Forum

possible a scam?
 

I suspect this a scam. Please give me some advice.
The item was arrived today. Buyer opened a dispute and escalated to paypal right away. She claimed item was damaged and she wants a replacement or refund. The item is a glass coffee table

I checked her ebay account and it's new account with no feedback. I tried to inbox her asking for photos and which part of damage so I will get replacement as this is a dropship item. I can request a replacement. No reply back.

Although she said she wants either replacement or refund. She doesn't communicate with me.
I called paypal and told my story. The agent told me it's better to issue a refund as buyer need send back the item for refund. He told me that it's more risky if I get a replacement for her as it's not under seller protection.
The case's being reviewed by paypal. I'm afraid paypal would side with buyer and refund her while she gonna keep the item.

Re: possible a scam?
 

A glass coffee table is totally possible to be damaged during transit...


You have no choice but to ask for images of said table and offer to refund her AFTER you get it back.
Maybe you can get it repaired for resale or something.

Re: possible a scam?
 

You can't expect the buyer to return broken glass.

Explain that once you've seen a picture you'll refund no problem.

Re: possible a scam?
 

Yes. I understand that it could be damaged during shipping. That's why I asked for photos and some questions about damage so I could get a replacement on ebay. She doesn't answer my message. That's suspicious to me.

Re: possible a scam?
 

The fact that the buyer went straight to PayPal for the refund....tells me they have done this before. And the reason they aren't responding is so they don't incriminate themselves.

Re: possible a scam?
 

I know that with ebay cases if the buyer does not respond the case is closed in the sellers favor, but I've not had it happen with a direct paypal case before.

Give the buyer some time, maybe they aren't good with tech and are slow on uploading photos, they may have other stuff going on that means they dont reply right away.

Re: possible a scam?
 

It reminds me a story of a friend of mine.
He sold a new Samsung Galaxy S6 on eBay, before the shipping he wrote down the devices informations including the IMIE, Serial number etc.

The moment the buyer received the phone he said the device's screen is broken, my friend asked for pictures which proved the phone is broken.
My friend offered the buyer a full refund the moment he will send the item back with a tracking number.
The device arrived, the screen is broken but you can still use the phone, and then he checked the IMIE, Serial number - and it is a different phone!
The buyer was a scammer, he broke his phone and got a new one for free.

Re: possible a scam?
 

Most scammers go straight to PayPal for a refund, because they know PayPal won't look into it.

So they had time to file the claim but all of the sudden don't have time to submit any type of proof that the item is truly broken?

Re: possible a scam?
 

Well yeah, I am pretty much glued to my pc but I still have life which means I don't get round to responding to everything straight away. And one of my bad habits is losing things I need to complete these sorts of tasks, like cables and documents etc.

My worst habit that recently got me in trouble with eb.ay is looking at a message/email on my phone and thinking "I'll respond to that later when I'm at my pc" and then forgetting about the message completely.

Re: possible a scam?
 

It doesn't look good... how much are you potentially losing on this or is it covered by the drop shipper?

Re: possible a scam?
 

Was just scrolling the thread hoping someone was going to ask....as I was surprised it had yet to be brought up.

OP, surely you have some kind of arrangement with your supplier about goods damaged in transit? In theory you shouldn't have to be any money out on this at all.

Re: possible a scam?
 

it's 70$. My dropshipper will be responsible for replacement only. Do you guys think i should go refund way or give replacement? If I refund without getting the item back, I will lost money. If I make replacement, it will be covered by dropshipper. However, paypal agent said giving replacement is not covered under seller protect. I don't really understand.

Re: possible a scam?
 

So would I be right that at this point you have nothing to lose in offering a replacement? If you get screwed it is at no additional cost to you?

Re: possible a scam?
 

Yes. If it's really broken. I need to know which part of table is broken so my supplier will give replacement at no cost or that person have to return the "broken" table in order to get refund.

Re: possible a scam?
 

Sounds like a no brainer then? Unless I am missing something. At the end of the day it is really pretty irrelevant if it is 'really' broken. You will never win the case enough times to make it worthwhile fighting it, you will have to replace or refund.

Re: possible a scam?
 

I disagree wholeheartedly.

Everyone who rolls over without a fight because it isn't "worthwhile" to fight it, encourages the buyer to do this again and again.

Bottom line: The easier it is to do, the more they will do it. If half the sellers make them jump through a bunch of hoops and waste time, they'll think twice next time.

Don't just give in when you are nearly certain it's a scam.