Top Rated Seller doesn't mean anything to eBay when you get scammed

[oldtechgadgets]

Hello guys,

We're a long-time eBay seller. We just want to warn people about this scam that has happened to us.

Recently a buyer with zero feedback purchased two new Apple watches from us. We had a gut feeling because the buyer's address was at a warehouse. Long story short, he opened a return on the same day the item was delivered. His reason was "Sorry, some happens and I dont need it anymore. I didnt unpack anything".

Ebay provided the return shipping label with our correct address on there that we paid for it.  On July 01, 2021, he opened another case "Doesn't match the listing". Ebay went ahead and refunded the buyer the money. And yet we still haven't received our package back.  

We then checked the tracking number. The package is now going back to the scammer. We have reached out to the post office supervisor. The package has an "insufficient address" after scanned at the station. And was not attempt to deliver.  Also, the post office can't retrieve the package back to us.  In the past 18 years of doing business on eBay, we never have that issue.  

After providing all the evidence to eBay. They still side with the scammer. No luck after many appeals with eBay. We felt defeated. We have worked so hard by providing the best customer service on eBay.

We're now out of more than $1300. The scammer got his money back and two free brand new Apple watches.

[dugoldstuff]

eBay constantly warms sellers not to sell "outside" of eBay because then, they will not have eBay seller protections.

The time is now to begin asking, "What seller protections?"

Yes, a top-rated seller, who has proven themselves over the years, should get consideration from eBay. Otherwise, what exactly is the point of working so hard for top-rated status?

[oldtechgadgets]

Thank you for pointing it out. I'm sure English is not her native language. 

[oldtechgadgets]

We have reached out to ebay on the phone, supervisor, and Twitter. Maybe we will try again.

But at this point, we don't really care about the money. We just want to let the eBay community know about this scam. Thank you.

[jonathankirkland]

---

@oldtechgadgets wrote:

We have reached out to ebay on the phone, supervisor, and Twitter. Maybe we will try again.

But at this point, we don't really care about the money. We just want to let the eBay community know about this scam. Thank you.

---

I understand. But if sellers can start making these thieves AT LEAST be responsible for half the money, I think it will not be worth it for them. $650 is still A LOT OF MONEY to be responsible for instead of $0.

The phone support is notoriously WRONG AND BAD. I do not know about Twitter. I've heard a lot of positive things about Facebook though, so I would please ask you to try once again.

I really hate seeing this stuff happen over and over again to good, honest people such as yourself. Nobody likes to be taken advantage of and whether it's $1 or $5,000 it's the principle of the matter.

I am a big believer in karma and I believe that you will be owed something very good somewhere down the line and hopefully this thieving criminal will get what's coming to them as well... I know you said 'be respectful' but I simply cannot respect a cowardly thief. I bet you anything these cowards who steal online would wet themselves trying to steal a stick of gum in a convenience store, but since it's all faceless online it's much easier to defraud. Just disgusts me tremendously.

[mtgraves7984]

Otherwise, what exactly is the point of working so hard for top-rated status?

@dugoldstuff 

You know... the only  reason I work to keep TR status is for the ability to decrease the amount of the refund if I receive a

de-valued Return. I must admit that the OP isn't in that  position... but sure is in a big 'grey area' of that position, no?

@oldtechgadgets 

I would certainly try to appeal. You seem to be level-headed enough and have evidence enough to try. Good luck.

Edit: I just read jon's ^^^ post... I've had good luck messaging through facebook. Clear, concise, quick emails follow and you can even escalate your issue to decision-makers. Try that.

[ittybitnot]

@jonathankirkland 

The OP, did NOT get a return. So there is no deduction of "up to 50%" applicable here.   The package (returned item) was sent back to the buyer because the address was insufficient (perhaps altered?)  

Yes, everyone should ship their expensive items to freight forwarders. You have seller protection. /sarcasm

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@oldtechgadgets 

Can you contact Apple as you still have all the info on your sold listing about these watches. Have them block it ( or whatever the term is) and report them stolen thru mail fraud.

[mtgraves7984]

---

@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@oldtechgadgets 

Can you contact Apple as you still have all the info on your sold listing about these watches. Have them block it ( or whatever the term is) and report them stolen thru mail fraud.

---

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

Oh, Silver... you clever devil. (Say that 3 times fast.) I think this is exactly another step the OP should take!

[sunking1]

Why on earth would there be a next time? Why would anyone stay here and continually risk being stolen from again? This is absolutely out of control and these posts are increasing daily. ebay has become the most dangerous place to try and sell. There are so many places on line that explain all the ways to steal here. anyone still trying is out of their mind! It's become freBay the new freemarket without the fleas!

[jonathankirkland]

---

@ittybitnot wrote:

@jonathankirkland 

The OP, did NOT get a return. So there is no deduction of "up to 50%" applicable here.   The package (returned item) was sent back to the buyer because the address was insufficient (perhaps altered?)  

Yes, everyone should ship their expensive items to freight forwarders. You have seller protection. /sarcasm

---

I know right, makes no sense.

The refund shouldn't have been issued since the seller didn't receive anything back. Tracking clearly shows that. But it was. So something is screwy here obviously and needs to be fixed.

Point is seller is Top Rated, has the free 30 day returns, they should be covered for 50% in a case like this, AT LEAST.

And the fact they did not receive the item back at all should mean the buyer doesn't get ANY refund, but instead got all of it.

It seems ebay just defaults to refunding the buyer in any and all cases and then the burden of proof is on the seller to argue their case that the buyer should not indeed have been refunded... it's all backwards...

[oldtechgadgets]

---

@mtgraves7984 wrote:

---

@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@oldtechgadgets 

Can you contact Apple as you still have all the info on your sold listing about these watches. Have them block it ( or whatever the term is) and report them stolen thru mail fraud.

---

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

Oh, Silver... you clever devil. (Say that 3 times fast.) I think this is exactly another step the OP should take!

---

We will try to contact Apple as we still have both watches ' serial numbers. Thank you, guys. 

[oldtechgadgets]

---

@jonathankirkland wrote:

---

@ittybitnot wrote:

@jonathankirkland 

The OP, did NOT get a return. So there is no deduction of "up to 50%" applicable here.   The package (returned item) was sent back to the buyer because the address was insufficient (perhaps altered?)  

Yes, everyone should ship their expensive items to freight forwarders. You have seller protection. /sarcasm

---

I know right, makes no sense.

The refund shouldn't have been issued since the seller didn't receive anything back. Tracking clearly shows that. But it was. So something is screwy here obviously and needs to be fixed.

Point is seller is Top Rated, has the free 30 day returns, they should be covered for 50% in a case like this, AT LEAST.

And the fact they did not receive the item back at all should mean the buyer doesn't get ANY refund, but instead got all of it.

It seems ebay just defaults to refunding the buyer in any and all cases and then the burden of proof is on the seller to argue their case that the buyer should not indeed have been refunded... it's all backwards...

---

Indeed. We definitely felt defeated after everything. 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@mtgraves7984 

MT what if the OP could send an intercept that package to that scammers post office in NY. Talks to the postmaster at that office, give them that tracking number and explain situation. There's still time I think even with tomorrow being Sat and they're closed on Monday. Even contact that police dept there since its definitely mail fraud. Hmmmm

What do you think?

[mtgraves7984]

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

Hmmmm, indeed. Can either the sender or recipient request that??

[wastingtime101]

---

@itscalledapostingid wrote:

Talk to the Postmaster again. Find out if their Revenue Assurance Program got an image of the parcel in transit. I suspect the buyer photoshopped a bad address onto the return label before printing to cause the return to sender.

---

That's what I was thinking.