree with your summation.  One of the mantras on ebay is 'don't list anything that you can't afford to lose, and pay to do it'.  Hope it works out, though.

[furreherai0]

---

@midwesthobbyrc wrote:

Hello,

I just had a buyer request to return claiming the "item was not in condition as described" and the the RC truck I sold him/her " caught fire in house". (2 weeks after delivered)

4) Has not responded to 3 messages I sent trying to resolve.

Those messages are a problem.

Simply accept the return.

Do NOT communicate other than "please return for refund."

Once you receive something with a return label and that item's tracking number, issue the refund.

That is your best chance scenario.

[inhawaii]

---

@midwesthobbyrc wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is nothing stopping a buyer from purchasing an item like my RC truck, using it for 28 days, then submit a claim item is not described because they broke it and made up potential excuse like "caught fire" right? This was filed 2 weeks after delivered. Just doesn't feel right but I understand eBay favors buyer.

---

You are correct. There is nothing to stop a buyer from doing that. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     You are correct you have no choice but to accept the return. There are a couple of scenario's that may play out here. First the buyer, if he/she is an experienced scammer he/she may be waiting to see how you handle the return request. If they are experienced at scamming they probably have a pretty good idea of what the shipping costs were and what it will cost you to return ship it and may be hoping you issue the refund and simply tell them to keep the item because you don't want to bear the cost of the return shipping. You are out the cost of the item, initial shipping and any eBay fees. 

     If you have them return the item of course you will have to bear the cost of the return shipping. They may in fact never return the item because there is nothing wrong with it and they were hoping you would not require them to return the item since it caught on fire, or they may use the shipping label to return anything they wish including an empty box. 

     Several people have mentioned filing FBI and Police reports but I would venture to say that in order to do that you will have to wait and see what the buyer returns to you. In the short term you can add this person to your BBL and wait and see what transpires with regard to the actual return. You are going to loose any way you look at it but such is the way of life on eBay. 

[midwesthobbyrc]

Thank you everyone! Very helpful.

Last question...

If I require a return and the buyer truely sends me the truck back after 2 weeks of use and "burnt"...

Given the buyer stated it "caught fire", even if I have a video of the truck working and boxing of it, I still probably have no case to say "I didn't receive item in same quality as I shipped" since the essence of the claim is it " caught fire" so I wouldn't expect it to be. So again I require him/her to return and it either calls their bluff or I get a likely unsalvageable product back plus cost of shipping and can't do anything about it right?

Way I summarize it,  fact buyer said it "burnt" and knows it cost $60 to ship to NY, I feel like that a grey area where I cannot win in any case against buyer so hoping they hoping for refund.

I can stomach the cost if need to, just want to make sure I understand options as again I truly think I'm getting scammed so I want to fight where I have a winning chance, but seems like I don't with how eBay works.

Joys...

[midwesthobbyrc]

It does feel wrong eBay doesn't require photo proof of item received and item they returning. I take photos and videos of all items I ship for cases like this but I don't think it matters here. It's whatever the buyer says