Stolen Item - Appeal Rejected

[filmfanatic21]

I sold a $500 item to a buyer in Austria.  They said they received a different item and sent me pictures of a different cheaper ($20) collectible.   The buyer opened up their account 2 weeks before they purchased the item.  It's 100% fraud and eBay won't do a thing about it.  They automatically refunded the buyer, including the ebay transaction fees and shipping!  Oh and the best part is in the messages between me and the buyer the buyer states "if i were you and an honest person, i would not ship internationally".

I've been on the phone with eBay Customer service at least 6 times for hours.   They say there is nothing they can do. 

So if i understand this correctly, I can just buy any item off of eBay, claim i didn't get it, and then i get to keep both the item AND my money?  Would love any suggestions.

[isaiah53-57]

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@filmfanatic21 wrote:

So if i understand this correctly, I can just buy any item off of eBay, claim i didn't get it, and then i get to keep both the item AND my money?  Would love any suggestions.

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@filmfanatic21

Yes - That is an accurate assumption - Though it would be better for the thief to claim the item was "not as described" and simply send you a dead rat back as a return - Can I ask why this is not something you already knew?

[shadi_nairokh]

Happens :'(

[filmfanatic21]

Ha, i haven't sold a lot on here and wrongfully assumed the best in people 😞

[kensgiftshop]

@filmfanatic21 

Did tracking show it was delivered?

[fbusoni]

@filmfanatic21 

You need to be aware that eBay is not in the business of arbitrating disputes between sellers and buyers -- for the simple reason that it can't. 

Selling a $500 item is fraught with risk, obviously.  And eBay assumes that you enter into an agreement to sell here, having read the eBay user agreement, which lays out eBay's rather circumscribed role as a facilitator of transactions.

I did not sell internationally anything more expensive than about $50 for a very long time.   

Then I was invited into the eBay international shipping (EIS) program -- which thankfully has many seller protections that will prevent the sort of loss that you experienced.

As for this: 

So if i understand this correctly, I can just buy any item off of eBay, claim i didn't get it, and then i get to keep both the item AND my money?  

Not any item necessarily. 

If you bought something from me, I will send it with USPS tracking.   If USPS tracking shows it was delivered, then your claim that you did not receive it will be rejected by eBay because all I need to is tell eBay that tracking showed it delivered to your home.

You can claim the item was not as described, but because I have a 60 day paid return policy, the onus will be on you to ship it back to me (at my expense).

If you send me an item that is used or materially different from what I sent you, I believe that I am able to withhold 50% of your refund.

There are nuances that I am sure I have omitted (I do not get returns or INADs so have precious little experience with same) and presumably a seller with more familiarity with these matters than me will chime in. 

(NOTE: there are ways for dirtbag buyers to circumvent the tracking process -- its been discussed here recently.  Bottom line: a determined thief can get away with most anything... but in 25 years of selling, I've only encountered what I considered to have been a white lie, and it was resolved with little fuss.)

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Had you been more experienced with Ebay, you might have minimized your risk in this international transaction. When one enables Ebay International Shipping (EIS) and allows the buyer to purchase their shipping through Ebay, you decrease your risk. Buyer pays and you ship the product to an EIS hub in the USA.

At EIS the product is inspected and customs paperwork is generated, then the product is put into the hands of an international shipping carrier.

All buyer claims after the order leaves the hub are handled by Ebay at Ebay's cost, even item not as described claims.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-international-shippin...

[filmfanatic21]

I absolutely used eBay's international shipping.  Can I escalate through that?

[pickapaper]

You have a feedback total of 13 which indicates that you are a new seller.  (I know it does not always apply but more often than not, it does.)   Scammers prey on new sellers, especially those selling expensive items, assuming they don't know what they are doing.  You are selling some items that are fairly pricy.  It might be better if you sell lower priced items until you get some experience under your belt.   And you might even want to reconsider selling outside of the U.S. for a while, again until you have more experience.

There is a saying on here, "Never sell anything you can't afford to lose".    

[caldreamer]

Since the customer filed as "not as described" claim (this is a case of he said/she said) and EBAY will always rule in favor of the customer.   Unfortunately, there are many scammers on EBAY and they know how to get items for free.

Sorry this happened to you.

[slati_2013]

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do. eBay and e-commerce depends a lot on the honesty of buyers. Fact is 99%% of all buyers are good, honest buyers, but that small but significant 1% screw it up for everyone else. I do not ship internationally . Only through EIS like you also did. The thing is scammers are everywhere, so you can't avoid them. Buyer pays, you ship and hope for the best. 

[itscalledapostingid]

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@filmfanatic21 wrote:

I absolutely used eBay's international shipping.  Can I escalate through that?

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If it was shipped with the  "ebay International Shipping" program (EIS) ebay would have handled the return themselves which usually means ebay refunding with ebays money. If you are a new seller you probably wouldn't be eligible to use EIS yet.

(It would say "ebay International Shipping" on the order details page.)

[dbfolks166mt]

I absolutely used eBay's international shipping.  Can I escalate through that?

     Looking at your original listing I cannot tell how this shipped. When items go through the EIS program EIS sends the buyer the invoice, once paid you ship the item to the EIS hub either in Illinois or California. Once the item arrives at the hub your job is generally done unless there were issues with the shipping to the EIS hub such as damage. 

    The EIS program provides virtually 100% seller protection. If the buyer opened a case it should have been routed to EIS and they would have dealt with it. You may have gotten an informatory message but should not have been required to take any action. 

     When you shipped the item what was the address you shipped it to?

[isaiah53-57]

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@filmfanatic21 wrote:

Ha, i haven't sold a lot on here and wrongfully assumed the best in people 😞

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Yes that is most new and/or very casual sellers 1st mistake here - The reality is numbing - The buyer "Money Back Guarantee" is the reason we no longer list here - in our opinion, its virtually a license to steal - Best of luck to you in the future