What Are the Chances?

[*tippy*toes*]

Sold an item on June 24th. I had no watchers on other items and when the buyer hadn't paid after 2 days I sent an invoice. Buyer has low feedback so I thought maybe they were waiting for one. By the 28th, I'd heard nothing and there was no payment, so I opened an UPI. On day 3 of the UPI I sent a message asking if she planned on paying for the item and that if she's changed her mind, that's OK, but she needs to let me know. If she hadn't paid by the time the UPI was closed, she would get a black mark on her account and her buying privileges could be restricted. I heard nothing back.

5 minutes before I closed the dispute, she paid. It was a Saturday, so I posted first thing Monday, which was July 4th. As I always do, I uploaded the tracking number into the order details. Tracking showed delivered on July 8. The My Post app also indicated it had been delivered and by that stage, I had no outstanding undelivered tracking numbers. I had already ended all my listings on all 3 accounts a few days before due to having to go away for a sick family member, so was pleased that everything was showing as delivered.

You can imagine my surprise when I received notification of an INR dispute opened against me. I double checked the tracking number, yes, it shows delivered at her local PO. My first ever INR. In fact, my first ever dispute! I responded to the dispute by uploading the tracking number. In the comment box I cut and pasted the tracking details off the AP website, showing the item as being delivered on the 8th and I also added a message to the buyer explaining that tracking is showing as delivered, blah blah blah, polite, polite, polite and said I look forward to hearing back from them. Nothing. Just like when she bought the item. Nothing.

I sent eBay a message this morning asking how I can close the dispute as the buyer is not responding. They replied within a few minutes and said yes, the tracking is definitely showing as delivered and arrived before my handling time was even expired, let alone the delivery estimate. They said I have done everything correctly and will be covered by seller protection. I pointed out that PayPal has blocked my account, even though I had more than enough to cover the disputed amount, so I can't pay for purchases I've made and I can see that eBay has tried to take their fees and failed.

They said I could escalate the dispute tomorrow. As in, ask ebay to step in and help. I said that when that happens, eBay will instantly close the dispute in favour of the buyer and refund them for an item they have received. I went into the whole spiel about it. I asked how they would recoup the money from the buyer after refund, because I would be very angry if she got to keep the money and eBay refunded me out of their pocket. They basically promised it would close in my favour.

So, after a very long winded message, what are the chances of me asking eBay to step in and help and the dispute being found in my favour? I actually wonder if she's opened the dispute on the wrong seller because I can see by her feedback she has bought quite a bit from China. I know she has got the item. She has a PO box and the tracking says it was delivered to her local post office. I do believe she's trying one on because that account only has 5 feedback. Maybe she thinks a dispute will scare a new seller to refund.

Has anyone escalated an INR dispute when tracking has showed as being delivered and had the dispute closed in their favour? I just have a bad feeling if I escalate, this woman will get away with it and encourage her to try it on with other sellers.

[*tippy*toes*]

I agree about the stepping in thing. From what I've seen here, it always ends badly, regardless of what spin eBay like to put on it. That's why i was reluctant and why I asked the question (albeit in a very long winded way!). I mostly wanted to know if anyone did have the dispute go in their favour in this situation.

The PayPal thing has got me stumped and yes you're right, I do need to ring them. I've never had a dispute of any kind opened against me, either through MBG or PayPal so wasn't 100% sure what happens there (only what I've read here). I always thought it was just the disputed amount that was frozen. I just hope I don't get penalised from eBay because they tried to auto take me fees and couldn't. In the past if there has been no funds in there the fees have come from the attached bank account.

Using the bank account for payment through PayPal has always gone straight through, yet on Sunday it said it would spawn an echeque. I've never had an echeque from using that payment method (although I know others do). Most of the time these days I leave money in PayPal for purchases, but sometimes it does get low so it takes whatever is left in PayPal and the rest from the bank account. Very strange!

[bakeandfry]

I wish you the best of luck Tippy.
I will be reading this thread with great interest.
I have a strange feeling that your going to see ebays mbg at its finest.
(By that i dont mean any penalty to you, but as ebay giving the buyer there money back no matter what seller (you) says)

[*tippy*toes*]

I think I'm just going to let it go. Despite what the CS person told me and despite what their policies state, we all know that the instant either party asks eBay to step in, it automatically closes in the buyers favour, regardless. I'm pretty sure they time out after a month so I'll just ride it out. Given the buyers habit of ignoring things, I'd be surprised if she'll be back. One of the CS reps said they sent her a message telling her how to close the dispute, due to the tracking showing as delivered, but she's ignored that too.

I still think it's either a malicious tactic because I opened an UPI on her, OR, she's opened the dispute on the wrong seller and thinks if she ignores it, it will go away.

[*tippy*toes*]

I left it too long to edit my above message. My PayPal seems to be working again, so there must have been a temporary glitch happening. The disputed amount is still being held, but it's now letting me pay for purchases.

[esayaf]

I never leave money in PayPal. I don't trust any entity that can just chose to withhold your money

[*tippy*toes*]

Finally 7 days after she opened the dispute, the buyer has responded to my many messages. Accused me of being unprofessional because I asked if she was trying to scam me! I'd said if she wants to scam sellers to check the tracking first because if the tracking shows as delivered, she will lose any disputes. I had also asked if she had accidentally opened a dispute against the wrong seller. That didn't go down well either.

She did as I asked and went to her post office who confirmed the item was there and had been collected, but they don't know by whom. She's now accusing me of sending the wrong item. How would she know? I replied to her message saying she needs to take it up with the post office as it's hardly my fault if they gave it to the wrong person. I fulfilled my obligation as a seller. I told her that eBay said if she escalates the case eBay will close it in my favour because the tracking shows as delivered. I also told her that eBay will remove any bad feedback she may feel compelled to leave (they didn't but I felt that might be the step she takes if they close it in my favour).

Hopefully given that she has mentioned it was at her post office, eBay will find in my favour if she escalates (not holding my breath though). If they want to refund her that's their call, but she ain't getting a cent out of me. Not my fault her post office can't do their job properly.

Her excuse for taking so long to reply was because she works full time. Funny how her feedback is increasing each day when she's bought as paid for stuff (a lot of Chinese leave it upon payment and some of them I know for a fact do because I have bought from the same sellers in the past). I'm currently driving over 1,000km a week and still found the time to reply to her dispute, so I can't accept she didn't have 10 minutes in the evening to follow it up. I told her if she chooses to open a dispute, it's her obligation to stay on top of it. Not leave sellers in the lurch for a week between messages.

Apparently the option to escalate will appear for her tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what happens when she hits the button (which I can guarantee she will). She opened the dispute at 2.17pm, so I'm guessing any time after that it will appear. Watch this space! I have the help page open ready to hit the button to call eBay (or have them call me back), that's how much confidence I have in it closing in my favour.

[davidc4430]

i believe apple have the next smart phone in planning that will have the new version of emoticons, 3D emoticons

there will be one thats a kiss, two lips will come out of the screen and 'kiss' you.

the ones i think most will want will be the 'raspberry' where the 2 lips blow a 'raspberry' at the recipient.

then the 'punch in the face, emoticon where a red boxing glove comes out ot the screen and well you get the idea.

would be handy with this buyer.

what other 3D emoticons can we think of?

[imastawka]

what other 3D emoticons can we think of?

Er,   ummm,    this forum is moderated, so I'm not biting.

Good luck Tippy.  In a fair world she'd get her just desserts.

But this is ebay.   And I know you'll give 'em  bluddy hell  a hard time

    

[kopenhagen5]

There are now Simoji's. Simone Biles emoji's.

Thanks clarry, skipped my mind it was to a PO Box.

[springyzone]

I only trust coincidence so far.

I think this could well be quite a vindictive buyer, she hasn't made a mistake about what item it is or who she bought it from.

She may only have a low number rating but she may not be a newbie, because I suspect she knows the system.

How else to explain how she paid in the just last 5 minutes before her time ran out?

I'm betting she was rigid with fury then at having an UPI dispute opened so made you wait.

But not to the extent of not paying. Maybe she doesn't want her account shut down or her buying limited.

You said though you sold the item to her under a low feedback account, so she thinks you are a newbie.

BUT you answered her with:

 I told her that eBay said if she escalates the case eBay will close it in my favour because the tracking shows as delivered. I also told her that eBay will remove any bad feedback she may feel compelled to leave (they didn't but I felt that might be the step she takes if they close it in my favour).

So she is learning you aren't so easy to hoodwink.

She may back out of taking it any further but then again, she has nothing to lose by escalating and she is the vindictive type.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.