Buyer Returned Different Item

[mahaloco]

Hi All

Wondering what my best course of action is here.

Buyer initially opened a return case claiming defective Item

He sent in the return, I just went and checked it and noticed he sent me the wrong item. I sold him an xbox halo elite controller and he returned just a normal controller to me.

Any insight appreciated. Thank you

[lamber9347]

@mahaloco On eBay there isn't anything you can do. Of course you can report the buyer, and you should, but nothing to get your correct controller back via this platform. You can consider filing a small claims case against the buyer. Most courts are now doing all cases via the web so you don't have to worry about showing up in court. For this price it would be worth it for you. You may even scare the buyer into sending you the correct controller if you were to file a case against them. You have all the buyer's info needed to file a case. Best of luck to you....

[mahaloco]

Thanks. I will go ahead and do that.

[vintagecraze50]

They switched out their item for your item. Depending on how much this transaction cost you you can do what the other poster suggested by filing mail fraud, and a small claims court case. If more switcheroo  buyers knew that if they do this they could get bad credit, possibly the postal service after them and the inconvenience of having to appear before a judge in perhaps another state to remedy their problem maybe they would think twice about doing such stuff here. Be proactive in any way possible.

[emerald_door]

You could try this approach. 

Inform the buyer that they returned the wrong item to you.  Tell them that if this was deliberate, you will have to take the following actions: 

1. Open a mail fraud case with USPS

2. Report fraud to ic3.gov

3. File a report with your local police dept., who will then forward a copy to the buyer's local PD.

4. Report the buyer for abuse on eBay.

Tell them that if this was merely an error on their part, they will need to close the return case.