Seller never mailed item but marked on eBay as shipped

[poppyinmyhair]

This has definitely made me decide I will NEVER purchase anything on eBay again.

I can’t deal with all this back and forth and complications. I’m SO over it!

Anyway, here is what happened:

I bought an iPhone from a seller that didn’t have the greatest reviews, but I had had success with buying other high priced items like my last phone and my laptop on eBay. I thought I had got a great deal with this listing. 

I ordered the phone on July 13th and the seller marks that the item was shipped the next day (7/14). The USPS tracking number shows that the label had been created but that the office is still awaiting the package. However, the seller has the audacity to mark the item as shipped on eBay. The estimated delivery date was also pretty late July 22nd. 

You can see that here: https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?tLabels=9402109699938590119626

I checked a few days ago the seller’s feedback reviews and there were new feedbacks from customers saying this seller was a scammer! Other people gave this person their money and did EXACTLY THE SAME THING TO THEM!!! They create the shipping label and then they MEVER drop the item off. By then I couldn’t cancel the item because the seller marked the item as “shipped”. I even contacted the seller to ask when they were going to send my item to the post office. NO REPLY. 

At the moment has been 7 business days since I bought the item and there has been no change in status of the shipping details since and I’m sure that the seller had no intention of shipping me the item I purchased. So since the delivery date has passed, I tried opening a ticket saying that “The item has not arrived” but whenever I click that option I am greeted with the attached photo. It says that the item hasn’t arrived because it still might be on the way! But the tracking info shows that the package was never dropped off. So how would I receive the item then?

Whenever I try to open a case through “eBay money back guarantee” the page that is displayed is “Your item is in transit” so it stops me from opening a case. What do I do? Should I call eBay and explain to them what happened? I really just want my money taken back from this seller’s bank account ASAP and for this person to be banned!!!!

Someone please lend me some advice and assure me that I’ll get my money back... 

(both of these pictures attached are pictures of what happens when I try to open a case about this item not arriving)

[classic_luxe]

First, calm down. Although I understand you being upset you can relax in knowing that if you don't get your phone that you will 100% get your money back from the seller or eBay. It looks like you should be able to open a case tomorrow, if not just call eBay and explain the situation to them and they will walk you through it or open a case on your behalf. Since you state you've had very successful transactions and gotten good deals in the past on eBay, why let one bad seller ruin it for you? Unlike sellers, buyers have multiple layers of protection through eBay, PayPal and their third party charge, if used. If sellers let one bad buyer do us in there wouldn't be a seller on eBay. Let us know how it turns out or if you need further help on opening a case.

[lja440]

Wow!!! Stressing much?

I and eBay really don't care if the item is showing any tracking PRIOR to the ESTIMATED delivery date. In fact as to eBay it will just bounce a automated response to you.

I personally don't even bother with an inquiry to the seller until around a week AFTER the estimated delivery date. I then give them a few days to reply. Then if things are still unsatisfactory I will file a claim.

I work for USPS, packages do get mailed and remain unscanned  until delivery all the time. A poorly printed label or even bad placement of the label can cause this. 

Also you admitted that you IGNORED the sellers bad feedback which is totally on you, and in no way eBays fault. I get that. I also have purchased items from sellers with less stellar feedback. Less competition so most of the time a lower price. But when I do this and it doesn't go well I don't rant about it, ...Oh I still file a claim (after the appropriate time has passed), and I leave feedback.

[poppyinmyhair]

Wow, thank you for your response and helping me feel better about this situation with your rather condescending response.

@lja440 wrote:

Wow!!! Stressing much?

I and eBay really don't care if the item is showing any tracking PRIOR to the ESTIMATED delivery date. In fact as to eBay it will just bounce a automated response to you.

I personally don't even bother with an inquiry to the seller until around a week AFTER the estimated delivery date. I then give them a few days to reply. Then if things are still unsatisfactory I will file a claim.

I work for USPS, packages do get mailed and remain unscanned  until delivery all the time. A poorly printed label or even bad placement of the label can cause this. 

Also you admitted that you IGNORED the sellers bad feedback which is totally on you, and in no way eBays fault. I get that. I also have purchased items from sellers with less stellar feedback. Less competition so most of the time a lower price. But when I do this and it doesn't go well I don't rant about it, ...Oh I still file a claim (after the appropriate time has passed), and I leave feedback.

I looked at the seller’s comments before purchasing and many of the comments were irrelevant to the seller’s transactions/selling habits. There wasn’t much explanation for the low reviews. Oh, and don’t worry I always thoroughly read through comments for sellers before purchasing anything. Even when buying on other websites I’ll read many reviews before taking the plunge in buying something. So, no, it wasn’t ebay’s fault and I’m not blaming them, I never once mentioned it was their fault. But as I mentioned from above, “I checked a few days ago the seller’s feedback reviews and there were new feedbacks from customers saying this seller was a scammer!“. And so after seeing this and the words blatantly on the seller’s feedback I knew for sure it was a scam. I sent the seller multiple messages after marking the item as shipped so quickly after I purchased the item, to receive nothing in return, so it was obvious that the seller never had intended to drop off the item to USPS. I know that items aren’t always scanned in a timely manner, I have waited for items that have been delayed getting shipped, but  I can calm down once I know there aren’t scammers and con artists trying to play games here. Also, you should almost always track your mail when a tracking number is provided to ensure that the package is moving along, and if the package is arriving on time (since I’ve dealt with people stealing my mail). I hope you click on the tracking link above because the seller never intended to send me anything and I knew that right after new feedback was posted 🙂 

I shop online a lot, but with eBay I always feel like I need to watch my back. I don’t enjoy having to go back and forth in buying something online, and that’s why I am really over eBay. I don’t use eBay almost ever so I came to “rant” to make sure I had my bases covered and that I was doing the correct thing. I wanted to see if anyone else has gone through the same thing to lend a helping hand. 🙂

[poppyinmyhair]

Thank you for your response. Sorry I seemed kind of distraught, I just have never gone through something like this on eBay. I have gone through similar situations before and I really didn’t want to have to go through a whole process to get my money back. The way you explained the eBay money back guarantee seems like it’s quick and painless which is helpful in calming my nerves. I did know about the PayPal protection so I knew if something else went awry I could always file a claim with PayPal. Thank you again for you genuine response to my frustration, I will consider “never buying from eBay” further. 

[lja440]

Sometimes a rash of negs complaining about not shipping means that something has happened in that sellers life to disrupt it. It could be illness or a death in the family. Heck one of our local eBay sellers is separated from her inventory. We had a bad storm that stalled over our little town where I work. Whole areas were flooded. The Postmasters basement had 2 feet of water in it he lost his furnace, Washer/dryer and other items in the basement and his sons car which was parked in back. 7 homes had basements cave in and a local apartment complex had to be evacuated. That is where the seller lives, they were not allowed to return for nearly 2 weeks to get items (she is on the 2nd floor so nothing damaged). They just allowed them to move back in after major cleaning (raw sewage in the basement and first floor apartments).

I know it sucks not getting your item but you have plenty of time on your side.  to file and get a refund.