What to do when a buyer is about to do a scam return on you?

[billythekid16]

A buyer from South Carolina bought my lot of empty printer ink tanks this week.  Within less than an hour of the package's delivery confirmation, he filed on eBay for a refund. The reason? They "arrived damaged" and "they were used." He posted this photo to both eBay and me:

[aproudparent2010]

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@billythekid16 wrote:

To everyone here: I am so sorry. I accidentally pressed Post and thus my original message was incomplete. This is the rest of my story:

The red flag in the photo is the 281XXL ink tank...I never sent him that.  And the fact that the packing slip is in pristine unfolded condition, and flipped over so as to not see if it has my mailing address on it.  I folded the packing slip before mailing it, so it should have had four folding creases. Another red flag.

His responses to me were evasive. I tried to get an explanation from him, but they were short - "send shipping label" and "used, not new."  I am expecting to get back a whole different set of ink tanks, if he does make the effort to mail it back to me.  But is there anything else I can do, aside from accepting this as a loss?

Sidenote: I can't think of what motive this guy has.  Empty ink tanks for those who want to refill them to save money on printer ink seems (to me) an unlikely target for scammers.  Unless he found some way to get more money from eBay through the refund, it just seems odd.

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Is your address 35 ???
Brookline, MA 02445

That is what I can make out on the packing slip

[mtgraves7984]

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@billythekid16 wrote:

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

Found the OP sold a lot of 15 empty cartridges on April 18 2023.

I am a bit confused about the term VIRGIN in their headline description.

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Virgin cartridges are empty inkjet and toner cartridges that have NEVER been refilled.  That's a term people who refill these tanks understand.

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@billythekid16 

I understand (as you do) that 'virgin' means one life cycle. But you've still got a buyer who didn't read. Dang it. 😑

[chevymontecarlo88]

Virgin cartridges are empty inkjet and toner cartridges that have NEVER been refilled. That's a term people who refill these tanks understand.

I can see how this can be a little confusing for some. I would not of included this (Virgin) in the listing or for future listings. I also would list these for parts/repair next time to stress the point of not being full of ink or working without a refill. 

There are folks that use their cell phones to purchase and really do not read descriptions and rely on Titles and pricing. Communicating with the buyer (Before you ship) is also a good way to confirm the buyer understands what they just purchased. 

That being said the buyer could be trying to exploit the return process as you mentioned or may be confusing your purchase with another. 

At this point i would refer to what redlinear has pointed out and follow that advice. 

What you do is:  Accept the return, and refund when returned.  
After that, if the return is not what you shipped?  You then start a case yourself in hopes that eBay will refund you.

If the return is not what you sent, i would also report the buyer.

Ebay does offer Seller protections, but you must make sure your listings are clean without errors or vague definitions. 

Good luck and sorry this happened to you.

[redlinear]

After "something" is returned. And you refund.  I said open a case.  The correct terms I might be missing...It's a case, claim, report buyer, ???
I did whatever I saw that was available, immediately after refunding.

BUT, I've never done that on a less than $100 anything.   I just doctored my wounds and went on.
BUT, the couple of $600 items?  Yeah, I threw a fit.  (and eBay paid me, and gave the buyer his money back also).
I wait for something significant to complain a whole lot

[chevymontecarlo88]

After "something" is returned. And you refund. I said open a case. The correct terms I might be missing...It's a case, claim, report buyer, ???
I did whatever I saw that was available, immediately after refunding.

If i am not mistaken, you can dispute the return (after it is returned as something else) and separately report the buyer. I knew what you meant and was just trying to notate that for others to see.

Either way your message was on point!

[fab_finds4u]

Dear Buyer

Please return for a refund. I'm having the USPS look into the claim because what you pictured is not what I sent. 

Your Seller 

[redlinear]

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

Dear Buyer

Please return for a refund. I'm having the USPS look into the claim because what you pictured is not what I sent. 

Your Seller 

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Always a good response if you get the chance.
Please return to XXXXX for refund (if lucky, they'll ship the stuff back, paying the shipping and never know they could have had you pay for it).

Having USPS look into it.  HECK, I've said I was going to call their local Law Enforcement and report things stolen. So, expect a visit from a police officer.  (usually when I don't believe they didn't receive something).

So, @fab_finds4u 👍 very good idea!

[billythekid16]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

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Well, I'm one who protects my Metrics, so I'd approve the Return and refund upon the cartridges' return to me.

Then... I suppose I'd call it a lesson learned (dang it!) and not list them in that category again. Hang in there...

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The buyer just mailed the package yesterday (Monday), so I am expecting it back later this week.  And I know I am expecting what comes back will be different.  So its a matter of the proper steps of WHEN to report this buyer... before or after the refund.

What happened here won't discourage me from selling used, empty printer ink tanks in the future.  I just won't do it for a while - since I don't have enough on hand to sell as a new lot.  It also seems likely I will throw what I get back into the trash.

For the record: I had buyers return items before with no issues (and I do refund), but this is the first time one such person made it look blatant that he's scamming me.  The additional alarming sign was he filed for a refund less than 30 minutes after the package via priority mail was delivered to his doorstep.  I have only been scammed on eBay as a seller once in a blue moon.  Last time was 10 years ago.  So I had been fortunate in general.