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Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

I sell used Music CDs.  Recently, I've had some Buyers complain about the condition of an item they received. As a 21-year eBayer and former store owner, I watch for red flags. One such flag is a complaint without filing with ebay. When I tell them I only give full refunds when an item is returned, and not partial refunds, they usually stop their complaint. In some cases they return the item and I give a refund. It hardly ever happens, because I have pretty high standards, and my feedback shows it. 

Recently a person with 37 feedbacks purchased 9 items from me. I waited a week for him to compile his bundle for the sake of the shipping discount, which I permit. The same day he received the items, he complained about 5 of them on the eBay complaint form. This of course hurts my ratings and I've seen sales drop because of eBay's algorhythm... His complaints were really beyond anything I would ever send out, so I instructed him to send them back, which he did. Three of them were in horrible condition, and of course he said he received them that way. In a back and forth conversation, he bragged that he never had a problem and has bought thousands of CDs on eBay. So, with 37 feedbacks, I'm suspicious that he's returning items that he bought elsewhere. His language in the messaging system is pretty unprofessional, yet he was quick to mail the items back. Three of them were in NO WAY the kind of condition of something I would ever send out and I asked him about handling. The cases weren't cracked, he was quick to mail them back, and I refunded his money because I  decided I don't want to deal with this person. I am pretty sure he knows I'm on to his scam, but I really don't know if I should report him without actually knowing his other IDs. Someone with multiple IDs has probably worked this scam before from large dealers who simply refund and don't ask for things back. I require a return to limit the scammer activity, but this happy-talker sneaked through. 3 of the 5 items can be re-listed, but two of them were not in the condition I sent out. I am wondering how to avoid this person trying to scam me again, as he said he wanted to do business in the future, and I of course already had blocked him.  He also said he would not leave negative feedback, which to me is a threat in case I report him. It doesn't seem fair that I can't give him bad feedback for the returned-damaged items. I want eBay to investigate him and find out his other IDs, because some of these people are kookoo about revenge when they were wrong in the first place...  How should I report this suspicious activity other than in the refund column?

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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

@freereign 

 

First of all, sorry this happened to you.  

 

It is my understanding that you have blocked this buyer already.  If not, go ahead and do so now.  There also other restraints on the Buyer Management page and I recommend setting these to the maximum allowed.  

Setting buyer requirements | eBay

Buyer Management | eBay

"Don't allow blocked buyers to contact me"

 

You also say you have reported them which is great.  

Report an issue with a buyer | eBay

Abusive buyer policy | eBay

"Buyers may not misuse feedback, returns, buyer protection programs, or payment dispute processes.  " 

Report a buyer (ebay.com)

 

Here is the specific policy regarding a negatively worded feedback with a positive rating to a buyer.  I recommend not doing this in the future.  

Feedback misuse policy | eBay

"Leaving conflicting feedback and comments is not allowed."

 

At this point, I would just ignore anything this buyer says. 

 

Best of luck with your future sales!  

 

 

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Message 14 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

Hi

sorry to hear your bad experience. These type of freebies are on every platforms even on Amazon we found these type of blackmailers there core objective is only to take free items from sellers. there should be any platform where we gather data from deferent sellers and add blackmailers shipping address there.

Message 2 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

Unfortunately, it is the new reality of online selling 

Buyers are free to run their scams hiding behind faceless ids 

You can and should report the buyer when this happens

Block these buyers of course

 

This kind of behavior would not be tolerated or possible at B&M stores such as Books/borders or the old Sam goody stores 

Sorry you have to deal with these types of buyers

Message 3 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

I reported him and decided to leave feedback explaining this person was exchanging his worn out CDs for my barely-used ones. That way it will alert potential Sellers who he may wish to purchase multiple discs to; and he'll have to open another account each time someone leaves feedback about his scam. It's so silly, he actually filed these complaints within MINUTES of the tracking scan showing delivery, the cases were perfect and he repacked the box carefully, as if I would think it was my mistake. Gosh, if you have to go to such trouble to steal from someone, you might as well find a better job...

Message 4 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

"...decided to leave feedback explaining this person was exchanging his worn out CDs for my barely-used ones. That way it will alert potential Sellers ""

Hopefully you have not done that yet, this is a policy violation. Leaving false positive feedback for a buyer will give you a defect on your account, the buyer can get the words removed and keep the green dot, and they can still leave you feedback.....

Message 5 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs


@freereign wrote:

I reported him and decided to leave feedback explaining this person was exchanging his worn out CDs for my barely-used ones. That way it will alert potential Sellers who he may wish to purchase multiple discs to; and he'll have to open another account each time someone leaves feedback about his scam. It's so silly, he actually filed these complaints within MINUTES of the tracking scan showing delivery, the cases were perfect and he repacked the box carefully, as if I would think it was my mistake. Gosh, if you have to go to such trouble to steal from someone, you might as well find a better job...


(decided to leave feedback explaining this person was exchanging his worn out CDs for my barely-used ones.)

 

You are not allowed to do that and it could get you in trouble with eBay if you get caught.

Message 6 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

Hopefully you haven't done that because it is a violation to leave anything negative in your feedback to a buyer.

Message 7 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

You are not allowed to leave a negative worded positive for buyers and I see you did do that to that buyer. If that buyer reports you eBay will ding your account and remove the words.

Message 8 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

Who benefits when it's not a false feedback at all?  The guy scammed me and I should be able to alert people to such behavior, as eBay will benefit from not being a host to scammers. If it's a violation of something to speak up for Sellers, then there is something seriously wrong with online selling. Allowing Buyers to leave negative feedback and not Sellers is just plain crazy.  I trust that eBay can see this, as I also reported him and invited them to read his messages to me. 

Message 9 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

It shouldn't be a violation to help eBay do their job of eliminating scammers who only drive business away from the site. Every store has to deal with shoplifters and false return claims, and that is exactly what this man did--filed false claims for multiple items. Ebay can certainly consider what a waste of time it is for a Seller to have to deal with people like this. If we can't leave a negative rating, at least we should be able to alert other Sellers to the activity. SOMEONE has to hold these people accountable. 

Message 10 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

I don't know how angry you are - and I sure would be - but isn't this kind of fraud through the mail a federal offense.  Can you contact the Post Office Police?  You could even call the local pd and ask to speak to a detective - they might not be able to do anything but where there is smoke there is fire. 

 

You might reach out to some of the other CD sellers.  

 

It is obvious if a CD was damaged in transit - and the case would be accordingly damaged. 

Message 11 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

Hello,

I always leave positive feedback for the buyer when I generate a shipping label.  If the buyer leaves you any feedback good or bad you are permitted to leave a follow-up comment explaining what happened. 

It would at least alert other sellers that have had similar problems with this buyer. It is not is a policy violation because you are only leaving a response to his comments. I believe that is correct, but if anyone wants to verify or deny this statement please speak up.

Message 12 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

Again, sellers are not allowed to leave negatively-worded FB for buyers.  Surprising that a 18378 FB seller would not be cognizant of that.  It doesn't matter that you think the rule is wrong, or one-sided, because it's eBay's site, so eBay's rules.  

Message 13 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

@freereign 

 

First of all, sorry this happened to you.  

 

It is my understanding that you have blocked this buyer already.  If not, go ahead and do so now.  There also other restraints on the Buyer Management page and I recommend setting these to the maximum allowed.  

Setting buyer requirements | eBay

Buyer Management | eBay

"Don't allow blocked buyers to contact me"

 

You also say you have reported them which is great.  

Report an issue with a buyer | eBay

Abusive buyer policy | eBay

"Buyers may not misuse feedback, returns, buyer protection programs, or payment dispute processes.  " 

Report a buyer (ebay.com)

 

Here is the specific policy regarding a negatively worded feedback with a positive rating to a buyer.  I recommend not doing this in the future.  

Feedback misuse policy | eBay

"Leaving conflicting feedback and comments is not allowed."

 

At this point, I would just ignore anything this buyer says. 

 

Best of luck with your future sales!  

 

 

Message 14 of 22
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Re: Scamming Buyer with multiple IDs

" If we can't leave a negative rating, at least we should be able to alert other Sellers to the activity. SOMEONE has to hold these people accountable."

 

As a top-rated seller, you are likely aware that eBay is a buyer-centric platform where the buyer's interests are paramount. So there are no avenues to warn fellow sellers here. (I am not aware of any retail site that allows sellers to denigrate buyers, even when it is justified.) eBay cannot allow negative feedback for buyers, as bad sellers would take advantage of the system to retaliate against buyers who leave them legitimate poor feedback, just as happened in the past that necessitated the change in 2008. Warnings in feedback serve small purpose, as many sellers rarely get the opportunity to investigate their buyers prior to the purchase. 

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