got scammed, ebay won't protect

[toyshnip]

I am sure this scam was done over and over again, and it is just annoying that ebay doesn't do anything about it.
We offer free returns. ebay encourages that.
A buyer bought a $34 item. Once he got it, he opened a return "changed mind". He sends me back a different item that is worth maybe $10-15. In the return, I approve the item arrived, but chose an option of "buyer sent wrong item.". eBay opens a case, and closes it a day later with the claim that they can't know what the buyer sent, so they must base on the tracking info that confirms we got a return. They gave him a full refund.

Yes. It is only $34. But why give the option to open a case against the buyer that he returned the wrong item, when ebay will automatically close it against the seller? That way a buyer can scam dozens of sellers, and by the time ebay catches on, he can close the user name and open a new one.

[corvettestainless]

You might be able to get the weight difference information off the label vs. the original label (if there is weight difference) and talk to cs. They probably don't care for $34, but you can report this buyer, and when they get enough of these reports they will be removed as a buyer. 

In the meantime, know that apparently this person will have to go though life too stupid to realize you get in the same felony trouble for stealing, over state lines- $34 vs. $3400 and someday, they will pay. 

[buyselljack2016]

With the October "seller protections" update you should have been able to deduct up to 50% of the item cost for an item returned in a less valuable condition than when it was sent. Seems that a switch-aroo would fall into that protection.

[pink.fish.rule]

You would think so as the OP already HAD that "protection" as they offer free returns.

There's something very wrong going on with these alleged protections.

[fashunu4eeuh]

The other poster is correct. As a Top Rated seller, you are eligible for the new seller protections instituted in the Fall Seller Update. You can deduct up to 50% off the refund when a buyer returns an item in altered condition. Link below to that policy info.

https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/seller-updates/2019-fall/seller-protections.html

[toyshnip]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

With the October "seller protections" update you should have been able to deduct up to 50% of the item cost for an item returned in a less valuable condition than when it was sent. Seems that a switch-aroo would fall into that protection.

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Yes. I could of deducted 50%. But because I decided to report the issue and it opened a case with ebay, then ebay closed the case and gave him a full refund.

[toyshnip]

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@corvettestainless wrote:

You might be able to get the weight difference information off the label vs. the original label (if there is weight difference) and talk to cs. They probably don't care for $34, but you can report this buyer, and when they get enough of these reports they will be removed as a buyer. 

In the meantime, know that apparently this person will have to go though life too stupid to realize you get in the same felony trouble for stealing, over state lines- $34 vs. $3400 and someday, they will pay. 

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So I sent him an item in a box. He sent a slightly heavier (but cheaper) item in an envelope. So the weight more or less is the same.
He even made sure it was an item I sell (but didn't sell this item in many months) so that he can claim I did the switch.

[pink.fish.rule]

As I said, something VERY wrong is up with these so called protections.

[buyselljack2016]

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@pink.fish.rule wrote:
As I said, something VERY wrong is up with these so called protections.

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Seller did not take the updated (October) route.

They chose to open a "case" that eBay has "historically" denied as a solution.

He said/she said ...................  goes to the buyer.

[pink.fish.rule]

The OP said they reported the buyer, then EBAY opened a case.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@pink.fish.rule wrote:
The OP said they reported the buyer, then EBAY opened a case.

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You have to report the buyer first, then issue the partial refund. If the buyer has a problem with the partial, they have to take it up with Ebay, not the seller.

[toyshnip]

If I know that the only way to deal with this scam is to deduct 50%, that would be the way to go.
But I got a return, and it was an issue. It makes sense to report the issue to ebay. It is just stupid that ebay's solution is to punish the seller for raising the issue.

[toyshnip]

I report buyers all the time. I never get a response from ebay.
Giving a partial refund is just giving up to the scam. Next time, he will buy a $500 item, send back a $5 item. Do I need to say thank you that I got back $250?
Another option is to close the "free returns". But then the buyers will just open cases as not as described. So there is no way a seller can protect himself from a scam like this. The options are 50% loss or 100% loss for the seller.

[gracieallen01]

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@pink.fish.rule wrote:
As I said, something VERY wrong is up with these so called protections.

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Yes, someone is returning someone else's money for a sight unseen return.

[earlyant-77]

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@toyshnip wrote:
If I know that the only way to deal with this scam is to deduct 50%, that would be the way to go.
But I got a return, and it was an issue. It makes sense to report the issue to ebay. It is just stupid that ebay's solution is to punish the seller for raising the issue.

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Not when they can get you closer to or hit the level where you get to pay an extra 5% in fees ...........