eBay

nebuchadnezzarx · ‎05-30-2020

I'm currently dealing with a scammer who seems to have outsmarted eBay's (already rather stupid) returns system.

I shipped them a pair of barely worn sunglasses, extremely carefully packed, and they filed a return request saying the "glass" was broken. They didn't respond when I asked for photographs, and of course eventually eBay stepped in and allowed the return.

Rather than using eBay's return label, they shipped the "return" themselves and gave eBay a tracking number. Because all eBay can see is that some kind of package was delivered to some kind of address in our zip code, they yanked the money out of my account and happily gave it to this scammer.

I'm not a pro seller, so I wasn't quite sure how this whole process would work--the eBay reps I'd spoken to repeatedly assured me that I'd have the chance to review the returned item and make sure it was what I'd sent them. Once I saw that eBay had helped the scammer to make off with my money this morning, I drove to my local post office and got the detailed tracking report that showed the actual shipping address of his "return."

We obviously hadn't gotten a package, so I wasn't too surprised to see that they'd shipped to a random address in our zip code, and that the package was only 2oz. It's obviously a scam, and was pretty obviously a scam from the moment he filed the return request (and honestly even a little before that. I should have googled his address before shipping and seen that it was a sketchy freight forwarder).

I submitted the detailed tracking printout via an upload link a phone rep sent me, but they're predictably opaque with the appeals process/ status. What are the chances eBay will still screw me here?

rebell45 · ‎05-30-2020

Reading other posts on these discussion boards there seems to be a way to have the post office track the return to the exact address where it was delivered. If you can get the GPS tracking data from the post office you may have a chance with an appeal. You might wan to search the discussion boards for GPS tracking or someone might come along with that info.

The scam seems to be popular right now, happening to both buyers and sellers. Scammers sellers and buyers have figured out that you can send a empty envelope with a tracking number to an address in the same zip code and trick eBay into issuing a refund or denying a claim. Good luck.

____________________________________________________________
Never sell anything on eBay that you can't afford to lose.

mtgraves7984 · ‎05-30-2020

I have gone to the PO and gotten the gps 'ping' on a delivery and I have requested one at their website... both ways were easy, quick, and painless. I have used this as a seller to track delivery of my items, also to check an incoming package that was mis-delivered.

With that being said... I think the scam you're dealing with (return) is another creature that the ones I was dealing with.

And I think the chances of you being screwed are pretty good. But you already knew that... Good luck!

nebuchadnezzarx · ‎05-31-2020

Was pleasantly surprised to see that eBay reversed the outcome of the case today, and refunded the money they'd taken to give to the scammer. I guess the postal service tracking printout showing that the scammer shipped the fake return to a random address was enough proof for them.

Glad that I got justice in this instance, but the extent to which eBay basically fell all over themselves making the process of scamming incredibly easy for this guy makes me a little wary about selling anything else here. The extra pocket money was emphatically not worth the hassle.

mtgraves7984 · ‎05-31-2020

@nebuchadnezzarx

Well, I am pleasantly surprised, too... Way to go!!

I'm delighted that the actual delivery address works on a case like yours... I might need that info later.

The bummer is that they return your funds out of a 'pool' that you and I and every seller is paying. But in your case, I'm happy to throw mine your way.

"The extra pocket money was emphatically not worth the hassle. "

Oh, man, you said it. Thank you for the update and hang in there!

@rebell45 ... Check it out! ^^^

nebuchadnezzarx · ‎06-01-2020

I was wondering about how that works with the reversal. Are you saying that the scammer gets to keep his refund and eBay is just paying me out their own pockets/ "scammer enabling fund"? Honestly as much as I'd like to see eBay take a financial hit for their idiotic policies, I really was hoping the scammer would be denied his refund...

dtexley3 · ‎06-02-2020

@nebuchadnezzarx wrote:
I was wondering about how that works with the reversal. Are you saying that the scammer gets to keep his refund and eBay is just paying me out their own pockets/ "scammer enabling fund"? Honestly as much as I'd like to see eBay take a financial hit for their idiotic policies, I really was hoping the scammer would be denied his refund...

Nope, eBay doesn't go back to the scammer, they give you a refund out of their own pocket, which means every seller's pocket. The claim is that they don't have the "ability" or "right" to go back after the buyer, which I find odd as they are able to automatically pull money from seller's accounts. They just need a similar user agreement for buyers. "If we determine that you have not properly returned the item we will do a chargeback on your funding source". But I guess that would reduce the "buyer experience."

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew

mtgraves7984 · ‎06-02-2020

@nebuchadnezzarx wrote:
I was wondering about how that works with the reversal. Are you saying that the scammer gets to keep his refund and eBay is just paying me out their own pockets/ "scammer enabling fund"? Honestly as much as I'd like to see eBay take a financial hit for their idiotic policies, I really was hoping the scammer would be denied his refund...

@nebuchadnezzarx

Yup. They call that one a 'courtesy refund' or some such stuff.

I had a buyer open a remorse return (didn't like it) on me once through eBay... back in the day when you could deny them, which I did.

The buyer changed their verbiage and opened an INAD with PayPal... but PayPal never notified me of the claim. I awoke one morning to find $100 refunded from my PayPal account. I called PayPal and appealed over the phone, citing the previously 'closed' case in eBay and the lack of notification... that's when I learned about it.

I received my $100, but the buyer had already received his $100 refund and kept the Gucci ball cap I sent him.

I felt almost guilty taking it from a 'pool'... but I got over it. I know you feel a little guilty but you'll get over it, too.

Like I said earlier... I truly don't mind pitching in on a case like yours. Honestly!