eBay

stop.here.and.buy · ‎04-20-2018

New eBay buyer purchased an Intel 8th Gen i7-8700 processor for $323.99 from my eBay store on Mar 31, 2018. Shipped to his confirmed PayPal/eBay address.

A couple hours after delivery, the buyer opened a “Defective/Not working” return request stating that the product is faulty which was a surprise since an Intel CPU is the less likely component to fail in a computer. Nonetheless, I tried to look at this objectively and tried communicating with the buyer couple of times in the return request, no reply from the buyer. I accepted the return and I provided a free prepaid label to the buyer thinking that it will solve all the issues.

On the very last day to return the CPU, the buyer uploaded an invalid tracking # from Hong Kong to the return request. He did not use my prepaid return label. I called eBay stating that the buyer shipped the product to a different address after delivery and that he voided his Buyer’s Protection in doing so. The CS agreed with me and closed the case in my favor and released the funds. To my surprise, couple of days later, the buyer contacted eBay to dispute the decision and got his money back by providing another tracking number showing delivery.

I was so surprised because I didn’t get any package from Hong Kong. So, I gave USPS a call regarding this package. The USPS CS rep asked for my name/address and was able to quickly find out where the package was delivered to. The package was addressed a Pizza store 26 streets away from my home with the same zip code. I quickly went to the Pizza store asking if they got any package from Hong Kong. I found out the tracking number is correct, but the address and recipient are wrong.

At this point, I knew I am being scammed by this buyer. I am currently filling all the reports I can to bring some light to this scammer and fight for my money. I just checked this buyer account and found out he purchased a similar CPU from another seller the very same day he got his refund back, which I believe will end up like me since this is not a legitimate buyer, but scammer.

Any input/help will be appreacited greatly. Thanks

badrock · ‎04-21-2018

So I have a question return tracking shows delivered, does the number only show zip code? If so how is that proof of delivery?

emerald40 · ‎04-21-2018

@vintagecraze50 wrote:
Why would the buyer sent back OP'S computer to a PIZZA PARLOR 26 blocks from his address? Probably because, the package contained what the OP said it contained. Any other reasons you think a legit return would be sent to a pizza parlor? Please advise if there may be another reason cause I sure cant figure that out.

I was giving the buyer the benefit of the doubt that being from Hong Kong there might have been a language barrier and he just messed up the address.

But obviously that stopped once the OP updated what was sent to him.

emerald40 · ‎04-21-2018

And this bolsters my point that with incompetent ebay CS, I am so glad that I block reshippers.

The OP is filing mail fraud reports with the carrier in the US, but the buyer is in Hong Kong, so how will this even be effective. Same with police reports. Ditto small claims court. IMO buyer is out of reach being from a foreign country.

badrock · ‎04-21-2018

Ok so doesn't the return tracking number show origin shipped from HK. That is not the address shipped too. Tracking only had to show delivered based on zip code only, not an actual address? Scammer can google businesses anything etc in that zip to get an address.

jonathankirkland · ‎04-21-2018

@emerald40 wrote:

Never understood why it only has to be to the same zip code.

Where else when you buy something does that happen. Item should have to show it went to your street address not somewhere on your street or city.

As Paypal told me, apparently they are not able to retreive the "detailed" tracking information, which includes the actual address and not just the zip code, from the carrier. Why they aren't able to I will never understand.

I suppose I am lucky that FedEx was willing to provide me with the actual address attached to that tracking number. I think the lady I talked to felt sorry for when she could tell how upset I was about the scam.

It's one of those catch-22 things. Yes, the tracking number is attached to you via Ebay/Paypal - but the carrier doesn't know that. All they see is the tracking number is NOT attached to the address you provide to them (your real address), but inside tied to the fake address. The carrier has no way of knowing that you're being honest and you could just be trying to find out an address attached to a tracking number for lord only knows what other nefarious reasons. I think it's a security thing perhaps.

Anyway, obviously something needs to be done. You'd think Paypal could at least call the carrier and verify if the address was or was NOT the address it was supposed to be sent to...

And in the OPs case here, this should not have even happened since it was forwarded out of the country. What a mess!

emerald40 · ‎04-21-2018

@badrock wrote:
Ok so doesn't the return tracking number show origin shipped from HK. That is not the address shipped too. Tracking only had to show delivered based on zip code only, not an actual address? Scammer can google businesses anything etc in that zip to get an address.

Yes, and that is why I feel that this policy of only matching up by zip codes is absurd.

Any other place you deal with when you return a package back to a business it has to get to that busness in order for them to refund you.

When I return something to the Loft, they are not going to scour the city looking for it. Either it gets back to them specifically or no refund.

emerald40 · ‎04-21-2018

As Paypal told me, apparently they are not able to retreive the "detailed" tracking information, which includes the actual address and not just the zip code, from the carrier. Why they aren't able to I will never understand.

_____________________________________________

If that were true, then they do not qualify as a payment method for anyone, never mind someone as big as ebay.

And with technology the way it is today, I highly doubt that is even true.

emerald40 · ‎04-21-2018

And in the OPs case here, this should not have even happened since it was forwarded out of the country. What a mess!

____________________________________________

In this case ebay should make this OP whole by giving him a courtesy refund.

Also, if calls are being monitored for quality control, then this CS needs to be identified and retrained.

jonathankirkland · ‎04-21-2018

I want to know what @Anonymous has to say about this?

Nevermind the fact that the buyer should not have MBG for forwarding the package, but this "same zip code" scam?

I've been hit by it as a buyer and it seems sellers are getting hit by it too - NO ONE IS SAFE.

This in fact is now making me nervous to sell OR EVEN BUY on ebay, where I once felt 100% safe (buying that is)...

jonathankirkland · ‎04-21-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
As Paypal told me, apparently they are not able to retreive the "detailed" tracking information, which includes the actual address and not just the zip code, from the carrier. Why they aren't able to I will never understand.

_____________________________________________

If that were true, then they do not qualify as a payment method for anyone, never mind someone as big as ebay.

And with technology the way it is today, I highly doubt that is even true.

Yes but what's stupid is that Paypal could, if they wanted, verify what address the package was NOT sent to. But I think Paypal is just too lazy to spend a few minutes investigating themselves so they leave it up to whoever is disputing the charge to fend for themselves to scramble trying to get proof of that information somehow.

tev4all · ‎04-21-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
Something is not making sense.

Does the buyer live in Hong Kong?

Then how could you even send a return label as you can only send them within the US.

After having read this thread , IT does make sense from an intel gathering perspective.

what happens if ....?

readabouthorses · ‎04-21-2018

@ymeagainlord wrote:
probably used a reshipper (which SHOULD have voided their MBG) and the return label was for return from that address.

OP, if so, I'd call eBay and appeal.

I looked at the OP's current listings and it looks like all of them are going through the Global Shipping Program so I wonder what address the OP had for the return label .. would the GSP address show up as the shipped to address?

badrock · ‎04-21-2018

Okay so proof of delivery is verified by Zip Code only ? I am going to start selling a lot of empty boxes. May even buy a defective Rolex or two from some sellers and return them to the local Dominos

jonathankirkland · ‎04-21-2018

@badrock wrote:
Okay so proof of delivery is verified by Zip Code only ? I am going to start selling a lot of empty boxes. May even buy a defective Rolex or two from some sellers and return them to the local Dominos

And hopefully you will end up in jail, where criminals belong.