eBay

nguyenbbboy · ‎01-20-2021

So I recently sold an Apple watch valued at about $300, brand new.

A buyer did "buy it now" and quickly paid for it. Thought it was weird that they'd pay that full amount when competitor sites would have been cheaper, but whatever. Packaged and sent it.

Yesterday, they filed a claim saying they purchased it for their brother but the package was empty.

Is there anything I can do about that? I KNOW I put the watch in there. But there's no proof they need to offer. It seems so one sided.

The buyer's account was made less than 2 weeks ago. It's fresh with only 5 feedback. And yet ebay still gives them permission to submit a claim like this when it's full of red flags? Am I just going to be down my watch, the money that was paid, and the shipping I paid? (I put free shipping on all my sales so the buyer doesn't have to pay it, out of goodwill)

I'm reading so many comments about how ebay favors buyers.

monster-deals · ‎01-20-2021

@nguyenbbboy wrote:
(I put free shipping on all my sales so the buyer doesn't have to pay it, out of goodwill)

I'm reading so many comments about how ebay favors buyers.

First of all start making your buyers pay shipping either by charging directly for it or including it in your item price....because there is no such thing as "free shipping"

Ebay always favors buyers.

This is not a fight you can win with ebay. You will be refunding your buyer unless they have already made a habit of pulling this scam. You can find out by having ebay call you and speaking with a CSR.

Another forum poster will come in and detail the list of things you can do including filing internet fraud ic3 forms.

kensgiftshop · ‎01-20-2021

@nguyenbbboy wrote:
Am I just going to be down my watch, the money that was paid, and the shipping I paid?

Yes, pretty much.

Unless the package was damaged and noted by the carrier, there's no proof the watch was actually in the box.

Have a great day.

mtgraves7984 · ‎01-20-2021

Oh, my. I am so sorry this happened to you. At face value, I'd say you lost your Apple watch to this scammer.

nguyenbbboy · ‎01-20-2021

I have the receipt with USPS with the package weight and paid for the shipping label for them to send it back. Do you think I have a chance if the package weight that is sent back ends up being different?

monster-deals · ‎01-20-2021

@nguyenbbboy wrote:
Do you think I have a chance if the package weight that is sent back ends up being different?

Your chances are 0.0% even if they keep the box and send back a bag of used popsicle sticks.

We all take our turns taking a beating. Sorry.

lightlily_arts · ‎01-20-2021

USPS does not with any regularity mark packages damaged or opened. They will deliver it no matter the condition, and they don't necessarily mark the package opened or damaged. I think it's their way of avoiding damage claims. For example I received damaged ink jet cartridges in a plastic bag that had leaked ink all over the original package with no notation. Last week when I received my Cappucchino mix there was a huge rip in the top of the box . They just taped plastic around the box and delivered it. When I opened the box one of the bags that was below the ripped portion of the box had been ripped as well with the mix spilled through out the box. It was a huge mess.

Seller needs to notify the buyer immediately they intend to file a claim with USPS and to hang on to the packaging. The seller needs to file claims for USPS postal fraud, Internet fraud, and a police report in the buyer's jurisdiction. We all know it's a scam and he should pursue kit as such.

teltuooutlet · ‎01-20-2021

A while ago I had someone tell me that the package they received from me was empty. Which I KNOW was not true since I pack everything myself. Ebay was going to side with the buyer but I put up a stink. I showed them the weight, stated over and over that there is NO possible way I would have created a label for an item of that weight and NOT have the item in the package. They saw my proof and rationale and they decided to refund the buyer themselves, no cost to me.

Scammers are going to scam. You just have to stick with your argument so Ebay does not take the refund from you. Especially if you have not had complaints of this kind in the past.

monster-deals · ‎01-20-2021

@teltuooutlet wrote:
.You just have to stick with your argument so Ebay does not take the refund from you. Especially if you have not had complaints of this kind in the past.

Please don't give this seller false hope that they can "argue" their way out of refunding with a CSR.

mtgraves7984 · ‎01-20-2021

@teltuooutlet wrote:
A while ago I had someone tell me that the package they received from me was empty. Which I KNOW was not true since I pack everything myself. Ebay was going to side with the buyer but I put up a stink. I showed them the weight, stated over and over that there is NO possible way I would have created a label for an item of that weight and NOT have the item in the package. They saw my proof and rationale and they decided to refund the buyer themselves, no cost to me.
Scammers are going to scam. You just have to stick with your argument so Ebay does not take the refund from you. Especially if you have not had complaints of this kind in the past.

@teltuooutlet

Are you saying you won an appeal? Know that eBay didn't refund the buyer at no cost to you. When reversals are made, these 'courtesy' refunds come from a pool that all (we) sellers pay into. I don't mind pitching in when a seller is in the right, though, and it may be an avenue for @nguyenbbboy to explore.

alnor2010 · ‎01-20-2021

You should really buy insurance on items that are valued that much. We get insurance on everything more than $100 because we are comfortable with refunding for items up to that amount. USPS automatically covers $50 so you can file a claim with them and get a little of your money back.

Always buy insurance on costly items.

teltuooutlet · ‎01-20-2021

It was not an "appeal". It was an open case and I contacted CS with my argument prior to issuing the buyer a refund.

In an instance such as this, there is no way for Ebay to know which side is truly right. They don't see the package so they can't say "yes seller you are right" or "yes buyer you are right". They do however gauge your performance and make a judgement based on that. Considering the number of times Ebay has made me give a refund for things I did not agree with the buyer on, this one is considered a win by me.

The refund was at "no cost to me" for that order yes. I got my fees back and did not have to refund for the sale. Sellers all pay into things on Ebay. That's the cost of doing business on this site. We all pay fees and charges for things so yes we are all paying into instances where "courtesy" situations will be paid out by Ebay. That's just how it all works.

teltuooutlet · ‎01-20-2021

There is no false hope. There is however an argument to be had so why not have it? Instead you should just tell the seller to give in and not bother?

You can be cynical about it, I won't be.

nguyenbbboy · ‎01-20-2021

Would buying insurance do anything in this case? I don't think USPS did anything wrong, I think the buyer committed fraud. The buyer did not indicate in their claim that the package had been tampered, just that it was an empty package.

bimmerpc1 · ‎01-21-2021

@nguyenbbboy wrote:
Yesterday, they filed a claim saying they purchased it for their brother but the package was empty.

Is there anything I can do about that? I KNOW I put the watch in there. But there's no proof they need to offer. It seems so one sided.

Is this an INAD return request through eBay? If so, accept the return. Wait until the buyer returns something. If they return an empty box, before refunding anything take it to your local police station and file a police report. Then call eBay and tell them you received back an empty box and have filed a police report. This will typically trigger a goodwill closure where eBay refunds the buyer out of their pocket, although you may end up with a few account defects that they will have to manually remove.