International Seller Provided AusPost Tracking

[wllblsstn]

Hello eBay,

I recently bought an item from a seller based in Canada but shipping from Hong Kong. Today, I just received tracking in the form of an Australian Post tracking number. Is this normal or is it a fake tracking scam? I've always though AusPost tracking numbers can only be acquired if the sender location is in Australia.

Also, regarding the seller's feedback, the seller has 93 positive and 1 negative feedback which says that the seller has sold a fake item. The seller's feedback score is only 76. Are there hidden negative feedbacks? Is it possible to have a feedback score that is less that the number of positive feedbacks?

I'm getting suspicious vibes because the seller claimed that the item I purchased came from a store he works at and when I contacted the store, they mentioned that they never sold such item.

The seller also sells other things which are located elsewhere, such as this https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/384728065966?hash=item59939467ae:g:jP0AAOSwMypiBfVn which is shipped from Vancouver. Doesn't make sense

Thank you

[wllblsstn]

Hi,

The seller has responded to the return request with this message.

I know that I should not ship since the seller has not provided shipping label. Should I keep messaging the seller demanding for a shipping label or just wait until eBay can step in. eBay can step in on the 10th March.

[jellybirddesigns]

That's so cheeky of them and is often how they get people to send it back on their own dime. Are they asking to send to China or Canada (just out of curiosity)?

Others will advise whether to contact customer service to tell them you are not liable for shipping or whether it's best to wait it out/escalate.

No point in demanding a shipping label - the seller literally cannot generate one for you as they are outside Australia.

[padi*0409]

The seller is overseas so they CAN'T send you an AP label.

Mark it as exactly what it is NOT a "gift" for $10.00.

[wllblsstn]

The seller asked me to send it back to his/her address in Canada. 

The button to escalate the issue to eBay is no longer there.

I think the best thing I can do is to contact eBay. Marking it as a gift is dodgy.

[jellybirddesigns]

@padi - there is no way the buyer will be posting this counterfeit item anywhere. The case needs to be closed in the buyers favour without any further expense.

[wllblsstn]

Should I:

1) Give a postage quote and make the seller pay for shipping upfront. Declare item using it's true value?

2) Contact eBay for them to step in straight away?

The address doesn't even include his real name, so that's even more dodgy.

[jellybirddesigns]

If you were to entertain the thought of sending it to them, it will need to go tracked but you have no way of knowing that the address given is even valid. Next thing you know, the seller claims they never got it and you lose the case.

A standard parcel to Canada is AU$21.00. Seller has asked you to put gift and a low value because Canada whacks on customs. Seller could also refuse the parcel if you put the value on it and will then be sent back to you and you are out of pocket and will have gotten nowhere.

You haven't got a hope in hell that the seller will send you the postage money upfront. Why would they? There's a reason they have asked you to send it on your dime with the "promise" that they will refund you. It will never happen.

Just wait for a few others to come back and advise on contacting Ebay or waiting.

[wllblsstn]

I have contacted eBay and yes, I am "not obliged to return the item on my own as the item is Not as described". Also, since the item is not as described, the "seller is responsible to get the item back".

eBay has kindly advised me to wait for 3 days and then contact them again to step in.

Will provide updates after I contact eBay again.

[hbrih3]

Up to today I would have said the feedback is a good indication of the quality of the seller. But after checking for replies to a couple of negative feedbacks I left over the past month because of a fake Aus location when item was actually posted from China and another for giving me a fake tracking number that is nonexistent in Aus Post tracking and refusing to give me a proper tracking number I'd say forget feedbacks.

I noticed that both -ve  feedbacks have disappeared so I contacted eBay and found out they were removed at the request of the sellers, no investigations to see if they were accurate or not and after asking eBay to check them they admitted they made an error by removing them because they were accurate but could  not reinstate them.

So a high feedback score means nothing since eBay changed their policies  because the seller could just ask ebay to remove them. These days you are on your own when buying on eBay so make sure you use Paypal  using a credit card so at least you have some recourse of getting your money back because eBay won't help.

[*sons_and_daughters*]

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@hbrih3 wrote:

Up to today I would have said the feedback is a good indication of the quality of the seller. But after checking for replies to a couple of negative feedbacks I left over the past month because of a fake Aus location when item was actually posted from China and another for giving me a fake tracking number that is nonexistent in Aus Post tracking and refusing to give me a proper tracking number I'd say forget feedbacks.

I noticed that both -ve  feedbacks have disappeared so I contacted eBay and found out they were removed at the request of the sellers, no investigations to see if they were accurate or not and after asking eBay to check them they admitted they made an error by removing them because they were accurate but could  not reinstate them.

So a high feedback score means nothing since eBay changed their policies  because the seller could just ask ebay to remove them. These days you are on your own when buying on eBay so make sure you use Paypal  using a credit card so at least you have some recourse of getting your money back because eBay won't help.

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That's a load of cods. They can and have reinstated feedback when it's been removed in error. Obviously a ploy to get rid of you.