eBay

njsneaks · ‎10-30-2017

I sold a macbook pro earlier this month (max specs), retail is $4.5k after tax and was scammed by a buyer. I shipped using USPS priority mail signature confirmation and insured for half the value of the item (I know it was dumb not to get the full insurance). The buyer has 135 feedback all positive and has been active on the account.

The buyer signs and receives the laptop on a Friday. The next morning I wake up to my Paypal $4k less than the night before. He opened an item not as described case and stated that I had sent a bunch of magazines in place of the laptop. I've been in a situations like this before and immediately filed an investigation with the post office, filed an ic3 and then a police report in the buyers county. I knew eBay would let him return "the item" regardless of what I responded.

About a week goes by and I finally get the package back from the buyer with no laptop. I knew my only hope at this point was to file an appeal with eBay. I uploaded all the pictures that I had taken prior to shipping, screenshots of the USPS investigation, police repoort, etc. Ebay tells me that there is no way to prove that what I had mailed was actually the laptop even with all of my evidence. And since the post office has not concluded their investigation, they would be siding with the buyer. Since my PayPal had more than enough funds when the buyer opened the case, the money was automatically deducted and returned to him.

At this point I'm at a loss for what to do. I went to the post office to return the packaging that I had received back from the buyer and had spoke with the manager regarding my case. Best case scenario I will get the insurance money, which is only half the value of the actual laptop. I'm unsure of what other actions I can take at this point since I have lost the appeal and eBay is basically unwilling to do anything more.

chrysylys · ‎11-03-2017

alan@ebay

@Anonymous

tyler@ebay

Are you guys on this case yet?

Forget keeping up with the Joneses. Be the Finklegrubers!
OK kids, time to get the Dodge loaded up again. I hear 'Poppy's By the Tree' calling. This trip might be a long one too.

kattinsanity · ‎11-04-2017

What do you think they can do? The OP was already having a 21 day hold on his funds due to other "buyer/seller" problems. The buyer said he received a stack of magazines instead of the computer he paid $4,000.00 for and the OP said he sent. The OP wanted the magazines back so the buyer sent the magazines back. The buyer was refunded in full. The OP already appealed ebays decision and lost. What is it that Trinton, Tyler, etc. are suppose to do "on the case"? Even a court of law can't decide what was actually sent by the seller and whether the buyer actually received what he paid for. Since the OP had previous problems with his sales it would probably be decided in favor of the buyer again anyway. One big question: Why would you not go to the trouble and expense to insure the item for it's value of $4,000.00? Instead the OP insured it for $2,000.00? Seems strange to me.

chrysylys · ‎11-04-2017

@kattinsanity wrote:
What do you think they can do?

Whether or not they can do anything, they should be made aware of each and every one of these threads within the first few posts. These threads should not got to 200+ posts without them being notified.

Forget keeping up with the Joneses. Be the Finklegrubers!
OK kids, time to get the Dodge loaded up again. I hear 'Poppy's By the Tree' calling. This trip might be a long one too.

kattinsanity · ‎11-04-2017

Maybe the OP is better off that they don't step in here--they know more than what is most likely being divulged by the OP.

phcd1 · ‎11-04-2017

@hermes19 wrote:
The only way to get some kind of proof is to take it to UPS store or USPS post office, film item in box, film taping the box closed and giving it to post office clerk.
That way if something happens you can present it to Ebay as evidence - you can even tell the scammer that you have the video and that you will be sending it to Ebay.
OR - you can inform every buyer that "Every item over $400 is videotaped in the process of being mailed to avoid misunderstandings" - BEFORE you send the item. They may suddenly decide they do not want the item after all.

Filming is a waste of time. You can have the Pope package the item in the box while the Post Master tapes and seals the box shut as the Chief of Police is filming this, have all three sign affidavits and it would have no change to the outcome of this case.

phcd1 · ‎11-04-2017

@njsneaks wrote:
my next step might be to file in small claims court, only problem is I work in NYC and would have to take off if anything were to happen.

Most small claims suits can't be filed across state lines.

The bigger problem is, how are you going to prove you didn't send a box of magizines?

prescott4 · ‎11-04-2017

@phcd1 wrote:
@njsneaks wrote:
my next step might be to file in small claims court, only problem is I work in NYC and would have to take off if anything were to happen.
Most small claims suits can't be filed across state lines.

The bigger problem is, how are you going to prove you didn't send a box of magizines?

Here isn another issue, that guys lawyer can use the evidence presented in the OPsm feedback to make a case that he has a habit of scamming...

a_c_green · ‎11-04-2017

Those of us who have been following this saga since the beginning, now approaching 300 replies, are now watching the same points come up for a second or third time, raised by folks who (understandably) can't bear to slog through the first 200 posts, so let's have a quick summary of the basic points we've already covered, so that we can then resume our search to say something fresh about this topic:

Next time I'm gonna video myself packing the box
eBay doesn't review videos; total waste of time
I'm gonna get notarized statements from federal empoyees to state what they saw me opening
If you call your federal employee "Uncle Fred," you might get cooperation; if it's a generic USPS employee you don't know, you may be out of luck
I'm gonna report the buyer to his police and/or the USPS and/or the IC3
Not sure about the IC3, but it wouldn't hurt to try the other two, just to get a report on the record
But don't count on them breaking down doors for you
Trinton!
Trinton responds with official policy and hints of special accommodation if Customer Service has been telling more of their usual whoppers
Talk of lawsuit is floated
Violent agreement and discussion of how what we need around here is a class-action lawsuit against eBay which will really wake them up about What's Really Going On and how we're Not Going To Take This Any More.
No, no, we meant a lawsuit against the scam buyer
13 quotes and anecdotes about Judge Judy are posted
Someone points out that the seller and buyer are several thousand miles apart, and/or on separate continents, making small claims court a bit iffy
Scam report will now be sent to Interpol
Laser Death Ray From Space melts scam buyer into a warm puddle, next to the greasy spot in the road where the dead horse used to be.

Have I missed anything?

siayan · ‎11-04-2017

@a_c_green wrote:
Those of us who have been following this saga since the beginning, now approaching 300 replies, are now watching the same points come up for a second or third time, raised by folks who (understandably) can't bear to slog through the first 200 posts, so let's have a quick summary of the basic points we've already covered, so that we can then resume our search to say something fresh about this topic:

Next time I'm gonna video myself packing the box
eBay doesn't review videos; total waste of time
I'm gonna get notarized statements from federal empoyees to state what they saw me opening
If you call your federal employee "Uncle Fred," you might get cooperation; if it's a generic USPS employee you don't know, you may be out of luck
I'm gonna report the buyer to his police and/or the USPS and/or the IC3
Not sure about the IC3, but it wouldn't hurt to try the other two, just to get a report on the record
But don't count on them breaking down doors for you
Trinton!
Trinton responds with official policy and hints of special accommodation if Customer Service has been telling more of their usual whoppers
Talk of lawsuit is floated
Violent agreement and discussion of how what we need around here is a class-action lawsuit against eBay which will really wake them up about What's Really Going On and how we're Not Going To Take This Any More.
No, no, we meant a lawsuit against the scam buyer
13 quotes and anecdotes about Judge Judy are posted
Someone points out that the seller and buyer are several thousand miles apart, and/or on separate continents, making small claims court a bit iffy
Scam report will now be sent to Interpol
Laser Death Ray From Space melts scam buyer into a warm puddle, next to the greasy spot in the road where the dead horse used to be.
Have I missed anything?

BBB

____________________________________________________________________
Prov 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

nawlinsron2 · ‎11-04-2017

Is there ANYTHING a seller can present in such a case as this ("he said/she said") that ebay will ACCEPT as proof of performance AND/OR proof of false return?

bubnugget · ‎11-04-2017

Things like this is why I don't sell anything for more than $200

nawlinsron2 · ‎11-04-2017

ebay: "We've got your back...up to $9.99"

kattinsanity · ‎11-04-2017

I find it strange that the OP has been selling quite a few high end items within the last month or so~~jumped from selling shoes for a few hundred $$ to $2,000.00 electronic items. Granted, there are a lot of buyers who don't leave feedback these days but these buyers who bought these items haven't left the OP feedback and he hasn't left them feedback either. I'm not saying anything fishy went on~~I just find it strange no feedback was exchanged over these high buck items.

phcd1 · ‎11-04-2017

@nawlinsron2 wrote:
Is there ANYTHING a seller can present in such a case as this ("he said/she said") that ebay will ACCEPT as proof of performance AND/OR proof of false return?

NO!

quadcitypickers · ‎11-04-2017

@kattinsanity wrote:
I find it strange that the OP has been selling quite a few high end items within the last month or so~~jumped from selling shoes for a few hundred $$ to $2,000.00 electronic items. Granted, there are a lot of buyers who don't leave feedback these days but these buyers who bought these items haven't left the OP feedback and he hasn't left them feedback either. I'm not saying anything fishy went on~~I just find it strange no feedback was exchanged over these high buck items.

Would you buy a $4,000 item from someone with 3 feedback? I wouldn't.

As a seller myself, I would want a little reputation to show I'm a good seller, at least 100 feedback, before selling something for more than a grand.