About to get ripped off on Ebay

[StuckInKS]

I'm currently trying my hand at churning for our May trip. During the last 5x eBay bucks promo last week I panicked when GCM sold out of Target cards the first day and started bidding on cards from other sellers (GCM replenished their stock for the 2nd day of the deal and I ordered another $300 directly through them, which has already arrived). I won one for slightly less than $200 and paid $201.20, which was still a good deal after the eBay bucks. I emailed the seller today (because eBay said to expect it on Feb. 23) to ask for a tracking number. This is what s/he said "On 2/18/16 You requested that I not send the card, just the numbers on back. If you would like, I will open a case and send our emails to ebay. I have also verified that you used the card on recently, the amount, date and location. How shall I proceed?" This did not happen. I have had no communication whatsoever with the seller. Ebay says I have to wait until March 2 to escalate the case. I felt pretty confident buying through Ebay since they usually side with the buyer, but I never thought about them claiming I asked for the code and (apparently) producing phony emails to back it up. Will that hold any weight with eBay? Do they accept off-platform communication in disputes? Is there anyway for me to PROVE I didn't send those emails? Should I respond back and give them a chance to open the case or should I wait until March 2 and open it myself. It seems Ebay sometimes gives more options (ability to open/close) to the person who initiates the case and the other person only has a response option.

 

[TJsMomSarahJane]

I'd do a simple email back noting that they have you confused with another buyer, and that you have never requested that information, nor have you received the card you'd paid for.

Leave it at that, and if they come back asserting that you've done what they say, let them escalate it to Paypal. More than likely, Paypal will side with you.

 

[StuckInKS]

Ok done Seller messaged back (these are all eBay messages just to be clear. I have sent the seller no actual emails as they claim) and they said "Please send me your state and eBay username. Not showing up with the email." I'm really, really hoping that they did actually get me confused with another buyer. I guess they also could have sent it to someone else who requested the code who wasn't really the winner and maybe they didn't realize it since my username's "not showing up with the email" (whatever that means). I'm messaging them back with my Ebay username but not state. I'm a little hesitant about giving out too much info at this point if it is a scam.

 

[TJsMomSarahJane]

Good good.

The seller should be able to look at their recent sales and match your username up with a sale. It can be a bit of a pain to look it up if the seller doesn't know how to run a few reports, but they should be able to do it. (Not sure why they're asking for the state?) That being said - the seller really should have mailed it to you a while ago, so they may have actually confused your card with another buyer.

Stick to your guns, though, if they come back claiming you're the one who asked for the card info - just repeat to the seller that you've never received your card and you've never requested that the information from the card be sent to you. If you can't get anywhere, get that claim going in March.