eBay listings removed - unauthorized user of buyer or bidder account

[hulio_496]

It looks like I'm the newest member of this elite club.

I sold and shipped this item back around 8/4. Out of pure coincidence, I checked the tracking of this item about a week ago and USPS is stating delivery attempts made but not possible because of animal interference. At this point, it has still not been delivered. I even reached out to the buyer last week and let them know the post office was trying to deliver it but it wasn't working. I thought it was odd for an item shipped priority mail to be sitting at the post office for over a week.

Now I receive the ebay email with the subject eBay listings removed - unauthorized user of buyer or bidder account.

"We also recommend you take the following actions if this buyer won the item:
- If you haven't received payment, don't complete the sale or send the item to the buyer.
- Don't communicate with the buyer directly.
- Verify any payments you've been notified of by logging in to your PayPal account (or other online payment service).
- If the buyer requests refunds or additional payments, don't send any money without contacting eBay first.
- If you've already sent the item, try contacting the shipping carrier to find out if you can stop shipment."

I was already paid, that's why I shipped. The only thing I find odd is that ebay suggests I stop delivery. Isn't that fraud? The buyer hasn't reversed PayPal charges on me yet but I expect that may be next.

So at this point I'm not sure if I'm supposed to follow ebay's recommendation to intervene with the post office or let this ride because I've been paid, I have proof of the transaction, tracking number and history, etc.

This item must be bad luck because the first time I sold it, the buyer didn't pay me. The next buyer won the auction for $50 less and now it's turned into this. If that item comes back to me I think I'll just keep it.

[vintageista]

Actually it sounds like eBay sent you a message that did not really cover your circumstances! Typical canned response! What will probably happen is that the package will eventually be returned to you, until then I would not do anything! You did everything right, it is the buyer who is messing-up, they probably have their mailbox at the door and a dog in the yard. If & when you get it back, you can then refund or not, depending on if the buyer ever contacts you or opens a case.

[hulio_496]

Thank you for the response vintageista!

[tripper101]

Basically what has happened is someone was suspended from ebay who bought something from you.  Follow the instructions on that message 100%.  If you get the package back then call ebay and see what they want you to do with the payment.  Don't try and solve anything yourself,  just follow the instructions on that message 100% or you will be here in the future complaining you lost money. 

[janet9988]

The seller should NOT recall the package as the seller will lose seller protection.

[ted_200]

I was already paid, that's why I shipped. The only thing I find odd is that ebay suggests I stop delivery. Isn't that fraud? The buyer hasn't reversed PayPal charges on me yet but I expect that may be next.

So at this point I'm not sure if I'm supposed to follow ebay's recommendation to intervene with the post office or let this ride because I've been paid, I have proof of the transaction, tracking number and history, etc.

If you shipped to the address you were given to ship to, this is eBay/PayPal's problem, not yours.  They're on the hook for unauthorized use if a claim comes up and you provide satisfactory "proof of shipment" (that's NOT "proof of delivery").  You already have that (the tracking number), so eBay is just hoping you can recover the item so you won't need to stay paid for the item. 

At this point, you just want to wait to see what happens.  You might get the item back eventually, or eBay might ask for the proof of shipment (which they already have, but you'll need to provide again) at some point.

[hulio_496]

Agree janet9988 - As long as I've been paid, I'm not going to interfere with shipment. If the package comes back to me or paypal CC reversal, then we figure out what the proper steps are then. They can have their item, or their money back, but not both 🙂

[sg51]

The seller should NOT recall the package as the seller will lose seller protection.

We've not seen enough cases to have a way to predict what would happen to a seller who successfully recalled a package.  Maybe @Anonymous can help here.

If, after such a formal request from ebay, seller recalls the package:

1. Will seller be able to invoke seller protection and keep the both money and the stuff (but losing postage and recall fee)?

2. If seller can keep the stuff, but not the money, does ebay or paypal cover the postage and recall fee which were incurred by seller?

You can see why it would make sense for ebay/paypal to choose to cover postage issues, since it mitigates their loss.  But I've never seen where ebay or paypal made any such promise.

As it is, with no assurance, seller's optimal behavior is to simply let the package go, and be covered by paypal seller protection against UA issues.

[sg51]

The seller should NOT recall the package as the seller will lose seller protection.

We've not seen enough cases to have a way to predict what would happen to a seller who successfully recalled a package.  Maybe @Anonymous can help here.

If, after such a formal request from ebay, seller recalls the package:

1. Will seller be able to invoke seller protection and keep the both money and the stuff (but losing postage and recall fee)?

2. If seller can keep the stuff, but not the money, does ebay or paypal cover the postage and recall fee which were incurred by seller?

You can see why it would make sense for ebay/paypal to choose to cover postage issues, since it mitigates their loss.  But I've never seen where ebay or paypal made any such promise.

As it is, with no assurance, seller's optimal behavior is to simply let the package go, and be covered by paypal seller protection against UA issues.

[janet9988]

Yes, I was replying to tripper who told the OP to follow the message from Ebay 100%....  which would mean that the seller should recall the package..which i disagreed with with my post. Sorry for confusion.

[tripper101]

For the record here I am not saying to keep the package and money.  I am saying you should do what ebay is telling you to do.  Get the package back if you can, then continue to follow ebay's instructions.    No one, including me, should tell you to go against what ebay is telling you to do.  Why would you be worrying about protecting the rights of a thief who has hijacked an account over doing what ebay has told you to do in writing? 

[tripper101]

What if the item was paid for with a stolen credit card, highly likely in these cases.  A charge back will be made automaticly by paypal down the road.  Then you have to fight to get your money back.  Getting the package back could save a lot of grief. 

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Unauthorized use is one of the easiest things for a seller to defend. All they have to do is show proof of shipping to the payment address. They don't even have to prove delivery

[tripper101]

So you agree in helping out the theif instead of doing what ebay say's to do.  I must be missing something here.  I don't get it.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

What? I was responding to your comment that the OP will have to fight to get their money back. Adding additional information has nothing to do with "helping out the thief". Nice accusation though.

[retrose1]

OP, if/when you get the item back go to the paypal payment and refund the payment MINUS the cost to ship and any fees - if you have a restock fee, keep that, too.

The seller should not be out because the buyer is responsible for the problem. 

Until a case rolls in, just wait and do nothing.