Buyer claims I sent different item than I sent and wants to return

[speeder617]

I recently sold an expensive golf shaft on May 29th. The buyer asked I send it asap for receipt by Friday June 1.  I sent the same day via USPS Priority.

This evening I received this message: "You all shipped the wrong shaft. I received the tensei white stiff 60 not the Tensei white TX with boron tip. Please ship me the correct shaft and I'll ship this one back ."

Attached was a pic of a totally different golf shaft. I replied and told him I there is no possible way I sent the wrong item. It must be some sort of theft or fraud. I send it USPS and filed an online claim with the US Postal Inspection. I'll be calling PayPal to see if I qualify for seller protection. Then I spoke to an overseas eBay representative who told me I would lose the case.

I sell on eBay as a hobby. I'm an avid golfer and buy/sell to try different equipment. What else can I do?  

[green-night · Accepted solution]

Other than using the PO inspector routine with your buyer as a deterrent, there is really nothing you can do.   Some buyers will back down, but with the item you are selling I think they would laugh at the threat. I mean, how can anyone prove what you shipped to your buyer? 

[castlemagicmemories]

If the buyer opens a SNAD case, and you want the item back, you will choose return for refund, you pay for return shipping, Ebay sends the buyer a return label, and upon receiving the item back, you refund purchase price and original shipping.

Buyer has 5 days to send the item back to you.  If he does not send it timely, or at all, you can call CS and ask them to close the case.

Don't send the buyer anything.  He states send me the right one and I will send the wrong one back.  Just try to get whatever he thinks he sent you back, and then refund.

[kaelykat]

Also, block the guy from ever buying your stuff again.

[speeder617]

Thanks.

Looks like there's nothing else I can do. I've filed a claim with USPS Inspection and I'll also look into other agencies dealing with fraud.

Can I leave a negative feedback?

[castlemagicmemories]

No, you can't.  Ebay does not allow buyers to get negative feedback.  Don'et leave a negative comment in the positive format, either.  That is a policy violation that will only hurt you.  

If you leave a negative comment in a positive format, buyer can call CS and they will remove it.

[veek1981]

I’m having the same issue but with £6 item which is lame. Buyer directly called me a liar and requested a refund ASAP sending me a photo of an item I didn’t send (as I sent what he bought). 

As I refused he opened a return claim. 

eBay says my options are to wait until the end of the claim and ask them to step in. Funds are being put on hold by now. 

What else can I do?

[pjcdn2005]

You can accept the return which means you will have to pay for return shipping and then refund when the item is returned.There is a chance that the buyer will not send anything back in which case you wouldn’t have to refund. Unfortunately, if they send the wrong thing back you will likely still have to refund but you may be able to appeal to get return shipping back.

Or, click on refund now so you don’t have to pay for a label.. Buyer will keep the item

ebay doesnt know what you sent or what buyer received so if you wait for them to step in you will likely have to refund anyway, not get the item back, eBay will keep your fees and you will get an unresolved claim defect.