eBay

shykj4 · ‎12-29-2020

Hi, I am pretty new here(both selling or buying). Recently I have sold an item and got email from someone saying that the Book she got has water damaged. The book I sold was in very good condition(I'm not just saying that), I assumed it was damaged during shipping and told her so. Then she came back saying the box didn't have any damage, somehow it got damaged after taking picture to list and I sent her the ruined book = I lied in listing and to her. She said she would return the book for full refund or would accept partial refund.

During these email I examined the photo she sent me, I could tell it wasn't my book. I didn't tell her this though.

It get weirder,

I knew she wasn't the buyer, assumed that she was the buyer's wife (she mentioned that her husband is upset), she used her own account to contact me. but, I digged deeper. Turns out the buyer lives in IL, this person is located in CA, according to Ebay.

And I checked in USPS tracking, it is in transit, will be delivered in 31st. (Couple hours ago, there were no update after 27th, I thought that maybe it was delivered, not updated yet. Now it shows that today still in transit.)

Is this a scam?

The other question is that, how she could be benefitted from this since she isn't the buyer. I never have done this(any refund, full or partial) before as a seller, so I don't know it could be done (if she claims a refund to Ebay).

My husband was saying that if I refuge to give refund, this person could put a claim then Ebay would force me to do it, but both of us aren't sure(again, new here). Would Ebay do so??

teltuooutlet · ‎12-29-2020

My initial thought is this person made a mistake and is messaging the wrong seller. It could be phishing as well, but it just seems odd. If there is no sale attached to the complaint then there is no claim/refund to be given, either by you or by Ebay. Personally, I would stop communicating with the person and allow it to go to a formal claim with Ebay. If they are truly the buyer of your item, then it will be opened under the user account it was sold under. Either you have them return the item or refund, but do not communicate any more with the "mystery" account.

mtgraves7984 · ‎12-29-2020

Your business is with your buyer in IL... not a stranger in CA. For all you know, that is the shipment that damaged your book. No one besides your buyer can open a Return or expect a refund from you. Good luck.

a_c_green · ‎12-29-2020

@shykj4 wrote:
My husband was saying that if I refuse to give refund, this person could put a claim then Ebay would force me to do it, but both of us aren't sure (again, new here). Would Ebay do so??

A random user cannot made a refund request if they are not the buyer in the disputed transaction, and as of right now, you have not heard from the actual buyer (via his or her account).

I'm wondering here whether she's shipping your book to her husband as a replacement, planning to replace her water-damaged book with yours, but jumped the gun by assuming that the package had arrived at her husband's place when in fact it has not (yet). Hubby presumably has the damaged book ready to be shipped back.

I would respond by saying that you can only correspond with the buyer, and only the buyer can request a refund (after the book is returned; that's your option and you should stick to it). I would say that's the most you should reply with at this point.

It's possible that hubby will follow through by returning his damaged copy for a refund after yours has arrived. Unfortunately eBay doesn't give a whole lot of support for those situations, though you can (and should) request that the book be sent back first, before you will have to refund. I'm trying to think of how you could use the advance knowledge in this case to your advantage, before the book arrives.

shykj4 · ‎12-29-2020

That(this person own the damaged book already, tried to replace it with mine) came to my mind too. She had my listing attached in email so I didn't suspect anything atm. I don't even know if you can find the listing already gone or sold out..... (I just learned that you could!!!)

jayjaspersgarage · ‎12-29-2020

Any time I sell a book I put it in a one gallon zip lock bag to prevent water damage. If I see the weather is going to be bad at the buyers end I might delay mailing a book a day or to to let the weather clear. So far so good after ten years.

shykj4 · ‎12-29-2020

What a brilliant IDEA!! Thank you for the tip!!

buyselljack2016 · ‎12-29-2020

@jayjaspersgarage wrote:
Any time I sell a book I put it in a one gallon zip lock bag to prevent water damage. If I see the weather is going to be bad at the buyers end I might delay mailing a book a day or to to let the weather clear. So far so good after ten years.

^^^^^^ this

Among the last group of books sent, USPS left the box out in he rain at the buyer's residence.

Buyer was thrilled to find that all books had been placed in tyvek envelopes when packing.

buyselljack2016 · ‎12-29-2020

Maybe you could ask them how a book that has yet to be delivered could be "water damaged".

pburn · ‎12-29-2020

Make sure you keep all the messages to and from this person. They may prove to come in handy later . . .

dirk12955 · ‎12-29-2020

"I'm sorry you are not happy with your purchase. Please file a return with ebay and you will be fully refunded"

Don't offer a partial refund. Don't allow yourself to be distracted from the matter at hand. Don't get into a long drawn out exchange with this person. Don't apologize.

If she's not the buyer, Then she can't file for a return. You don't need to get into a discussion about books being switched or a book being damaged until you are POSITIVE she's actually your customer.

luckythewinner · ‎12-29-2020

General reply:

Unless the message comes from the buyer's account, speculation about possible motives is a waste of time.

"Dear eBay member,

According to the transaction information provided by eBay, I did not sell that book to your eBay account.

Perhaps you purchased a similar book from a different seller?

Sincerely,

Another eBay member"

a_c_green · ‎12-29-2020

@luckythewinner wrote:
"Dear eBay member,

According to the transaction information provided by eBay, I did not sell that book to your eBay account.

Perhaps you purchased a similar book from a different seller?

That sounds good.

If she persists, I think I would just call her bluff, though, as things have gone on long enough.

"Dear [user ID here],

You are sending photos of a damaged book which is not the one we sold. We can state that for a fact as tracking shows that the item you are complaining about has not been delivered yet, and is not expected to arrive for several more days.

Also, our records show that your ID does not match that of the buyer. Please review your recent purchases, as the book you are complaining about did not come from us.

Sincerely,

[etc...]"

xedicl-0 · ‎12-30-2020

Why would you allow a buyer to ship back an item outside of a formal return being opened?

See what happens when people don't follow the rules.

stephenmorgan · ‎12-30-2020

I do not know what is going on with the book but sometimes eBay Tracking is off. I have seen a few items that have been delivered according to USPS but eBay Tracking still shows them not delivered yet. I have even received Positive Feedback for a Item that according to eBay has not been delivered yet.