eBay

vip-marketplace · ‎11-15-2016

Hey guys!

I sold a 50$ item to a US buyer, free shipping.

I've been selling here for over 3 years and this is by far my worst selling experience.

The buyer sent like 3 e-mails within 12 hours of purchasing insisting I ship the item ASAP and threatening to leave a negative feedback. I did answer to his e-mails within 8 hours.

The item was shipped within 24 hours of purchase as usual for me but now he's mad because I'm not providing a tracking number. I sent the item via "Canada Post USA Small Packet Air".

He's threatening - ordering me to come up with a tracking number out of the blue and implying he's going to file an item not received case if I don't.

Please keep in mind It's a 50$ item and he paid 0 shipping. Here's his latest message:

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The buyer is obviously a dropshipper which might be why he's insisting on the tracking number. I don't know why a dropshipper would buy something internationally as we have to put the value of the item on the custom label and delivery takes more time...

How would you deal with this person? I'm trying so hard to keep my seller hat - you have no idea how hard it is...

If he was to leave a negative feedback, would I be able to get it removed?

If he filed an item not received case, would I have any chance?

Thanks!

vip-marketplace · ‎11-15-2016

Essentially he was extremely threatening in both saying he would leave a negative feedback if I didn't ship the item immediately, if I didn't respond to his e-mails immediately and finally, in his last e-mail and after the item had been shipped, if I didn't provide a tracking number.

He said something along the line of :

"You NEED to come up with a tracking number NOW. This is not my problem, give me a TN NOW! If not this is BAD BAD BAD news for you!!! Without a tracking number it's like you NEVER shipped the item for me and I will leave a feedback accordingly"

silverpinups · ‎11-15-2016

When you get a abusive buyer the number one priority for a seller is... SEND THE PACKAGE WITH A TRACKING NUMBER and/or SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION.

Even though they sent threatening emails, eBay will side with the buyer if there's no Tracking Number.

You have my sympathies but in the future, always protect yourself even if you lose some money. It isn't worth the stress of sending a package without a Tracking Number to a problematic buyer.

i.am.vivian · ‎11-15-2016

@vip-marketplace wrote:
How would you deal with this person? I'm trying so hard to keep my seller hat - you have no idea how hard it is...
If he was to leave a negative feedback, would I be able to get it removed?
If he filed an item not received case, would I have any chance?

My opinion is that this person is setting you up for the inevitable "Item not received" that you will be getting shortly. What I would do, is right now call eBay and tell them about the emails and explain that I used the cheapest shipping service which is untracked.

Some others here would say to wait and see and they are probably right too but if I get this kind of guff from a buyer I log a complaint about them straight away. I would tell CS that I think the person is gearing up for an Not Received.

BTW, you will lose the INR case because you don't have tracking. Read the buyer boards, over and over, "If the seller can't prove delivery (not shipping, delivery), you get your money back". So this will be the natural result of too much of that. Sorry to see you on the receiving end of it.

I looked up the FEEDBACK EXTORTION policy but I don't see this specific situation. If the person does leave FB then if it were me I would call and try to get it removed anyway. Sometimes you need to call more than once.

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/feedback-extortion.html

I am also not sure about the FEEDBACK REMOVAL policy, or for that matter if any of these clearly posted policies have any validity at all if there is even a slight difference between these and the dot com versions. 🙂

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/feedback-removal.html

Every seller needs to know some of the basics, like the FB removal page, the BLOCK BIDDER page

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/sell/manage_bidders_ov.html#block

I don't think the buyer can cancel the order now even if they want to, not this late. I have not had reason to find it out for a fact either way. I don't see anything in any policy that says a seller has to respond immediately.

Did you tell the buyer that since he got "free shipping" it was naturally going to be an economy service and not some costly overnight courier? Did you tell him he could have requested an Express service? It doesn't matter because he has already told you that if you can't provide the tracking # he is going to claim it wasn't sent. No 2 ways about it.

All the more reason IMO for you to report it now, having the CS read over his emails, and then when the ~~scammer~~ buyer opens the claim, call CS again and lodge a complaint against the buyer for abuse of the Money Back Guarantee.

You will still have to refund because of no tracking but if EVERYONE who is a victim of this thief does the same thing eventually the person might get stopped.

You can explain to the guy the service you used and try to fudge it as best you can. You might try to say that the Post Office scans a proof of shipment number but that it is not fully tracked until it reaches his door and registers with Canada Post that it has arrived.

That is complete twaddle but if it were me I would try any number of things to not lose $50 and I am not too particular about being earnestly truthful with sneaking lying scamming thieves.

Also, the fact that the person is or is not a drop-shipper makes no difference to your position. It is irrelevant. So when you call eBay you may as well leave that bit out. Any experienced buyer will know how to scam. It's easy. If the seller can't prove delivery (not shipping, delivery) the buyer gets a freebie.

Its completely up to you so you have to follow your own instincts. My first inclination is to try to halt scammers and thieves. Someone else's might be to ride it out and see, giving the person the benefit of the doubt. To me, in this instance, there is no doubt. But its up to you.

ricarmic · ‎11-15-2016

As emotionally upsetting as this situation is, the item has already been shipped and there is no tracking number.

I would send a polite and factual note advising that the item is on its way already, unfortunately there isn't a tracking number and they are covered if it does not arrive. Thank them in advance for their patience while the item makes the journey.

If they send more emails, as best you can just ignore them, or respond politely and professionally..each time.

You can't do any more than that.

If one sells enough stuff one is bound to encounter knobs. Don't let them ruin your life or your selling just manage the situation as best you can and focus on the other 99% of awesome customers you have.

If any of the wording is useful here are links to threads with my "form letters" I use..... some of them may be of use as this progresses, feel free to use what works for you!

Haven’t received item form letters

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/I-haven-t-received-my-item-or-Item-not-received-case-the-...

Neutrals/Negatives

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/Neutral-Negative-ratings-or-threats-thereof-the-form-lett...

PS I live by the mantra: "Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice shame on me". Make sure to block the buyer.

femmefan1946 · ‎11-15-2016

The buyer is obviously a dropshipper which might be why he's insisting on the tracking number.

I don't understand your reasoning.

Do you mean the address he asked you to send it to is not his own, but that of a customer?

That is legal, even eBay legal, which can be a tougher standard.

Since you did not use a tracked service, and I'm with you on that, rarely using tracking in favour of Cookie Jar Insurance, if he opens an eBay or Paypal dispute he will win and get his whole payment back.

Of course, if he is a re-seller*, his customer can do the same thing to him. Even more likely if his customer notices your name as the return address.

Mwah hah hah hah hah.

I am hoping that you include a packing slip with your name and price in your parcels.

Mwah hah hah hah hah haaaa.

Biter bit.

But the tracking number is just as likely to be the over -reaction of a spoiled, angry xenophobic dimwit. After all nearly half of Americans who voted chose Trump.

*dropshipper is a somewhat different category.

silverpinups · ‎11-15-2016

But the tracking number is just as likely to be the over -reaction of a spoiled, angry xenophobic dimwit. After all nearly half of Americans who voted chose Trump.

A-men to that.... Trump is going to be a disaster!!!

Anonymous · ‎11-15-2016

Call eBay NOW about this threatening to leave you a feedback because you don't use the tracking number. As for a $50.00 item, I would use the mail service with tracking number like Tracked Packet to protect myself. In fact, I shipped all my items with tracking number for 2 years now to protect myself as I get way too many impatient buyers asking "where is my item?" when it is less a week or "I never received my item". Since I switched from a cheaper mail service to mail service with tracking number 2 years ago, I never have any problems.

Pity that Canada Post don't offer cheaper mail service with tracking number like USPS does.

Anonymous · ‎11-15-2016

As for Trump, I imagine that when he has to live at the White House comparing to his home at Trump Tower, the White House is a slob.

momcqueen · ‎11-15-2016

I think you're sunk. I'm sorry to say.

The one time I had this type of scenario play out, it was for a relatively low value item bought by a USA-based member being shipped to an address that changed to Spain between purchase and payment. On the Buyer's Notes, the member requested tracking which I could not provide since they had, in fact, purchased Small Packets Airmail as their postage choice which I, at that time, stated in all listings was an untraced service. Tracked Packet or Xpresspost had also been available on that listing at that time but the buyer obviously skipped that in for of the less expensive alternative. And then asked for the impossible.

Because the buyer was essentially requested what I could not provide (tracking on their untraced postal choice) I was able to cancel the transaction and refund the buyer without a defect.

I chose to take this route because the last time I had a buyer ask for tracking after choosing to purchase an untraced service (again the differences between the two were outline in the listing) it immediately became an Item Not Received as soon as one could be filed. Which I settled by sending a replacement at my own cost, tracked.

Since that time, I have eliminated Small Packets Airmail on my listings. I ship only Tracked Packets now to all 31 countries for which it is offered. I have no patience left for these sorts of situations so I do what I can to avoid placing myself in them.

All that being said, I do hope this plays out for you differently than I fear it will. Good luck. Report back.

momcqueen · ‎11-15-2016

Is this related to your most recent feedback, or is that about something else?

vip-marketplace · ‎11-16-2016

Nah that's another problematic buyer I had earlier.

Really having a tough week lol...

I have not had any other messages from the seller in 2 days.

Maybe now that he knows he's not getting a tracking number no matter what he says he'll just leave me alone and won't bother leaving a negative feedback... fingers crossed.

maximus7001 · ‎11-18-2016

I think you shot yourself in the foot. If we had sent the same item by small packets we would have got a scan in receipt from the post office and had the clerk stamp it with the day stamp then headed over to insurepost and for $1.60 US per $100 US item value the package is insured.

http://www.insurepost.com/rates.asp

There is no other real use for them since you need the scan in receipt and day stamp which you only get with small packet usa or international. They also have a small list of countries they will insure.

momcqueen · ‎11-18-2016

Those Acceptance Scan receipts are printed with a time and date of acceptance already embedded in the data; are you certain they need to be manually stamped as well? Is that what you're saying, or have I misunderstood you.

I used u-pic for third-party insurance before I switched to Tracked Packet.

maximus7001 · ‎11-18-2016

Right from their website, note the part about the acceptance stamp:

"What type of proof of mailing do I need?
In order to insure a package with InsurePost.com, we need to be sure the package actually was mailed! Placing a stamp on a package or using a meter machine is NOT ACCEPTABLE proof of mailing. We need to see that the insured package was physically placed in the mail flow. This can be a receipt from the post office with an acceptance stamp, a tracking number with an acceptance scan, a customs number with an acceptance scan, or a stamped document from the post office indicating acceptance."

Many staff at post office outlets like at drug stores are either really stubborn or just plain stupid. Some do not seem to understand that we need the scan in receipt and need it day stamped. They can claim there is no receipt for small packet, they are wrong that simple.

momcqueen · ‎11-18-2016

I agree that from the section you cited, it sounds as if a sender requires a stamped acceptance receipt. But that is redundant; you don't get that receipt until it's accepted into the mail flow. But rules are rules, I can't argue with theirs.