Return based on false claims

[stevenborck]

I had a buyer request a return after claiming to receive the wrong item. I accepted the return and have received the item that they claimed I sent them. I talked to eBay support and they said that if I ask them to step in, they will immediately close the case in the buyer's favor without looking at my evidence or explanation. They also said that if the buyer asks eBay to step in after the 48 hours have expired for me to refund them, then eBay will also immediately close the case in the buyer's favor.

The only option the person I was talking with gave me is to appeal the case after it has closed (and after I am forced to refund the buyer). Is there anyway that I can get eBay to actually look at my evidence before I am forced to refund the buyer, or some other option I can take?

[caseypl]

Can you post more info? I can't tell if you got a different item back or if they returned under false premises. 

Either way, Ebay obviously really has made it clear they side with the buyer in just about every case. Look at the value of the item and double check if it's worth your time pursuing. Maybe it is. If not, block, move on and if it happens again, look at the category of products you are selling in. In my opinion, certain categories present more problems than others. 

[stevenborck]

The buyer sent me back the item they are claiming I actually sent them (a worthless item). They are basically trying to keep the item I actually sent them for free. If eBay sides with the buyer, I'm looking at a loss of almost $1200, which is especially a lot for a college student.

[caseypl]

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[caseypl]

Yeah man, it definitely hurts issuing refunds when stuff gets damaged in transit. I've done that a few times lately. (Thanks UPS and Fedex). 

Remember that line in Training Day... It's not what you know... it's what you can prove. Obviously Ebay has stated their position, so don't rely on them. If you can articulate your case and can show item for item that what you sent is different than what you got back, such as different serial numbers, certain identifying marks, etc, then I would message the buyer, inform them of your findings and ask if they accidentally sent back the wrong device. Give them one final chance to admit if they made a "mistake". Then there is nothing in my opinion that prevents you from filing local police reports in their jurisdiction to allege theft. In some cases you can do it online. Most people dont' want such things filed. Just make sure you are certain as it's an allegation and you want to be right about it before doing so due to legal implications. If other sellers experience similar things and do the same thing, then hopefully it can create a paper trail on the person. 

Definitely prepare before selling stuff like that. You want to get stuff like vinyl destructible warranty labels of a few different types and state in the listing you will add such things out of site (don't show them ahead of time, just write it, that way they can't buy the same types). Prepare to ship well ahead of the sale. 

[stevenborck]

As far as ebay is concerned, the buyer did send back what they received, since they are claiming I sent them a completely different item. Ebay is also flat out refusing to look at any of my evidence of the scammer until after the case is closed and I have to refund them.

I personally doubt messaging the buyer will help. I do plan on filing a report with the USPIS though since the person is committing mail fraud. I will do more for preparation for higher priced items in the future, but no matter how much I prepare, there is nothing stopping the buyer from doing exactly what this buyer is doing now. 

[a_c_green]

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@stevenborck wrote:

Is there anyway that I can get eBay to actually look at my evidence before I am forced to refund the buyer, or some other option I can take?

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Not really, no. But if this is regarding the security tag/ID printer laminator that someone has effectively stolen to make their own fake security IDs (what could possibly go wrong?), you might get more than the usual interest from law enforcement if you file a police report and include the address to which you sent it. (It might be a reshipper who will forward it out of the country, but maybe not.) Good luck.

[stevenborck]

Based on my research, it does not seem to be a reshipper. You do bring up a really excellent point about the possibility of how they may use that item. I'll definitely be keeping that in mind as I do file a report with law enforcement

[caseypl]

Yeah, it's tough man. We all would love to say alot on here about the whole thing, but I know Ebay loves buyers, so I won't say anything. I'm just like Ebay... I love buyers...... these forums do get moderated. 

It's hard to even say this will help you learn and be a better seller later on because this kind of hits hard and makes you want to write this whole venture off entirely. It just depends on how much you decide to sell. I think over time you'll see what to sell, what to avoid selling, and what to be vigilant with. 

The best thing to do now is to file any reports you can. It likely won't lead to anything for you personally, but helps create a record and show you are following up and maybe there's a chance things  work out with it. If you specify what you sold in the reports, such as an ID card machine, it's possible the local Police may find that of interest if there are issues in the area with such devices (maybe, maybe not, who knows). 

[katzrul15]

@stevenborck 

Really sorry this happened to you.  

Please place this buyer on your BBL and please report them to e-Bay from the Transaction view drop down menu for Fraud - outline the bait and switch.

I would reach out to e-Bay on social media and let them know what you have told us - they committed fraud and shipped back to you a worthless item, not what you sold them.

(18) eBay for Business | Facebook

As stated above, I would report this to law enforcement and I would go to your local post office and ask for the postmaster and that you need assistance filing to flag this address for mail fraud.  Most post offices will work to assist you.

Please let us know how this turns out.  The fraud is sickening on this site and we have been there also - not to the tune of $1200 in one fell swoop - but definitely more than that when all said and done for 2021.

[stevenborck]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to remember to say how this all turns out, whenever it is eventually resolved.