Scammed out of High Value Item

[drodecker]

I sold an item for $2k that shipped in two large boxes.  One part was indestructible solid piece of metal, the other a TV display. 

Weeks later, I was on vacation and didn't notice the eBay messages.  Apparently the buyer complained that both boxes were damaged and within 4 days, eBay awarded them a full refund.

Less than one week later, I'm "appealing" and eBay says that I cannot since I failed to reply within 4 days.  I might add that it was over a weekend.

I've attempted to contact the seller to no avail. Is there any recourse?

[stephenmorgan]

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@drodecker wrote:

Weeks later, I was on vacation and didn't notice the eBay messages.  Apparently the buyer complained that both boxes were damaged and within 4 days, eBay awarded them a full refund.

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eBay took this to mean you did not want to resolve issue so they resolved it on you behalf.  Not sure that eBay will help you with this.

Are you on good terms with the Buyer?  Perhaps if you pay the return shipping they will return the items to you?  eBay has likely told them they do not need to return the items.

[slippinjimmy]

I've had not as described cases opened while away with no internet access, in fact ALL the NAD claims I've had (not that many) in the past 10 years have been filed when I was away and off grid.

It never occurred to me to use the word "scammed".

[drodecker]

Buyer paid nothing, provided no evidence of getting damaged items, isn't replying now, and is keeping the goods.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@drodecker wrote:

I sold an item for $2k that shipped in two large boxes.  One part was indestructible solid piece of metal, the other a TV display. 

Weeks later, I was on vacation and didn't notice the eBay messages.  Apparently the buyer complained that both boxes were damaged and within 4 days, eBay awarded them a full refund.

Less than one week later, I'm "appealing" and eBay says that I cannot since I failed to reply within 4 days.  I might add that it was over a weekend.

I've attempted to contact the seller to no avail. Is there any recourse?

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"Weeks later?" I'm assuming it was about 4 weeks since disputes have to be opened within 30 days.

Neither ebay nor your buyer care that you were on vacation and didn't check your email or ebay messages. You weren't "scammed." You were negligent. 

I'm sorry you lost the case but this is on you.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@drodecker wrote:

Buyer paid nothing, provided no evidence of getting damaged items, isn't replying now, and is keeping the goods.

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The buyer doesn't have to provide evidence. He opened a dispute, waited for your response and when it didn't come, he got his refund. 

Although the moral thing to do would be to respond to you but he doesn't have to do so. 

[inhawaii]

You mean the buyer (ended up) paying  nothing?

This seems pretty clear. Buyer filed a damage claim. You failed to respond in time. Ebay refunded them with your funds.  That is normal. Sorry.

[drodecker]

Am I on good terms with the buyer?

I can't say I'm on any terms with them; we are merely associated by a single listing with this failed transaction on eBay.  I'm out $2k plus nearly $1k in shipping.  To add insult, eBay is charging $321.50 in fees now.

Are you saying that eBay actually advises the buyer that they can keep the item?  I'd like to believe that highvalueclaimsinfo@ebay.com, whom sent me, would consider otherwise.

[drodecker]

Indeed the items was sold over 4 weeks ago.  Item received in Aug 30.  The dispute was just started Friday, Sep 16 and closed on Tuesday, Sep 20.  Is this 4 day refund usual?

[albertabrightalberta]

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@drodecker wrote:

Indeed the items was sold over 4 weeks ago.  Item received in Aug 30.  The dispute was just started Friday, Sep 16 and closed on Tuesday, Sep 20.  Is this 4 day refund usual?

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The buyer opened the claim within the 30 day timeframe as allowed by ebay. He did exactly as he should have done. 

I believe that when it was opened, you received notice and had 4 days to respond, either by issuing a refund without requiring a return or by accepting a return and providing a prepaid shipping label (from your funds) for him to ship it back. 

When you didn't respond within the timeframe, the buyer is allowed to escalate to ebay. Ebay assumes your lack of response means you don't want the item back so they don't require the buyer to return it. They just issue the refund. 

One note though: You didn't lose $1942. You lost your original cost of the item. If you paid $300 for it, that's what you lost. 

[stephenmorgan]

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@drodecker wrote:

Am I on good terms with the buyer?

I can't say I'm on any terms with them; we are merely associated by a single listing with this failed transaction on eBay.  I'm out $2k plus nearly $1k in shipping.  To add insult, eBay is charging $321.50 in fees now.

Are you saying that eBay actually advises the buyer that they can keep the item?  I'd like to believe that highvalueclaimsinfo@ebay.com, whom sent me, would consider otherwise.

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Yes, eBay advises buyer that they do not have to return item when eBay makes a decision on behalf of the seller.  If they keep it or discard it eBay has told them not to worry about returning item.  I can not say that it will always work this way, but it does many times.

eBay expected you to take care of the problem within so many days and since you did not they did it for you.  It is in the User Agreement how things may play out if you do not resolve issues.

You paid almost $1000 in shipping, wow, that was a lot.

Oh, yes a 4 day refund is normal when buyer asks eBay to help because seller has not resolved issue.

[drodecker]

Thank you for that clarification.

To be clear is 4 days a usual timeframe for a refund request to be processed?

Incidentally, I paid $2,900 for it.

[lakefor94]

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@drodecker wrote:

Buyer paid nothing, provided no evidence of getting damaged items, isn't replying now, and is keeping the goods.

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You alone orchestrated this debacle through your irresponsibility. 

This eBay gig ain't for you. Next time, try a local venue for cash. 

[duffy4444]

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@drodecker wrote:..

Incidentally, I paid $2,900 for it.

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   No matter how much you originally paid for it, you may be able to expense it on our taxes as a loss... that way it won't hurt as much as it does now.

Cheers, Duffy

[itscalledapostingid]

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@drodecker wrote:

Thank you for that clarification.

To be clear is 4 days a usual timeframe for a refund request to be processed?

Incidentally, I paid $2,900 for it.

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Yes, ebay expects you to respond within four days.

You can look at your ebay messages to see how the case played out...should be a whole slew of messages from ebay regarding the return request.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handle-return-request-seller?id=4115