Possibly being scammed on ebay--- any advice?

[DoomBuggy0922]

So, I sold two kind of major items on ebay--- an old blackberry and an old iphone. I was, unfortunately, idiotic and did not get tracking information for either one.

The buyer who purchased the iphone is in Azerbaijan and he has opened a dispute against me. I don't know if he is trying to scam me or if the iphone has genuinely not arrived. I shipped it 3 weeks ago, but if he is not trying to scam me, the item is most likely still stuck in customs. And, even more stupidly, I threw away my receipt for this one!

The buyer who purchased the blackberry is in Miami, and he also claims he has not received his item. I sent the blackberry two weeks ago, and DO have the receipt for this one--- but, alas, no tracking number.

Do any of you have experience with this sort of thing?? (I'm a lurker on the budget boards, and much more active elsewhere on the DIS, by the way.) And I just going to have to eat the $300 I made and no longer have my items???

 

[Leajess99]

I'm sorry but I think you are out of luck with both as Ebay requires you to send with delivery confirmation or insurance.

 

[ellone]

So, I sold two kind of major items on ebay--- an old blackberry and an old iphone. I was, unfortunately, idiotic and did not get tracking information for either one.

The buyer who purchased the iphone is in Azerbaijan and he has opened a dispute against me. I don't know if he is trying to scam me or if the iphone has genuinely not arrived. I shipped it 3 weeks ago, but if he is not trying to scam me, the item is most likely still stuck in customs. And, even more stupidly, I threw away my receipt for this one!

The buyer who purchased the blackberry is in Miami, and he also claims he has not received his item. I sent the blackberry two weeks ago, and DO have the receipt for this one--- but, alas, no tracking number.

Do any of you have experience with this sort of thing?? (I'm a lurker on the budget boards, and much more active elsewhere on the DIS, by the way.) And I just going to have to eat the $300 I made and no longer have my items???

You're going to eat the $300 and no longer have your items.

You need tracking (or delivery confirmation) on anything you sell. A receipt doesn't cut it in a dispute. Ebay/paypal requires electronic tracking.

If an item is over $250 (including shipping) you need signature confirmation to protect yourself against disputes.

I personally don't ship outside the US because of problems with customs and the fact that it's hard to get tracking that will satisfy paypal.

 

[cvjw]

I agree, you are probably out of luck. My Sister and I sold some things on ebay, always with a tracking number, and never to anyone out of the US. Only one person tried to say that his item had not arrived, but the confirmation proved that it was delivered. Ebay took our side, not the buyer's since we could prove that the item was indeed delivered to his address.

Think about the situation from the buyer's perspective (if indeed, they aren't scammers): You paid alot of money for a phone, and it never arrived, and the seller can't track it to see where it is. I would want my money back too.

 

[Lovin' Disney]

If there's one rule of selling on eBay, it is YOU MUST USE A TRACKING NUMBER!!!! This is to protect yourself from scammers. Because you don't have a tracking number, you pretty much have no way of proving you sent these items out to the bidders.

Unfortunately the system works this way: once the bidder opens a dispute, it is up to YOU to PROVE you sent the item out---it is NOT up to the BIDDER to prove he/she didn't receive it. It's a very crappy system, and one that works to a scammer's advantage.

I think that you are pretty much out of your items AND your $300.

 

[ajh88]

You are most likely out of luck with the Miami (domestic) package if you had no form of tracking. You *might* be able to make a claim with your receipt of mailing, but technically I don't think that meets ebay's seller protection standards - delivery confirmation is a must.

However, with the international package (Azerbaijan, really?) - you had to have a customs form, right? The number that is on the customs form can actually be used to track the package. If you don't have it in hand (or know what it is), you MIGHT be able to research it through the post office where you mail it. I live in a tiny town but my post-mistress has been able to help me with the postal copies of customs forms before. Just a thought and one that might help you out. You technically DO have tracking for that package, it is just a matter of proving it now.

OT - I had a buyer in Italy claim they never received an item from me. I had the customs form and tracking from USPS with the delivery confirmation. Ebay still gave them their money back - but I eventually got it reversed by PayPal (after filing with the BBB) - I followed ALL policies set forth by PayPal seller protection and they failed to protect me.

Good luck!

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

To all of the above posters: Yes, that's what I thought. I've done some research on it, and that's what everyone said too. Lesson learned, I suppose.

You are most likely out of luck with the Miami (domestic) package if you had no form of tracking. You *might* be able to make a claim with your receipt of mailing, but technically I don't think that meets ebay's seller protection standards - delivery confirmation is a must.

However, with the international package (Azerbaijan, really?) - you had to have a customs form, right? The number that is on the customs form can actually be used to track the package. If you don't have it in hand (or know what it is), you MIGHT be able to research it through the post office where you mail it. I live in a tiny town but my post-mistress has been able to help me with the postal copies of customs forms before. Just a thought and one that might help you out. You technically DO have tracking for that package, it is just a matter of proving it now.

OT - I had a buyer in Italy claim they never received an item from me. I had the customs form and tracking from USPS with the delivery confirmation. Ebay still gave them their money back - but I eventually got it reversed by PayPal (after filing with the BBB) - I followed ALL policies set forth by PayPal seller protection and they failed to protect me.

Good luck!

I know! How random is Azerbaijan??? Such a dumb lesson to learn (I'm typically not this feeble-headed, I swear!). I will definitely go research it through my local post office--- it's worth stopping in and asking at least!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's a shame that you did not do some research before selling on eBay. You would have learned NOT to ship to high fraud areas (and you really should not ship overseas at all if you are a new seller) and NEVER to ship without using delivery confirmation.

Without proof of delivery (not proof of mailing), you are out of luck. You will lose any non-delivery claim filed against you.

Over the past few years, eBay has become a paradise for scammers. It's buyer and seller beware.

 

[MissUndastood]

I was scammed on ebay after I actually met the buyer at the local mall and handed her the item. She loved it, thanked me and was on her way. (she had paid via paypal then asked me to just meet her and her feedback was in the thousands) 2 weeks later she filed a non receipt and won because I didn't have proof of mailing

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

I was scammed on ebay after I actually met the buyer at the local mall and handed her the item. She loved it, thanked me and was on her way. (she had paid via paypal then asked me to just meet her and her feedback was in the thousands) 2 weeks later she filed a non receipt and won because I didn't have proof of mailing

Wow ... I hope Karma has a big appetite the day it finds her!

 

[nunzia]

..how do you get tracking info on overseas items? I ship all the time overseas and have very little in the way of documentation to show for it. I also thought Ebay had special considerations in place for overseas transactions.

 

[ellone]

..how do you get tracking info on overseas items? I ship all the time overseas and have very little in the way of documentation to show for it. I also thought Ebay had special considerations in place for overseas transactions.

No, they don't have special considerations for overseas transactions.

If you want good tracking when shipping overseas UPS and Fedex are your best bets, but the buyer can refuse the import taxes (but still accept the item) and stick you with the taxes. There's really no good way to ship overseas. You do it with risk.

 

[SeansMom]

Just sending you a *hug*. It's not fun when things like this happen.

 

[starry_solo]

You can also get tracking with EMS (through the USPS) for international mail.

I feel your pain. I bought an item which turned out to be counterfeit. I only found out about it after it stopped working months later (too late to open the eBay/PayPal dispute) when I contacted the manufacturer. I got a letter from the manufacturer saying it was counterfeit and disputed the charge (after receiving no response from seller)

Credit card company did the chargeback; seller comes back and says he would refund my money as long as I returned the item (still don't know how much he would refund). Item is going back tomorrow and I am still pursuing the chargeback with the credit card company (who has given me until the end of this month to provide additional information).

For the Miami one, I think after 30 days, you can open a loss/rifling dispute through the USPS. They can usually track down the package.

 

[DizneyDogs]

If there's one rule of selling on eBay, it is YOU MUST USE A TRACKING NUMBER!!!! This is to protect yourself from scammers. Because you don't have a tracking number, you pretty much have no way of proving you sent these items out to the bidders.

Unfortunately the system works this way: once the bidder opens a dispute, it is up to YOU to PROVE you sent the item out---it is NOT up to the BIDDER to prove he/she didn't receive it. It's a very crappy system, and one that works to a scammer's advantage.

I think that you are pretty much out of your items AND your $300.

and the second rule is to buy insurance if it's an expensive item (insurance is for the protection of the seller)

 

[DianeV]

Yes unfortunately you are stuck and the buyers will get refunds

I am not saying they didnt get their items but there are buyers on ebay who know if they receive an item without delivery confirmation on it they can claim they never got it so...

We use it all the time but recently took a chance with a $2.99 beer cap and just put stamps. Wouldnt you know it that person just happened to not receive the cap?

it happens all the time

 

[dolphinsleb]

where is Azerbaijan?

Im gonna say you are out the $300, because I know from personal experience. I had sold a camera on ebay, a canon rebel t2i for $950, had signature confirmation and insurance on it, buyer filed complaint stating he did not receive it. Someone at the delivery post office didnt feel like scanning the package delivered (scam). and usps would not let me file a claim from insurance because there was no proof it wasnt delivered.

 

[jgates]

Now that last one makes no sense. If it doesn't show it was delivered isn't it basically lost so they should process your claim?

When you print directly from eBay (which I HIGHLY recommend), it gives you the option to add delivery confirmation so you have it - it's only like .19. Well worth it. It's free on anything Priority.

I have my own 'mental' limit. I have DC on everything unless it's under $2 or $3 bucks. I don't mess with insurance unless it hits $50 or so - under that I can take a loss.

 

[NYCDiane]

I used to do a lot of selling on ebay and I always used Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. I offered insurance at the buyer's expense and stated on my auction page that I would not be responisble for items lost/damaged in the mail if they did not purchase insurance.

For my international buyers, there was no delivery confirmation or anything (at that time) to prove delivery. I just had to hope it would arrive without a problem.

Thankfully, in the entire time I was selling, I never had a problem except once. A guy purchased some old video games. He waited about 2 months and then emailed me claiming he never go the items. I still had the delivery confirmation slip, looked it up on USPS and gave him the delivery date and time. He emailed back that he didn't realize his brother brought it in the house and it was sitting by the front door the whole time. Yeah, right. Guarantee, he was hoping I had no proof and would get his money back.

 

[DizneyDogs]

I used to do a lot of selling on ebay and I always used Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. I offered insurance at the buyer's expense and stated on my auction page that I would not be responisble for items lost/damaged in the mail if they did not purchase insurance.

Ebay changed the insurance policy in 2009. You can no longer have the buyer buy the insurance as an option. You can however add it to your total shipping cost if you choose.

Here's the ebay policy on insurance:

Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance removed: The insurance option creates the perception that buyers need to purchase shipping insurance as a protection on eBay, an experience they're not accustomed to on other ecommerce sites. In fact, sellers have always been responsible for their items until they arrive safely in their customers' hands. That's why shipping insurance will no longer be included in the purchase flow as either an option or requirement for buyers.

Of course you can choose to purchase insurance on shipments, but not ask buyers to buy insurance separately. In some categories like Antiques, Collectibles, and Jewelry, shipping insurance for sellers is essential. When appropriate, you can include the cost of insurance in your item or shipping price.