Switch and Bait

[Anonymous]

I sold an item, a flawless photo for $100.00 and now the buyer claimed that I send her the different photo not what was listed in my listing.  She said that she received a photo with tapes on middle and bend corner and scratches on shoulder.  She just opened a claim to return the item (her damaged photo not my flawless one) for the refund.

Do I have to swallow this loss?  It is second time it happened, the last time last summer and now again.  Any advice.  Thanks in advance.

[momcqueen]

Is it possible she’s confusing your item with another from a different seller? Do you include a packing slip with your orders? Will she provide a photo of what she received?

You do have to allow the Return for SNAD but if this were me, I’d want this item back for analysis. Send Return Postage to refund when it arrives back but
simultaneouslyly plead your case with eBay for Returns Fraud. Then eBay will need to deal with this person. You will have to lobby on your own behalf and provide evidence this wasn’t what you sent.

[Anonymous]

Would it be a waste of time to appeal to eBay.  I just wish that eBay would stop being on buyers (especially liars and thieves) sides and be on sellers for a change.  eBay cannot be that stupid and blind when they see my item which is a flawless.

[Anonymous]

I lost and eBay refunded this liar the full amount and after that eBay got the gall asking me to send the return shipping (in fact after sending her the refund!!).  I told eBay I am NOT willing to lose MORE money that way.  It would be nearly $20.00 for return shipping with tracking number.  How dare eBay!!!

[topcornercollectibles]

You're pretty much S.O.L.
I had a claim against an item of mine. Buyer didn't send any photos. Communicated with eBay throughout the whole ordeal. They told me pictures from the buyer aren't necessary.

I recieved my item back in worse condition than was stated by the buyer. Ebay wouldn't do anything for me because "the item was damaged and is still within the parameters of the return request."

Still waiting on my complimentary lubricant voucher from eBay. Unless you're the buyer, eBay is gonna bend you over.

[momcqueen]

Did you contact Customer Service and appeal the decision?

How was the item damaged? In transit? Were you insured with the carrier against damage or loss?

[Anonymous]

What is S.O.L.?  I hate when anyone use abbreviations.  Don't they have spellceck here?  It used to be in the past, put it back here!!

[Anonymous]

The damage is not from transit.  She switch and bait and used her damaged item for my flawless photo, it is what this liar and crook is doing and eBay was on her side not my even I gave all information, evidence, but no luck.  Since I am a seller I am out of luck!! 

[reallynicestamps]

SOL- S(ugar)- Out of Luck

[reallynicestamps]

Okay- this is driving me crazy.

The term is Bait and Switch.

I feel better now.

It would be used when the seller offers something wonderful (Like a foot high Lindt chocolate Easter egg) as bait to the sucker and switches it for something of lower quality (like a 10" high Hershey 'chocolatey' peanut butter cup).

Technically, buying a good item and returning a damaged one for refund is Bait and Switch too.

The only help for sellers in this case would be Cookie Jar Insurance.

Add a small amount to every asking price as a self-insurance premium against the inevitable transaction that goes wrong. No matter where it went wrong.

• The buyer switched the returned item.
• The shipping service damaged the item.
• The seller put the wrong item in the package. 

The usual Problem Transaction rate is generally said to be about 1% of sales. Whether that is number or value is obscure.

If your problem rate is lower than that, you are doing well. 

And most sellers find their problem rate is even lower than that-- although that can vary by category  (and customer demographic*).

* The 'criminal' demographic, statistically, is male 15-35. If your product is of interest to them you will have more problems than I do with my stamps (mostly male, but well over 35).
This does not explain the doll ladies. Those women are vicious.

[momcqueen]

If a buyer commits outright Returns Fraud, eBay will cover the seller but there is a process of personal appeals et cetera.

[teenytrinkets]

haha... beware of the doll ladies!

I mostly sell cosmetics to women and see very little fraud. There's been a couple, but totally covered by the cookie jar insurance and good lessons learned.

I'm really tired of sellers getting the shaft from eBay in cases like this...

[tobey_arih]

and will keep getting shafted.

[tobey_arih]

Bottom line, Ebay is pro-buyer. Seller are left dangling in the air while money falls out of his/her pocket for no good reason. Case and point. I very first sale as a seller, without tracking, comes biting me in **bleep** as the buyer opens the INR. As non-verified US buyer too, with a US shipping address. A shady, Ebay? You let this happen.

Since then, I never ship to US without tracking. While in Canada, I do for smaller price items (60 -140) and NEVR did I once received an INR.

[tobey_arih]

nah, the pc nerd term for S = poop