eBay

eleetcomputer · ‎02-03-2019

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank everyone in advance for any help or suggestions you might have as this situation is MAJOR and has me literally SICK! I recently started selling some high valued items in the past month. Mainly high end computer components. I have been an eBay member for about 7-8 years. Anyway, I listed my Rolex Yachtmaster a couple weeks ago. Attached are all of the pictures that were included in the listing along with extras. I sent the package via FedEx, Insured for the sale amount, as well as Adult Signature. Here is the MAJOR problem. The Buyer is claiming it is a counterfeit Rolex and requested a return. I looked at the tracking info and saw it was delivered and signed for by someone other than the buyer. I had promptly replied to him, baffled yet polite, and asked if the person who signed for it was a room mate, family member, mail room, etc. I asked the buyer to send pictures of everything that he received, shipping container, watch box, certificates, tags, etc. So that I could see the box and if it appeared to be tampered with. If it was tampered with, I would be able to see in the photos of the shipping packaging since I used special tape. I never received a reply from the buyer. All that was sent were these 3 photos when he first requested the return. I attempted to contact him twice thru eBay. I also tried to call his cellphone and even looked him up on facebook so I could try to get ahold of him. No contact was made. I even called eBay and inquired about what I should do because what he was claiming, wasn't what I shipped him. eBay informed me to wait until a case was opened! They offered no other resolution other than to accept the return and refund him. Of course, I'm not going to accept the return and refund him and get back a fake watch when he was shipped a genuine Rolex. Yesterday, the Buyer opened a case against me stating that the watch "doesn't seem authentic". I had contacted the high value claims dept. after they emailed me stating they were going to refund him and they stated the best thing to do is accept the return and then open a case against the buyer if he does not send back the original item. I have never had a problem on eBay until now. I don't know if the Buyer is attempting to fraudulently return the watch and get his money back, or if the package was tampered with and the item was replaced with a different item. I find it HIGHLY unlikely for FedEx to do something like that with as many cameras there are in these places. I also find it EXTREMELY unlikely that FedEx would have a counterfeit Rolex laying around to swap out the real one. In being professional, I didn't want to come right out and accuse the buyer of attempting to scam me, hence why I asked for photos of the packaging. So at this point, I contacted eBay again and asked for a return shipping label to be issued via eBay since I couldn't send a label because it is now an open case.

I have since removed all of my items for sale since it appears to be very easy for buyers to open cases against sellers and get their stuff for free, especially when they see the seller just started listing things and isn't a power seller or a big store. The horror stories that I've been reading on these forums is scary. What does a seller due to protect him or herself? Am I handling this the proper way? Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank again.

FAKE WATCH - BUYER PHOTOFAKE WATCH - BUYER PHOTOFAKE WATCH - BUYER PHOTO

GENUINE ROLEX - WHAT I SHIPPEDGENUINE ROLEX - WHAT I SHIPPED

cashvaluerecovery2011 · ‎02-12-2019

Its not over yet my friend. Its going well up to this point but dont let off the gas. The case can very easily be reopened simply by the buyer speaking with another customer service rep. And you still have paypal / credit card to worry about depending on how they paid.

Ebay is ONLY protecting you because you let them know up front that you mean business, otherwise it would have been buyer word against yours and you lose every single time. Dont let your guard down.

albertabrightalberta · ‎02-12-2019

@bonjourami wrote:
i am so happy for you! For once, Ebay did the right thing! You can always sell those watches as local pick up only...meet the buyer in front of a police station or something...many congrats!

And accept CASH ONLY. Bring a counterfeit bill detector pen too.

albertabrightalberta
Volunteer Community Mentor

extrememobility · ‎02-12-2019

twinkling.smile · ‎02-12-2019

@futurespast1113 wrote:
"File that police report in his home city."

I had a similar situation happen to me with a buyer several states away. When I called the police department in the buyer's state, the detective refused to file a report and said I would have to travel all the way there to take the buyer to small claims court. He also said it was not a matter the police department would handle. He said this was a matter for small claims court/ a civil matter, not for police to decide over. I felt so powerless.

Apparently it is not easy to make the choice between crime and civil. Even for detectives.

Come to these boards. Here we know the difference.

extrememobility · ‎02-12-2019

WOW" Not only did you win your case you have given the rest of us Hope? You could sell your high dollar stuff as you posted earlier for pickup only could you not? I would suggest handling the exchange at a Police station lobby so you do not get robbed, bad guys do not go near Police stations unless they are dragged in? LOL

moms**art**window** · ‎02-13-2019

advice for everyone selling a high dollar watch on ebay

Before selling take to an established watchmaker (not a through a middle man like a jewelry store but directly to the watchmaker ) that cleans watches fix's watches etc. the one i took the one i sold gives a 1 year warranty after a professional cleaning and he leaves his initials inside the watch casing, the warranty is transferable costs about $100 but will help attract the right buyer and will bring more $ and sell faster i even took photos at watch maker on calibration machine so it would be indisputable that the watch a buyer might return would also have photos to prove it is same watch so if one sent back is not the same the watchmaker can make my case along with initials,this advice isn't fool proof but makes it where you aren't the path of least resistance.you were an easy target sorry it happened to you

frodobagginskennedy · ‎02-13-2019

SOOOO happy for the OP!

I have had E bay back me on three cases recently. Nothing as heart stopping as this though. I am glad to see e bay is coming around to protect the seller

This quest stands on the edge of a blade...stray but a little and you shall fail to the ruin of us all.
"The Lady Galadriel"

fuzzface50 · ‎02-13-2019

I am glad the op won.

I do local pickups quite often and yes people do come from all over and not just from my local area. The trick to get people out of your area is you need to give them time for pickup. So many try local pickup but they want it done in a day or 2 of the listing closing so if they are lucky they will attract a local person. People have jobs, family, pets, etc so they cannot take off on a dime.

But if you give the people and let them know in the listing that they have 60 days or so to do pickup, they can plan vacations, find a reasonable shipper, etc you get the cross country bidders and you know what? you get higher bids this way instead of trying to force local pickup in less than a week which gives people no time to make arrangements so they just pass your listing up. If the people need more than 60 days for pickup then I tell them to contact me so we can discuss it.

extrememobility · ‎02-13-2019

Today i was talking with friends about your dilemma and one suggested using and outside shipper like the UPS store to pack and ship high value items as neutral source and as verification(or witness) for sellers, this way you have proof you sent the listed item that Ebay cannot dispute.

eleetcomputer · ‎02-14-2019

@extrememobility wrote:
Today i was talking with friends about your dilemma and one suggested using and outside shipper like the UPS store to pack and ship high value items as neutral source and as verification(or witness) for sellers, this way you have proof you sent the listed item that Ebay cannot dispute.

I agree and will be doing this in the future with my high valued items. For now, I am not going to be selling anything for awhile since many members have stated the Buyer can still appeal the case after it is closed. I would hate to list my items, have them sell, only to have my PP frozen again because the buyer appealed the decision. Make sense? Another individual said this could go on for a few months until it is final. Also, at the moment, my account is just a personal account. I have a business account but never used it. Is there any advantages to using a business account over a personal account for selling? For ease, I just stuck with my personal account since all my payment methods were already added and setup.

twinkling.smile · ‎02-14-2019

What happens when you appeal

When you make an appeal, we'll review the case and any new information you provide, and come back to you with a final decision. Normally we'll get back to you within 48 hours, though occasionally it can take a little longer.

Final!

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/appealing-decision-seller?id=4369

slati_2013 · ‎02-14-2019

@futurespast1113 wrote:
"File that police report in his home city."

I had a similar situation happen to me with a buyer several states away. When I called the police department in the buyer's state, the detective refused to file a report and said I would have to travel all the way there to take the buyer to small claims court. He also said it was not a matter the police department would handle. He said this was a matter for small claims court/ a civil matter, not for police to decide over. I felt so powerless.

That is because if the police got involved, imagine all the eBay cases that would completely overwhelm the police.

genv · ‎02-14-2019

@hessfineauctions

THANK YOU, KATRINA, for stepping up & helping OP

twinkling.smile · ‎02-14-2019

Post 146 seems empty. If you click on Reply the content appears.

@twinkling.smile wrote:
The buyer can't appeal this decision.

Quote from the page for sellers:

What happens when you appeal
When you make an appeal, we'll review the case and any new information you provide, and come back to you with a final decision. Normally we'll get back to you within 48 hours, though occasionally it can take a little longer.

Final!

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/appealing-decision-seller?id=4369

a_c_green · ‎02-14-2019

@slati_2013 wrote:
@futurespast1113 wrote:
"File that police report in his home city."

I had a similar situation happen to me with a buyer several states away. When I called the police department in the buyer's state, the detective refused to file a report and said I would have to travel all the way there to take the buyer to small claims court. He also said it was not a matter the police department would handle. He said this was a matter for small claims court/ a civil matter, not for police to decide over. I felt so powerless.
That is because if the police got involved, imagine all the eBay cases that would completely overwhelm the police.

The problem is that you can't skip Step 1, which is that you file the report with your own police department. That will probably go no further than to provide you with a report number and a copy of your complaint (they should be willing to do at least that much for your insurance purposes, for example), but at that point you can then use it as a reference when contacting the buyer's PD. After all, think of what could happen if every telemarketer you've ever hung up on decided to just complain directly to your police department about you.

The fact that you have already spoken with your own PD, and gotten your report from them, serves to indicate that you are not J. Random Looney, filing complaints about everyone you're miffed at, and your local PD is not refusing to cooperate with you. That alone may not get you any traction with the buyer's PD either, but at least gives you a legitimate authority for complaining, and if you're not the first one to be contacting them, it might stir them into action. (In a really egregious case and with enough documentation, your PD might be willing to make some kind of initial contact with the buyer's PD.)

In short, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by pursuing the buyer outside of eBay, but you need to keep your expectations low, and take things one step at a time.