Drop shipping via Amazon

[kiwi2635]

I was lead to understand that a seller drop shipping via Amazon was in breach of Ebay's Third party fulfilment policy.

"We don't allow third-party fulfilment if it could be confusing or misleading for the buyer (for example, because the packaging used makes it appear that their item was purchased from another retailer or marketplace instead of on eBay), or if the buyer's personal data is not sufficiently protected."

Items were purchased with no indication at time that they would be bought off Amazon and delivered by Amazon. An initial tracking link to some obscure shipping company didn't work. After messaging seller the same tracking number was provided with a link to VDTrack. That link showed label created on date of purchase with no update after that (10 days after purchase). 

Item eventually arrived in an Amazon box and delivered by my regular Amazon driver. I could have saved time and money by buying the items direct from Amazon myself.

A complaint to Ebay was rejected with the AI bot deeming the seller hasn't contravened Ebay's Third Party fulfilment policy when a  year old can clearly see that they have.

Misleading behaviour on part of the seller and no useful assistance provided by Ebay.

[sandypebbles]

What is your question for other members?

The regulars here do not buy from drop shipping scammers

In the vast majority of cases, these scammers have more red flags than one can poke a stick out

Long delivery times for where the item is supposedly coming from

Photos lifted from other sites

Neg feedback saying they are drop shipping scammers 

The AI bot is pointless, useless and a waste of time (the bots says used underpants are fine)

Have you actually contacted a supervisor and pointed out their own policy?

Of course, you could choose not to buy from drop shipping scammers in the first place and avoid the issue rather than support it

(the one you left the neg for has horrid feedback, 45 negs (many of which state they drop ship from Amazon or overseas or items never arrive at all) yet you went ahead, bought from them, and got the same

You say there was 'no indication'. There were many, many in the neg feedback the seller has that this is exactly what they do

Their photos are also lifted from the Amazon website 

[*casey*]

Another shonky dropshipper with appalling feedback so in the future, choose your sellers more wisely.

If you'd read the feedback first , you'd have seen Amazon mentioned.

eBay won't do a thing.

Sadly this shonky seller will  have his positive feedback and % improved by eBay's positive automated feedback

[springyzone]

Yes it is definitely against ebay's policy but the care factor from ebay is about zero, I am afraid.

I had a similar thing happen to me several months back although I have to admit, my item arrived next day because amazon delivery times can be amazing. My seller had  good feedback, though another buyer had mentioned Amazon. I went ahead on ebay as  my % cashback was better from ebay (using topcash) plus the shipping on Amazon was not free for small purchases under about $59, so the price ended up much the same.

Quite often these onsellers have Amazon prime, which gives them free shipping, which is why they have it sent direct to you, rather than having to repost it.

My response was to give a neutral feedback to that seller and outline why. I included photos.

My point is, quite often if you read feedback in detail, you can pick up some vibes about a seller and sometimes you can get not just vibes but big red flags to warn you. In my case, feedback showed, time after time, quick postage. But I knew that occasionally this seller might use Amazon. I was ready for that possibility but I decided he'd be getting a neutral from me if he tried it.

He is now unregistered despite having 100% feedback, so it could be that eventually ebay catches up with these people. Who knows!

But the main thing is-double check feedback in detail, read it.

[kiwi2635]

Ok yes I should have read more of the feedback..a lesson learned. My main point though is the fact that the practice of drop selling via Amazon is explicitly in contravention of Ebay's Third Party fulfilment policy and Ebay rejected a complaint from me to that effect.

I've been buying on Ebay for a few years now and really havent had to deal with the Ebay AI bots until now.

Anyway thanks for the feedback guys...once bitten twice shy.

[kiwi2635]

"Have you actually contacted a supervisor and pointed out their own policy?". You mean Ebay has real people you can talk to??

[twyngwyn]

Type in ‘speak to agent’ on the HELP bot

[e_purchasing]

I agree with you in principal but you only have yourself to blame on several fronts.

Sellers like this one rely on (sorry to say) internet dummies. It is appalling IMHO.

Bottom line: What;s the biggie? Seller advertises 30-day returns. Seller pays for return postage

Just return it, they are paying for it and then order it from you know where at less than half the price you paid.

The main lesson here is 1- build relationship with a supplier and stick with that supplier to get a fair deal and win-win scenario or 2- Stay clear of sellers selling Zippo lighters with muscle protein bars and railroad tracks - no REAL business/ shop does that execpt maybe an OP shop (Ask yourself would my local hobby shop sell that too?) or 3- Shop around before committing to buy

[springyzone]

Yes, it pays to be cautious when buying on ebay.

I only partially agree with e purchasing. I do think, like e purchasing, that if you find a reliable, Australian based seller on ebay, selling something you buy reasonably regularly, then stick with that seller.

And for other purchases, I agree, shop around carefully before committing to buy.

But I don't agree that you have only yourself to blame. When sellers clearly breach ebay regulations, with submitted proof, ebay should be disciplining those sellers in some way or banning them.

When any seller reaches something like 19% feedback rating, (which one member recently showed us was the the case for one seller), that seller should have long since been kicked off ebay. Ebay has a duty of care, the entire onus should not be on buyers to do a tango dance through ads in order to avoid scammers.

In reality though, buyers do have to be careful on ebay or anywhere & e purchasing is right, you have to shop around carefully.

However, I have noticed something. I clicked on your seller as I wanted to read about their 30 day return policy. Usually I would have thought any seller offering returns (for change of mind) would require the buyer to pay return postage so I wanted to check out some ads.

That seller currently has no ads.  Or not that I can see. It says nothing available in my location. I am in Aust, as is the seller. This is a seller with 19k items sold (over 2,500 in the last year) and 1.4k followers and a member since 2012.

So I am wondering if ebay has done something to their account, even if only temporarily. It just seems odd they have no items for sale at all.

[sandypebbles]

I can see all their garbage still listed, and they have collected another neg from another buyer who doesn't care about who they are buying from

100% eBay *should* can these scammers, just like they used to do a few years back

But buyers always have the option to care, to check feedback before they buy and not choose to support a scammer like this where everything screams run a mile

21 negs and 21 neutrals in the past month alone and many many others before that

But people who don't care still expect eBay to care for them