"New" buyer claims she received an empty package

[madchenmarketplace]

A buyer purchased 2 items from me at a big discount via Best Offer (she originally lowballed both items...I should have known better).  I packed them up very well in a box and shipped it out the next day. Today she emails me to say she received the box but it's been opened and the items aren't in there and it's taped back up. I told her to file a report with the post office & the police - she said she talked to the post office already and they said it had been through so many people there was no way to tell where it happened and to toake it up with eBay. But she is "new" so she doesn't know how to file a report so she needs my help. I told her to go to the Help menu so she did...

Aaaaand she filed a return for both items and put in the notes that I had told her to file the request because she received an empty package from me. Now my funds are on hold. What should I do? This feels sketchy to me.

[madchenmarketplace]

It's just frustrating. She's very clearly a thief, literally told me flat out that she gets refunds for stolen stuff a lot, and eBay helped her to steal from ME. I tried to contact eBay via the automated assistant chat thing but it said that it's not available so I sent an email instead. I'm going to file a police report on her, for whatever good it will do me, but hopefully everyone else she scams will do so as well and they'll pursue it. People like this don't stop until they are caught.

[katzrul15]

You can ask that post office to have their route carrier email you a summary statement of what they remember.  Typically, if they are aware there is an open USPS mail fraud inquiry, they are very helpful.

[little*blackdog]

She is definitely giving you a bunch of bull and thinks she's going to put one over on you.

Do block this member, ASAP and follow thru with all the other good suggestions given here.  You probably won't get your item back, and you'll probably have to refund her, but in the process you will gain an education in how to handle these situations in the future... and that's priceless!  Good luck.

[madchenmarketplace]

I'm not sure I could have handled this situation any differently - other than to NOT contact eBay to ask for help because I made the mistake of telling them she claimed the box was empty & they used that to rule in her favor. So I guess the lesson is to not trust eBay? Or maybe not to sell at all.

Here's the steps I've taken outside of eBay:

-Filed complaints with: USPS Inspector, her local police department (against "mystery" thief)

-Filed claim with: USPS insurance

-Filed reports with: IC3, FTC

It might seem like overkill and won't go anywhere but I want it documented. I know it's only $43 but it's still a crime - and one that she accused the post office of committing.

[bigdeals.etc]

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@madchenmarketplace wrote:

Update: I called the buyer's post office and spoke with an AMAZING postal worker who took my name and number and called me back a few minutes later after speaking with the postman who delivered several packages to that address on Saturday - all were, in her exact words, "perfectly intact."

I'm not communicating this to the buyer obviously, but should I contact eBay?

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So does this constitute as mail fraud? Did you tell the PO your story and at the very least have them closely? Honestly I don't see what they can really do because once the carrier drops off packages in tact, their job is done right? The carrier can't prove if it's the recipient or a porch pirate who was responsible.

[djmcollect]

I think you did the right thing in calling eBay. You didn't hurt yourself, the buyer would tell them the box was received empty anyway.

I reply to the email about the defect with the fact that eBay did not give you a chance to refund the buyer on your own and eBay did not send a message to you to refund the buyer by a certain date. They should not have just given the buyer a refund on your dime without you being notified beforehand. There is a process the buyer has to go through and the seller usually has 48 hours to act on this, not as the buyer is talking to them on the phone. Don't give up on this fact.

[coffeebean832]

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@madchenmarketplace wrote:

Update: I called the buyer's post office and spoke with an AMAZING postal worker who took my name and number and called me back a few minutes later after speaking with the postman who delivered several packages to that address on Saturday - all were, in her exact words, "perfectly intact."

I'm not communicating this to the buyer obviously, but should I contact eBay?

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No- not unless you got that information in writing. Continuing to appeal to eBay you'll get shut down unless you provide new evidence. Your first appeal was denied because you gave eBay nothing- another attempt at an appeal could result in eBay denying to review the case any further no matter what evidence you may come up with later. It was posted upthread to get the above info on USPS letterhead and to appeal to eBay with that letter and all the police/postal report numbers.

[jonathankirkland]

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@madchenmarketplace wrote:

You're right about her playing the victim - and about the transcript being doctored. It's full of typos and the customer service agent said they would be investigating me and some other weird things about "violent comments" (from me...lol) and that she should block me so I can't send her messages.

Blocked members can still send you messages, right? Because I blocked her very early on but her messages keep stuffing my inbox. I've never seen anything like this tbh.

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She may or may not be doctoring the transcripts...

But one thing to keep in mind, although this is a very sad fact it is often true, sometimes the CSRs are not the best and give the wrong information. It would not surprise me if they provide incorrect information and also used typos.

[jonathankirkland]

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@madchenmarketplace wrote:

I'm not sure I could have handled this situation any differently - other than to NOT contact eBay to ask for help because I made the mistake of telling them she claimed the box was empty & they used that to rule in her favor. So I guess the lesson is to not trust eBay? Or maybe not to sell at all.

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The mantra here that is often passed on to people who were cheated or nearly cheated is "never list anything you can't afford to give away."

That is an awful thing to have to tell people but it can sometimes be true. The thing is, people can sell on here for 20 years and never run into a crook buying their stuff and pulling this nonsense, or, it can happen the very first time someone sells here.

The reason ebay is still around is probably 99% of people are honest so most transactions go off without a hitch. Usually its electronics that are higher up in the scam category rather than some bath products which I personally would NEVER have thought someone would go to such lengths to do this way.

As far as this situation, I think dealing any more with ebay is a complete waste of time for you.

If you really want to pursue this you would probably have to take them to court which would be extremely time consuming and expensive. And I am not even sure much would come of it. Unless you could get that postal work to come in and testify that the package was in good shape when it was delivered. That might get you somewhere..

But the time, effort, money etc spent on this is probably not worth it. I totally understand you don't want to let a thief get away with this but I really do believe in karma which helps me think some day you will get a win fall to more than cover this loss, and this thief will some day get their comeuppance and have to PAY for their crimes. Maybe that day won't be until they meet their maker but some day I do believe they will PAY.

[sodelight]

Just a few things....

A small rural PO carrier would very likely recall delivering a pkg that's taped up as badly as the one the OP has shown in pics. 

The buyer stating they get refunds from sellers all the time for package theft is a huge red flag! They're a scammer, no doubt. Otherwise, there is always the option of having the PO hold all your packages, residents can sign a notice for this request. There are also mailboxes designed for package delivery which require a key to open, the buyer could purchase one of these if theft is so bad in her area. But of course, neither of those options would result in freebies for her!!

Be sure you "Report the Buyer" this option is given within the drop down next to the order.

This buyer has caused the OP nothing but grief, stress and a huge amount of wasted time while literally stealing from them! I know how you feel when you state it makes you not want to sell here anymore. All very sad. The state of society today is very disturbing.

I type this while I'm watching the TV program "American Greed, Scams....."

[madchenmarketplace]

You are correct about a carrier remembering the package - they did remember and said it was one of several packages delivered to that address that day and it had not been tampered with in any way according to the carrier (who I am inclined to believe because as someone else said here, why would they jeopardize their job like that and then use surgical tape to reseal the package?).

I've heard nothing from the post office today - about either the "tampering" complaint or my insurance claim. Nothing from the police either, but then that was a complaint about a porch pirate case that didn't name a suspect and now I think I'm going to file a report specifically naming her. At least they'll have a record of her being accused of theft, if nothing else.

I hope you are correct about karma @jonathankirkland because I think she's probably past due!

[rhonda81767]

then if she cant send the box back she gets no refund.. ebay will at least step up and say the item has to be returned no matter what the condition. if she cant return the item you cant refund the money. simple

[lagarto_electronico]

"UPDATE: She said she just wants a refund and eBay will be contacting me to give her one!"

She wants a refund without shipping the items back? I've heard almost the exact same line from an eBay scammer in Cali recently.

Call the post office branch that delivered it to her. They will contradict the claim she made about speaking to them.

[lagarto_electronico]

Aren't you not allowed to ask for telephone numbers through eBay messaging anymore?

[freshw-100]

Shipping label has to be purchased for you to ask her to return the package. That's an additional expenses. Better to refund before e bay give their solution.