Buyer returns false package without ebay assistance?

[gamerguy]

Sold a laptop to a buyer with 0 feedback
Buyer receives laptop, and a few hours later laptop shuts off on him.
I email him and tell him to contact me through my gmail account and he does, so every email from this point was through gmail

He says it's the battery and that the battery won't hold a charge. I told him i would send him a new one. He says, he doesn't know how to install and that he would ship it back to me. He ships it back without ebay assistance, so he doesn't open up a dispute or anything. He provides me a tracking number

I use the ups store for my address. They scan every package that comes in and sends me a auto email notifying me of package received. I never get an email for the package even though USPS shows it was delivered. The package is gone missing. I ask the buyer to provide me the shipping address, and he provides me the right one

I go back to the Ups store, and they tell me they never got it. I go to USPS local office to speak to a manager. Manager prints me out a shipping report. The shipping report shows no destination/origin address. All it shows is the zip code which is correct. The shipping report also is suppose to show an image of the package as it gets scanned through the USPS. There is no image. The report just shows the tracking number and shows it was delivered but no address. There isn't even the buyers address

He has not contacted ebay, so ebay is unaware of what is going on
just thinking if this guy printed a shipping label and sent nothing, trying to rip me

suggestions?

[isitworththestress]

Was it insured?

If he just sent the lable surely it would have a weight on the system and they would still have something. I would get onto USPS, but keep the buyer informed of the delay. But you need to know what they scanned, as they scanned something.

Used to work in a sorting office and stuff was always vanishing, and I still think it was one of the office staff.

[gamerguy]

yes it is insured

[wtfebay]

Plainly obvious that he is trying to scan you...putting a battery into a laptop is so simple a 3 year old could do it. With 0 feedback and the way you are describing the shipping information, he has obviously done this before. The thing is, if it shows delivered to the same zip code as you, then ebay/paypal will side with the buyer. Regardless if it was sent to you or to McDonalds down the street.

[gamerguy]

Originally Posted by wtfebay

Plainly obvious that he is trying to scan you...putting a battery into a laptop is so simple a 3 year old could do it. With 0 feedback and the way you are describing the shipping information, he has obviously done this before. The thing is, if it shows delivered to the same zip code as you, then ebay/paypal will side with the buyer. Regardless if it was sent to you or to McDonalds down the street.

just the zip, no address?

if that's true, it amazes me how they want to verify everything with a seller ss# etc..., but all you need is a zip code with no address

It makes it not even worth to sell on ebay. The advantage buyers have is pure power. Heck i should start scamming sellers. Buy mac pro, file item not as described and send the seller back an empty box and i'll get my money back and keep the mac. That's how easy it is, and paypal and ebay will never really look into it

If this buyer is trying to scam me, i'll have no choice but to close down my bank account

[MM78]

Why in the world would you take your conversation out of ebay?

[gamerguy]

Originally Posted by MM78

Why in the world would you take your conversation out of ebay?

i don't think it matters since they always side with the buyer anyways
all a buyer has to do is provide a tracking number, send you back an empty box, keep the item and get their money back. .it's a simple process for them

[gamerguy]

i was just thinking a buyer needs to use ebay assistance to get their money back, therefore going through ebay steps

Doing it outside of ebay and they won't assist you

Kinda like sellers who link buyers to their websites to buy there vs using ebay, and ebay won't support outside ebay transactions .they want buyers to purchase through ebay because it's considered "safe"

[jeffweico]

I don't know how he purchased his postage, but if he did it online or through eBay, there should be a record of the address it as sent to. The USPS website only shows the ZIP code, but if you call, the USPS normally has the address in their records, or can get it from eBay, endicia or stamps.com. I'm not sure if that holds true if he just paid at the USPS counter.

Unfortunately, the others are right. If the buyer opens a claim with eBay and supplies the tracking number to them, he will probably win his case. You could also be dinged by eBay for asking him to contact you outside of eBay. I NEVER ask buyers to do that, I always work through eBay messaging so they have a record of it.

If you ask at the local post office, the carrier might - JUST MIGHT - remember the package. Maybe, if you are lucky, the UPS store mis-scanned it or something. That has happened to me, I had box 223 and something made it to someone who had box 322 or something like that.

This is the reason I don't like to sell expensive items, especially anything that attracts scammers. I can just imagine how many iPhones go missing.

[gamerguy]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

I don't know how he purchased his postage, but if he did it online or through eBay, there should be a record of the address it as sent to. The USPS website only shows the ZIP code, but if you call, the USPS normally has the address in their records, or can get it from eBay, endicia or stamps.com. I'm not sure if that holds true if he just paid at the USPS counter.

Unfortunately, the others are right. If the buyer opens a claim with eBay and supplies the tracking number to them, he will probably win his case. You could also be dinged by eBay for asking him to contact you outside of eBay. I NEVER ask buyers to do that, I always work through eBay messaging so they have a record of it.

If you ask at the local post office, the carrier might - JUST MIGHT - remember the package. Maybe, if you are lucky, the UPS store mis-scanned it or something. That has happened to me, I had box 223 and something made it to someone who had box 322 or something like that.

This is the reason I don't like to sell expensive items, especially anything that attracts scammers. I can just imagine how many iPhones go missing.

The manager at USPS printed out the detailed shipping report which shows the destination address. I have the form and he told me there should be an address, but there isn't an address. It's just the zip. I'm sure if he did it through ebay, i would of got notice but i didn't, and wouldn't he have to open a claim to get a return shipping address?

It doesn't matter if messages are through ebay or outside of ebay. Buyer wins

I am calling USPS tomorrow to speak to the route manager, and i'm hoping the driver knows about the package

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by gamerguy

It doesn't matter if messages are through ebay or outside of ebay. Buyer wins

The thing is, taking it outside of eBay could allow the buyer to lie about what you said. They could claim you were unprofessional or tried to threaten them, etc. In most cases, you are right that it will not affect the outcome if a buyer files a claim.

I would call USS and ask them if they could pull an address from the information they have. I don't know if it is possible or not, but it seems that it would be worth a shot.

[gamerguy]

I always like to print out all emails and upload them to paypal if need be, since ebay doesn't have that option or do they?

The buyer is actually nice though. We are communicating and he's patient which is good
i am trying to locate the package though. What i did notice just a few minutes ago looking at the report was that he shipped 3 pounds

[ass11078]

Something is fishy about this hmmm...

[rsot]

Originally Posted by gamerguy

I always like to print out all emails and upload them to paypal if need be, since ebay doesn't have that option or do they?

The buyer is actually nice though. We are communicating and he's patient which is good
i am trying to locate the package though. What i did notice just a few minutes ago looking at the report was that he shipped 3 pounds

Until you get the package in hand....don't be too trustworthy

[isitworththestress]

Originally Posted by gamerguy

I always like to print out all emails and upload them to paypal if need be, since ebay doesn't have that option or do they?

The buyer is actually nice though. We are communicating and he's patient which is good
i am trying to locate the package though. What i did notice just a few minutes ago looking at the report was that he shipped 3 pounds

So what was it when it was shipped by you?

USPS may have just done you a favour as at least now you get your money back and the buyer gets theirs.

[wtfebay]

Originally Posted by gamerguy

The buyer is actually nice though.

Doesnt mean he isnt pulling the wool over your eyes though.

[isitworththestress]

What you think all scammers have a hook and a patch over their eye?

[solefoodbk]

Just to add this point...

When YOU specify a buyer to respond via email and there's a problem your screwed either way.

Ebay will review your messages and see you requested they email you instead of using THEIR platform. Instant red flag, almost any rep overseas will automatically side in the buyers favor regardless of your proof. Breaking toa is not wise to do anyways.

[gamerguy]

It doesnt matter what you use to communicate with the buyer, through ebay, wikipedia, yahoo, gmail, toys r us, facebook, twitter etc...you still lose to ebay. Using ebay to communicate just gives them more info about you to store and shut you down just for lol's. i believe in "say less is best"

BTW - laptop showed up. route driver had it in his truck. scanned but never dropped it off