What should I do if I believe a buyer is claiming my products are their own and having me send them?

[freeheart333]

I'm concerned about a buyer that keeps buying from me but keeps changing the shipping address.  They also have a comment for each purchase that says, "please do not add invoice with shipped order.  please do not use ebay packaging or ebay label for shipping.  plain packaging and regular usps label is fine.  thanks."

I feel like I'm being used for a side-business, and afraid that this buyer could cause me a lot of trouble if there is an issue with the shipment.  For example, one if his/her customers complains for some reason, this buyer could come back to me and put in a dispute, even though he wasn't the recipient.  I just believe this buyer is claiming that these are THEIR products, and as they sell them, they are then buying from me and having me ship them.  They are different names, addresses, and states.

Please help if other buyers have experienced this, and if there is a way for me to prevent this from causing issues for my store.  Thank you  🙂

[trbl13]

I think you are Selling to a Freight Forwarder who Ships eBay items to another Country

after Receiving them...Many of the Freight Forwarders give Directions Similar to what You are Receiving..about Packaging and Labelling...I would Not worry...

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Anyone who asks for NO ebay packaging etc is a seller on another venue using you as their drop shipper.

I'm not using plain boxes I pay for, they get what they get.

[dirk12955]

For the OP:

It might be assumed that the buyer is making a profit on your MK items.

Or,  they are a MK seller buying from you,  and having you ship the items to one of their

customers to fulfill an order.  Maybe making a profit,   Maybe not.  

Are your prices too low?    Are you offering NOS items no longer available?

Isn't a sale a good thing?

The only ebay account that can open a dispute is the account that made the purchase.  

If I buy an item from you,   Give the address of my daughter,  and have you ship it as a gift,  My daughter

can't file a dispute with ebay.   She can only file a dispute with me.   

[soh.maryl]

You are being used as a freight forwarder by that buyer.

His customers cannot open a case or a dispute with you -- they did not buy from you.  

[saylesville2003]

I have had this experience many times with different buyers, and some repeat buyers.  I have not any issues with these sales yet.  I can understand your concerns though.

[titipeo]

As others have mentioned, you are the supplier for someone else. I wouldn't worry about it. This Buyer/reseller has to deal with their own clients, before coming to you. Enjoy it. 

[slati_2013]

Well, you probably need to increase the price of what you are selling. You are not going to get in trouble. I have been there as well. What is going on is the seller has the same items you have for sale.  Very likely his listing is original with his own pictures but he is using your supply to fulfill his orders. He is selling them at a higher price and is using you pretty much as a dropshipper.

I was selling brand new old type cell phones and a seller would buy them from me and ask me to ship them to his buyers.  No invoice and always with a different address.  It did not really bother me because he was buying them for the price I was willing to sell them for. There was only one issue but that was his problem because as the seller, any issue was his problem.

As I said as long as you don't mind the price you are selling them to him for, there is nothing to be worried about. He is selling the item. He is on the hook for anything that goes wrong. You have a regular customer for your product. I would be happy. 

[simba6]

They are using you as a drop shipper.   Does not look like they are causing you any problems. If not, don't worry.  Sales are sales.

[rosszonebricks]

I've had this happen a few times, although it took me a while to figure it out.

Biggest takeaway:  This is probably an indicator that you have room to *raise* your price on that item.   If there is enough room for profit that someone can buy from you and resell and still make a profit... why not claim that larger share of profit for yourself?

[theteamsetguy]

@freeheart333 ,

They are probably a reseller. I get orders from a couple of other sellers who sell on other venues once or twice a month. To me a sale is sale. Green is green and I green.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I have a lot of issues with this process. A lot going on here. 

The same buyer should not be able to change address every time they buy. This is a bad eBay process when they booted PayPal and started accepting all forms of payments. PayPal use to verify buyer information and address. PayPal even would notify the seller not to ship until the buyer's payment was verified. 

Now eBay claims a buyer can change address on every order. Would this not fall into possible stolen identity or other possible fraud (roommate / relative)? 

The buyer does seem to be a drop shipper making a profit off your items per their instructions on each order: They also have a comment for each purchase that says, "please do not add invoice with shipped order.  please do not use ebay packaging or ebay label for shipping.  plain packaging and regular usps label is fine.  thanks."

You're also losing a $ discount on purchasing an eBay label on-line. It does seem they are possibly selling your items on another platform. 

Some say the O.P. is protected because the actual recipient cannot open a case. What keeps the actual buyer from not opening a case when their recipient opens a claim on them?

I think the O.P. should review their listings and see if they are selling to low and maybe up the price. 

If you keep getting orders from this same buyer, I would Google map the address to see what it looks like. You can do a street & satellite view. Satellite is more up to date. Is it a freight forwarder location?

[freeheart333]

Actually my prices aren’t low on what they have ordered because the items are discontinued and hard to find. I just don’t feel like being used

[janet9988]

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@freeheart333 wrote:

I'm concerned about a buyer that keeps buying from me but keeps changing the shipping address.  They also have a comment for each purchase that says, "please do not add invoice with shipped order.  please do not use ebay packaging or ebay label for shipping.  plain packaging and regular usps label is fine.  thanks."

I feel like I'm being used for a side-business, and afraid that this buyer could cause me a lot of trouble if there is an issue with the shipment.  For example, one if his/her customers complains for some reason, this buyer could come back to me and put in a dispute, even though he wasn't the recipient.  I just believe this buyer is claiming that these are THEIR products, and as they sell them, they are then buying from me and having me ship them.  They are different names, addresses, and states.

Please help if other buyers have experienced this, and if there is a way for me to prevent this from causing issues for my store.  Thank you  🙂

---

Respond to the buyer with "please send an extra 2.00 per item for the custom shipping upgrade you are requesting."

[freeheart333]

I hate to break it to you Reese but some of my stuff sells fast because it’s hard to find!!! And people are waiting and watching for them. So that isn’t the issue or even the question.