I am so glad for you that it worked out well. I have been with eBay for a long term and have never had much trouble with fraudulent buyers until now. I don't won't to scare you off with eBay with my story, because most private and professional sellers and buyers are wonderful and professional and helpful.
However, I believe my story is important to communicate to the community.
A buyer purchased an item from me. I sent it exactly as described in a sealed Australia Post satchel to the provided address. I only knew that something had gone wrong when I received an email from Paypal Resolution Centre advising that the buyer was making a claim for refund. At that time, the buyer was telling Paypal that the item was "damaged" (i.e had rips and tears). I emailed the buyer via both Paypal and Ebay to find out more information, but at no time through the claim resolution process would the buyer provide any information on why or how the item became damaged in the post. This information is useful to me, because I can get often get compensation or explanation from Australia Post for tracked parcels.
In spite of lack of buyer's communication, I offered a full refund on return of item including offering to pay for return of parcel. The buyer responded by leaving false negative feedback on my eBay account.
I contacted Paypal that I wanted the item returned from buyer to provide a refund. THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT - PAYPAL WILL NOT ALWAYS INSIST ON ITEM RETURNED FOR REFUND UNLESS THE SELLER INSISTS.
The item was returned in a sealed tracked satchel. I ASKED PAYPAL TO PROVIDE ME THE TRACKING NUMBER FROM THE BUYER. (The Buyer still not communciating directly with me.) A WITNESS FILMED MY OPENING OF THE SEALED SATCHEL SHOWING THE TRACKED NUMBER FIRST. Surprise, Surprise! The item returned was not damaged, but it was a completely different item - not even the same brand, not even the same size.
I KNEW THEN THAT I WAS DEALING WITH A FRAUDULANT BUYER! I SENT THE RIGHT ITEM! This was first instance of this happening in my history with eBay. I collected and provided evidence to PAYPAY on this buyer's "AMMO" and I won!
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN VIEW BUYER'S FEEDBACK? SELLER'S CAN RESPOND TO THIS FEEDBACK, which gives valuable insight into buyer's behaviour and intentions. BE WARY OF BUYERS who leave regular negative feedback and the seller responds with comments like "buyer impatient, I have already sent item" or "happy to refund if item returned" or "you received positive feedback when you sold item later on".
SMART EBAYERS KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY. My advice is always to communicate often in a professional and helpful way. Only leave feedback that is constructive and helpful to other eBayers - not to vent your anger or disappointment. DEROGATORY REMARKS can be removed by eBay - DON'T BE A BULLY! DON'T WASTE YOU OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR SAY IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. Take up the option to reply to any feedback even if positive.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN STOP BUYERS BUYING FROM YOU IF THEY LEAVE TOO MANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK REGULARLY?
My recent experience has taught me that there are shoplifters using the Paypal Buyer Protection Process to get your items for free. INSIST ON THEM DESCRIBING WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ITEM AND RETURNING ITEM BEFORE MAKING REFUND. NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL WIN EVERY TIME! HOWEVER, BUYERS WHO MAKE TOO MANY BUYER PROTECTION CLAIMS THROUGH PAYPAL and are NOT FORTHCOMING IN THEIR INFORMATION, and ARE CHALLENGED BY THE BUYER with evidence are FLAGGED. With enough evidence, PAYPAL CAN AND WILL INVESTIGATE potentially fraudulant buyers if you provide them the right information.
BEST OF LUCK all to Ebayers!
Cheers,
ELLEVUE
