What happens when an Amazon-dropshipping fake eBay seller gets an INR?

[gurlcat]

I'm not talking about sellers authorized to sell their own items via Amazon warehouse; I mean the policy-violating ones who list things on eBay and then order them from Amazon to be shipped to the buyers.  If I recall correctly they just mark the item 'shipped' with no tracking, right?  So if the end of the estimated delivery range comes and goes, and the buyer files an INR, is there any way for the "seller" to prove delivery? 

[wastingtime101]

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@tobaccocardyahoo wrote:

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Seller owned inventory in FBA is shipped in plain boxes with no Amazon paperwork under the Multi-Channel Fulfillment program in FBA. A different fee schedule than that of Amazon sales applies as well.

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Adding to this. ^

I think a lot of eBay-exclusive sellers don't realize there's a difference between FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and Amazon's MCF (Multi-Channel Fulfillment).

FBA fulfills orders placed on Amazon.

MCF fulfills orders from other marketplaces, and even your own website, using Amazon's network.

MCF orders are shipped in unbranded packaging. More info.

While FBA inventory can be used to fulfill MCF orders, the 2 are not the same.

[mam98031]

Well I know that I'm one of those that didn't know that.  Thank you.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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@mam98031 wrote:

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.  But it is also possible, because there are many Ebay sellers, that the seller stores their inventory at an Amazon FBA site.  

The seller using FBA to fulfill orders isn't doing anything wrong.  They are shipping inventory the seller owns.

The seller that is using their Prime account is likely committing retail Arbitrage, which is  no no.  

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The seller who stores his inventory in FBA is doing something wrong if his merchandise arrives in an Amazon box to an Ebay buyer.

There is a way to ship to an Ebay or a Walmart buyer without an Amazon box. Neither site condones this.

[gurlcat]

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@bdmh-enterprises wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

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It isn't "drop shipping".  The seller OWNS the inventory.  They have just hired Amazon to store and ship their inventory as needed.  They pay for the service..  

It is not the same thing as using a company as your supplier and have them ship items to a buyer as needed.  The seller doesn't own this inventory.  They purchase it as needed to fulfil their orders.

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I believe based on first post that OP is talking about the kind of seller that sells here and then uses their Prime account to ship as a gift to the buyer. Pretty sure that is not allowed.

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YES, thank you.  And that person knows better than to reply to me anyway, because I've asked them not to repeatedly, because they don't understand (or pretend not to understand) things explicitly stated in plain English on such a regular basis it only distracts from the thread and makes things confusing to any newbies. 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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@mam98031 wrote:

I don't know anything about that.  I've never heard it before.

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That is probably because you are not an Amazon seller who has used FBA.

This is not a secret or a recent development. Amazon considered the issues when it decided to allow sellers to use FBA to fulfill orders for other sites.

MCF is the proper procedure.

The sellers who ship in an Amazon box are practicing retail arb and are violating Amazon and Ebay policies. Placing an order using a Prime account to fulfill an order, no matter who owns the merch is a violation of

Amazon policy punishable by losing the ability to have a Prime account.

[gurlcat]

"Buyers have the responsibility to supply a safe place for delivery."  😆  -Doesn't mean Amazon drivers will USE that safe place.   Even when I've had big plastic totes labeled 'PACKAGES' they will set packages beside it, in the bright open for all the passing drivers and pedestrians to see.  Some drivers won't even walk to the porch, just put (or throw) the box behind my fence gate, which is right beside the sidewalk.

Part of the reason I started this thread is because a major reason I don't buy from Amazon is I want my purchases put IN MY MAILBOX, which is huge but only USPS carriers can legally use it, and in the rare event I buy something too large for it, I either have it held at the post office or make sure I'm home and watch out the window like a hawk for my mailman. 

I am SICK carefully choosing an item from eBay results,  thinking I bought something from a real eBay seller, only to have a stupid smiley face box with a "gift for you" note inside. 

[inhawaii]

I know exactly how @gurlcat feels about this subject. I used to feel the same way. Then one day I woke up and realized that it doesn't matter where my item came from. As long as it's what I ordered, for the price I paid, in tne timeframe I expected, I don't care where it came from ... Amazon, a ebay seller, Timbuktu, or my next door neighbor. It doesn't bother me a bit.

Added on...

Thr part about how you want your things put in the mailbox is a valid reason for feeling the way you do.

[gurlcat]

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@inhawaii wrote:

Thr part about how you want your things put in the mailbox is a valid reason for feeling the way you do.

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Well it's only one of several reasons, all of which are valid to me, including the ones that are also valid to eBay, which is why they have a policy against it.   But I don't expect anyone to feel as strongly about it as I do.  Heck I don't care if product packaging arrives damaged like you do, or probably other things that other people care about when they buy here.   But that "here" part is all I ask for.  I would rather an item from a real eBay seller cost more, take longer than expected to arrive, with a smooshed product container, hairs stuck to it and reeking of smoke, than next-day, all perfect and sterile, in a dumb smiley box 6 times larger than necessary. 

[slippinjimmy]

On the eBay listings for these items what is shown for shipping in the listing, is it a generic service or a specific one that is not actually used?

[gurlcat]

I've seen both.

[robbie31415]

Thankfully eBay removed aquiline and bluecare express. Has really decreased Amazon "dropshippers'.

No tracking no protection.

[gurlcat]

EXCELLENT, thank you!!! 

[eastlaneave]

@gurlcat 

I feel strongly about this as well.

And I will answer what the sellers who violate policy  by "Listing an item on eBay and then purchasing the item from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your customer".

-- Not allowed on eBay https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/drop-shipping?id=4176

Because they are rule breakers and do not care, they buy a fake tracking number and add it to the case.

The fake tracking number will be a REAL tracking number for a package mailed to someone else in the same town.

Good sellers, ethical sellers, don't have access to a hacked(?) tracking number database.

Good sellers, ethical sellers don't list an item on eBay and then buy it on Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot to ship to the buyer.

[mam98031]

I agree regarding those that use Amazon to commit retail arbitrage as you described it above.

But we need to remember that some do pay Amazon to store, pick, pack and ship their inventory as directed.  The seller owns the inventory, and pays Amazon for their services.  This is completely legit.

There are other businesses like this out there too for sellers that have a good amount of inventory.  They could hire a different company to do what they have hired Amazon to do.

@wastingtime101  posted some good info up thread.  Here is a link they provided.

https://supplychain.amazon.com/blog/unbranded-packaging-for-amazon-mcf-what-it-is-and-how-it-works

[eastlaneave]

@mam98031 

I am very well acquanited with MCF

No one in this thread is talking about MCF. No one objects to it because they don't even know it's happening since the item arrives in a plain box.

What we are objecting to is the sellers who sellers who violate policy  by "Listing an item on eBay and then purchasing the item from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your customer".

-- this is not allowed on eBay https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/drop-shipping?id=4176

These sales arrive in Amazon prime packaging, usually with a "gift receipt" ... as if your aunt bought it for you.

These sellers are bad news, usually overseas, bad customer service, bad feedback sellers.

These sellers make buyers leave eBay because they think
"Why buy on eBay, I could have got it on Amazon".
Or
"I don't want to buy on Amazon, I deliberately shop elsewhere and I still supported amazon against my wishes... guess I can't buy on eBay anymore"