buyer returned an empty box instead of the $720 item

[majorturtle1]

I sold a graphics card for $720, when the buyer received it they claimed that it was "dead on arrival" and started a return. This card was brand new so there shouldn't have been anything wrong with it. When I received the returned box and opened it, all that was inside was an empty box for a completely different item. Disputed the return with eBay and they decided it was not the buyers fault and sent the buyer a full refund taken from my payouts. I appealed it with proof to show I sent the right item and got sent back a completely different item and they didn't change anything.

It just doesn't make sense that they claimed the card didn't work, and then they didn't even send the card back and eBay still sided with them.

So now I'm out $720 and not sure if its possible to get it back.

For the future, is there any way to send a better appeal? Or any way to completely prevent this? And are there any more actions I can still take against this buyer?

[stuff4divas]

@majorturtle1 

Hope you did not say in your answer to the case it was an empty box with a completely different item, bc that would be contradictory, either it was empty or it was not empty bc it had a different item in it.

[dentalrprtek2012]

eBay contact on Facebook is the same incompetence you used to get on the phone. They just don’t care about sellers.

[eunster1313]

I’ve been noticing a lot of posts with issues with GPU sales. (Are video cards that much more of a target of fraud than other computer peripherals)?

Besides the usual scam artists there is a supply and demand war going on

between Gamers and Crypto Mining.

How Crypto Mining Led to eBay Scams - Buyer protection no longer applies to you

https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2021/5/1621695891.html 

[dariudaudery_0]

Expensive Computers, Phones and their parts are the most seeked items by scammers since they are super fast sales anywhere (street corner, randow shop, flee market, trading in for drugs, etc.)

I would not sell anything of higher value in those categories on eBay.

[u_cant_take_it_with_u]

The sad thing about that is, those sellers, who get scammed out of [high-dollar] items are sellers who still believe that people are basically good, (I believe that ratio is shrinking however) and the the odds are in their favor, but sometimes, they lose. Big box stores, and major drop shippers can take the loss a lot better than the honest individual selling on ebay, trying to make some extra money during an ongoing pandemic.  Of course the scamming buyer is also looking to make some money but their intentions are far more dishonorable. When it comes to ebay, it's always best to sell 16 $50 items, rather than one $800 item. 

[majorturtle1]

Yeah tried that multiple times and eBay gave the same response saying they were going to stick with their original outcome

[majorturtle1]

I provided the label I believe as I paid for it

and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say which city or country the buyer is located as eBay forum TOS says to not disclose information about buyers or something

and they are still registered, but I did send a report in

[majorturtle1]

Yes I insured it when I originally sent it. Am I still able to do something there? I thought once the shipping provider says it was delivered, then it's no longer covered.

[majorturtle1]

The buyer never messaged me or anything before they initiated the return, and right before I sent the return label I asked them more about the issue just to see if the card actually worked, but they never responded so I just sent them the label as eBay told me I had to before a certain date.

[majorturtle1]

Yeah I made sure to clarify in my case that the empty box I got sent back to me wasn't even the original box. So I neither the original card box, or the card, or even a different card. Just a cardboard box, with another empty box inside.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, you won't get your money or item back.......but you have his address, right ?

I 'm sure you have no idea why he is suddenly subscribed to 10 different fetish magazines with 10 subscription bills due......strange, huh ?!

[shreediamondsmfg]

We got scammed $2200 on our store I'd is Shreediamond12 from Israel buyer,

We received empty box with necklace not original return item,

He she trying to blackmailing in advance that he have every proof of video he already make so we will lose this return case and he will keep our product and money too,

We contact ebay for help let's see what happens,

We never cheated any buyer this is third time we got scammed and decided to not sell on ebay because ebay team always take side of buyer never appreciated hard work and effort of seller what they are doing positive things here,

We become victims of defect rate and we try to increase selling in the end this scammer come to ruined our store and he challenged us he will keep product and money too and we can not do anything

RIP ebay

[skeletonstore]

Put them on blast with the POLICE, USPS Postal inspector(if that's how you shipped it).

[skeletonstore]

Since I've had buyers steal from me before what I always do is go look them up on social media.  You might find them actually bragging about stealing from you.  If you find that,  screen shot and head directly to the police station and file a criminal complaint.  

[kabilab]

Just yesterday, I read an online ad for a product I do not recall. It was Warren Buffet stating his top two rules for successful investing.

RULE #1--Do not lose money

RULE #2--Refer to rule #1

 The first rule I learned in 2013, after beginning to sell through my own account was, NEVER sell any item on e-Bay you are not willing and able to loose. Of my approx. 3.500 sales, only two have been in triple digits. Both had been in my store for yrs., but quickly sold here. I paid $5 for one; it brought $279 and $2 for the other, which sold for $131.