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?

[drodecker]

Not a slew of messages.

Case is on hold.

Then refunded.

See attached.

[miyasamaco]

Unfortunately you are out of luck because you didn't bother to keep tabs on the sale. You didn't check any messages and therefore the buyer won their case by default.

If it was such a high value item, you should have made it a point to keep an eye on what happened after the transaction. Your actions (or lack thereof) resulted in you giving away a free high priced item. If you cannot afford to lose it, do not list it on eBay.

[itscalledapostingid]

Looks like several messages and there would be more on the next page from when the initial case was opened.

I am familiar with the return process and I provided a link above about the return process.

[stephenmorgan]

There should have been a message asking you to resolve the issue prior to the message on Sept 16  "eBay we are stepping in"

Not sure what the message at 8:12pm today means  "Action required for eBay return"

I think sometimes when a Buyer may have a spotty reputation eBay may look at things a little closer.  

[drodecker]

Thank you for the reply and link; although I didn't find the 4 day timeframe therein.

Can you point me to where the response timeframe is indicated?

[albertabrightalberta]

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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?

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It's not 4 days to issue the refund. You have 4 days to respond to the case. If you'd responded, even at day 3 + 12 hours, you would have sent the buyer a return shipping label and the buyer would have a date by which to ship it back. Once you receive it, then you'd issue the refund. (If the buyer never sends it by the buyer's deadline, you can get the case closed and you don't have to refund the buyer.)

[itscalledapostingid]

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@drodecker wrote:

Thank you for the reply and link; although I didn't find the 4 day timeframe therein.

Can you point me to where the response timeframe is indicated?

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It's in the link I posted...

"When the buyer opens a return request we'll notify you by email (to your registered email address) and through eBay Messages. You have 3 business days to respond to the request and resolve the buyer's issue."

[stephenmorgan]

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@drodecker wrote:

Thank you for the reply and link; although I didn't find the 4 day timeframe therein.

Can you point me to where the response timeframe is indicated?

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Click on the link "ask us to step in" and it will take you to the 48 hour timeframe.

If you respond to the request but don't come to an agreement with the buyer after 3 business days, you or the buyer can ask us to step in and help.

Once you've asked us to help, we'll review the details and get back to you and the buyer with a resolution within 48 hours.

[drodecker]

Thank you all for pointing out the policy.  Indeed this is eBay wild-west way and there is no recourse within the system.

I should have known better as this buyer smelled suspicious and I'm fairly certain they planned to scam me all along; even if I processed a return through eBay, it would likely be spent on having them ship me back a box of rocks.

Nevertheless, the Buyers shipping address is to their business, which signed for it, and I intend on taking them both to small claims.

[itscalledapostingid]

Looks like the 16th was when the buyer asked ebay to step in. The initial return request would have been opened at least 3 days before that.

[dbfolks166mt]

     As others mentioned you did not respond to the buyers claim and the buyer asked eBay to step in. At this point you probably have little recourse other than the legal action you are seeking against the buyer. The original listing indicates this was shipped USPS parcel select ground which does not come with insurance but not sure if you purchased insurance on the item(s) outside of the USPS system but you may want to explore that option although it would require some cooperation from the buyer. UPS may have been a better shipping option for this item or a freight service. 

     Not sure how you racked up $1K in shipping you are on the west coast and I am on the east coast and the shipping cost when I look at the listing indicates $385 for the shipping cost, it also stipulates "seller does not accept returns", which of course does not mean no refunds, so there was no need for the buyer to return the item and you probably would not have wanted to pay for the return shipping anyway. 

     Chalk this one up as an expensive lesson although I do wish you all the luck in the small claims process. 

[kensgiftshop]

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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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When the buyer opens a case, you have 3 days to take care it.

If you don't, Ebay will take over.

[kensgiftshop]

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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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On the 4th day, the buyer can ask Ebay to step in and if they haven't heard anything from the seller, the buyer gets a refund .

[titipeo]

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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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So, lets turn the table here. 

Lets suppose you did see the notifications from eBay, you either do nothing (which is what happened), return for a refund (you pay for shipping) or you refund automatically w/out a return, what would you've done since you have 4 days to act. You say that shipping was about $1k, that's going to be another $1k for return shipping at your cost, would you have taken it? Seems rather step for a "damage" item. 

Was this insured? Signature receipt seeing it was over $750?

[1tuna]

well its some ones problem that for sure

selling on ebay unaware of the MBG is no way to do business

being out of touch at a critical time cost the seller

all they had to do was respond with "please return it for a refund" within 96 hours

I dont like this any more than the other responders but thats the way it goes

maybe the seller should fire off a letter from some lawyer and demand they let go of the goods.