Questionable Buyer - Fraud?

[chudamescrochet]

I have had no negative feedback since starting on ebay, and have only had very happy customers.

Recently, a customer put a bid on a Rare printing of a casette tape and got if for a steal at $11. 

I shipped immediately, and I also wrote a note explaining how long I had had this casette and how much it meant to me for it to go to a new home.

I wrapped it as I do with CD listings: First in bubble wrap. Then secured in a cardboard box piece (like the kind you put a clothing gift in), and then taped and put into a bubble mailer.

First the buyer contacted me less than a week after it was shipped to say they were going to give me negative feedback because their package was not delieverd yet. I sent them a screen shot of the tracking along with the tracking number, and an explianation of Media Mail shipping times. They said ok.

I noticed I had not gotten any updates via USPS on the tracking since then, and set it up to alert me when it arrived, and let the buyer know how the package was wrapped  it wouldn't be easy to miss (in case it was delieverd to a porch).  They did not respond.

Today, I got an email that it was delievered and shortly after the buyer said they got an empty package and was going to report me. I told them how I packaged it, in case they overlooked the cassette. They then said the only thing in the package was cardboard (after saying it was empty) and saying then that they had a locked mailbox and once they were home they would report me (though I don't know how they would know it had nothing in the package and could open it if they were not home).

This buyer also has a very new profile with no information on it, and I am the only buyer they have seemed to have purchased from. This was a very rare item and I am not sure how it could just dissapear from a package in a locked mail box.

I also wrote a report to Ebay but it doesn't show up in my resloution center, so I don't know if it takes time to show up, or if I need to send it again.

What do I do now aside from desputing it and giving my apologies?

[orangehound]

There's nothing to dispute ... if the buyer said that they received an empty package, then they'll likely file a claim through the Money Back Guarantee to get a refund from you for the cost of the item plus shipping.  I know it is painful, but that's the way eBay works.

If this were me, I don't know that I would respond further and just wait on the buyer to file with eBay.  But,  it is possible that the buyer is telling the truth.  I've never heard of scams for something this cheap, but these days nothing would surprise me from eBay buyers.

(Also, you might find First Class Package rates for a lightweight item like this to be almost as cheap as Media Mail.)

[missjen831]

Since the buyer has filed with eBay, there’s nothing to dispute. You’ll have to refund the buyer within 3 business days or the buyer can ask eBay to step in and a slam dunk win for them plus you get an unresolved by seller strike. I’m really sorry 😞

[flowershops]

Report the Buyer, if there is still that option available from the actions for this order.

In the notes, explain buyer claimed empty box/package. 

Other than that, don't know of any other recourse as Ebay Moneyback Guarantee is from Seller, not Ebay's funds. Right?

[missjen831]

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@flowershops wrote:

Report the Buyer, if there is still that option available from the actions for this order.

In the notes, explain buyer claimed empty box/package. 

Other than that, don't know of any other recourse as Ebay Moneyback Guarantee is from Seller, not Ebay's funds. Right?

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eBay doesn’t insure the seller. The MBG protects the buyer. Post insurance protects the seller.

[flowershops]

Indeed, thanks for confirming, moneyback guarantee is debited from seller (and hopefully seller insured each and every eBay package for enough if any, to cover loss from that claim ebay rewarded).

[hafoster]

Can you quote the sentence in the OP which says that?

[aramintaca · Accepted solution]

Wait for them to open a case. When they do let the buyer know you will be opening a mail theft case. If there were signs of the package being opened the PO will have pictures showing that. Don't communicate with them anymore outside of a case. Come back here for more advice good if they do file one. Best case scenario is that they go away if you don't play their game. Good luck!

[chudamescrochet]

Well, they conviently waited after the time that Ebay allows a buyer to be reported to start sending me threats, according to Ebay's 7 day policy. 

So according to Ebay, I can't report them for being a shady buyer.

I issued the refund and will be calling Ebay by phone. 

If for some reason they do not do anyhting about this, I am going to let everyone on Ebay know to not accept bids from user: jobur-3

I'm to the point where I do not care anymore if that is in bad taste to out the buyer. This person is just out to buy rare items and want them for free, as they started out with threats from the beginning. Do not sell to them. 

[chudamescrochet]

They conviently waited after the 7 day period to start with First: the negative feedback threats for USPS being USPS.  Second: Once they recieved the package they claimed it was empty. 

So Ebay won't let me use their reporting system to report them. Again, they have a new profile. They probably start a new profile every time and do this to new sellers often. Be aware. 

[chudamescrochet]

All of their messages were pretty full of vitrol, and it's a completely new profile, so they probably are just a career scammer. 

I'll know now to report a seller as soon as they give me any issues from the get-go like this one did. 

After over 10 years working in retail, people do make a big stink over small amounts of money. 

[chudamescrochet]

Thank you everyone for all of your feedback. It's disheartening to know that this is a common thing on Ebay, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has been a target for this kind of thing. I take great care with my packaging and do custom orders on Etsy, so this is the first time I've ever had an issue.

[missjen831]

What 7 day period are you talking about? There’s no 7 day window in which to report a buyer. And you need to self report your post, you aren’t allowed to post those messages form the buyer here!

[chudamescrochet]

From the hub that has a scrolling photo option of shows all items sold. When I selected it, it said I could not do anything as it was past a 7 day time period. 

 I found another way to report the issue from a different part of the seller settings.

I wasn't aware you weren't allowed to warn people of a buyer? There's no option to edit or delete that section of comments that I can find. 

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@missjen831 wrote:

What 7 day period are you talking about? There’s no 7 day window in which to report a buyer. And you need to self report your post, you aren’t allowed to post those messages form the buyer here!

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[chudamescrochet]

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@missjen831 wrote:

What 7 day period are you talking about? There’s no 7 day window in which to report a buyer. And you need to self report your post, you aren’t allowed to post those messages form the buyer here!

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Thank you for making me aware of that. I was asked to post the quotes to show that I had that communication issue, and wasn't aware. I've let the Moderator know I made that mistake and for it to be removed.