Scammers

[runfar26thomas]

Why doesn’t eBay do anything about buyers that scam sellers? I have had several and eBay always sides with the buyer. The scammers (buyers) get refunds and the seller gets screwed. I am seriously considering getting off of eBay and perhaps going to Whatnot. I can’t afford to keep paying for the scammers. Any advice?

[kensgiftshop]

Don't sell items that attract scammers.

How are you being scammed?

[dhbookds]

without  knowing what kind of scam you are experiencing, hard to give advice.......

[runfar26thomas]

thank you for replying. Scams that I am experiencing is buyers claiming that they received wrong item and/or not the correct amount of items. It’s very frustrating as I am extremely careful about packing items and I know that I am being scammed, but can’t do anything about it. I even take pictures of what I pack. 

[fern*wood]

It looks like you are doing really well.  If you have a lot more transactions than you used to, a couple problems is pretty normal.  I've had a few over the years, but not enough to run me off yet.  Hopefully the good far outweigh the bad for you too.

Since you are a top rated seller, if you offered a 30 day return policy you would have some limited protections for faulty returns.

[soh.maryl]

Exactly how are you handling such claims?

Buyer claims they received the wrong item? They can open an NAD case, you send a prepaid return label.  The item is returned, you refund the buyer and you're free to sell the item again.

Buyer claims the order was shorted? They can open the same kind of case, you send a prepaid return label, etc. etc. etc.

You do not refund anyone until/unless you receive the merchandise back.

Incidentally, it has been pretty well established that taking pictures of what you pack will mean absolutely nothing to eBay if/when the buyer opens a case, so you  might want to quit wasting your time on that.  One reason why: So I video myself wrapping, packing, boxing and labeling.  What proof is there that I actually mail that package? The only proof eBay accepts is tracking.   

[kensgiftshop]

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@runfar26thomas wrote:

 I even take pictures of what I pack. 

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That's a waist of time, it doesn't prove what the buyer received.

There's no way you can prove what you packed are the items you shipped.

[12345jamesstamps]

Multiple items purchased...each item needs a tracking number even if all mailed together.

Have you been putting the same tracking number on each item in a package?

If it's the wrong item sent...send a return label for item returned and refund before eBay gets involved.

Disputing a buyer's purchase only makes it worse.

[luckythewinner]

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@runfar26thomas wrote:

Why doesn’t eBay do anything about buyers that scam sellers? I have had several and eBay always sides with the buyer. The scammers (buyers) get refunds and the seller gets screwed. I am seriously considering getting off of eBay and perhaps going to Whatnot. I can’t afford to keep paying for the scammers. Any advice?

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Every eBay transaction carries the risk of fraud. 

Generally speaking, any buyer can steal any item from any seller at any time.

This has been true since 2008, when eBay introduced the Money Back Guarantee for buyers. 

eBay cannot read minds and figure out who is lying, so they side with the buyer because they have a financial interest in doing so.

My advice? Now you know this, you have to factor it into your business model and proceed accordingly.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Currency is a high target for scammers. 

My currency listings are pick-up only to weed out the bad. 

[runfar26thomas]

Thank you for all the advice. Very much appreciated!

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If your prices and margins are too low to pay for the shrinkage by fraud, you are selling items you should not be selling online.

You will not find less fraud on any other major internet marketplace.

[coastaltechsolution]

Also keep good records of shrink for tax purposes 

[funfactorychannel]

 well scammers need to do better in reasons. too bad eBay don't read the comments. IM sorry my trampoline net doesnt come gold trim and made my buyer unhappy.

[mam98031]

@runfar26thomas 

You are assuming that Ebay doesn't do anything to buyers that take advantage of sellers.  Ebay doesn't report to other members ANY sanctions they may take on ANY member.  That is private account information. To which Ebay does not share with other members.

There are all kinds of sanctions Ebay can take against a buyer or seller that does not go to the extreme of booting them off Ebay.  You can't tell by looking at their account if any sanctions are being levied.

The important thing to remember to do when a buyer or seller takes advantage of you is to REPORT them to Ebay.  Don't assume Ebay should be able to tell there is an issue, TELL THEM.  It only takes a moment of time.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/reporting-issue-buyer?id=4084

https://www.ebay.com/help/action?topicid=4022