Been scammed with empty box claim

[gavrook]

Sold an expensive item (over $500) on eBay and buyer lodged an "item not received" claim 2 days later saying they received an empty box, they immediately escalated it to eBay to rule on, not giving me a chance to investigate or provide any proof. I spoke to someone on the phone at eBay who basically told me as they lodged it as an "item not received" and not "not as described" and tracking  showed received the claim would be closed in my favor.

This happened but then a couple of days later I got an email saying the buyer appealed and eBay has now ruled in their favor and have taken the money out of my account. I contact eBay again and the guy on the phone agreed with me that this was an obvious scam. The buyer has a brand new account and 0 feedback, i have been a member for 24 years and have well over 1000 transactions and 100% positive feedback.

He said he would escalate it and put his name all over it with his opinion that this was a scam but the offline team have emailed me saying they won't be changing their mind that the buyer has provided enough proof that he received an empty box and i need to pay up. They refuse to tell me what proof he has provided (a picture of an empty box?) They didn't even give me a chance to investigate with Australia Post or provide my own proof, they are no longer responding to my emails. The buyer also redirected it from the home address on the order to a Parcel Locker which could be sus.

I will be closing my eBay account if it's this easy to be scammed, this whole ordeal has been ridiculous.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

how did you pay for postage?

If you paid at the PO, the receipt should show the weight of the box when posted.

The postage sticker should also show the weight.  It is always a good idea to photograph a box once postage sticker has been applied (shows how it is taped up, the postage sticker etc).

On a $500 item, many sellers would take out additional insurance.

If the box was left at an unattended property (safe dropped), ask Australia Post for the photo of the item when left.  This may show if the box has been tampered with in transit.

[twyngwyn]

It was redirected to a parcel locker. Does anyone know if there are any checks/balances there?

[*casey*]

"The buyer also redirected it from the home address on the order to a Parcel Locker"

"I will be closing my eBay account if it's this easy to be scammed"

So to clarify, you posted it to the home address provided through ebay  and the buyer had it redirected to a parcel locker  while it was in transit.

This sounds very much like like a planned scam and yes, it is that easy to be scammed  on this site.

[*casey*]

" I spoke to someone on the phone at eBay who basically told me as they lodged it as an "item not received" and not "not as described" and tracking  showed received the claim would be closed in my favor"

The eBay Money Back Guarantee shows:

"Not covered   -  The buyer used third-party freight forwarding or mail redirection"

So surely the same rule should apply here in gavrook's case

[gavrook]

I paid through eBay, it shows the weight as 370g. Australia post are refusing to investigate without the buyer returning the packaging to a post office for inspection which I find weird. They are claiming as far as they are concerned it was delivered successfully without any damage. I took out insurance but Auspost are also claiming it doesn't apply because it was delivered successfully as far as they are concerned.

Here is their entire email "According to our tracking records, the parcel was collected from Everton Plaza Parcel Locker on Monday, 03/11/25, and no damage was recorded at that time. If the parcel appears empty or damaged, please advise the receiver to take the parcel to their nearest Australia Post Shop for a damage assessment.

To allow us to investigate, please bring the contents and all packaging to any corporate Australia Post Shop (please note that LPO locations cannot process this enquiry). You can find your nearest Post Shop by visiting:


Our staff will assist you in completing an online damage assessment form. Both the packaging and contents will need to remain at the Post Shop during the investigation. Once we receive all required information, we’ll contact you within 10 business days with the outcome."

[gavrook]

Yes I find this ridiculous I need to send it to the address on the order to be covered by "seller protection" (what seller protection?) but he can just redirect it mid transit and still be covered is crazy

[twyngwyn]

Mail Redirection (as Casey said) is your friend.

Contact eBay and throw their own policy at them.

[davewil1964]

As Casey and Twyngyn have noted, mail redirection explicitly negates the eBay MBG.

Maybe appeal the case using their relevant policies as the basis.

[harvant]

Don't RANT.

Thearten,to close your account.

Your membership is your allie.