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.

coolections · ‎10-30-2017

You will not get any insurance money as it was not lost or broken in shipment. What you have to do is take the buyer to court. Ebay is not court and cannot give the buyer a guilty plea. Save your police reports and talk to a lawyer.

stitchesandseamsct · ‎10-30-2017

OK I'm not entirely sure about this, but there is an anti theft system with Imacs and iphone etc called "find my iphone" or "find my imac" You probably took very clear photos of the serial number of YOUR computer. This is theft. Without giving too much info, can you call apple (or go to the store) and see if they can look up the location of the STOLEN computer. DONT tell them you sold it on ebay, they will probably not want to get involved. JUST A THOUGHT. Best wishes.

Everybody wants to be a beast, until it's time to do what beasts do.

nawlinsron2 · ‎10-30-2017

To quote CEO Devin Wenig:
"As one of the world's top e-commerce destinations, WE DELIVERED nearly $22 billion of volume this quarter and our growth was the fastest it's been in over three years."

Maybe he should put his money where his mouth is...sellers should send anything worth over $500 to ebay and have THEM deliver.

They can even check for NADs at the same time.

sunnysouth1 · ‎10-30-2017

"Best case scenario I will get the insurance money."

No, there won't be any insurance money due to the Signature Confirmation proving delivery to the buyer. Insurance only covers loss or damage.

This is mail fraud. You don't say what country the buyer is in so you might want to research this and find out what you can file to get this buyer's attention.

I am not an eBay employee. I'm a US eBay Community Mentor.
Sunny

njsneaks · ‎10-30-2017

he is in Louisiana, I'm in NYC

njsneaks · ‎10-30-2017

yes -- I have the serial #

coolections · ‎10-30-2017

Give the Apple call a try. Maybe you can at least disable it for now until you get your paperwork together to file a fraud case against the thief.

siayan · ‎10-30-2017

@sunnysouth1 wrote:
"Best case scenario I will get the insurance money."
No, there won't be any insurance money due to the Signature Confirmation proving delivery to the buyer. Insurance only covers loss or damage.

This is mail fraud. You don't say what country the buyer is in so you might want to research this and find out what you can file to get this buyer's attention.

The insurance claim may add weight to a fraud claim. The PO may take a deeper look into it. I hope.

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

tev4all · ‎10-30-2017

@njsneaks wrote:
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.

First thing I would do is file a mail fraud report with the USPS. you can do this here... Mail Fraud

Now some questions that may or may not be pertinent.

Did the buyer send back the original packaging ? or a new package?

Did the buyer send back the magazines stated they recieved ? If so did you retain them?

Did the buyer start the claim thru ebay or paypal ?

Have you filed a complaint with the BBB ? Sometimes, companies will make persons whole to make things go away.

You won't get your money back by filing a mail fraud report but you will at least get the name/address noted for future reference.

njsneaks · ‎10-30-2017

Original packaging with stated magazines was returned. I still have everything that he returned. The claim was done thru eBay and my next step was to file with the BBB.

a_c_green · ‎10-30-2017

imadocent wrote:
Did the buyer send back the magazines stated they recieved ? If so did you retain them?

ISTR that some years back, there was a thread here where the doofus scam buyer actually returned an item that was clearly identified as his. I can't recall now whether it was an old phone registered to him, or an old magazine with his name on the mailing label (or maybe I'm just combining two recollections into one here), but in any case, save everything you get, and act promptly; don't wait for eBay as they are not particularly motivated to do anything for you here.

Get your police report for mail fraud filed locally with your own PD, get the report number, and contact the buyer's local PD to report it to them, citing your number as a reference. Contact your own postmaster or postal inspector, and ask them to follow up with the buyer's PO. I like the suggestion of having Apple brick it as stolen, if that's possible, though you may want to verify that they can un-brick it later if you recover it.

You may end up having to file a small claims court action in the buyer's locality. Hopefully the $4.5K at stake here will make that worthwhile. Good luck.

odditiesandantiquities1 · ‎10-30-2017

@njsneaks wrote:
yes -- I have the serial #

You know....one of the lines I hear almost all the time is "You shouldn't see something you can't afford to lose"

What???? Why can't eBay step up their game against these scammers. They are the ones who taught them. I could not blame a seller ever in this situation. The problem lies within the environment.