I have a feeling we fell for a scam - buyer claiming counterfeit on a genuine very expensive item

[bright_tomato]

I have listed my husband's very expensive phone (it's over $5000 brand new) and finally sold it at best offer for only $1300, much less than what we were hoping to get. But we really needed the money. I took all precautions - took very detailed photos, sent the buyer the IMEI number  and tracking number, insured the phone for $1300 when posted. She received the phone and literally the next day I receive a message that she believes the phone to be a copy or a fake. I am in a state of shock, I am not a retailer, I only sell my own second-hand goods and this phone was a gift from a close friend of my husband's. There is absolutely no chance that it is fake or a copy. She didn't even investigate,  i suggested that she takes the phone to a TAG store to check and she completely ignored that. I have a feeling this is a scam artist who is now requesting a return for refund and will send us back a fake phone to scam us.

My questions is, does anyone has any experience with what kind of process ebay/pay pal follows when a buyer claims the item to be fake? I listed the item with "no returns accepted" condition so I am also wondering - am I able to reject her return request?

[duck---dodgers]

Didn't read all the thread. A sticker on the actual phone also has the imei.

[bright_tomato]

my husband also said that this particular phone can be charged with any usb generic charger (or something like that) but I am reluctant to email about that. the charger WAS definitely included in the parcel so I know for a fact that they are lying. it is so difficult because I am basically forced to play this stupid cat and mouse game with a thief and i am just not very good at it.

[kopenhagen5]

That's right, I thought it strange the buyer wouldn't send a photo of the IMEI under the battery.  ????

[kopenhagen5]

BT, you are winning admiration and have more support from ebayers all around Australia than you realize.

Just take it one step at a time and you will probably have a good story to tell in time to come. 

[bright_tomato]

you are probably right, it will turn into a good story... one day.

I just emailed the buyer and asked to remove the battery and take a photo of the IMEI number from the phone they claimed they have received. I thought it was worth a try.

[duck---dodgers]

If they claim that the phone also had no battery the sticker would be easier to find.

[cherry*135]

---

@lizzy6107 wrote:

There are some members on these boards that have no empathy, and sadly, they are regular posters. I learnt the hard way...

keep an eye on posts and when you know who they are, it's pretty obvious, you will learn to ignore them.

Like I said, most of us are just very thankful it's not us, and it easily could have been.

Not only is it a huge financial loss, it's a damn stress and time waster.

For what it's worth, this has been stressing me out ever since your first post and I am hoping and praying it goes your way.

---

Sorry, but I don't agree with that.

The heated replies to the buyer via ebay messages isn't going to go in the sellers favour either.

[thecatspjs]

---

@am*3 wrote:

Not really. In the event of a paypal dispute, especially for a high end designer item.. having the orginal receipt from an authorised seller, proves the seller had an authentic phone to sell. OK, seller could put a fake one in the parcel (do many Aust sellers do  that?) .. a seller who legally owns a designer phone worth $5000, would they have a few fakes lying around as well?

---

What an absolute crock am.

Receipts are MORE easily faked than goods are.

Sheesh get with the program, if you are going to post naysaying commentary "advice" at least try to post something that is correct.

[thecatspjs]

---

@am*3 wrote:

---

@lizzy6107 wrote:

There are some members on these boards that have no empathy, and sadly, they are regular posters. I learnt the hard way...

keep an eye on posts and when you know who they are, it's pretty obvious, you will learn to ignore them.

Like I said, most of us are just very thankful it's not us, and it easily could have been.

Not only is it a huge financial loss, it's a damn stress and time waster.

For what it's worth, this has been stressing me out ever since your first post and I am hoping and praying it goes your way.

---

Sorry, but I don't agree with that.

The heated replies to the buyer via ebay messages isn't going to go in the sellers favour either.

---

Whilst not the best, I imagine future police reports will likely negate that.

[2011.narelle]

My sympathies & probably from others too.ebay is a harsh ugly place to sell so best you read the U.S thread about the seller that sold an aircon unit & was sent back a box of scrap for a full ebay refund.Seller a month or so later  finally got a refund with irrefutable evidence(refund from ebay,not from the scammer.)

Other sellers are not so harsh but just read this kind of stuff every day & know there is very little that can be done under unfair/insane policy.

ebay makes everyone angry.

Most hated company in Australia?

Vote eBay off the island?

I've had a survivor season 27-29 marathon going & ebay has outlasted & outplayed itself.

Good luck to you.