SCAM: BUYER CHANGES ADDRESS, NOW CLAIMS BROKEN PHONE

[ltguass]

I wish I stopped by here before I sold my used iPhone on eBay.  

So I listed a used working iPhone on eBay with good description and lots of photos.   A few weeks latter, I get a buyer for the phone on eBay.    Once I get a notification from eBay to ship the phone, I get two emails from two different eBay members with low or non-existent feedback to send it to another address.  I became suspicious when they came from different eBay members, but both messages had a image of the new ship to address in Wilmington Delaware.  Right away, I was suspicious and contacted eBay and told an employee about it.   She agreed that it was also suspicious that the address was an image, and not typed out.    I told the seller that I would mail the iPhone to his original address to protect myself and the seller.  

I ship the phone from the post office and take lots of pictures of the bubble wrapped phone, and the sealed box.  

Now I get eBay message from the seller that the camera does not work.  Funny that, I used the one-year old phone's camera right up to when I put it into the box.  Of course I do a Apple factory reset the day I mailed it out. 

Again, I contact an eBay employee to tell her of my suspicions.   I also file a complaint with eBay against the buyer. 

So now I am waiting on eBay to make a decision.   

A few things:

1)  The ship to address is a business in Wilmington Delaware.  A internet search showed multiple complaints of a dishonest phone buyer in Delaware.

2) If the buyer sends the phone back, what will I get?  An empty envelope with a altered tracking number?  A fake or broken phone?  Or the original phone back, but it is locked and unusable (bricked)?

I need some advice on this to anyone else who has been scammed by a phone buyer, and if eBay rules in the favor of the buyer.  

[sin-n-dex]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

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@bonjourami wrote:

I feel like we should mention too, that sometimes, when a ff is involved, Ebay will say the buyer must work there, so he is entitled to a return and refund. Which is ridiculous of course, but just another way Ebay entitles the buyer.

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Well that is a new one for me.  And I certainly agree with you that would be ridiculous.

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Right, that was eBay Community rep Trinton who first floated that suggestion (that the buyer might just be a worker at the freight forwarding company) several years ago now. He stuck to that line of argument despite heated protests and no evidence that it was ever true. I believe he's still working for eBay but is no longer interacting with eBay sellers.

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The reason that is ridiculous, is because buyers have a shipping address, and a registration address. eBay knows when the registration location is not in the USA which would null the possibility that they "work for the freight forwarder". Since eBay can tell where the buyer lives, I don't see how this claim against the seller can hold any water.

C.

[bonjourami]

Evidently it does because the op who posted about his case lost it when Ebay told him the buyer 'must work at the ff'.

[dbfolks166mt]

@a_c_green wrote:

@mam98031 wrote:

@bonjourami wrote:

I feel like we should mention too, that sometimes, when a ff is involved, Ebay will say the buyer must work there, so he is entitled to a return and refund. Which is ridiculous of course, but just another way Ebay entitles the buyer.

Well that is a new one for me.  And I certainly agree with you that would be ridiculous.

Right, that was eBay Community rep Trinton who first floated that suggestion (that the buyer might just be a worker at the freight forwarding company) several years ago now. He stuck to that line of argument despite heated protests and no evidence that it was ever true. I believe he's still working for eBay but is no longer interacting with eBay sellers.

The reason that is ridiculous, is because buyers have a shipping address, and a registration address. eBay knows when the registration location is not in the USA which would null the possibility that they "work for the freight forwarder". Since eBay can tell where the buyer lives, I don't see how this claim against the seller can hold any water.

     While eBay may have both the registration address as well as a shipping address there is no way eBay can actually tell where the buyer lives or why they are shipping to a US address which may or may not be a freight forwarder. However, in the case where the item does go to a freight forwarder eBay should stand behind it's policy as it is written regardless of whether there is a possibility that the buyer actually works at the FF or not. 

     All the seller should have to do is provide the information showing that the package was delivered to the freight forwarder and the buyers MBG coverage ends at that point. 

[ltguass]

Wow!! A lot of good information.   

Right now this what I got back from eBay:

"This dispute qualified for seller protections
We haven't received the dispute outcome from the buyer's payment institution yet, but this dispute qualified for seller protections. Nothing will be deducted from your funds.
We’ll close this when we hear back."

The buyer did use a freight forwarder, but did not list it as such in the ship to address.   A easy google search of the address confirms that the address is a freight forwarder.

From eBay:

Exclusions and special coverage when the item doesn't match the listing

The item was sent to another address after original delivery

Not covered:

The buyer used third-party freight forwarding or mail redirection

[bonjourami]

Thats really good news! Thanks for letting us know, now lets hope the scammer doesnt go to his cc for a chargeback.

[fern*wood]

Check out this thread:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Buyer-claims-he-is-buying-laptop-for-his-son-who-happens-to-wo...

[mam98031]

@ltguass 

"The buyer did use a freight forwarder, but did not list it as such in the ship to address. "

They don't have to identify the ship to address as being a freight forwarder.

"We haven't received the dispute outcome from the buyer's payment institution yet..."

So this was a Chargeback, not a claim filed in Ebay???  Chargebacks have a different process.  You still should be covered under Seller Protection, however initially the claim may not be ruled that way and you will have to appeal it.

[mam98031]

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@fern*wood wrote:

Check out this thread:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Buyer-claims-he-is-buying-laptop-for-his-son-who-happens-to-wo...

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That would only mean this doesn't involve the FF reshipping the item.  So if they were to file for a Request for Return, it would just be treated like any US claim.  Issue the return label which will be for that address.

I did not read the whole thread, just what the OP said.  

[ltguass]

Yay!! eBay ruled in my favor!

Follow Up:  From eBay, 

"Here's the dispute outcome

The buyer's payment institution sided with you and there's nothing else you need to do."

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. 

Happy New Year!

[bonjourami]

Wow, great news, many congrats!

[brightlightbookseller]

That's actually really surprising to me, but wonderful for you!  It appears you did everything right!  INAD claims are hard to win as a chargeback (hard as an eBay case too, but not as difficult), so I'm impressed it worked out.  Unless they screwed up and filed an Item Not Received claim, which would make this more understandable.

[mam98031]

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@ltguass wrote:

Yay!! eBay ruled in my favor!

Follow Up:  From eBay, 

"Here's the dispute outcome

The buyer's payment institution sided with you and there's nothing else you need to do."

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. 

Happy New Year!

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Excellent job !!!!  See Chargebacks for an INAD can be won by the seller.  Submitting evidence is an important thing.  Congratulations again !!!!

[stcyrils]

glad you posted this, this person i think is trying to get me.....

[ittybitnot]

glad you posted this, this person i think is trying to get me.....

@stcyrils 

You may wish to start your own discussion, since this one is basically "over".   That way you can supply the appropriate details and get advice on what you should do next.