eBay Scams

StLBrian · 2022-02-05T15:32:44.000Z

For those who sell on eBay, I’m posting this to let you know of a fraud I almost fell victim to in the hopes you can avoid it if the scammer tries to buy from you. This is the resolution of what I posted here last month: The “buyer,” who opened his account the day of purchase and had zero feedback, claimed the set was ‘damaged’ and requested a return under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. I twice asked for photos to support his claim. No response. I reported the buyer. No response. I contacted eBay and they assured me they would not allow the return without photos of the damage. After a week, I asked eBay to “step in” and resolve the situation. Their website indicates they will carefully consider both sides before making a decision. They allowed the return to proceed, within seconds of my asking them to step in. eBay later admits that was a system-generated decision. A week later, I get an e-mail indicating that eBay is refunding the buyer. That meant I would be out the cost of the item, plus the sales price & shipping the buyer paid, and the fees eBay charged on the transaction, and the return shipping label – About $435 in total. I had not received the return and could find no tracking information online. I contacted eBay again and was provided a tracking number but they admitted they never were provided pictures of the ‘damage.’ The tracking number showed that the return package was delivered to **an** address in my town but also that it originated in a state halfway across the country from where I originally sent the package. eBay agreed to send the case on for review. Their reviewer affirmed the decision to refund the buyer because they claimed the tracking number showed the return package was delivered to my house. [Note that the delivery address cannot be determined from a tracking number.] So I call the USPS and they told me the package was sent to a very similar address in my town. Fortunately, the individual at that address refused the package and the post office gave the package to me. Sure enough, the return of the 4.5lb set was a 2.8oz bubble mailer. I sent pictures of the intercepted package to eBay who finally issued a refund of the amount they took out of my account to refund the buyer. I had to contact them again for a refund of the return shipping label they charged me. They said they were doing this as a “one time courtesy.” It has absolutely infuriating dealing with eBay. They clearly give the buyer any conceivable benefit of the doubt and repeatedly ignore ‘red flags’ raised by the seller. Going forward, I think I’m going to put a disclaimer on my listings that I reserve the right to cancel any purchases from buyers with no feedback. Is that allowed? I’m also thinking of stating that I can’t guarantee the box will arrive free of minor defects that could occurr during shipping. That’s about the only things I can think of to minimize the risk of this happening again. Any other suggestions?