Why would eBay side with a SCAMMER?

[moudymood]

I know, I know, in hindsight it was an obvious scam!

In November I sold an Apple Watch 5 for $254.99. The original shipping method I put was eBay’s global shipping program. I went back and forth a dozen times or more over shipping. The BUYER INSISTED I ship via USPS First Class International. They had an exact shipping request. The buyer insisted on this shipping method because it had cheaper duty fees. What he said didn’t make sense to me however when I looked into it, I couldn’t find info to support or dispute his claim. So I decided to accommodate his request. But I purchased insurance myself just in case and sent it off.

Fast forward to last week, the buyer says he didn’t receive the item and requested a refund through eBay. I first check the tracking number, the last update was on 11/25 when it was delivered to postal agent in Beijing. From there who knows? because there is no tracking number from the Chinese postal service, I can’t see if they got the item or not. They could have kept the item, claim they never received it and request their money be refunded. I messaged the buyer after the return request to ask if they contacted the Chinese postal service about their lost package. They did not respond to me.
He beat me to ask eBay to step in, of course they sided with him. I appealed their decision, pointing to the buyers suspicious request. eBay was not moved by my argument, losing my appeal. So I’m out of an Apple Watch and now I am forced to refund their money+ shipping.
Today I contact USPS to file a claim and they informed me the insurance I purchased through eBay is no good because it wasn’t sent via Registered mail or something? Taking yet another L.
They told me to on Chinapost.com to see if there was info using my tracking number, unfortunately there was none. They were closed today, but I was thinking I could call to see if they had a way to look it up? Probably not… but I’m desperate.

Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks, Moud

[fashunu4eeuh]

The possible reason this buyer wanted you to send the package First Class International is because there is no door- to-door tracking with this shipping method. I do not believe there is anything that now can be done, except to learn from the experience. So sorry this happened to you. 

There are some countries that the USPS does offer complete tracking for with First Class International. This is through their eDel-Con service. China is not one.

See link below for more information.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Electronic-USPS-Delivery-Confirmation-International

[dbfolks166mt]

     The first question I have is why you would even list an Apple Watch on eBay? It is one of those high target items for scammers. Secondly while domestic scammers are bad enough shipping to China, among others, is worse. The buyer may have in fact never gotten this item, the custom services in China are full of corruption. 

     Unless you purchased insurance on a first class package significant enough to cover the cost of the watch USPS does not have insurance coverage on first class packages. I am sorry this happened to you but it's probably an expensive lesson. Since you didn't sell the watch from this account I am unable to see what the original listing looked like but you may want to consider how you want to list future items. Do you want to continue to sell internationally, do you offer returns, never let a buyer drive your shipping method or policy they knew what it was when they looked at and purchased the item. Most importantly think about what you are posting and remember the #1 seller rule and that is to never list anything on eBay you cannot afford to take the financial loss on. 

[amyandherbert-2008]

had this happen to me last month but had enough since to block him from buying from me it was a $250.00 watch

[bbravo65]

...at the beginning of my selling, I spent hours reading posts in this forum just for self-education then, my final decision was no matter how much money I could make, it won't worth the hassles of dealing with international buyers...

(...still have to deal with Dominicans and their freight forwarding shippers...)

...OP, I'm so sorry for your lost...

[kensgiftshop]

@moudymood 

Sorry, but without tracking that shows the item was delivered, there's nothing you can do through Ebay.

[varebelrose]

Expensive lesson,  don't let it go to waste.

I learned a long time ago to never do international sales; they may work for some, but I couldn't bear the risk and loss entailed.

[fab_finds4u]

You were hoodwinked.. You have to refund in full and they get a free item.

You never ship the way a buyer requests or insists.  The seller decides,  and they ship the way they're protected.

You are only protected if you have tracking that confirms delivered to the buyer's city and postal code. First Class International doesn't confirm delivery in China. To prove delivery there costs a minimum of over $50. Probably more since the recent rate hike.  To  China FC and Flat rate Priority envelopes and Flat rate small boxes don't track. You need to ship calculated Priority or use a flat rate large box To be protected.

I'm sorry this happened. 

[dbfolks166mt]

...at the beginning of my selling, I spent hours reading posts in this forum just for self-education then, my final decision was no matter how much money I could make, it won't worth the hassles of dealing with international buyers...

(...still have to deal with Dominicans and their freight forwarding shippers...)

     If the buyer is using a US based FF it doesn't matter what country they live in they can bid on and/or purchase items from you. EBay looks at the shipping address of the buyer not the country of their registered account. FF's are not a bad thing but I will still not ship to China, Russia or any of the other FSU countries FF or no FF'er. 

[buyologist-3]

When I learned that 'Bay can't protect us from any problems overseas I dropped that idea.

Now, your title asks a question, to which I can reply: Fees.  That's why.  Keep it in 'our 'hood.'

[luckythewinner]

 I appealed their decision, pointing to the buyers suspicious request. eBay was not moved by my argument, losing my appeal. 

I think it was a longshot to expect eBay to extend seller protection to you after you freely chose to ship without seller protection. 

[eunster1313]

@moudymood 

(The BUYER INSISTED I ship via USPS First Class International. They had an exact shipping request. The buyer insisted on this shipping method because it had cheaper duty fees.)

For future reference.

You don't have to comply to a Buyers request to change anything

if it is not offered in your listing.

Abusive buyer policy

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/buying-practices-policy?id=4374 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@dbfolks166mt 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234263741035?hash=item368b35026b:g:uSYAAOSwrL9hfdDg#vi__app-cvip-panel

OP can you call Apple to report it stolen using the IMEI?

[dbfolks166mt]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234263741035?hash=item368b35026b:g:uSYAAOSwrL9hfdDg#vi__app-cvip-panel

OP can you call Apple to report it stolen using the IMEI?

     Thank you not sure why I could/did not see the listing. Noticed a couple of things. OP pretty much listed the item for sale worldwide and listed with seller does not accept returns. The returns is kind of irrelevant in this case since the buyer filed an INR case but may be something for future consideration. Same for the not accepting returns which, as we all know, does not mean no refunds. It was also initially listed as shipping priority mail which would have been a good thing. 

     If seller continues to sell worldwide they may want to consider using the eBay Global Shipping Program. The program/center offers a couple of advantages. First they are the ones that send the invoice to the buyer and collect both the domestic shipping to the GDC as well as the shipping cost for the international leg. They also handle the customs paperwork and update the tracking information in the order for the international leg. It would have been difficult for the buyer to persuade the GSC to ship the item first class international. I would still never ship anything to China even through the GSC.

     Thanks for the reminder on the IMEI I usually remember to include that. Seller can also report to the IMEI blacklist site(s). I used the following once when I lost a phone. 

https://www.imei.info/news/report-imei-number-lost-or-stolen/  

[lightlily_arts]

Not what you want to hear, but I wouldn't change my shipping method at a buyer's request that doesn't have door to door tracking.   Have you checked with any of the parcel tracking services?  Some of them will track international parcels.

https://www.packagetrackr.com/track/usps