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Buyer Sent Return With Nothing In It
 

I am sure this has been posted before, I just couldn't find it...

On amazon a buyer told me the product "not working" <---- only 2 words in his message to me, he then filed for return. I got the package today, when I opened it, it is just the packaging of the product, with nothing inside.

The buyer is obviously trying to scam me or is a competitor, as he also left negative feedback stating how terrible the experience was. What should I do about this?

Usually I video tape me opening high value returns and purchases, just in case when I open it there is nothing inside.

This item cost the buyer $19.99, So I do not really care, but what should I do?

I am not going to refund him as he has already left negative and wait for him to escalate it.

What shipping service did the customer use to ship the item back?

USPS first class mail with the label printed off by Endica

Was it tracked?

I would tell Amazon exactly what happened if it was, he may well have done it to others.

Unfortunately, this happens. Some buyers are scammers.

Now, you need to make a business decision. Is it worth losing the account over this? Because - while you are in the right here - Amazon usually sides with the buyer, especially if there is tracking information on the return. I highly doubt that anyone at Amazon is going to watch a video clip of a box being opened.

YES, if the buyer has done this to others, Amazon MAY side with you. Amazon does not like scammers PERIOD. While their usual focus is on sellers, they HAVE cancelled buyer accounts as well.

The thing is, can your account hold up to scrutiny? Because when you get a human being involved in the process you never know what may happen. Your account can be put under a microscope as well.

I don't like being scammed any more than anyone else does. But I usually let these things go. Why? Because my decisions are based on what is best for my business. Yes, I sometimes end up swearing, pounding the desk and gritting my teeth. But I can make $500+ in profits per month from a good Amazon account. Each account costs me like $50 to set up. So, I am not willing to lose a good account for $19.95.

Agree with jeffweico..bottom line is that the value is 19.95 - is it worth going at this hard? Buyer is a scumbug - cheap victory - move on

These situations is always what I want to do VS what I need to do...

Two totally different outcomes!

I have done the pounding the desk myself a few times. I have a buddy who cannot hold his tongue and always goes with what is not best for the business and I have seen multiple times the result is not good.

Report them so that if they do it again to another buyer, it'll be in their records.

Also let me ask. . .if it was mailed with first class mail, I assume it was under 13 ounces. Is the weight below what the actual item weighed?

I once had a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ return, and I proved they were lying because the original package weighed something like 6 pounds, but the box they sent me back weighed under 1lb. I showed photo's of the packaging and it was enough to prove fraud and I won.

@corleone, good point - did you take the photos at the post office with witness? That has been known to work before.