Empty box

[iconic*finds]

I am a new seller and I shipped an expensive bowl to a customer . the customer said they received the box but it was empty 

I had taken photos of me packing the item and it weighed 5 pounds I myself took it to the post office

it arrived on 3/10 then 5 days later the buyer put in the complaint plus I didn’t realize at the time that it was a 3 rd party address

the buyer is asking for their money back I did start a dispute with eBay

as a seller what recourse do we have because anyone can say I got an empty box

[klhmdg · Accepted solution]

Photos  of you packing stuff means nothing. 

Stop doing this. It is a waste of time.

What dispute did you start. I didnt know sellers could start a dispute.

If the buyer has requested a refund for Not As Described, you will need to respond.

Your choices are to refund without getting the item back, Send a shipping label and refund when the item returns OR let eBay refund and you will still pay fees and get a seller defect.

Was the item sent to the buyer from the Freight Forwarder and it is empty, or are they saying when it got to the freight forwarder it was empty?

[fab_finds4u]

If a freight forwarder was used your job is supposedly done when tracking shows delivered.

If eBay is making you refund you only need to  provide a return lable from  the address you shipped it to. The buyer will have to return it to the FF on their dime, and the FF will have to return it to you.

[iconic*finds]

Thanks for the reply. I called eBay spoke with a rep and explained all that happened.

I packed the item (took photos) shipped it, it was delivered 3/10 and 5 or 6 days later the buyer claimed he opened the box and it was empty.

He asked for his $ back. Ebay said send him a return label which I did and he has until 4/2 to ship it back.

Which is fine but if he says the box was empty then what recourse. the box weighed 5 pounds and was scanned at the Post office when I shipped it.

He saying that when he opened the box it was empty but that was 5 days later then when received?

[iconic*finds]

Thanks for the respones.

I dont know what a freight forwarder is but I printed the eBay label and it was for USPS I then paid for insurance and took it to the post office.

I was asked bt eBay to make a return label which I did and sent that to him with the pics of me packing the item.

[iconic*finds]

Dont know if dispute is the correct term but I called eBay and explained what happened to an out sourced rep.

She told me to send the buyer the pics and a return label which I did.

The buyer said when he opened the box 5 days after USPS delivered it to the address that it was empty.

[iconic*finds]

Also I forgot to mention that it was a $1700 item. I will gladly take it back and refund but I want it back.

Thanks

[iconic*finds]

Thanks for the feedback

[bdmh-enterprises]

"I didn’t realize at the time that it was a 3 rd party address"

If the buyer used a 3rd party reshipper (aka freight forwarder), then that voids their MBG and you shouldn't have to accept the return. How do you know it went to a 3rd party? You will probably have to contact eBay's US based reps on social media to get this resolved properly if that is the case.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of handling this kind of dispute will see this and be able to offer more guidance.

[kensgiftshop]

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@iconic*finds wrote:

Also I forgot to mention that it was a $1700 item. I will gladly take it back and refund but I want it back.

Thanks

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Sorry, if they ship anything back, it won't be your item.

[iconic*finds]

Thanks,

Im assuming its a third party address it didnt go to his name and went to a business address.

[iconic*finds]

If they do ship anything back Im wondering if they could ship to eBay first.

Probably not

[kensgiftshop]

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@iconic*finds wrote:

If they do ship anything back Im wondering if they could ship to eBay first.

Probably not

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No, Ebay wouldn't do anything with it.

[12345jamesstamps]

Was item sold March 5th?

Check eBay ID Buyer country in feedbacks...what country is it?

What state was it shipped to? Florida, Delaware, Oregon or ?

'Freight forward' does take a little longer to get to the buyer.

I am wondering if the buyer...'arrived 3/10...5 days later'...'complaint'....that seems like a quick time frame for item to get to the buyer if it is to another country...rather impossible.

I am wondering if the buyer even has it yet.

[iconic*finds]

Thanks for responding. It was shipped to Pa. Looks like buyer is USA.

Either he's trying to scam me or he's being scammed because the item sat at that address for 5 days before he opened it and responded.