eBay

jam401 · ‎07-19-2018

I just ran into this for me for the first time. Sold a new in box iPhone 3 states away. Customer claimed it did not turn on. Ebay forced return and provided shipping label. A few days later the case was closed and I had not even received the phone back.

Upon calling eBay they gave me a tracking # (not the one eBay provided but one customer did on their own). I called the post office and it was addressed and delivered to a restaurant in my hometown. On top of the return was dropped off at the town next to mine and not where I shipped the item. It was also a letter weighing only 2 onces.

This is where it gets weirder. I was preparing my appeal and printing the order details and went to the "send invoice" screen to print the original order and under the buyer address, instead of the one that I shipped to it now had the restaurant name and address where they made the return to. eBay could not answer how that address got there.

I have enough evidence to win the appeal but I'm curious if this has happened to anyone else. Was the buyer able to change the address, was it an eBay glitch, how did the buyer get someone 3 states over to mail something for them to show fraudulent proof?

bigdeals.etc · ‎07-20-2018

Wait, let me get this straight. Is this what you are saying? You sold an iPhone to a buyer with address "A". Buyer filed a return and used their own postage with tracking to show that it got delivered to address "B" which happens to be in your hometown, but not your address. Return got closed with refund issued because of tracking. Now you see the shipping address of your buyer changed to address "B". Correct?

If that's the case, try appealing to eBay and tell them that the buyer essentially sent the phone back to themself and posed it as a return delivered. Anyone can get an out of state family member or friend send a package to them. Returns will eventually automatically issue the refund to the buyer as long as they upload any tracking that shows delivered to anywhere... yes, ANY tracking. Ebay should see some shenanigan is involved. I'd also file a police report.

And no this has never happened to me. And it DOES sound weird and quite creative if it's a scam.

bigdeals.etc · ‎07-20-2018

Just remembered what you said about the returned item being a letter. Sounds like the buyer didn't send anything at all. They maybe just used an existing tracking that happens to be in your hometown. I wonder if you call the restaurant what will they say.

jam401 · ‎07-20-2018

That's exactly how it went down. I was able to get a detailed page from USPS showing the weight and address where it was shipped to and showing it originated in my state. That should be the nail in the coffin for this guy. I think they simply paid someone online to complete a "job" which was to mail a letter and provide tracking. I just don't understand how are why they would change their address to the fake returned address.

retrose1 · ‎07-20-2018

OP, first off - thems the risks of selling high dollar items on ebay.

Second, I would be filing a using the mail to commit fraud report against your buyer with the post office AND a police report for internet frad with the buyers local police dept.

The complications of the scam makes it clear that the buyer knows it will work and has done it before. I would check some of the other sellers in this buyers feedback and see if they have been scammed the same way.

I would also check to see if there is a cell phone seller doing business in your buyers zip code addresses. Not that ebay will bother to believe you, but it will go far if you take them to court.

Since ebay has the ability for sellers to send a label through the dispute - ebay should ONLY accept return tracking from the labels the seller sent. That would solve the complex scam - but I would bet the buyer will quickly go back to the send a rock return scam.

(*Bleep*)

lewisburggold · ‎07-20-2018

Wow they are getting more creative arent they. Hope you win the appeal. Best regards

bigdeals.etc · ‎07-20-2018

@jam401 wrote:
I just don't understand how are why they would change their address to the fake returned address.

My guess is that they don't scam 100% of their item purchases and recently legitimately purchased something from a seller and need it sent to them.

emerald40 · ‎07-20-2018

JMO of course

But returns over a certain amount being sent back to the seller should require signature confirmation.

bigdeals.etc · ‎07-20-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
JMO of course

But returns over a certain amount being sent back to the seller should require signature confirmation.

That might help... but not in the OP's case. The buyer who received the returned package would just sign off for it, which is enough to please the bots.

emerald40 · ‎07-20-2018

@bigdeals.etc wrote:
@emerald40 wrote:
JMO of course

But returns over a certain amount being sent back to the seller should require signature confirmation.

That might help... but not in the OP's case. The buyer who received the returned package would just sign off for it, which is enough to please the bots.

____________________________________________

And that is why the PO needs to go back to the paper ones - so signatures can be checked to make sure the person signing it is that person.

These electronic thingies you do with your finger, my cat could sign for me and who would know. They never llok like your true signature, especially for lefties.

missjen831 · ‎07-20-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
@bigdeals.etc wrote:
@emerald40 wrote:
JMO of course

But returns over a certain amount being sent back to the seller should require signature confirmation.

That might help... but not in the OP's case. The buyer who received the returned package would just sign off for it, which is enough to please the bots.

____________________________________________

And that is why the PO needs to go back to the paper ones - so signatures can be checked to make sure the person signing it is that person.

These electronic thingies you do with your finger, my cat could sign for me and who would know. They never llok like your true signature, especially for lefties.

It doesn’t matter how or what you sign. Anyone can change their signature. Using paper “thingys” isn’t any safer than using the electronic signer.

One life is all we have to live
Love is all we have to give

**Formerly known as MissJen316**

emerald40 · ‎07-20-2018

So what you are saying is that using signature confirmation for items over $750 is useless?????

expert_elec_photo · ‎07-20-2018

I think you should be able to win the appeal, although it might take an escalation if the first EBay employee carelessly closes your case (hey the tracking number shows it was delivered!!)

I went through the same thing as you once, but as a buyer (of an iPhone!!) The seller shipped a dummy package to a flower shop in my zip code. Since USPS tracking results only show the destination zip code, to EBay the item was delivered.

I went through the whole rigamarole, getting shipping info and even a photo of the delivered package from USPS (they were very professional and helpful!) Even then EBay closed my case the first time, it took extra phone calls and multiple repeat explanations of the situation before they finally seemed to understand what happened, and refunded my purchase. At some point, I finally talked to an actual functional human EBay rep who patiently listened to my story, reviewed the evidence, realized there was 0% chance that I was not in the right, and put me on hold to explain to a manager who could make a decision on it.

discountme · ‎07-20-2018

The other day, I was shipping an eBay purchase the other day via PayPal and it had changed my name to a business. When I clicked on addresses it had multiple with this business name but in different states. I immediately signed out and signed back in and it was gone.