eBay

mtsm8669 · ‎01-09-2021

Good afternoon,

I sold a brand new computer to a buyer. A few weeks later he told me he didn't want it anymore and wanted to return it. I told him that is fine as long as it's in the same condition (sealed), which he said it was.

I just received the delivery and don't want to open the box, but the box is much smaller than the computer and feels like there is a weight inside of it. I'm actually kind of afraid to open the box.

With that being said, before I mess with the return I wanted to see how I need to approach this to not give him his money back? He is trying to scam me out of a $1000, but I've never had this happen and want to give eBay whatever they need so I don't lose my money. The box is actually half the size of the box I sent, and dimensions are so small the computer couldn't even come close to fitting in there.

Thank you in advance.

mtsm8669 · ‎01-11-2021

I did this and CS repeated over and over that since they aren't the postal carrier they will refund the money and I can continue my case with the police. I kept requesting another solution or a supervisor and they said there is no other solution but a supervisor will call in 24-48 hours which is past the refund date.

I kept requesting a supervisor and the CS hung up on me. What else can I do at this point?

alcoforever · ‎01-11-2021

Did you give CS all 4 of the report numbers? Assuming you did, I'm sorry but I'm out of ideas for a solution.

You might try contacting CS again in the hopes you will get a more knowledgeable or sympathetic CS agent. What I'm afraid of is that ebay would have to make you whole out of ebay's money as there is no way they can get the money back from the scammer. I suspect the CS agent doesn't have the authority to make that large a refund. Also, you might remind the agent that those police reports were not filed lightly as, in most jurisdictions, a false police report is a felony.

no_zero369 · ‎01-11-2021

@mtsm8669

Sometimes you get a better response by laying out your case in a PM on FB.

Key is to stick to the facts, be terse as possible and avoid judgemental or emotional comments.

mtsm8669 · ‎01-12-2021

Thank you for the advice, unfortunately they replied with the same answer 😞

no_zero369 · ‎01-12-2021

@mtsm8669

From the replies it is not clear what exactly you did. What @alcoforever laid out in their prior posts is a process that involves several reports of fraud to various law enforcement agencies. Because filing a false police report is a felony, anyone who does that 4 times is a real 'genius' and is looking for trouble. If the procedure is followed completely and accurately it has been the experience of those posting here that eBay provides a refund to the seller.

I borrowed the below from another poster (hope the don't mind), but here are the steps one takes when a seller experiences fraud. If that fails then one is stuck and has to chalk it up to 'tuition paid.' At least the seller has a loss to offset other gains when calculating capital gains?

mtsm8669 · ‎01-12-2021

I did all of that, called CS and they told me they don't interject in fraud cases since they don't handle the package. They said since I filed reports i have to go through the police. I then send eBay a PM on Facebook and they told me the following:

Hi and thank you for reaching out! I am sorry to hear that one of your most recent transactions didn't run as smoothly as expected. I've carefully reviewed your situation and see that you received a different item back and understand that this is a difficult situation for you to be in. We take potential fraud very seriously and what you are reporting to us is considered fraud. However, as we don’t handle items directly, we’re unable to make that determination. As a result, I am sorry to let you know that we have to deny this appeal. For your next steps, please review your options available to you outside of eBay. While issues such as faulty or fraudulent returns are very rare, every successful business plans, budgets and prepares for stock loss.

For the future, we encourage you to offer free returns which means that you will be protected in these instances as you can offer a partial refund to your buyer - read our Guidelines about issuing a partial refund here: https://ebay.to/2PmGtaQ. I have already reported the buyer internally and our risk team they will take the appropriate action which may not always be visible to you, but have direct consequences for the member.

monster-deals · ‎01-12-2021

@mtsm8669 wrote:

With that being said, before I mess with the return I wanted to see how I need to approach this to not give him his money back?

There is no approach. If you are TRS and have 30 day returns you can deduct 50% if the item is "in a different condition". That's the best it gets. You'll still have to refund them half even if the box is filled with old car radios.

tools* · ‎01-12-2021

@mtsm8669 wrote:
I did all of that, called CS and they told me they don't interject in fraud cases since they don't handle the package. They said since I filed reports i have to go through the police. I then send eBay a PM on Facebook and they told me the following:

Hi and thank you for reaching out! I am sorry to hear that one of your most recent transactions didn't run as smoothly as expected. I've carefully reviewed your situation and see that you received a different item back and understand that this is a difficult situation for you to be in. We take potential fraud very seriously and what you are reporting to us is considered fraud. However, as we don’t handle items directly, we’re unable to make that determination. As a result, I am sorry to let you know that we have to deny this appeal. For your next steps, please review your options available to you outside of eBay. While issues such as faulty or fraudulent returns are very rare, every successful business plans, budgets and prepares for stock loss.

For the future, we encourage you to offer free returns which means that you will be protected in these instances as you can offer a partial refund to your buyer - read our Guidelines about issuing a partial refund here: https://ebay.to/2PmGtaQ. I have already reported the buyer internally and our risk team they will take the appropriate action which may not always be visible to you, but have direct consequences for the member.

This canned response appears to be from a non-native English speaker in a Second World country, even though the claim has been made that the Facebook eBay responders are in the US.

alcoforever · ‎01-12-2021

@mtsm8669 wrote:
I did all of that, called CS and they told me they don't interject in fraud cases since they don't handle the package. They said since I filed reports i have to go through the police. I then send eBay a PM on Facebook and they told me the following:

Hi and thank you for reaching out! I am sorry to hear that one of your most recent transactions didn't run as smoothly as expected. I've carefully reviewed your situation and see that you received a different item back and understand that this is a difficult situation for you to be in. We take potential fraud very seriously and what you are reporting to us is considered fraud. However, as we don’t handle items directly, we’re unable to make that determination. As a result, I am sorry to let you know that we have to deny this appeal. For your next steps, please review your options available to you outside of eBay. While issues such as faulty or fraudulent returns are very rare, every successful business plans, budgets and prepares for stock loss.

For the future, we encourage you to offer free returns which means that you will be protected in these instances as you can offer a partial refund to your buyer - read our Guidelines about issuing a partial refund here: https://ebay.to/2PmGtaQ. I have already reported the buyer internally and our risk team they will take the appropriate action which may not always be visible to you, but have direct consequences for the member.

Translation: Some fraud is part of the cost of doing business. Even though you have filed police reports, they are merely allegations and not proof of fraud. Therefore we rule in favor of the buyer.

It sucks!

xpertcarpet74 · ‎01-12-2021

Well you made your money on the other 3 PS5s you sold

mtsm8669 · ‎01-17-2021

So to update everyone on what happened. EBay refunded the buyer his money. I kept sending them messages and eventually received an email that my appeal was placed on hold until I provide them a copy of the police report. The email included a link where I could upload the report. I did so and the next day got an email that my appeal was successful and I'm being refunded.

On a side note, does anyone know if eBay will force withdraw money back from the buyer or if they're still getting to keep their money?

no_zero369 · ‎01-17-2021

@mtsm8669 wrote:
So to update everyone on what happened. EBay refunded the buyer his money. I kept sending them messages and eventually received an email that my appeal was placed on hold until I provide them a copy of the police report. The email included a link where I could upload the report. I did so and the next day got an email that my appeal was successful and I'm being refunded.

On a side note, does anyone know if eBay will force withdraw money back from the buyer or if they're still getting to keep their money?

@mtsm8669

Glad this situation worked out for you! You got your money, eBay made you whole.

Now as to the rest of it - what does it matter? You were made whole and that is what is key.

eBay will do whatever eBay does in the background. You will never know as it is against eBay policy to discuss and disciplinary actions they take against another member. Therefore, anyone stating an answer to that blue question would be only speculating unless they state that they had a police report filed against them for theft and here is what eBay did.

mtsm8669 · ‎01-17-2021

Makes sense and good point, hopefully they take it seriously.

I really really appreciate your help throughout this, very stressful but I learned good lessons and luckily made it out without losing money this time.