Weird quandary: Receiving returned goods from exchanges I had not part in.

[vassifer]

I have a weird issue. Over the last couple of weeks, I have received five or six packages from eBay sellers returning items they didn't order. The thing is, I have no part in the transactions. I am receiving returned items I did not send out. How they got my address as the "return" destination is a complete mystery. Has this happened to anyone else? 

[loveyourimagination49]

It’s part of a scam. 

[kensgiftshop]

@vassifer 

A couple years ago a member started receiving returns from Ebay, and they were only a buyer.

Found out it was a seller from China.

Instead of paying to have the items sent back to China, they would pick one of their buyers and use their address for the returns.

[postingid7659]

Looks like you just got some free inventory to list for sale. 

[evry1nositswindy]

How does  this scam work?  What would be the benefit of sending a return to someone else? @kensgiftshop 

[kensgiftshop]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

How does  this scam work?  What would be the benefit of sending a return to someone else? @kensgiftshop 

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I don't know?

Looks like it would be better to just refund the buyers if they didn't want the items returned.

I don't remember if they ever found out why they did it.

[pureinnocenthelp]

someone could have hacked into your account.  maybe ask ebay about it?

[phamtth76]

It’s part of a scam. 

[raischarmu0]

Yes, This happened to me in Jan.. I called  & told them. They told me yes I sold it, however I never did. I wish we would get people who understand what we say on the phone.

[vassifer]

Thanks for everyone's input. Days later, I am *STILL* receiving these packages. I have 11 or 12 of them (at last count). My question is this: WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

[downunder-61]

Keep them and sell them.

The reason the Chinese sellers do this is so they can supply a return label when a buyer requests a refund.

And yes, they are well aware they are not going to get the item back, because they don't want it back.

Why don't they just refund and let the buyer keep it ? because that lets the buyer know, oh good, we can claim and they will let us keep the item (should they decide to be norti little buyers in the future).

It is actually a smart and cheap way of doing business, and hey, let's hope they keep using your address LOL

[b4b4b4b]

I KNOW I read a post like this a couple of months ago ... where there post is? Who knows, would take a long time to find it .. but yes, apparently some sort of a scam.  I don't remember much more about the post, sorry.

Tammy

New Hampshire

[a_c_green]

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@postingid7659 wrote:

Looks like you just got some free inventory to list for sale. 

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Sure, except that these items are apparently so bad that the buyers are trying to send them back. I would not want to tie my selling account to something like that.

@vassifer: What exactly is in these packages? Open one or two and have a peek.

[downunder-61]

It is not a scam, it is a business strategy - see post 11

[loveyourimagination49]