eBay

toysaver · ‎02-04-2020

I sold and shipped a bundle listing of 6 items on Jan 8th. Delivered Jan 14th and a case filed on Jan 26th that half the items were missing. Had this box only contained the 3 smallest items it would have shipped for under 1 pound and would have gotten a "Cost Adjustment For Shipping Label" email and refund. This didn't occur because the box shipped with all items at over 1 pound. I would have used a smaller box had only the 3 smaller items shipped as cost of packing material is always a consideration. Buyer claimed via email she was out of town for 12 days and a house sitter took in the box. The new Automated Package Verification System at USPS is designed to collect funds when postage is due but also refunds overpayments. I filed a report with the PO but am sure at this point I will have to eat the loss. There must be a way Ebay sellers can collaborate and use this to make Ebay a safe place to sell.

purple-rain-store · ‎02-04-2020

pretty much why I don't do bundle listings. Too easy for this to happen! Sorry you were scammed! Par for the course anymore with any online selling platform. Some more so than others, cough cough!

orangehound · ‎02-04-2020

@toysaver wrote:
... and would have gotten a "Cost Adjustment For Shipping Label" email and refund.

The new Automated Package Verification System at USPS is designed to collect funds when postage is due but also refunds overpayments ...

I don't think that the APV is fully implemented in the USPS network, because last fall I was seeing where packages were getting through without getting flagged ... it really depends on which segments of the system that the package traverses, which determinds whether or not the package goes through an APV scanner.

gallantfarms · ‎02-05-2020

I was able to get a lying buyer to drop their case by using this advice I found on the forums. In my case I added a line about being 100% certain all items were in the package when I shipped it due to the shipping weight. I don't remember who posted this, I just saved the text at the time. Here is the advice:

"Dear buyer,

I am appalled to hear that you received two books instead of the <whatever it is> I sent you. Obviously the mail was tampered with at some point. I will be filing a mail tampering report with the USPS Postal Inspectors on your behalf, and I will also file a report with my Post Office. This is an obvious case of mail tampering, since I sent you <whatever it was> and you received something else.

Please hold on to all packaging as well as the books themselves that you say you received. You will be contacted by a USPS representative soon, and they will want to see the packaging and items.

Thank you,
Seller"

And then DO IT. File the reports and send a copy to Ebay when you REPORT THE BUYER.

This letter can work initially, particularly if you are non-accusatory and give them an out like "Check with others in your household and see if perhaps someone had seen the item." And, I would add one sentence that says "If you still are unable to locate the purse, could you provide your phone number to me so that I can include that with the USPS filing in case they wish to question you.

You will be contacted by a USPS inspector soon, who will want to see all packaging as well as the items you received as part of his/her investigation."

I have used that "letter" in one form or another in the past, acting totally dismayed at the "switching" of the merchandise. Always leaving the liar buyer an "out" so to speak about asking family members etc. and saying I would gladly file the lost/tampered mail report (it is called something else now) with the Postal Inspectors. I would tell them that I would file on their behalf on line, and would receive the case number within 24 hours and would forward it to them. Only once was the merchandise not by some miracle quickly found. The only hold out, quickly caved when the case number was actually forwarded to them so they could keep abreast of the situation.

File it now, and forward the case number. See what shakes loose.

jtec212 · ‎02-07-2020

You can also put in your listing that you videotape items and the packaging of it at the Post Office and that home is non-smoking (if that's the case of course). Scammers will avoid your listings. Close all possible loopholes

orangehound · ‎02-07-2020

@jtec212 wrote:
You can also put in your listing that you videotape items and the packaging of it at the Post Office and that home is non-smoking (if that's the case of course). Scammers will avoid your listings. Close all possible loopholes

That is also a great way to have legitimate buyers avoid your listings ...

... also, video has long been dismissed as closing loopholes.

jtec212 · ‎02-07-2020

Why would legit buyers avoid listings with that statement? Wouldn't they like it if someone is upfront with the condition and packaging of the item?

corvettestainless · ‎02-07-2020

Same reason Home Depot doesn't have signs that tell you one of the water heater boxes actually has an LP agent in there watching the isle.

People want to shop and buy, and not worry how you go about doing your LP and could find it 'creepy' that 'this seller has that much concern'.

buyselljack2016 · ‎02-07-2020

@jtec212 wrote:
Why would legit buyers avoid listings with that statement? Wouldn't they like it if someone is upfront with the condition and packaging of the item?

They could think that the "seller" is trying to pull a fast one with their "video proof" (acceptable for nothing) claiming that it shows that they sent something that may not actually be in the box when everything settles, and the package is accepted by the carrier.

Just as a buyer can show themselves opening a package that should have a laptop inside, and out comes a book/brick/garbage that the buyer put in the box after removing the laptop, before starting the video. Proof of nothing.

jtec212 · ‎02-07-2020

Agree. If you don't feel comfortable saying you videotape at the PO, by all means leave that out.

You can still state that you videotape the condition and nothing further. With videotape, you can take a screenshot of any part of the item that the buyer says is damaged.

Many sellers say that eBay sides with the buyers and that sellers get ripped off. Why not put that in? More scammers than legit buyers would be put off by that.

I've sold consumer electronics and said that they were in working order and that I videotaped it as proof.

I had no problems attracting buyers and they were happy with the purchases and the packaging.

toysaver · ‎02-13-2020

Now I have an order that's like 15 miles from the original scammer and can't believe they are not related. I will photograph the box and label on the scale with the exact weight and cross my fingers but shame on Ebay for participating in the fraud but not correcting this.