eBay

marvelousfindsforu · ‎09-28-2025

A buyer purchased an item from me, claimed it wasn't received, issued a refund, then later confirmed receipt of item. Ebay said to send payment info contacted buyer to reimburse me. Ebay can't step in to refund the money because a case wasn't opened from buyer and in this case, you are not covered under seller protection. Sellers be aware of this scam and if you have same situation have buyer open a case first before you issue a refund.

chapeau-noir · ‎09-29-2025

@marvelousfindsforu wrote:
A buyer purchased an item from me, claimed it wasn't received, issued a refund, then later confirmed receipt of item. Ebay said to send payment info contacted buyer to reimburse me. Ebay can't step in to refund the money because a case wasn't opened from buyer and in this case, you are not covered under seller protection. Sellers be aware of this scam and if you have same situation have buyer open a case first before you issue a refund.

It's not a 'scam' if the seller refunds without the buyer opening a case. It's a mistake.

_______________________
“I have a year, and who knows what might happen in that time. The king might die. The horse might die. I might die. And perhaps the horse will learn to sing.”

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

inhawaii · ‎09-29-2025

@marvelousfindsforu wrote:
Sellers be aware of this scam.

We are aware and it's not a scam.

If a buyer claims they did not receive an item, establish a good rapport with the buyer. Try to buy as much time as you can before the buyer files a INR (item not received) case with ebay. Once the buyer files a INR, ebay will usually give it a little more time. How much time? It depends on what the tracking says.

If ebay refunds the buyer and the buyer ends up receiving the package, the buyer is not obligated to pay you back. There is nothing ebay can do. You have to hope the the buyer is honest and will pay you back. Many buyers and sellers use paypal for this.

Zero To Sixty In Five - Pablo Cruise

marvelousfindsforu · ‎10-01-2025

Thanks, I was told Ebay will block buyer from purchasing anything on Ebay but I find this hard to believe. They also suggest I reach out to get money as they also will notify buyer. Buyer isn't responding to my messages I sent. Lesson learned and this has happened many times before.

marvelousfindsforu · ‎10-01-2025

I guess that is what I get for giving the buyer too much of my trust and honesty by taking the word of a buyer only to be scammed and now buyer isn't responding to my messages I sent.

soh.maryl · ‎10-01-2025

Don't know who you get your information from, but eBay will not block buyer. You, however, can block the buyer from purchasing from you.

Regarding your situation, did the buyer open an INR case? Was there not tracking indicating delivery? Another poster suggested that, if the package was just a few days overdue, you could've contacted the buyer and asked them to give it just a little more time.

How many days elapsed after the EDD before the item actually showed up to the buyer?

soh.maryl · ‎10-01-2025

How did you take the word of the buyer? Tracking is the final proof as to whether an item has been received or not. If there was no tracking when the buyer opened the case, he wasn't scamming you. If there WAS tracking, then why not just post the tracking # to the case?

powell-collectibles · ‎10-01-2025

I would not assume that the buyer was lying when he stated that he did not receive the item. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. Maybe he did, but didn’t see it – maybe someone took it inside. Maybe it was miss delivered to a neighbor, and later provided to the buyer. Maybe it was delivered to the wrong address, and the recipient kept the item.

Don’t beat yourself up about it – we all make mistakes. And your mistake was the result of trusting too much. Nothing wrong with that, we can all use a little bit more trust in the world. Others might try to make you feel silly or stupid for making a mistake, but just learn from it – all good.

chapeau-noir · ‎10-01-2025

@marvelousfindsforu wrote:
I guess that is what I get for giving the buyer too much of my trust and honesty by taking the word of a buyer only to be scammed and now buyer isn't responding to my messages I sent.

We're expected to conduct ourselves in a professional manner here, which means using best practices. Merchants just don't refund buyers without a return process.

_______________________
“I have a year, and who knows what might happen in that time. The king might die. The horse might die. I might die. And perhaps the horse will learn to sing.”

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

mam98031 · ‎10-02-2025

@marvelousfindsforu

I'm sorry this happened to you, but it isn't a Scam. You just didn't know how to protect yourself.

Something changed today that you need to be aware of. Now if the buyer files an INR [item not received] claim in Ebay and you end up refunding them because tracking is not showing delivered. Then a few days later the item does get delivered to the buyer. IF you printed your shipping label in the Ebay system, Ebay will refund YOU for the item. This is a new Seller Protection.

For the future, if you get something like this, this is what I suggest you do.

If a buyer contacts you with a delivery issue or if the buyer opens an INR, IMHO these are the steps to take.

If an INR was opened, make sure you upload the tracking number to the INR right away.

Go to USPS website and review the detail tracking info.

On this tracking screen there is a place to file for email updates as there is movement on the tracking. Sign up for that so you get informed right away when something gets entered to the tracking.

Go and file for a TRACE, I don't recommend filing for Missing Mail just yet. The two are completely different actions. The Trace usually gets the job done quicker.
https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/package-inquiry

Contact your buyer. Keep all contact inside the INR filed so everything is recorded on the claim. Let your buyer know you are working with USPS to get their package delivered. Apologize for the delay. And let them know you filed a trace which takes between 48-72 hours for USPS to respond. As you get any information you will update the buyer right away. Assure your buyer that you are working this problem and will continue to do so until a proper resolution.

If there is movement on the tracking within the last 7 days, Ebay will keep the INR open. Do not voluntarily issue the refund yet. It is highly likely the package is going to get delivered, it is just late. Annoying for the buyer for sure. Just stay in touch with them and assure them you are working on a resolution.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." Quote from Edward I Koch

luckythewinner · ‎10-02-2025

@marvelousfindsforu wrote:
A buyer purchased an item from me, claimed it wasn't received, issued a refund, then later confirmed receipt of item. Ebay said to send payment info contacted buyer to reimburse me. Ebay can't step in to refund the money because a case wasn't opened from buyer and in this case, you are not covered under seller protection. Sellers be aware of this scam and if you have same situation have buyer open a case first before you issue a refund.

Was this a scam, or was it just a tuiition payment to the school of hard knocks?