scammers out in force for me. you?

[froogal_electronic_parts_and_overstock]

just wanna know if anyone has noticed an uptick in the number of scammers. For me this is what I have had in the past couple months and it seems to be increasing:

2 claims of item not received when tracking shows delivered. one never responded back, the other put in an ebay claim. Both are only attempts

lots of zero bidders lately

zero bidder bought 2 identical items within a couple minutes but only paid for one. I shipped only one. they never responded about the other.

lots of zero bidders buying items and paying. I list 'standard international shipping' and send tracked for them. Sure, it could be new buyers, but the sheer volume suggests it's not. 

Item not as described: x5 in the past 3 weeks.

 1 from a camera repair store who changed the shell and sent back a broken one

1 that argued I should give them a free camera even though i almost always pay shipping back. They called ebay, but eventually are sending back. hopefully it's not an empty box.

1 that argued the value is too low to return, even though I will pay return, so I should refund and they keep the camera (still open)

1 said no power, i paid for return, it works fine (buyers remorse I think. not really a scam per se, but still cost money)

1 said no power, is returning item.

While it could be me, it just doesn't add up. I check everything moments before it goes out and to have such a large increase so suddenly doesn't match up with what I do historically. 

So just wondering if anyone else has noticed any increases in scammers. 

[valuestore]

Ive seen a huge decrease in the last 6 months? since ebay has implimented the new dispute system, and canada post with the tracked packet helps. I have though seen an increase in the 'avoid opening disputes - get free stuff  ' inr type...... but if you require them to open a dispute, the item appears or they disapear. No complaints here

[gifts_of_elegance]

I just got scammed again for $105.00

[pierrelebel]

"I just got scammed again for $105.00"

Could you please explain the "scam".

[gifts_of_elegance]

Purchaser registered in Turkey but wanted me to ship to Azerbaijan Republic.  I did not want to but he explained that he was working there so I trusted him.  I shipped July 2nd and since I did not hear from him, I posted positive feedback on August 4th.  A week later I received a "item not received" notice.  I replied and sent him copy of the postal receipt.  Never heard back again until this morning. Got a letter that it has been escalated to a claim and also that it has been decided in his favor.

I know I never should have shipped.  Often when I notice that shipment is to another country, I refund purchaser and try to cancel the transaction.  Purchaser does not agree and eBay just tells me to ship with tracking, etc.etc.    eBay will not let me refuse service and purchaser can leave a negative feedback.  So I ship and 90% of the time item is "not received".  I have tried not to sell internationally but 40% of my sales is international.  I know Pierre, on line sales is not for everyone.  

[pierrelebel]

"I received a "item not received" notice."

I see two possibilities:

1) the buyer is honest and the item has not been received

2) the "buyer" is a scammer as suggested by your earlier post.

I like to think most people are honest and when a claim is made for non-receipt, it means just that: the buyer did not receive the goods. 

Is there anything in the buyer's feedback history (through follow-up) suggesting a regular scammer?

[gifts_of_elegance]

   Hi Pierre,

How could there be?  We cannot leave any feedback that is negative in nature.

If I did not subscribe to the belief that "all people" are good, I would not be selling here.  (Maybe that is why I take it so hard. )

But when there is a pattern of shipping to an address other than where they are registered and the "item not received" claims come rolling in, I think we can safely assume we have been scammed.  

Have a great day Pierre! 

[gifts_of_elegance]

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@pierrelebel wrote:

"I received a "item not received" notice."

I see two possibilities:

1) the buyer is honest and the item has not been received

2) the "buyer" is a scammer as suggested by your earlier post.

---

@pierrelebel wrote:

"I received a "item not received" notice."

I see two possibilities:

1) the buyer is honest and the item has not been received

2) the "buyer" is a scammer as suggested by your earlier post.

I like to think most people are honest and when a claim is made for non-receipt, it means just that: the buyer did not receive the goods. 

Is there anything in the buyer's feedback history (through follow-up) suggesting a regular scammer?

---

This reminds me of a case several years ago.  There was tracking number and it showed delivery but the purchaser claimed not to have received it.  I asked her to check with her family members to see if perhaps they accepted it and forgot to tell her.

Her response was, "Me and the baby were the only ones at home when it did not arrive."

Is there anything in the buyer's feedback history (through follow-up) suggesting a regular scammer?

---

[gifts_of_elegance]

Purchaser registered in Turkey, item shipped to Azerbaijan Republic.

TPI?  Where can I get it?

[i*m-still-here]

Ooops........ sorry.............  you shipped somewhere else.  

My mistake.

[pjcdn2005]

The third party insurance companies that I know about are Shipsurance.com and U-pic.com. They both allow you to buy insurance on a package to package basis but there are some countries that they don't cover and Azerbaijan Republic is one of those places. If you have enough volume and want to have insurance coverage for all packages, then the list of countries that they cover is quite a bit larger.

If you use TPI, make sure that you read their rules regarding claims. I know that Shipsurance requires proof of shipment in order to make a claim. They suggest that you get the postal clerk to stamp the shipping receipt to provide proof that the post office has accepted the parcel.

[i*m-still-here]

Right PJ.............. My mistake.

[pierrelebel]

"Is there anything in the buyer's feedback history (through follow-up) suggesting a regular scammer?"

Looking at the buyer's feedback and feedback he has left for sellers, I cannot identify a "scammer".   I think it is a simple case of goods not received.

Sixty-one days (not before to avoid possible negative feedback) after the date of transaction, I suggest you send the buyer a PayPal invoice for the full amount you refunded with a note to pay the invoice upon receipt of the goods.  It may work!

[rose-dee]

In that part of the world (Azerbaijan), there is also a good possibility the item got waylayed somewhere in the postal stream -- especially if you were required to list the contents as "jewellery", "necklace", etc. on the customs declaration -- and that it is now adorning the wife of some village elder in exchange for other favours.  

To the OP -- Although you mention 40% of your sales are international, would it be worth excluding certain very problematic countries, in addition to using TPI for the less questionable destinations?  You have some very lovely designer items that I imagine could attract a lot of the wrong kind of attention during transit in some areas.  I know -- it's a trade-off in these situations, a sale or a gamble. 

[femmefan1946]

I'd say something more imaginative but:

Some sales are not worth having.

I've seen advice that sellers should look at the countries that shipinsurance will not insure to (grammar?) and then add those countries to the seller's Blocked Destinations.  This seems sensible to me.

[gifts_of_elegance]

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@i*m-still-here wrote:

Ooops........ sorry.............  you shipped somewhere else.  

My mistake.

---

The shipping address on the PayPal payment was Azerbaijan Republic.  Purchaser said he was working there (lives in Turkey).

[gifts_of_elegance]

I have banned half the world today.  I wonder how long before I break down and decide its not right for me to ban half the world because of a few bad apples.

[gifts_of_elegance]

Thank You Pierre for the advice.  Sounds good.

[gifts_of_elegance]

---

@pierrelebel wrote:

"Is there anything in the buyer's feedback history (through follow-up) suggesting a regular scammer?"

Looking at the buyer's feedback and feedback he has left for sellers, I cannot identify a "scammer".   I think it is a simple case of goods not received.

Sixty-one days (not before to avoid possible negative feedback) after the date of transaction, I suggest you send the buyer a PayPal invoice for the full amount you refunded with a note to pay the invoice upon receipt of the goods.  It may work!

---

Thank You Pierre for the suggestion.  Unfortunately the purchaser was not happy with just getting his money back.  He has also left Negative feedback.

[pjcdn2005]

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@gifts_of_elegance wrote:

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Thank You Pierre for the suggestion.  Unfortunately the purchaser was not happy with just getting his money back.  He has also left Negative feedback.

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How frustrating!  You are having a rough month. September has to be better.

[gifts_of_elegance]

Thank You for your kind words and good wishes.