Unpreventable Scam?

[stevenborck]

A couple weeks ago I got scammed on a high priced item I sold. The buyer claimed I sent them the wrong item in hopes I would be forced to give them a full refund so that they'd get the actual item I sent them for free. I have proof that I sent them the correct item, but my appeal was unsuccessful because I can't prove that someone from USPS didn't switch out the item during transit.

This means that there is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent this scam. It's also literally impossible to prove that the person is scamming you unless you can prove that the package wasn't tampered with during transit.

The best idea I have to possibly counteract this scam, with how easily eBay will side with the buyer in almost every case, is to user tamper evidence tape. The buyer would still be able to open the package and claim that the tape was tampered with before they received it. Obviously you'd be able to pursue the matter with USPS, but it still wouldn't be enough to not be forced to refund the buyer.

[mam98031]

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@rugerskick wrote:

However, usps takes photos of packages when they are in transit to when they are dropped off to the local post office for delivery.  I have had them use this for me several times for various package issues.

You would probably have photos that could show damage to the tape during transit.  However with tamper tape, I doubt usps folks would be that stupid to try to open it and then send an empty box.  If they wanted to target a box with tamper tape they would just take the package and it would never be delivered.

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@rugerskick 

Yes they do and I forgot all about that.  How do you go about getting those pictures from USPS?

[albertabrightalberta]

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@legacydealz wrote:

I like this one. Has it been successful?

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I think I've used it twice in 20 years and both buyers "found" the items. 

[mam98031]

@dbfolks166mt 

Please explain to me what my error was.

[mam98031]

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@legacydealz wrote:

I like this one. Has it been successful?

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I have found it to work for me in the past.  My email is much shorter, but the sentiment is the same.

[dbfolks166mt]

Please explain to me what my error was.

     Not really an error you covered the eBay return cases pretty well. What you left off was the instances where a buyer opens a chargeback with their CC company and the eBay policies, other than the limited chargeback protection, don't really apply. 

     CC companies are generally not worried about logistics and seldom require the buyer to return the item before they are refunded. 

[soh.maryl]

Again, can you explain why any seller would refund any buyer with an item not as described claim without requiring the buyer to return the item back to the seller before the refund can be issued?

[dbfolks166mt]

Again, can you explain why any seller would refund any buyer with an item not as described claim without requiring the buyer to return the item back to the seller before the refund can be issued?

Not something I would probably ever do but there is a possibility that the seller would not want to pay the return shipping cost if the item was of a low dollar value. Return shipping may cost more than the item is worth. 

[rugerskick]

Call your local po, they can access them via tracking # for you

[stevenborck]

You can't resell the item if the item the buyer returns is not the item you sold them.

[mam98031]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

Please explain to me what my error was.

     Not really an error you covered the eBay return cases pretty well. What you left off was the instances where a buyer opens a chargeback with their CC company and the eBay policies, other than the limited chargeback protection, don't really apply. 

     CC companies are generally not worried about logistics and seldom require the buyer to return the item before they are refunded. 

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That is a completely different subject and not what my post covered at all.

Your post said that I "misunderstood" something.  There was no misunderstanding by me as covering the variables regarding a Chargeback was not the subject I was posting about.

@dbfolks166mt 

[mam98031]

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@rugerskick wrote:

Call your local po, they can access them via tracking # for you

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I know they can access it, but how do you get them to send you the pics?  Are you saying it is simply by asking them to?  That is amazing.  I will keep that in mind for the future.

[mam98031]

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@stevenborck wrote:

You can't resell the item if the item the buyer returns is not the item you sold them.

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Why?  Certainly you'd have to create a new listing but you could still sell it if it was something you thought would sell.

[dbfolks166mt]

That is a completely different subject and not what my post covered at all.

Your post said that I "misunderstood" something.  There was no misunderstanding by me as covering the variables regarding a Chargeback was not the subject I was posting about.

None of my postings said that you "misunderstood" something what I stated was . 

"You left off number 7. Buyer opens a NAD chargeback with their CC Company in which case 1-6 do not apply unless the eBay chargeback seller protection covers it. "

and in my second response.

    " Not really an error you covered the eBay return cases pretty well. What you left off was the instances where a buyer opens a chargeback with their CC company and the eBay policies, other than the limited chargeback protection, don't really apply. 

     CC companies are generally not worried about logistics and seldom require the buyer to return the item before they are refunded."

[ms.rodriguez*]

Making  a video is also useless. You can make 5 different videos.  How do we know what is in the box. VIdeos can be edited.  I can video myself handing the clerk a box with a 5 dollar item or a 100 dollar item.  There is NO way for Ebay to know which one is which.  The labels do not prove anything.  What if I slapped the wrong label on the wrong box?    The best advice is to NEVER sell anything expensive online that you can not afford to lose.   Get a police report and perhaps you can use that loss as a tax deduction on your tax form.  

[soh.maryl]

Maybe, but, in this case, the seller (OP) is complaining about what happened with a high-priced item that he sold, so wouldn't we presume that he would want to get his high dollar item returned to him?