eBay buyer wants to return item before he's received it :(

Clearcut · 27 Oct 2015 at 16:53

muon said:
No you don't. It happens very occasionally.

How would you know that, do you work for Ebay in the 'report running' department?

toon_mad · 27 Oct 2015 at 16:57

boxman2000 said:
I don't use ebay anymore due to scammers but I used to film the packing up and boxing/sealing of the goods for shipping as I had one guy accuse me of not packing an item correctly and a part had fallen out (I told him I had video proof of packaging and soon changed his tune). Bit OTT but works.

I haven't sold on Ebay for a couple of years now simply because it's not worth the risk, and as OTT as you think your method is I actually considered doing it myself though usually just took several pictures of everything. Thankfully I was never really targeted by scammers but these days its far more better to not sell on Ebay especially since Ebay/Paypal typically side with the buyers in most cases, I don't think sellers have enough protection.

muon · 27 Oct 2015 at 17:08

Clearcut said:
How would you know that, do you work for Ebay in the 'report running' department?

In ~200 sales in almost 10 years it has never happened to me. I get through a lot of tech and so my average sale price is £70+.

I have had to deal with about half a dozen non-paying bidders, but that is hardly scamming.

Unless there is an equivalent very unlucky seller out there who attracts all these scammers that is a reasonable sample size.

If you want more data, just ask on this thread as I suspect there are plenty of people that have sold on ebay who are members here. Ask them per 100 sales how many times someone has tried to scam them.

silversurfer · 27 Oct 2015 at 18:25

I'll owe eBay fees

If theres no sale, there is no fees. You just need the correct form, submitted and confirmed by the buyer and it'll reverse the sale. Pretty sure the refund from paypal also works similarly

pumaz · 27 Oct 2015 at 19:20

Update.

Checked tracking and it's waiting for customer collection at the Post Office, I received a friendly email from the buyer explaining he wasn't home all day and had 3 cards waiting for him and he will go to the post office tomorrow and tell them to return to sender.

He does come across as friendly and genuine but I do have a little niggle which is, he said his partner would be home and wanted a description of the parcel so she new which one to refuse.

I've also asked him if he could pay the £11 postage in to my bank because I included the postage within the £265 so I'll refund him the full £265 - good or bad idea?

spoffle · 27 Oct 2015 at 19:25

pumaz said:
Update.

Checked tracking and it's waiting for customer collection at the Post Office, I received a friendly email from the buyer explaining he wasn't home all day and had 3 cards waiting for him and he will go to the post office tomorrow and tell them to return to sender.

He does come across as friendly and genuine but I do have a little niggle which is, he said his partner would be home and wanted a description of the parcel so she new which one to refuse.

I've also asked him if he could pay the £11 postage in to my bank because I included the postage within the £265 so I'll refund him the full £265 - good or bad idea?

You are way too paranoid. You are seeing deception in the most mundane of things.

As for the refund, if he's being reasonable he'll have no issue in sending you the £11 he's already agreed to. The medium it's sent shouldn't really matter as long as it's not one he can reverse at some point.

muon · 27 Oct 2015 at 19:39

Why ask him to send it to your bank? Just accept a paypal payment.

These little things are so unnecessary.

pumaz · 27 Oct 2015 at 20:17

Yeah I'm a little paranoid, can't help it!

I just thought sending it via BT would avoid fees and confusion with money that's already going in and out lol

Abraham · 27 Oct 2015 at 20:18

To be honest you sound as likely if not more likely to be a scammer than he does.
You listened to too many people from here and sent a message that was all over the place as a result.
It sounds like it's going to work out, I think it's probably more likely that he's found a cheaper one, but what difference does it make to you? You're either going to help him out as you have or you're not.

anything I don't mind · 27 Oct 2015 at 21:00

If money in your account then he has to try and ask paypal for compensation. I think i might just ignore it and see if paypal contact you asking for the money due to a return.

dirtychinchilla · 27 Oct 2015 at 21:09

String said:
You do realise that you've used your own personal experience to come to the conclusion that eBay is fine, yet you insult others who draw on their own experience too, and come to a different conclusion?

What makes you so right?

Yes, expect I've been using eBay for maybe 8 years...got over 400 positive feedback, and have maybe only once given a negative or neutral review.

My father has over 3000 reviews on his eBay and I believe only 2 have turned sour. That's good odds.

EDIT: I also think it wouldn't be a bad idea to put the pictures of the serial number on eBay because then not only do you have proof, it's on eBay for the world to see, and probably will put off many scammers....unless they photoshop a new serial number or something. I guess it depends on how it's written on there, sticker or CNC or something.

gothic_hobbit · 27 Oct 2015 at 23:11

toon_mad said:
Always take extra photographs for your own personal record and note serial numbers down including any visible signs of damage (scratches, dents, markings etc) that way you can prove if any returned item was in fact the one you originally sent.

Reminds me of CSI

<F0rb> · 28 Oct 2015 at 00:22

hyperseven · 28 Oct 2015 at 01:04

toon_mad said:
Always take extra photographs for your own personal record and note serial numbers down including any visible signs of damage (scratches, dents, markings etc) that way you can prove if any returned item was in fact the one you originally sent.

Utter tosh, how can you prove that was the item sent?

A.you cannot

MatsyLR · 28 Oct 2015 at 02:28

hyperseven said:
Utter tosh, how can you prove that was the item sent?

A.you cannot

Easy, put a mark on the back of the item with a UV pen (a small mark).
If someone returns an item to you, check for the mark. Simple.
Or take pictures of something on it (a particular scratch or dent)

scorchisio · 28 Oct 2015 at 02:39

Ebay and paypal are a dishonest scammers paradise. As a seller your always at risk. I would never sell anything expensive it's too risky. Good luck mate.

scorchisio · 28 Oct 2015 at 02:47

Decent scammers are always polite and friendly it buys them the time to do what they do. If this ends well I'll be amazed. Best of luck

MikeB · 28 Oct 2015 at 06:10

same here best of british

Marmot · 28 Oct 2015 at 07:43

MatsyLR said:
Easy, put a mark on the back of the item with a UV pen (a small mark).
If someone returns an item to you, check for the mark. Simple.
Or take pictures of something on it (a particular scratch or dent)

Nice idea! Now you have an item back without a UV mark on it. What's the next step genius?

eBay won't care if you have a picture of a serial number, or a video of you wrapping a tablet, or a photograph of a item without a UV mark. None of that means anything at all. You'd have to literally film the entire process including you walking to the post office and posting the item, with absolutely no breaks in the footage, and even then eBay probably wouldn't even bother reviewing the evidence.

Does anyone have an example where any such precautions have changed the outcome of correspondence with eBay? You might be lucky and convince the scammer that it's more hassle than it's worth, but as far as eBay are concerned you've got nothing.

Clearcut · 28 Oct 2015 at 08:00

Exactly, you can take 100 photos of an item, then send a completely different one. It's hardly evidence.