Possible scam?

[hel_8124]

Hello.

4 days ago, on Sunday, I ordered and paid for an item from a seller with 149 feedback that was also 100% positive. It's an ipod nano that cost around 200$, shipping included. To me that's not an insignificant amount of money, AT ALL. My limited experience with buying on ebay was positive until now: all the sellers marked their items as shipped and provided me with tracking number extra fast. Usually the next day, sometimes even on the same date I bought and paid. This time, however, the seller was being very quiet. So  I contacted him two days after paying wondering when he will ship...he replied he will do it tomorrow and that he will provide me with tracking number. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. 28th came and went by without my item being marked as shipped and without a word from the seller. So yesterday I contacted him again asking for my tracking number...he replied 1.5 days later, meaning today, giving me a number...but no dispatch service mentioned. Okay, I tried with Royal mail since he's located in Great Britain and there indeed exists that exact tracking number...but the problem is, that particular parcel has already been delivered to a place in England...I'm from South Eastern Europe.

Any suggestions? Would do I do? I don't want anything to do with this seller anymore.

[fab_finds4u]

What is the latest expected delivery date?  If it's not received by a few days after that date then you need to find the item in your purchase and report you have not received the item.

[orangehound]

It is hard for a buyer to get scammed on eBay, unless a buyer makes a mistake on some of the complex rules for invoking the Money Back Guarantee.

Your seller, more than likely, is just being lazy or distracted   Many sellers are just individuals, and do not behave like a business.  If, for example, they are going through a health or family crisis, shipping out an eBay product could be a very low priority for them.

The only thing you can do is to be patient and wait on he delivery date.  If the item has not arrived by that time, on the day after the delivery date you can file an "Item Not Received" claim to begin the process of getting refunded or officially putting a fire under the seller.

[hel_8124]

"Just" being lazy? It's my 200$ we're talking about! He provided me with a false tracking number: why the hell would someone do that? And he's stalling...
Unfortunately, the more I read the more I realize the only thing I can do is to wait until I can file for a refund...
but still, shameful behavior...

[pburn]

@hel_8124 

Sounds like the transaction may have take place on ebay.co.uk? If that's the case, you might want to check the UK discussion boards to make sure procedures for ebay.co.uk are the same as they are for ebay.com (mainly North America). The UK/EU have certain consumer protections the US does not, and that makes it hard for us to answer your questions with confidence.

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Discussion-Boards/ct-p/13

Also, here's the link to the ebay.co.uk Resolution Centre, where you would initiate a case (depending on your specific situation):

https://resolutioncentre.ebay.co.uk/

or the UK PayPal site:

https://www.paypal.com/uk/home

Good luck with this situation!

[orangehound]

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@hel_8124 wrote:
"Just" being lazy? It's my 200$ we're talking about! He provided me with a false tracking number: why the hell would someone do that? And he's stalling...

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Maybe he's stalling ... or, maybe (in an extreme case) he is dealing with his dying wife, he's is under a lot of stress, and gave out the wrong tracking number.

I get that you are upset, but I'm simply pointing out that with such limited information, the likelihood that your seller is dealing with personal issues is more likely than your seller is trying to be a crook ... crooks on eBay operate as buyers MUCH MUCH more frequently than as sellers because it is near impossible for a crook to succeed as a seller (the "same postal code" scam still works on naive buyers).  Otherwise, too many buyer protections.

This is why you simply have to be patient. 

[lja440]

Since this is a international sale, Google the delivery address and see if it is a stepping off point from England to Europe to eliminate the possibility that it was just scanned wrong.

As a iPod user (classic not nano) I know how important these devices can be. But remember you have both eBay and PayPal to help you get your money back if the item doesn't show. Just keep a eye on your allotted time to file. 

[johnrj1226]

1.  Not all people  will respond like you want them to.

2.  An old adage  says "It takes all kinds to  make the world go around."  and Utopia will never be found.

3.  You are protected by the eBay Money Back Guarantee.  Follows  the rules for an Item Not Received case and everything will be  just alright.  But things will happen  on the  stated  time tables which may or may not not meet your expectations. 

 You did  agreed to them in the eBays Users  Agreement  when you signed up as an eBay member.

[fa_8305 · Accepted solution]

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@hel_8124 wrote:

Okay, I tried with Royal mail since he's located in Great Britain and there indeed exists that exact tracking number...but the problem is, that particular parcel has already been delivered to a place in England.

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Was it delivered to Alfreton, @hel_8124? From there, it will be reopened, resealed, then reshipped to you.

[hel_8124]

This.

It was not Alfreton but Lichfield.

Anyway, administrators, feel free to lock this thread as my item is on its way. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions and thank you everyone for being helpful with your answers...

Have a nice day guys

[hel_8124]

I just hope my ipod will be better packaged than that thing in the photo above :S