Seller falsely marked item as shipped, then delivered, then refunded my order without explanation

[shaddievulf]

I need help figuring out what happened here. I purchased an item that has been on backorder everywhere in the US, so when I saw the listing for it on eBay I thought "wow, what luck!" I purchased the item after seeing that the seller had 100% positive ratings. A few days later, I got an email saying that my item was shipped, but there was no tracking included. This made me a bit uneasy as the item was an Tiffany style lamp (glassware) and for an item so expensive and delicate I thought it was weird not to have tracking. But I was excited for it to arrive, so I waited.

The next day, I was greeted to an email telling me that the package was "delivered" and the seller had issued me a full refund without any explanation. (The package had most certainly not been delivered.)

The seller was unresponsive when I sent them messages asking why my order had been refunded. So without much left to do, I left them negative feedback, stating the reason was my confusion and disappointment. 

The NEXT day I get an email alert from the seller, asking me to please revise my feedback. They then sent me what I can only describe as the most generic ChatGTP explanation in reply to the message I had sent them earlier, wherein they stated that the reason they had refunded my order was because my item had "gotten lost in delivery" and they are "investigating what happened" to prevent it from happening again in the future. 

My question is, is this some sort of scammy behavior? Why would a seller mark an item as shipped, and then delivered, only to give the buyer a refund? Is that some sort of workaround that sellers perform in order for their accounts not to get dinged by eBay? Please help explain. I feel like I should leave my negative feedback up for this seller, considering they refunded my order (basically canceled it) without even giving me an explanation. The most confusing part to me is that it was marked as shipped and then delivered all within 24 hrs. 

[chevymontecarlo88]

At this point i would walk away and find another seller to deal with. You were refunded and the reasons why this happened would not matter to me. It does give you a glimpse of how that seller operates. It sounds like there is a language issue between you and them. 

I would not leave any feedback for them unless I felt they were trying to rip me off. The reason why they cancelled is not as important to me as being refunded without having to chase them down. (seller initiated)

[lacemaker3]

@shaddievulf 

The seller was probably drop-shipping, and found out that their supplier was out of stock after you purchased the lamp. The seller couldn't fulfill the transaction, but did not want to get an out-of-stock defect on their record. So, he pretended to ship it (possibly using a fake tracking number, but didn't post the number) and then refunded immediately after the fake delivery. That avoids the out-of-stock defect on the seller's account, and ends the transaction. The buyer (you) has been made whole by the full refund, so I don't think there is any case you can file at this point.

Edit: if it was the lamp from the seller in Israel, purchased May 2, (item was supposed to be located in the USA), the seller may have decided not to risk the tariff situation, and felt that they could not risk fulfilling the transaction. It is probably out of stock in the USA, but still readily available in China and anywhere else in the world.

You said that you then left negative feedback, and the seller asked you to revise it. I'm sorry to tell you, but the seller has had the negative removed, because your feedback profile has not left a negative recently. As far as I can see, you haven't left any feedback at all for more than a year.

[simba6]

Just a case of a seller selling merchandise they did not have on hand.  When their hopes of getting it were dashed, they refunded.  They want to avoid an eBay out of stock NPS ding on their record.

Just have to find a seller that has it in stock.  Bummer but at least you got a refund.  

[shaddievulf]

Is there a way I can completely delete my feedback? I don't really have anything positive to say, but now I feel bad for leaving negative feedback... 

[pikabo-icu]

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@shaddievulf wrote:

Is there a way I can completely delete my feedback? I don't really have anything positive to say, but now I feel bad for leaving negative feedback... 

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@shaddievulf   You can contact the seller and ask them to send you a FB revision request. 

[shaddievulf]

I see. That's very interesting. I didn't realize the seller was in Israel, but it did say the item was supposedly coming from California so I must have mistakenly thought it was a US based seller. I will have to be more aware next time. The tarrifs issue makes sense, but isn't there a way for a seller to only list items for specific countries? 

As for him removing my feedback, I guess that solves that issue.