Am I being scammed and what to do?

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Sold a job lot of vintage through eBay to an Italian buyer on the 26th October. A couple of weeks later, the buyer contacted me to say the parcel had not arrived. I told him to wait until the 16th Nov to see if the parcel arrived or not.

On the 16th he messaged me to say the parcel had not arrived. I gave him a refund and said that I would use my proof of postage (not tracked) to claim a refund.

The next day he sent a very brief message to say the parcel had now arrived!! I emailed him back saying he had to refund my refund!

I then get a message saying that on inspection, some bits were missing (impossible) and he would not give me my money!

He has already left positive feedback.

What..do...I...do?????

 

[itfciain]

Have you got an email through eBay saying that the package arrived - if so then you might be able to open up a case with them/PayPal but I doubt it will do much good

Have you tried reasoning with the buyer - he isn't much of a scammer if he is messaging you saying they have arrived! Italy's postal service is notoriously bad so there is a chance that the package has been opened and something removed.

A lot of what you do next is likely to be motivated by how much this has cost you so far - but my gut feeling is that you won't get anything back unless the buyer decides to do the right thing

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Yeah I have got an email through eBay Iain.

Just seems very odd that the day after I give him a refund and send my usual suspicious message, the package suddenly arrives!

And when I ask for my money, I'm told the package was actually incomplete.

There are a number of ways to go on this I guess. We are not talking alot of money here. Its the principle really. And I'm annoyed. With him. And with myself.

 

[walkie]

The fact that he's left positive feedback should give you a chance to claim your money back.

I remember buying a loose figure, leaving positive feedback and then noticing it was fake doh!!

The seller spun me the "i'm out of work and I need to sell more items to get some money in my paypal account", then disappeared. I contacted both paypal and ebay and was told to sling my hook as I had left positive feedback so I must be happy with the item!

Try contacting paypal to see if they can will help you out?

 

[Dublinjeff]

I'm one not to believe in coincidences...I always feel when there's suddenly a 'story'...it hasn't arrived, oh it has, but bits are missing...., etc etc..... it just seems wrong

As to what to do next, contact PayPal, I have found them helpful to a point in cases. Hang on to the eBay messages, paypal refund transaction ID. I would also get onto eBay in relation the fact that he has left positive feedback but looked for a refund, you would like to think that counts for something?

I would message the seller telling them that you are contacting paypal and eBay with the details of the case, you will know fairly quickly from the reply if he is a scammer!

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Alls well that ends well. I basically contacted PayPal who told me I could reverse the refund as it was via eCheque. So thats what I did. Actually emailed the buyer to offer a partial refund for the missing bits (I dont believe a word of it but Im a nice guy and that the RIGHT thing to do). Not heard anything though. I think the matter is closed.

I am getting more and more sick of eBay. This must be the 5th 'lost' parcel in as many weeks. Theres a scam going on I swear. I read Google but anyone who raises this 'lost parcel' question is pretty much slammed. I am now sending everything recorded which is costing me money but what choice do I have.

Careful out there people!

 

[Dublinjeff]

Glad you got got sorted mate

 

[Section 8]

Ebay is not seller friendly, despite it being sellers who they make all their profits from. A refund was issued despite me having proof of postage, but because I couldn't prove it had actually arrived I lost the case.

This basically means if something arrives without being signed for, you can open a case with Ebay and be guaranteed to win it as the sender will not be able to prove it arrived without proof of delivery.

Perfect for any would be scammer.

Although mainly UK based, I hope Ebid takes off. 3% sale fee and free listings all the time.

 

[wrighty]

I agree that ebay is definitely not seller friendly. This has led me to only using Recorded mail as a minimum and for high value items only Special Delivery is an option. Unfortunately this pushes the price of postage up and hope the buyer can understand. I have been stung a few times with buyer claiming items did not arrive and I have to cough up a refund and with the lost of the item. Double lost!! :x

 

[benny100]

The thing is that for every dodgy lost item, there's a fair few genuine losts. when I was heavily into buying over a three month period I had 4 items go missing where the seller had proof of post. One was from Australia, the other 3 from within the uk. I've subsequently had items not arrive as a seller but try not to be to cynical about it, the postal service is so poor really.

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Whether items are genuinely lost or not, the fact remains that there is a massive window of opportunity for any scammer to claim that a parcel was lost and request a full refund.

The only way around this is to post everything recorded. And that is what I am having to do from this point onwards. I will loose less profit this way than from the multiple parcels that are going 'missing' right now.

 

[plantman]

ive lost lots of international sales as i only use fedex now, superior tracking and a digital signature, items arrive within a week to most destinations and it costs about £10 more than royal mail in the EU, its deffo worth it!

 

[weasel]

I only post with tracking and full insurance. Any Listings i do all specifically mention this. I have had a few sellers ask me to reduce the postage cost but unless they are someone i have dealt with a good few times before i refuse point blank.

As everyone has said above, Ebay is just ripe for scammers. If you don't send recorded and insured you are asking for trouble.


NB, obviously this is slightly less of an issue for me as most of my sales are items worth over £100 and thus the buyer is less likely to object to the extra expense of tracking and insurance. It's more problematic if you're selling a £20-30 Item.