posted on May 15, 2012 09:36:42 AM new
I resently had a good arguement with ebay, and lost with the only bad feedback in a year. Here is what happened.
Guy orders a model kit factory sealed. In my ad, I explain clearly that the item will ship in it's own box, as it is 83 1/4" and the maximum for parcel post normal size is 84".
The customer gets the item after being shipped across the country. He "claims" it is missing a main large part. I told him I would get in touch with the MFG and get another, meanwhile, I will send him another. Before I can do anything, he opens a complaint with ebay. Since he did this, I refunded all his money and shipping, and told him he could keep the rest of the kit.
He writes back that he STILL expects the correct part too!!!.
THEN he bids on another exact kit on a best offer at half the price. He writes in it I can ship two hulls, a second one for the kit I refunded.
I reject his bid, and block him. He THEN gives me bad feedback on the first kit!!
I told ebay that if he bid on a second exact items after being refunded on the first one, that how can be be "unhappy" with the first one????
Next, I found out he emailed me direct after getting my email address, to keep all of the emails out of ebay's internal records.
I checked his feedback, and find he gives bad feedback about every 10 buys. this guy is a scammer, and ebay KNOW IT, but does NOTHING about it.
anyone have similiar problems with ebay turning a blind eye on fraud?
posted on May 15, 2012 09:58:34 AM new
This is not really fraud,you refunded his payment and then offered more .
He left you bad feedback on the first transaction,he can do that despite what olive branch you offered him.
I thought Ebay rule said you cant leave bad feedback if you have been refunded ?
[ edited by lostmymojo on May 15, 2012 10:00 AM ]
posted on May 15, 2012 05:10:40 PM new
I told ebay that if he bid on a second exact items after being refunded on the first one, that how can be be "unhappy" with the first one????
/////////////
A buyer could love you and love the product,he can still leave negative feedback,NOTHING EBay can do.
They are allowed to express themselves in their feedback,you can comment on their feedback or beg him to remove it.
posted on May 15, 2012 08:07:04 PM new
Most retailers favor the customer even if they know they are lying cheating scumbags.Its what our contract & sales laws have progressed too. the best a seller can hope for is the returns are something less than 5%. I would never willingly refund money unless I got the item back be it a bead or a bus.
posted on May 16, 2012 10:25:32 AM new
I agree. I will not issue ANY refunds without the buyer returning the item.
Keep the email(s) he sent outside of eBay and call them back. You can easily go through his history and contact other sellers to see if they had similar experiences with him. You don't have to be specific, just tell them that you have a buyer in common that you are experiencing issues with and want to see if that had any irregular experiences with them.
Don't just contact those who received negative feedback either. Sometimes he will simply con a seller who immediately issues a refund to avoid a hassle. Those he may reward with good feedback for not giving him a hard time.
Once you determine if this is a repeat offender that scams sellers, I would contact the police department in his area and file a complaint. Often, police reports can be done online. That way there is a record of fraud. They may or may not respond, but if others are complaining about it, it will raise some eyebrows.
After you file the police report, make sure to get a copy of it and then call back eBay and let them know you have filed a police report for fraud. You can also file a complaint at IC3.gov which is the FBI's internet fraud complaint site. I wouldn't hesitate to let him know about it too. Its not like he can do any more harm that he already has... but only do so if you are absolutely sure he is conning other sellers so you have back up in his actions other than yourself.
I had this happen several years ago. I had bought about 10 cameras from a store that were on clearance. I listed them using stock photos (these were new in the box). I had a buyer email me that he had problems with the camera. I told him to return it and I would send a replacement. He instantly filed an INAD and demanded a refund. What I received was NOT the same camera. It was the same model, but looked like it was dragged behind a car down a dirt road. The serial number plate was removed and switched. It was quite obvious because the plate was plastic and he overscrewed it on, cracking the plate. He didn't include most of the accessories or the original box.
eBay refunded his payment and because I followed up they sent me a refund. The guy sold car parts on eBay. He remained an eBay user. I have no idea if law enforcement followed through.
Also, if you find other sellers have experienced the same problem with this guy, I would encourage them to contact eBay about it too. eBay will respond to repeat offenders.
posted on May 17, 2012 07:28:32 AM new
The problem with asking the buyer to return the item is the return shipping cost.
If the seller is at fault like in this case,one piece is missing,so the seller should pay for return shipping!
In some cases,it is not worth getting the item back,so may as well refund in full and let him keep the item.
It sounds like there is a pretty good markup on this kit,seller is willing to send a replacement for the first item,and then the buyer is able to win an identical item for half the price later!
posted on May 17, 2012 08:09:49 AM new
Reading these posts for many years has taught me stuff. Once you ask a buyer to send the item back if they want a refund, I'm guessing 50% or the honest and 100% of the cheaters change there minds.
posted on May 17, 2012 09:58:59 AM new
Well,many of these buyers are resellers,if they figure they overpaid or they cant sell the stuff,they will want to return the item and gobuy something else.
I have a case now,a buyer bought two items,whined and whined the color is not as intense and the size is smaller,the bottom line is she thinks it aint worth what she pays for,and she cant resell at a profit.
So she is now returning them at her own expense !
posted on May 18, 2012 09:14:50 AM new
buyers on ebay are looking for deals and shouldn't be expecting white glove service where the seller caters to every single need. if they want that type of service, they need to either buy it locally or find someone willing to do that.
A perfect example is REI. I was shopping for a weather/emergency radio last week. I went on Amazon and eBay. The same radio on eBay and Amazon was as cheap as $85. At REI it was $95.
Neither Amazon or eBay will provide the customer service and return policy that REI does. 15-30 day return (at my cost) on ebay & amazon... plus the headache of dealing with it. For $10 more, I can return a defective item to REI FOREVER. If I have an REI membership, I will never need a receipt.
So, is the $10 worth extra worth the service? For me on this particular item, yes.
If I need a new toner cartridge, I often buy it at Amazon. I would rather save $30 on the cartridge that every other store would only warranty for 14 days anyways.
People who turn to ebay and amazon need to recognize they are paying less and should expect less. If something goes wrong they may end up paying more. It is risk that most people simply ignore and only realize once a problem arises.
posted on May 18, 2012 11:21:54 AM new
Unfortunately they dont think that way,they expect Ebay sellers to perform like the Walmart ,Target,Bestbuy of the world.
One of the reasons they are shopping on Ebay is that they can't afford full retail price.
Once I have a youthful grandma who bought a brand new with tag duster from me,linen and designer brand.
When she found out this duster has a slip in the middle and she is planning to wear it to see her family ,she would have problem walking down the plane with a slip in the middle ?
How much did she pay for this designer brand new line duster? $9.99
[ edited by lostmymojo on May 18, 2012 11:23 AM ]
posted on May 20, 2012 08:13:25 AM new
Only the poor shop online. Gee I didn't know that I was poor. Cheap, thrifty, bargain hunter, tightwad for sure. Poor I don't think so!
posted on May 20, 2012 08:42:36 AM new
I did not say 'only the poor shop online',but there are some buyers who cant afford to shop in stores for whatever they are looking for,could be a brand new camera,designer jeans,diamond ring or whatever.
I recall someone making comments after the 9/11 stock market decline,her mother and her friends were shopping for detergent and toothpast and cosmetics online to save a few pennies.
I am sure you are well heeled to shop whatever wherever you want,more power to you!
[ edited by lostmymojo on May 20, 2012 08:44 AM ]
