topic Re: Buyers getting away with theft. in Selling

Buyers getting away with theft.

shoaltech — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 22:30:35 GMT

I had two purchases from the same person. He created 2 new accounts and purchased 2 high value items, 1 on each account, almost $4k total. He also messaged me through a 3rd account, never replying through the accounts he purchased from. I spoke to Ebay and they said as long as I sent to the correct address with tracking I would be covered.

I sent the items. He then opened item not received cases for both items. I went through the whole process with Ebay and provided all the delivery information, tracking etc. They then decided both cases in my favour. All very stressful given the $ involved. This morning, I received an email from Ebay saying the buyer appealed the decision and it was granted an they would deduct the funds from me. The case details now show:

Outcome
The case was decided in the buyer's favour.

More info
You agreed to give your buyer a refund but didn't issue it.

I didn't agree to refund the buyer at all.

I cannot begin to understand how Ebay continue to support buyers regardless of circumstances and even when there is clearly dodgy behaviour.

I spoke to Ebay just now. While the guy I spoke to was pleasant and wanting to help, I have no confidence whatsoever that this will be dealt with properly.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

love_of_cars — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 02:20:10 GMT

I feel for you mate, you just want to do the right thing by everyone and the buyer is using all the facilities eBay has to their advantage to scam you out of it.

Hope it works out for you.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

twyngwyn — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:06:58 GMT

cyber theft....report to police & send eBay the report number....good luck!

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

domino-710 — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:11:20 GMT

I hope you have a copy of the buyers address.

Police Report.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

s-tech_online — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:38:07 GMT

Definitely report to the police.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

shoaltech — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:48:43 GMT

Thanks for the replies. Yes, police involvement is definitely on the cards if we don't get the correct outcome. What's most concerning is the complete lack of explanation regarding the decision. Or rather, incorrect explanation. Stating "You agreed to give your buyer a refund but didn't issue it." could not be further from the truth. It's honestly like they just picked any reason that was compliant with their decision. Perhaps even more concerning is the complete lack of Seller Protection. I complied with every requirement to receive Seller Protection but it is simply ignored. I'm hoping that during the review, it will be realised that a mistake was made and will be rectified.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

domino-710 — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:52:49 GMT

Why wait for the review. ??

I'd be preparing a statement - taking it to the station - get a report number - now.

Hit eBay with a documented report.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

twyngwyn — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:40:39 GMT

AI has now taken over....get used to it & initiate your best response

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

etb321 — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:47:45 GMT

Too late now to say but selling hi value items on ebay is akin to swimming at a beach known to be frequented by sharks. More so if it's an account with a zero purchase history. As to Ebay's decision not to refund you did you send the items requiring signature on delivery?

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

designers*n*more — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:47:08 GMT

@etb321 wrote:
Too late now to say but selling hi value items on ebay is akin to swimming at a beach known to be frequented by sharks. More so if it's an account with a zero purchase history. As to Ebay's decision not to refund you did you send the items requiring signature on delivery?

very good point. Could be the reason the appeal was granted if it was only sent with tracking.

for others reading these comments, if your items are over $750 you MUST send it with tracking AND signature on delivery to be covered by Seller Protection

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

designers*n*more — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:54:09 GMT

Contact Australia Post and ask for photographic evidence that the item was delivered. Best way is via Facebook Messenger. They respond fairly quickly.

Did you send the items with Signature on Delivery? This is a must if the value is over $750 for Seller Protection

Also, do you have the transcript where eBay advised that as long as you the item with tracking you would be covered. If they failed to tell you should have used signature on delivery that may be helpful in your appeal.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

s-tech_online — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:31:52 GMT

I suspect they would have asked for this already.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

shoaltech — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:33:52 GMT

Yes both orders were sent with signature on delivery. Due to pretty much every order we send being over $750, we always have the signature required.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

designers*n*more — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:54:06 GMT

That’s good. Aust Post will have a copy of the signatures. As I mentioned contact them via Messenger and request the signatures. Then slap eBay with it and they will have no choice but to pay you the money you are owed.

I’d love to know what the buyers reason for appeal was, but knowing eBay if you ask them they’ll tell you due to privacy they cannot disclose the details.

bizarre that they have upheld the scammers appeal given you have followed eBay’s procedures to a T.

your feedback is fantastic by the way!

let us know the outcome! I hope they reverse their decision🤞🤞🤞

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

shoaltech — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 21:22:25 GMT

Thank you. Yes, I have already requested the signatures from Aust Post. I expect they should get them to me by Monday. There's been a further development though. One case is still item not received. The other is now item not as described where he claims that he just received some small PC parts, screws etc. Mind you, the INAD was lodged a week or so after the item not received case was closed in my favour. The whole situation is absolutely ridiculous, particularly in that it's so obvious what's going on here. So now, that second case is a return where he has stated he will return 'what we sent him'. I am going to make sure I video receiving and opening whatever he sends back.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

domino-710 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 22:17:42 GMT

While it is totally obvious what this buyer is up to - you are not going to get far with videoing any package being opened.

Apart from the fact it could be any package - you have no proof it will not be what you actually sent.

A rock and a hard place.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

sugar249 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 22:38:42 GMT

I note you use sendle, if it was Australia Post I would say you could check what weight appears on your lodgement slip, but only if you actually get them weighed, rather than the cubed weight that I give them, as this is just the box size, not the actual, but if they actually weighed it, that would appear on the slip. You could compare that to the weight of whats returned if its only screws and stuff.

But, not sure how sendle check weights, but could be worth a phone call.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

shoaltech — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 00:10:32 GMT

Yes I totally agree. The ebay rep I spoke to recommended doing this. While I agree it's not hard proof, I don't have anything to lose by doing it anyway.

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

twyngwyn — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 05:16:25 GMT

can you have return item sent to post office?....then you can video in front of staff....more likely they will do a stat dec for you

Re: Buyers getting away with theft.

etb321 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 17:14:54 GMT

I've been through a couple of ebay 'item not as described cases' so I know your in a hard place. Ebay policy is to side with the buyer unless there is a track record of the buyer making many such claims. My thinking is when an Ebay CSR rep looks a case they look by account name. Previous claims wouldn't show as the serial INAD'er is clever and has a different account for each claim. A seach by street address would bring up a full record.

I think your best bet is Australia Post. They take an extremely dim view of people using their service for anything other than to get mail delivered.