Potentially scammed, any insights?

[qazol]

Last week a buyer asked for a fairly decent discount on an item.   I countered.   They then messaged me about another item as well.  We chatted briefly, I checked their feedback, then I offered a bundle deal.  They were a bit all over the place - for example, they placed 5 orders, then cancelled one after I accepted (saying they decided against it), then placed a different one instead.   A little erratic, but not wildly so.  

Anyway, they received the package a couple days ago and claimed via ebay all the cheaper items didn't arrive (3 of 5, all in same box). They haven't contacted us directly despite recently asking about even more items.    We responded to each claim to check the packing material better (doubtful it could be missed, nothing was that small).

We haven't heard back from them or eBay. 

I guess I'm wondering, Is this a common scam structure?   I guess we just wait it out.   

[vintage-camerastuff]

Sounds like the normal confused ebay buyer.   This guy/gal sounds to confused to be a scammer.

[qazol]

OK, it's possible.  I just don't understand how the 3 items could be missing.  The box was securely taped up, made it there fast (wasn't lost in shipping and kicked around), and the 3 items were of various sizes.    It doesn't make any sense to me.

[ittybitnot]

@qazol  

Were the items paid separately, and combined in one shipping box? 

Or

Were the items combined into one order/one payment? 

[jbbowers12012]

Hi,  Just curious.  was a case filed pertaining to the missing items or was this just a message?  Maybe fishing for a partial refund?

[qazol]

They purchased all items separately.  We packaged together and very securely, then refunded overage.  

They claim 3 of 5 didn't arrive.  The 3 cheapest, though it adds up.  They filed with ebay.   

They haven't messaged us directly about it, though oddly did message us about prices on a few more items a couple days ago.

The items aren't small, I can't see them being overlooked.  It feels scammy, and it feels repeatable- I feel pressue not to want to rock the boat on the expensive items and get bad feedback, so I end up just eating the smaller items.  They can just rinse and repeat with someone else.

[qazol]

They filed 3 separate not delivered reports on 5 total items.  Honestly, no chance unless the box literally was cut open by UPS and delivered upside down.

[ittybitnot]

They purchased all items separately.

@qazol 

Were you not allowed to add the same tracking number for each item in the parcel when you shipped?  Or to the claims?   Hope this person made your "best buddy list". 

[qazol]

All of the orders were combined at the point of shipping and therefore share the same tracking number.  All show as delivered on our side.

[ittybitnot]

Got it....."missing items in order" (not as described claim) then, not INR? 

[jbbowers12012]

Hi Again,  I hope others will help out on this.  But if all were shipped together with the same tracking number and tracking number shows "delivered" then you should win an INR case. (J.B.)

[vintage-camerastuff]

OK lets get this straight.  They placed 5 individual orders.  They canceled one order.  That leaves 4 individual orders.  You shipped them all in one box and refunded the extra shipping they paid.  That all sounds very reasonable.   The last question I have is did you manually add the tracking number to the last 3 items.   If you did not do that than only one item has the tracking and the other three do not.   You need to add the tracking number to those items to show that they have been delivered otherwise the buyer can say they never got them.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

By the end of your second sentence I suspectd nothing good was going to come of this transaction. By the end of the fifth sentence, the only question was how you were going to lose money on this deal.

It is a warning of bad business, stupidity or scam, it does not matter which.

[qazol]

The message in my inbox reads:

" Your buyer opened an item not received request".

I received these for three of the five items.

We responded to each asking the buyer to double check the packing materials (although should've been obvious).

[qazol]

Almost.  5, cancel 1, add 1.

Technically it was way more scattered brained on there side:

1) lowball me on an item. I countered.

2) order 2 different items.  Message me about some other item.

3) wait an hour, order 1 different item.

4) cancel one of the first 2, claiming they were out of money. (Despite these being bundle friendly pricing).

5) two hours later order 2 other items.

Or thereabouts.  The specific timing isn't important but it gives a sense of the manic buying.

End result was 6 items ordered, 1 cancelled, and they didn't get most of the things they originally were messaging me about bundling.   It was very odd, but everything they ordered cleared payment immediately and they had good recent feedback.  Their buying history made them look like they just go on buying binges so I figured it was just them being them.