Buyer claiming S.N.A.D - complex case

[seaworthee1]

To cut a long story short:

1) Sent a camera with accessories to a buyer.

2) Buyer claims that accessories were sent in box, but not the camera body. Claims that the box was not tampered with. 

3) Buyer opens a dispute in Paypal almost immediately after receiving said item, escalates it to a claim after I said I packed everything in the box. Did not give me a chance to seriously investigate the matter or come up with some sort of amicable solution.

4) I have provided documentary evidence of tracking, postage etc, photos - but obviously this proof is useless in a SNAD case.

5) I've also rang Australia Post and they confirmed it was delivered, and that it wasn't opened for routine inspection or anything like that. There is now an investigation underway as to the whereabouts of this item. 

I suspect Australia Post will rule against my claim because as far as they are concerned, the item was delivered (albeit apparently missing the auction item). I'm also fairly likely to lose in the dispute with PayPal, as buyers are wholly protected in cases of items significantly not as described provided they return the item.

Is there any recourse of action for myself? The buyer is in the process of filing a police report and signing a stat dec, all because I sent an item I knew to be 100% accurate and true to the listing. I have been now advised to file a police report and stat dec myself, but this **bleep**-for-tat business doesn't seem like it will produce a result in the end. It will be a case of his stat dec versus my stat dec, and so on. 

It might also be unwise of me to file a police report if I am not sure the buyer has kept the item and is claiming that he did not receive it in full. Australia Post are investigating things on their end but it would appear to take a lot more time than it takes to resolve an average PayPal dispute.

Any advice here would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou.

[cq_tech]

Have another look at the buyer's feedback. There are in fact 22 prior cases recorded, almost all of which I'll wager are fraudulent. Bit of a difference from the 3 I've had during the same period of time, and from a similar number of purchases.

What I don't understand is why Paypal are still allowing him to claim, as I know of cases where people have been permanently excluded from buyer protection because they've had only 4 or 5 INRs in a relatively short period of time.

[seaworthee1]

So today the buyer has posted pictures on his FB page of him using the same model camera that he claims he did not receive from me.

Obviously he could have gone out and bought another camera, so the evidence is pretty circumstantial to say the least.

Any ideas?

[character_parties_aus]

have you got any pictures of the camera? are there are distinguishing marks? Is there a serial number?

I've got lots of ideas but some of them probably shouldn't be posted on here!

[seaworthee1]

I do have photos and the serial number which I managed to get from the place that sold the camera to me. No distinguishing marks unfortunately, I almost wish it wasn't so flawless now.

I'm thinking I should amend my police report at the very least.

[character_parties_aus]

I'd be pushing the police and speaking with paypal about it. It's pretty strong circumstantial evidence. If the buyer has nothing to do hide he'll freely offer the camera to the police to check the serial number won't he?

[character_parties_aus]

It'll almost likley also have you finger prints all over it.

[i-love-my-sheep]

Hmmmm......the plot thickens. I would be giving the police the serial number ASAP. As already mentioned, if he's got nothing to hide, he'll definitely have no issue showing the police that camera. 

Were there any incriminating comments on his facebook page? I would take a copy of him with the camera in case he deletes it. Copy any comments associated with it too.

[seaworthee1]

Yep, will be going back down to the cop-shop tomorrow with the new information.

No comments on the photos as yet, but I may not be able to see them.

Have screenshotted and saved the pictures to my hard drive just in case.