Was I scammed? Buyer refuses to sign for package and claims it wasn’t delivered.

[charlie_1990]

Buyer purchased collectible item. I always ship such items Priority Mail with signature service. Lately, unscrupulous buyers are claiming that they never received the package, so I’ve had to use signature service. This buyer initially refused to be home or have someone home to sign for the package. When his postman left the USPS “ attempted delivery” notice for his signature (so he could get his package delivered without being home), he refused again to sign. I think that this buyer had planned to scam me— collect his package and say he never got it. Using signature service kept that from happening, but this sneaky buyer found another tactic. He filed a “ not received” claim with EBay, EBay sided with him, despite tracking information showing attempted delivery. EBay debited me and refunded his money. My package was lost and I had to appeal the decision with EBay to recover my money. I was still charged all FVF’s. I had a second such issue with a buyer who purchased a new box of diapers—-yes, diapers—and am in the process of appealing that decision. I am suspending selling on EBay until they better protect sellers from unscrupulous buyers.

[southern*sweet*tea]

You only need sig conf for packages over $750. Anything else is a waste and can be a huge inconvenience to the buyer.

If a buyer says they didn't get an item, all you need to do is enter the tracking information showing delivered into the case. This is an auto win for a seller as long as that tracking says delivered, and as long as you have sig conf for items over $750.

I thought a blue once said attempted delivery was the same as delivered...someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[dtexley3]

@Anonymous  Buyer refused delivery, should have not been decided against the seller.  Please review.

[dalo4242]

You know you need to use signature confirmation on items whose value is less than $750? All you need to do is ship with tracking and first class package services have that.

For many being home to sign or making a trip to the post office is nearly impossible.

I don't think the buyer had any intention of scamming you, but rather just wasn't able to be there to sign.

Had the item successfully being returned to you would you have kept the money and the item?

[dalo4242]

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@dtexley3 wrote:

@Anonymous  Buyer refused delivery, should have not been decided against the seller.  Please review.

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I'm not seeing it as the buyer refused the package, the buyer wasn't there to sign. 

[impalajohnny]

The post office suggests a much lower threshold than $750 and I think their risk assessment is worth paying attention to. Peoples appitite for loss tends to drop off sharply around $200 and buyers start to like the idea of a sig IF they are prominantly informed about it in the listing.

Putting a signiture on a $3 box of diapers will cause most buyers to be disgruntled.

[blueeggsandspam]

You haven't sold anything recently for more than $20. Signature confirmation is a waste of your money (and your buyer's time). As mentioned, you only need sig conf if the total is $750+. 

You mentioned the same issue with diapers that you sold? Please don't tell me you added sig conf to $2.49 Buy It Now +$3.69 shipping. 

Tracking which shows delivered to the address on the Paypal payment is all you need for item not received claims for sales in your dollar range. Save your money. And save your buyers the headaches of making a trip to the post office for such a piddly amount.

[lex-talon]

Using Signature confirmation on low priced items is a waste of money. It sounds as if you didn't enter the tracking no. on those INR claims. 

[Anonymous]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

You only need sig conf for packages over $750. Anything else is a waste and can be a huge inconvenience to the buyer.

If a buyer says they didn't get an item, all you need to do is enter the tracking information showing delivered into the case. This is an auto win for a seller as long as that tracking says delivered, and as long as you have sig conf for items over $750.

I thought a blue once said attempted delivery was the same as delivered...someone correct me if I'm wrong.

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Hi @southern*sweet*tea, in addition to a Delivered status, we consider attempted delivery and notices left for pickup to be delivery confirmation we can use to protect a seller. If a mistake is made in a case decision, we can correct this through an appeal. I will ensure this situation is reviewed for the OP and that the correct action is taken, no problem!

[femmefan1946]

@dalo4242

For many being home to sign or making a trip to the post office is nearly impossible.

Then why buy by mail order/online at all?

If you are not at home, you are as capable of going to the post office as you are to the drugstore.
(Here in Canada, the postal outlet probably is in the drugstore, but I gather USPS does not have such satellite offices.)

If you are at home because of disability or children, you are there to sign and don't have to go to the post office.

The seller chooses the shipping service. If the buyer doesn't like it, she doesn't have to buy.

The only proof I need is that this buyer is refusing to sign and get her package.
I agree with the OP that it was her intention to claim Not Delivered, although just using Confirmation of Delivery may have been all that was necessary to win that.

I rarely track anything, because it is very expensive here. An 85 cent , 30 gram, domestic letter would cost at least $13.35 to Register and more if sent as a parcel.

[softersilk]

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@charlie_1990 wrote:

Buyer purchased collectible item. I always ship such items Priority Mail with signature service. Lately, unscrupulous buyers are claiming that they never received the package, so I’ve had to use signature service. This buyer initially refused to be home or have someone home to sign for the package. When his postman left the USPS “ attempted delivery” notice for his signature (so he could get his package delivered without being home), he refused again to sign. I think that this buyer had planned to scam me— collect his package and say he never got it. Using signature service kept that from happening, but this sneaky buyer found another tactic. He filed a “ not received” claim with EBay, EBay sided with him, despite tracking information showing attempted delivery. EBay debited me and refunded his money. My package was lost and I had to appeal the decision with EBay to recover my money. I was still charged all FVF’s. I had a second such issue with a buyer who purchased a new box of diapers—-yes, diapers—and am in the process of appealing that decision. I am suspending selling on EBay until they better protect sellers from unscrupulous buyers.

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I'm with you on signature required on packages over certain amount.  Helps me sleep at night.

What those buyers did is "mail fraud" and it's a federal crime.  I would do 3 things:

1) Call buyer's local USPS and notify the manager what their customer is doing.

2) You experienced a theft.  Take your paperwork to the police to file a theft report.  Ask the officer to file here: https://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/law_enforcement.html

3) Report everywhere that alleges that eBay has seller protection: various executives (Bob Kupbens, Brian Burke, Harry Temkin, Griff) as well as Facebook: eBay for Business, eBay Newsroom and the main eBay page.

eBay enables and empowers criminals.  Take the time and fight.

[slippinjimmy]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

@dalo4242

For many being home to sign or making a trip to the post office is nearly impossible.

Then why buy by mail order/online at all?

If you are not at home, you are as capable of going to the post office as you are to the drugstore.
(Here in Canada, the postal outlet probably is in the drugstore, but I gather USPS does not have such satellite offices.)

If you are at home because of disability or children, you are there to sign and don't have to go to the post office.

The seller chooses the shipping service. If the buyer doesn't like it, she doesn't have to buy.

The only proof I need is that this buyer is refusing to sign and get her package.
I agree with the OP that it was her intention to claim Not Delivered, although just using Confirmation of Delivery may have been all that was necessary to win that.

I rarely track anything, because it is very expensive here. An 85 cent , 30 gram, domestic letter would cost at least $13.35 to Register and more if sent as a parcel.

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I've bought online from dozens and dozens of places, for those that ship via USPS none ever ship with signature required except for high value (>$500) shipments with the one glaring exception of some eBay sellers.

The seller may choose the shipping method but the OP's listings say nothing about requiring a signature, I read the OP's ridiculous TOS three times thinking I might find it buried in the wall of negative terms, I might still have missed it.

[slippinjimmy]

2) You experienced a theft.  Take your paperwork to the police to file a theft report.  Ask the officer to file here: https://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/law_enforcement.html

What theft?????????

The buyer didn't pick up the package!!!!!!!!!!

[dalo4242]

@femmefan1946

Then why buy by mail order/online at all?

Because most sellers don't ask for signature on stuff unless it's higher value.

I mean seriously, the most expensive item the Opie has sold recently was $19 plus shipping. 

[a_c_green]

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@charlie_1990 wrote: 
Buyer purchased collectible item. I always ship such items Priority Mail with signature service. Lately, unscrupulous buyers are claiming that they never received the package, so I’ve had to use signature service.

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Not unless your sale was over $750, no. Your buyer can claim non-delivery all day long, but as long as you have Delivery Confirmation showing a Delivered status to the buyer's City and ZIP, you are covered against having to refund for an Item Not Received dispute. Signature Confirmation does not get you anything more in this situation except perhaps an irritated buyer. (Exactly which item are we talking about here? I'm not seeing anything collectible in your Sold list that's more than about $20.)

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Using signature service kept that from happening, but this sneaky buyer found another tactic. He filed a “ not received” claim with EBay, EBay sided with him, despite tracking information showing attempted delivery. EBay debited me and refunded his money. My package was lost and I had to appeal the decision with EBay to recover my money.

I see you got a courtesy refund from eBay here, but how did things go sideways in the first place? Did you miss the deadline for answering the INR with your tracking number? Where exactly is the package now? Either the buyer has now picked it up (the tracking on usps.com will show if that's the case) or it should be on its way back to you (which, again, the tracking will show). There's no particular reason for the package to be "lost" in this situation.