Protect against empty box claim

[scriptit]

Hi - a buyer just made a BIN purchase on a sports card I sold.

The buyer has 0 feedback and I’m concerned about getting scammed.  Specifically, the “I received an empty box claim”.

What is the best way to protect myself from a buyer that says they received an empty box?  Should I buy shipping insurance?  Take a video of me putting item in box and sealing it?

Thanks!

[richard1rst]

What was the value of the card.

Remember you had a zero feedback once and you turned out all right.

If you go into every transaction worried about being scammed then maybe you might want to rethink what you are doing.

Paranoia will destroy you sooner than later,.

[aproudparent2010]

Honestly you don't really have much protection.

[scriptit · Accepted solution]

The question was how to protect against an open box claim (before it happens).

I’ll share what I did for those have similar interests… 

I took photos of item and all packaging and shipping materials right before it went in package, then item inside package, finally package sealed.

Next, I took a photo of packaged item on a scale with weight displayed. 

Also, during packaging, I took a video of me putting item in package and sealing it.

Finally, after I shipped, I sent all these photos to the buyer noting that the item was shipped.

So, if you been burned before, or would like to protect yourself for a plausible empty box claim, I recommend you do the above for a low cost version of insurance or peace of mind.

Hope this helps others with same concern!

[mtgraves7984]

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@scriptit wrote:

The question was how to protect against an open box claim (before it happens).

I’ll share what I did for those have similar interests… 

I took photos of item and all packaging and shipping materials right before it went in package, then item inside package, finally package sealed.

Next, I took a photo of packaged item on a scale with weight displayed. 

Also, during packaging, I took a video of me putting item in package and sealing it.

Finally, after I shipped, I sent all these photos to the buyer noting that the item was shipped.

So, if you been burned before, or would like to protect yourself for a plausible empty box claim, I recommend you do the above for a low cost version of insurance or peace of mind.

Hope this helps others with same concern!

---

@scriptit 

You've done way more than was necessary. Good luck to you.

[kensgiftshop]

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@scriptit wrote:

The question was how to protect against an open box claim (before it happens).

I’ll share what I did for those have similar interests… 

I took photos of item and all packaging and shipping materials right before it went in package, then item inside package, finally package sealed.

Next, I took a photo of packaged item on a scale with weight displayed. 

Also, during packaging, I took a video of me putting item in package and sealing it.

Finally, after I shipped, I sent all these photos to the buyer noting that the item was shipped.

So, if you been burned before, or would like to protect yourself for a plausible empty box claim, I recommend you do the above for a low cost version of insurance or peace of mind.

Hope this helps others with same concern!

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Other then wasting time, what good is that going to do?

None of that proves what the buyer receives.

[soh.maryl]

You just sold it and you're already concerned about being scammed by your buyer?

That video thing is a waste of time and effort.  If the buyer claims INR or NAD, you will be refunding.

Did you not know that?

[fab_finds4u]

What da heck. Have I landed in the SL zone?

WHY do you seek info on how to protect yourself and then reply  with the answer how you protect yourself and then mark your reply as the solution to the question?  And all the while that solution is no solution when someone claims it's not as described.,,,,,,,,,SMH  

[cellguy215]

This is ridiculous advice and would accomplish absolutely nothing. You can get the chief of police and the local postmaster to personally pack and mail your package on video with 7 witnesses and sworn notarized affidavits. eBay/Paypal/credit card companies won't consider any of this "evidence". 

[glasser]

@scriptit your arduous attempt to verify the item you sent will do little to support and INAD claim. You seem to think that eBay will adjudicate based on evidence provided by both sides. If you follow these boards, you will know that is not the case. People take to seriously the name of the INAD claim.  What if the buyer asks for a return takes all the pictures you did and then you claim and empty box arrived? How should that be handled? I think all you have done is sent a warning to buyer don't buy here again.

I think a buyer who had an issue with a purchase from you might just go the chargeback root.

[cellguy215]

delete

[cellguy215]

Ship and don't worry. Nothing you can really do. 

If buyer claims they recieved an empty package, ask them to look for handwriting on the package (post office will write a note when they find a torn open pacakge)

Then ask them to file a police report

If they really recieved an empty box they would be eager to cooperate. 

It they are a scammer they won't cooperate and won't make a police report

This really doesn't happen very frequently. I see it about once a year and it was always torn open by the post office.  

[stainlessenginecovers]

The 'taking of pictures/video' and sending it to the buyer MIGHT stop them from trying anything fishy if they are not aware that all of that means nothing; as stated by others. 

Insurance won't cover you for anything except if tracking shows it disappeared; they will NOT cover you from a thief. 

[jevanben-85]

Sellers have zero protection from buyer scams, which is why I don't sell on eBay anymore. A few years back I sold some silver coins valued at about $100. I got a message from the buyer that he found an empty package at his home when he "got back from vacation". He submitted a claim and I submitted evidence to the buyer as well as eBay that the weight of the package from both post offices showed that the package was far from empty, and there was no handwriting or indication from the buyers post office that the package was opened or damaged. eBay's response to me was that the package could have been intact but there's no way they could verify the condition when the buyer received it, so they sided with the buyer, refunded his money, and I lost my coins. eBay will side with the buyer no matter what which is stupid, because without sellers there is no eBay.