eBay

canadianfootballcards · ‎01-17-2013

Looking for advice on a situation I'm dealing with, one that may sound familiar to some of you.

On December 26, a buyer bought nine Canadian Football League cards. After four days, these cards were still showing as unpaid in my eBay sold items page.

On Jan. 1 I received an angry email from this buyer wondering why I hadn't shipped his cards yet. Turns out he had attempted to pay directly through PayPal, using an email address that wasn't linked to a PayPal account.

First red flag.

Communicating through eBay, I gave him the correct PayPal email addy, and payment was made.

On Jan. 2 I got the cards together and went to address the envelope.

Turns out the buyer had provided an incomplete address, missing the street number.

Second red flag.

I contacted the buyer again to get a complete address. He replied back with the street number, this time leaving out the postal code.

Third red flag.

I piece together a complete address and confirm it with the buyer. I then address the envelope and take it to the post office.

Feeling nervous, I decide to pay $9 for registered mail, with delivery confirmation upon receipt.

Off it goes, and I don't hear from the buyer until today.

Wasn't shocked to see a message in my box titled 'item not as described.'

Buyer writes in the message that he signed for the package, but it has been opened and re-packaged with brown tape, and the nine cards are not there.

Fourth red flag.

One of my Canada Post peeps at the local Shoppers tells me any item damaged in transit will be clearly marked as such, and probably be delivered in a bad.

So, I've emailed the buyer asking for photos of the package.

So, I feel this is an obvious scam. I have full documentation of everything, and eBay assures me any negs will be removed. They also tell me this buyer has no buyer protection through eBay, because he paid directly through PayPal.

PayPal tells me he can file through them, and he will have to provide proof of packaging. The fact he signed for the package works against him.

A friend of mine who has been doing eBay biz a couple years longer than I have tells me he usually credits and blocks.

To do that here would cost me $40, which isn't a make-or-break, but I don't feel like rewarding bad behaviour.

I feel like holding the line.

I feel like he'll probably come back with another account and trash my perfect feedback.

After reading this long yarn, I hope you have the strength left to offer some advice (and please, none of the 'I don't know how people make money selling sports cards' comments that seem to show up in every thread related to sports cards. 🙂

Thanks!

femmefan1946 · ‎01-17-2013

I decide to pay $9 for registered mail, with delivery confirmation upon receipt.

That was $9 wasted, since Paypal does not accept Registration as proof of delivery.

On the other hand, Canada Post does automatically insure Registered packages for up to $60 against loss or damage in shipping.

I suggest that you tell the customer that you will be filing an insurance claim with Canada Post and ask him to retain the damaged packaging for the postal inspectors, because CP takes theft from the mails very seriously.

Then phone CP and make the claim. (Do NOT go to your PO or use the email complaints, the phone clerks are smarter and nicer.) If there is a Paypal claim started, include the insurance claim number in your response.

Ask again for a photo or scan of the packaging,showing the CP /USPS damage packaging, (which really does exist and is very obvious, also collectible by philatelists, btw.)

The point is to be very polite and helpful and stubborn. And polite.

At worst, I suspect that you will be refunding the customer, who may just be a flake after all, and being paid on the insurance claim by Canada Post.

froogal_electronic_parts_and_overstock · ‎01-17-2013

The fact he signed for the package works against him.

not true at all. Customer signs they received the package, opens it, finds it empty = item not as described.

sounds like you were scammed. See what happens but might just be a $40 lesson

pjcdn2005 · ‎01-18-2013

That was $9 wasted, since Paypal does not accept Registration as proof of delivery.

That may have been true at one time but it has been mentioned a few times on the boards that people have used registered mail and have been covered by Paypal because there is online delivery confirmation as well as an online signature. I believe that is true within Canada, but not internationally.

The fact he signed for the package works against him.

not true at all. Customer signs they received the package, opens it, finds it empty = item not as described.

Maybe, but since the buyer said the envelope had obviously been repackaged, I think that Paypal would question why he would have signed for it in the first place.

nuvistors · ‎01-18-2013

That was $9 wasted, since Paypal does not accept Registration as proof of delivery.

That may have been true at one time but it has been mentioned a few times on the boards that people have used registered mail and have been covered by Paypal because there is online delivery confirmation as well as an online signature. I believe that is true within Canada, but not internationally.

The fact he signed for the package works against him.

not true at all. Customer signs they received the package, opens it, finds it empty = item not as described.

Maybe, but since the buyer said the envelope had obviously been repackaged, I think that Paypal would question why he would have signed for it in the first place.

With registered mail the customer does not have the option of examining the item before they sign for it. The cusomer signs and is then handed the item.

444

i*m-still-here · ‎01-18-2013

I received an empty parcel about a week ago.

I could see that it hadn't been sealed very well and that the item probably slipped out of the package by accident en route.

I called the PO and asked them to look for it but they treated me horribly because they thought I was suggesting they stole the item.

Since it was shipped without tracking I have the option of claiming it didn't arrive or claiming it wasn't as described.

Either way I know the seller will see me as a crook and I'll be on her blocked buyer's list nickety-split.

but stuff happens and sometimes it'a awkward for everyone.

theafkgamer · ‎01-18-2013

@nuvistors

Not true. Working as a postal clerk in a Postal Outlet, I was taught to allow the customer to see the package/letter first. Then ask for a signature. If they refuse to sign, I tell them that I have to keep the item.

sskillerklown · ‎09-10-2015

I too have been "had" by buyers that make huge big deals out of refusing to pay for tracking and insurance, and in my naive days relented and sent the item only to have them claim in never arrived or some other clearly BS excuse to claim against me and guess what? eBay just spouts policy and says too bad, even if you have message proof of their acceptance of the risk!

I learned a valuable (and expensive) lesson-eBay sucks! eBay is full of scammers, and their so called security and investigative departments are as useful as screen doors on subs!

My seller days are over on eBay-they can milk another cow!

Sorry to hear about your troubles-it sucks that it is more difficult to be a seller than a buyer!

t used to be "Buyer Beware" now it is clearly "Seller Beware" in the eBay universe!