Sold a toy collectible worth $650 - Buyer claims he got a $10 toy

demitrick · #1 07-18-2017

Hello,

I sold a toy collectible (funko pop) worth $650. The buyer claimed that he received a different toy that it's worth only about $10. eBay granted the return and I received back the "$10 toy". So I assume he kept the toy I sent him and he used a different one that he already had to get a full refund.

Can I possibly do anything at all?

yotano211 · #2 07-18-2017

File police report, send to ebay, and get your money back.

Or why are you posting on here for this, I would call ebay and see what they say. You dont like what they say, call again and speak to another agent.

incniu · #3 07-18-2017

What can eBay do? What if seller lies?

rsot · #4 07-18-2017

Listen to yotano211 on this - do you have good pics of the item OP?

Gammzy98 · #5 07-18-2017

Definitely call eBay on this. Explain the situation to them. Do you have the receipt for this collectible? It might be helpful to prove that the item you received back was not the one you original purchased and sold. If all else fails, file a police report and send it to eBay. Contact the buyer knowing that you have filed a police report, as well as a mail fraud report at the post office.

dallis · #6 07-18-2017

Try all of the above and suggestions made on similar threads in the past but start to get yourself used to the idea that you're going to lose your money and your product.

It's pretty rare to resolve these things successfully in your favor and EB and PP aren't going to lift a finger to help you.

demitrick · #7 07-18-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsot

Listen to yotano211 on this - do you have good pics of the item OP?

Yes, it's a toy that was from my personal collection. I bought it at a convention in 2011 so I don't have a receipt for it.

I mean what can happen if I sent a police report to eBay?

vettefever17 · #8 07-19-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by demitrick

Yes, it's a toy that was from my personal collection. I bought it at a convention in 2011 so I don't have a receipt for it.

I mean what can happen if I sent a police report to eBay?

A police report shows that you a serious. Since you can actually be charged for filing a misleading report.

I would make it very clear to the buyer what these types of crimes can bring. Although, they could very likely be using false information. If nothing else, follow the advice of the forum and show ebay and/or paypal this is a serious matter.

#9 07-19-2017

This happened to me once for a Limited edition Xbox the buyer swapped the insides ( Gut swap ) I filed reports etc but they did nothing but say the decision is final.

Luckily the funds were not in the PayPal for them to swipe so I dumped the account.

dallis · #10 07-19-2017

All of this might help if the scammer is small time.

But if the scammer is a graduate of the 'EB school of advanced theft', and it sounds like they are, they're going to laugh about it as they spend your money on lattes and pizza and drugs.

Also, to add insult to injury, watch the listings on EB for the next few months, they'll probably be reselling your toy, which they stole, at full price very soon.

And when you call to point this out to EB, they'll say there's nothing they can do about it.

It happens all the time.

slokor · #11 07-19-2017

Unfortunately theres not much anyone can do about it because the bottom line is its your word against his. There is no proof you can provide the item you originally sent him was the one you claimed it was.
That's how ebay works and no amount of police reports is going to change that. The police wont even take a report about it - they'll tell you to take it up with ebay or to sue the person in small claims court because its an issue between you and him.

demitrick · #12 07-19-2017

In the future, how can I avoid such scenario?

osk4rr · #13 07-19-2017

Hi!

I've sold my used Rolex Day-Date President watch for over $12,500. Buyer opened a case that he want to send item back. He didn't and changed case to counterfeit goods. Paypal give him 1 month to give a paper from authorized reseller who can check this watch. I can't send my own from seller in Germany. They closed case on his favour and give him full refund. Also I was with ~$1000 fee which I needed to pay. I can't deal with it, I lost my watch and money. I was calling they ~6-7 times but always they said I should wait and they don't accept my papers.
Really try to never sell items which are expensive.

newjerseymax · #14 07-19-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallis

All of this might help if the scammer is small time.

But if the scammer is a graduate of the 'EB school of advanced theft', and it sounds like they are, they're going to laugh about it as they spend your money on lattes and pizza and drugs.

Also, to add insult to injury, watch the listings on EB for the next few months, they'll probably be reselling your toy, which they stole, at full price very soon.

And when you call to point this out to EB, they'll say there's nothing they can do about it.

It happens all the time.

I would be happy if the seller did this because he would get his $10 toy back and flip the script.

dallis · #15 07-19-2017

Part of my reason for the suggestion, but I didn't want to out and out say it...

He should purchase it on an account other than the one he sold it on or alarm bells will go off and the scammer will never send it.

No, there's no real way to protect yourself from this. When EB & PP won't back you up, there's very little you can do.

jakobrockz · #16 07-19-2017

I would like to add that once you file a police report and a report for scamming online (forgot the official gov website), PayPal takes you very serious.

I got my money back from a $4000 purchase that someone sent me rocks lol

rsot · #17 07-19-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakobrockz

I would like to add that once you file a police report and a report for scamming online (forgot the official gov website), PayPal takes you very serious.

I got my money back from a $4000 purchase that someone sent me rocks lol

Some nice proof of positive outcome jakobrockz

Gladiator · #18 07-20-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by demitrick

Yes, it's a toy that was from my personal collection. I bought it at a convention in 2011 so I don't have a receipt for it.

I mean what can happen if I sent a police report to eBay?

I collect Pops and buy/trade them and I had someone pull something similar on an extra Bane pop I sold. I filed to the police and IC3 and I didn't lose the case. It's worth a shot in your situation to do the same.

GhostOfAmazon · #19 07-20-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallis

All of this might help if the scammer is small time.

But if the scammer is a graduate of the 'EB school of advanced theft', and it sounds like they are, they're going to laugh about it as they spend your money on lattes and pizza and drugs.

Also, to add insult to injury, watch the listings on EB for the next few months, they'll probably be reselling your toy, which they stole, at full price very soon.

And when you call to point this out to EB, they'll say there's nothing they can do about it.

It happens all the time.

You're throwing a LOT of negativity with VERY little evidence to back it up.

MANY respected posters have made suggestions they say will work. We've all read the same posts you have. What makes you think this buyer is some genius scammer? A 4 year old could claim he got a different "toy" than what he wanted. In fact, as someone with a 4 year old nephew, I can claim with certainty that this is not an uncommon occurrence!

Unless you have some info the rest of us aren't privy to, try to keep things realistic and stop with the doomsday stuff. There's no indication that this buyer is some kind of mastermind. Let's encourage the OP to fight back and try to win, not tell him that its too bad go cry. If he does that the scammer will DEFINITELY continue.

GhostOfAmazon · #20 07-20-2017

Anyways OP, it comes down to this:

What is your time worth? How much do you make an hour? $200? 325? If you make 325 dollars and hour and it takes you 2 hours to resolve, it's worth your time.

That's the way I look at it.

Also, some things are priceless. Like teaching little trolls a lesson.

rosepleasure · #21 07-20-2017

I got scammed one time but from a newbie scammer (I guess). I only sent him a message that I will file police report and IC3(Internet Crime Complaint Center) against a fraudulent. I click the request contact info on eBay so, eBay sent me his contact info (also sent my info to him). I guessed that he scared that I will do as I said so, he re-paid me although eBay decided in his favor. Thought, I was lucky. Since then, I never sell any item's price higher than $50.

I found following from eBay community, I think you should try.

"OP, in your case, file a mail fraud complaint against the buyer, get the report number. File a police report for internet theft against your buyer and ebay with your local police - they will not investigate, but will give you a report number for claims and cases. Get the report number. File a complaint against the buyer with ic3.gov and get the report number. Report ebay to the BBB in San Jose, since they sit on the board of the BBB, they'll find out about it. And if you feel like it, file a report against ebay with the Atty General of the state of California.

Then got to the report a buyer link in the more actions dropdown menu and report the buyer to ebay for abuse of returns and include the mail fraud and police report numbers. Then in a separate report do it again for abuse of buyer protection, put in the report numbers.

Then find the appeal button in the case and imput the mail fraud and police report numbers in there and tell them what you got back. Forget the pics as proof, you have seen that ebay doesn't care about proof, but they do care that you are getting the police involved. Send the appeal back to ebay.

Then call ebay and ask for the resolution department and ask for a specialist and let them go over the new and incriminating evidence you have submitted to ebay and tell them that you want the decision reversed, your money refunded back to you AND the case to be found in your favor."

Good luck!

dallis · #22 07-20-2017

I've never gotten my money back in a situation like this. NEVER. NOT ONCE. And I've gone FAR beyond any of the suggestions here.

OP can certainly try, but should also be prepared if things don't work out.

Understanding and managing risk is a critical part of successful business.

I'm certainly thrilled to hear that some people had success. I know from various trade publications that is the tip of an iceberg of loss.

Don't sell anything on EB if you aren't prepared to possibly lose your product and your money both.

That's not negativity, it's a reality check.

Let's see in a week or two if the OP got the money back and let the results speak for themselves.