Shipping to Miami

[cocyclesports]

I very nearly got caught up in this widely documented scam today regarding, Miami. I got as far as going to FedEx to drop off a $530 item, but thankfully my printer misprinted the label. So I had to come home and reprint it, at which time I checked the address and the ebay community and came upon the trove of bad experiences with the same address. Cancelled the order and relisted, but i think I'll just stop selling on ebay altogether. 

Furthermore, Ebay's new payment system doesn't seem to offer a "verified address" feature like Paypal did. So sellers are even more vulnerable to scams than before.  

Other than vigilance, is there any recourse or protection sellers have from this "item not received give me a refund" scam?

[soh.maryl]

Unless I am seriously in error, I believe that address is that of a freight forwarder.

Many international buyers use these to be able to buy from sellers who do not ship internationally.

I don't know what information you read about this particular one, but most of these are legitimate.

Furthermore, you are only responsible to get the item to that address, not to the buyer's overseas address.

[eleanor*rigby]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

I don't know what information you read about this particular one, but most of these are legitimate.

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Yeah, but I read it on the internet . . . 😁

[ittybitnot]

, is there any recourse or protection sellers have from this "item not received give me a refund" scam?

@cocyclesports 

The scams associated with freight forwarders typically are not of the 'item not received' (INR) variety.  You ship to the address provided with the payment and you will not lose an eBay claim for INR.  

Of late, freight forwarder scam are related to fraudulent claims for "empty box" or "damage/not as described" eBay claims.  

It used to be that a buyer using a freight forwarder voided eBay buyer protection, but that is no longer the case. 

[fab_finds4u]

PayPal has not required verified addresses since 2011. You ship to the address provided with the payment, either provided by PayPal or eBay and you are covered for not received claims when tracking shows delivered.

You got a defect for cancelling a transaction the buyer didn't  ask to cancel instead of shipping like you were required to. Many more defects  like that and you won't  have to worry about the shipping address the buyer provides. eBay will bring your seller standing to below average, the first step in removing you from selling.

[caldreamer]

This is what Google Search says are Aeropost.

Aeropost offers its customers the virtual address 1 Aeropost Way, Miami FL, 33206-3206, as a new alternative shipping address for online purchases, through which they can save 7% on their purchases, since this address is exempt from sales tax of the state of Florida in the United States. 

Regarding your question about being protected against "item not received".   There is no protection....you just have to provide tracking# (proving item has been delivered).

[free.deal]

It is no longer true.  Last month I lost a case to a freight forwarding buyer. The buyer claimed he received an empty box and provided eBay with a fake police report. eBay sided with buyer and I lost ~$1000. eBay didn't care it is forwarding address or not. I managed to get some information from buyer's police report from customer support. By calling buyer's local police department, I verified the police report case and officer name are both non-existing. I tried to use such information to appeal still got denied. eBay customer support suggested me to look for options out of eBay, they can't refund me within eBay...

[ittybitnot]

@free.deal 

Take your information and send a request for help with this and use the big blue SEND MESSAGE button on the eBay for Business Facebook page.  

Submit your name, address, phone number, user ID and transaction number, ship to address along with what happened. Be sure to mention the use of the freight forwarder address and the fake police report.  Check to see if you buyer is still a registered user.  If they have already been given the axe, it will help your case. 

The regular eBay customer service  ignores all evidence of the phony empty box claim and will just deny, deny, deny,  and give you the "buyer submitted a police report" nonsense. They won't, or are not allowed to, even verify the "police report" is real.  It always seems like it is their "job" to get rid of you. 

The staff that monitors that message system knows all about this and may be able to help you.  They have helped others in your exact position. 

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

Good luck, and do let us know how it turns out. 
and
one of many for your reading pleasure: 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Obviously-fake-police-report-submitted-to-ebay-ebay-using-it-t...

[fab_finds4u]

You lost a not as described case, not a not received case.  There is no protection for sellers when a buyer claims empty box no matter what their shipping address is. Sending to  a freight forwarding address has nothing to do with it. 

[free.deal]

Thanks for your advice. Actually in the past 2 days I sought the help from eBay at twitter and they suggested me to look for options out of eBay. This is what they replied to me on twitter: "I can certainly understand your disappointment. Believe me when I say I wish I had better news and had other options to offer. Unfortunately with the appeal already having been reviewed and denied, we simply don't have the opportunity to consider another appeal. At this point we can only suggest to further pursue this matter outside of eBay."

I will give a try on facebook and let you know if any difference. 

[soh.maryl]

I hope Google plans to update its information soon about Aeropost.

As of July 1st, Floridians now pay state sales tax on online purchases.

[ittybitnot]

As of July 1st, Floridians now pay state sales tax on online purchases.

@soh.maryl 

FL has provided some of these businesses "tax free" status that is determined/enforced by a special "zipcode".  Since FL has only been enrolled in the (tax collected by marketplace)  program for few weeks,  it is not certain whether eBay is in compliance yet.   

[soh.maryl]

Thanks for the info; however, I based my reply on info from a friend in FL who mentioned having had to pay state sales tax on a recent eBay purchase.

[ittybitnot]

@soh.maryl 

Yes, I live in FL and now I pay tax as a buyer as well.  It will be interesting to find out what the state plans to do with these funds.  Years ago, when they wanted to have the "lottery" and it was up for vote, they said all the funds would go to "education".  LOL... They neglected to mention that these funds would be in lieu of, not in addition to, the regular educational funding allocations.   Years later we still have teachers that have to buy their own classroom supplies. 

You have a great night!  Your contributions to these forums are most appreciated!  

[this*old*attic]

Delivery confirmation ends at the freight office; buyers retain the right to file not as described.

An empty box is not as described, not a non-receipt.