Scammed and eBay won't help!!!!

[since2006atl]

Hello everybody.

I decided to post on here since eBay will not make it right. I sold a laptop on eBay to a new buyer. When they received the item they created a return even though the laptop was working correctly. The laptop was marked delivered to me but never was delivered. I received documents from USPS that they are still in possession of the item. I created a case with eBay and submitted the documents. No answer... I then called again and spoke with an agent that told me the return should have never happened due to the buyer address being a mail forwarding location and not eligible for buyer protection. When I googled the address it pulls up another eBay forum post from the next door address with the same scam. He was returned a box of rocks. here is the link https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Please-Be-Careful-Fraud-Buyers/td-p/32684275/page/2

I called eBay today to see what the status of the 2nd escalated case was and she said both of the escalated cases were denied. At this point it is clear eBay is more concerned with helping scammers than customers that have bought and sold on eBay for more the 20 years. USPS is no help either as it looks like the package was stolen and re-sent into the USPS systems as a smaller item than when it was shipped. It was shipped in the branded computer box so they probably stole it but ended up with rocks...

I posted the USPS document showing they still have it, and the email I got after creating the second escalated case where eBay says it show have never been returned. eBay never followed up after the escalated cases they just deny them and move on with out any documentation. 

[brightlightbookseller]

Yes, that's a known scam.  It can be hard to get eBay to do anything about it.  devon@ebay  kyle@ebay  elizabeth@ebay  Do you think any of you could help this seller out?  They seem to have the evidence that would usually be needed but aren't making headway.

@since2006atl, your other recourse would usually be small claims court, but since the buyer is probably out of the country, that's not really going to work out.

[stainlessenginecovers]

If USPS has the item, why can't you pick it up? 

Why does USPS have the item and are not delivering it? 

Being a 'mail forwarder' does NOT dismiss a seller from a return. It just means the buyer needs to 'return' the item, which- per tracking- they have? 

[pjcdn2005]

I don't understand how it can show as delivered and yet USPS says they are in possession of it?

Assuming that it was delivered, I suspect that it was delivered to a different address in your zip code area and was probably just an envelope, not a package. USPS will be able to tell where the package was addressed to and although they won't give you that information they should be willing to write a letter showing that the package with that tracking number was addressed to a different address, not yours.  Based on what I've read here, if you can get a letter showing that, eBay may refund you from their own pocket.

[since2006atl]

If USPS has the item, why can't you pick it up?

The item is in a bin at the main Atlanta sorting facility. Currently I am in the process of USPS "find my missing mail" but I doubt that will ever happen. The package is also only 0.16oz now so getting it at this point won't get me back the computer that probably wasn't shipped back in the first place. The posted document shows they still have it and eBay still won't do anything.

Why does USPS have the item and are not delivering it? 

idk

Being a 'mail forwarder' does NOT dismiss a seller from a return

eBay support told me that the address was not eligible for returns as shown the in the posted screenshot. Maybe it is a flagged address idk.

It just means the buyer needs to 'return' the item, which- per tracking- they have? 

Per tracking it shows in a bin at USPS so that is not correct. The raw data tracking sheet is posted above.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@since2006atl wrote:

Hello everybody.

I sold a laptop on eBay to a new seller.

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First of all, sorry that this has happened to you. No one deserves this.

How were you able to determine this was a new buyer ( i think you meant buyer not seller)?

[since2006atl]

My guess is the mail carrier cut the label off the package and sent it back out while keeping the box. The label was scanned in TX later that night way smaller than when sent. The package was scanned delivered at the dollar store down the street from the GPS data. It's possible if it was delivered to the dollar that they sent the label back out but I don't see a dollar store employee that smart. Also it was probably just rocks as said in the link and they would have opened it first. The only thing I know for sure is USPS still has the label and I never got the package.  eBay has all the info they need to know I never got it but they would rather not help.

[since2006atl]

It had the correct address on it. USPS customer service said she could see the label from a scan of it and it was correct. My mail carrier also marks stuff delivered on some days when she is lazy and drops it off the next day but that was not the case this time. She also told me eBay can see the detailed tracking and knew it was not really delivered. But if you check tracking on the consumer side it doesn't update after it was marked delivered. The only way to get the tracking info I posted above is from a USPS manager and they are not supposed to give it out.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@since2006atl wrote:

when I looked at there name after the return it said 1 next to it.

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Well that would mean you are correct. Sorry to hear this happened and hope you can resolve this quickly.

I guess you can call this data brightlightbookseller on some new sellers being problematic. YMMV

Not all but clearly is an issue for some.

[12345jamesstamps]

It was a 'freight forward' to Delaware...and then to another country.

And not returned to your address.

Isn't something that expensive have to be signed to accept it and also returning doesn't a return supposed to be signed to accept it?...Just thoughts here throwing out.

I would think eBay should be able to see the address of where it went....with tracking.

eBay knowing it didn't go to your address I would think eBay should not refund the buyer.

This makes no sense.

devon@eBay, kyle@eBay, elizabeth@eBay  maybe they can help.

[duffy4444]

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... I sold a laptop on eBay to a new buyer...

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@since2006atl:

   This was your first and ultimately fatal mistake that guaranteed a high risk of loss. Coupled with shipping a laptop to a foreign purchaser via a freight forwarder as well. The risks were way up there.

   NEVER, EVER  sell, and especially ship, any high-value item anywhere online, particularly electronics, that you and your business model are not prepared to lose, in addition to the final insult of losing your payment for it on a forced eBay refund over which you will almost automatically lose regardless o the circumstances. It should be sold locally, in person, for cash only.

Cheers,

Duffy

[brightlightbookseller]

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@chevymontecarlo88 wrote:

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@since2006atl wrote:

when I looked at there name after the return it said 1 next to it.

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Well that would mean you are correct. Sorry to hear this happened and hope you can resolve this quickly.

I guess you can call this data brightlightbookseller on some new sellers being problematic. YMMV

Not all but clearly is an issue for some.

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Hardly.  One data point does not a statistic make, nor is the data in favor of new sellers being more problematic.  Please don't tag me about this in unrelated threads either, that's just being unnecessarily antagonistic.

[chevymontecarlo88]

It's ok. Just wanted to point this out since you were saying there is no data and that was about 15 minutes ago.

It is good for the community to understand what others actually do go through. I get your point of tagging you and was not trying to be antagonistic. I really do hope the OP does not get burned. Happens too often and really frustrating for any user trying to sell anything of value.

[yuncreations]

why don't you go to the post office to pick it up? if usps has it... sorry if i missed this... 

[since2006atl]

eBay came and deleted the attachments showing proof of the scam. They also deleted the address off my post and the linked post. This is the most they have done this entire time and it was only to cover up the scam and deny wrong doing on their part.