selling lens

[mwindover]

I sold a couple of camera lenses too two different buyers, the first was without problem and the second has been a bit of a nightmare. The second lens I sold and upon receipt was (because I had put no returns) said not to match description (it very accurately met the description). It was returned at my cost and I received a lens with the serial number removed and a non working autofocus. The lens I received is not mine, PayPal released the funds to my account and I filed a complaint against the buyer. At this point I have no intention on refunding the buyer as he's stolen my lens and replaced it with a broken one (and removed the SN so its difficult to identify). How do i prevent they buyer from further abusing the returns system to get a free lens and leaving me with nothing?

I did deposit the money from my PayPal into my bank account so in theory it should be safe from eBay clawing it back, I also have a video of me receiving the lens, opening it up and testing it (one continuous video) as well as a picture with the lens having a SN on it. With this will eBay attempt to force me to refund the buyer and what recourse do I have?

[femmefan1946]

No returns does not mean No Refunds.

If you use No Returns many unhappy (but otherwise honest) sellers will use the NAD dispute rather than the Buyer Remorse, which is what eBay presents first.

Did you send the return shipping or did eBay send it and take the money from your account?

If the latter, you may also now have a Defect on your account. Check your Seller Hub.

and I received a lens with the serial number removed and a non working autofocus. ...

And some scammers buyers watch for sellers with No Refund terms on the basis that those sellers are more (not less) likely to follow the correct steps in fighting a Dispute.

And all scammers choose low feedback inexperienced sellers. It is never a good idea to sell a high value/high fraud item like camera equipment until you have at least 10 DSRs, know what DSRs mean, and understand their utter unimportance.

Was this Dispute opened in eBay?

Did you send the return shipping?

If the buyer was in the USA, did you know that you can send a USPS return shipping label using Shippo, even though you are in Canada?

Most US scammers don't know that. (hee hee hee, gotcha you crooked Yankee!)

PayPal released the funds to my account and I filed a complaint against the buyer.

Do you mean the buyer was refunded when you lost the Dispute?

Or do you mean that eBay/PP accepted that the Dispute was invalid because of the switched lens and returned the refund (or Held funds)?

It's complicated because eBay doesn't actually handle payments and refunds, but outsources them to PP, if PP was the payment processor.

Did you appeal through eBay's Trust and Safety? 

Did you phone about this?

It's best to phone on a weekday, since the US clerks seem to have more authority than the overseas ones, although in my opinion the Philippinas are smarter. At least they know that Canada is not part of the USA.

You may be able to attach photos to your appeal forms, but the video is useless.

I did deposit the money from my PayPal into my bank account so in theory it should be safe from eBay clawing it back,

Well,no.

EBay will be adding any money they want you to refund to your monthly invoice along with any selling or shipping or listing fees that you might also owe.

And if you don't pay, that bill may go to a collection agency. Which affects your credit rating.

But it sounds as if the refund was returned on appeal? If so, eBay won't be going after the returned refund.

And the failed transaction will go on the buyer's record. One attempted scam won't make much difference, but none disappear from the record and the buyer may eventually (or suddenly) find his eBay account closed.

While you have 60 days from the purchase to leave feedback, you cannot leave negative or neutral feedback.

If the scammer left you a neg or neutral, you can ask that it be removed.

You can leave a Response to any feedback, your own or a buyer's, indefinitely. Don't.

[mwindover]

jsut to give a little information, I did accept the return and used Fedex to complete the return shipping, we are both in Canada.

[mwindover]

I filed a complain against the buyer (buyer misused returns/completely different item or no item in box), I'm not sure if that starts a dispute if not I will look into how to file a dispute I did phone previously as the buyer said it didn't match the description but the individual on the phone more or less belittled me into accepting the return. I did phone a second time to get help with return shipping (I shipped it eBay didn't have to pull money from my account to create a label. As far as releasing money the PayPal transaction was put on hold when the return was initiated but they were released when it was in transit back to me (maybe a time thing?eg. after so many days money is released) Also it sounds like this buyer may well get away with a free lens because I'm a new seller with little selling history? Also no refund has happened as of yet, I jsut got the lens back and my understanding is that I have 3 days to open and inspect it which I have already done. Also would it not be better to communicate with eBay via email as its traceable where as phone calls could have "never happened"? Also is there an advantage to appealing through eBays trust ans saftey over what I would imagine is the normal way?

[kawartha-ephemera]

Probably would be best to try your luck phoning in to the trust and safety department, who knows maybe you'll get a sympathetic rep. My guess is email will be of no use, computer bots have no empathy for the abused seller. 

[mwindover]

Just as update for everyone after a far bit of effort I did get eBay to rule in my favour.

[mwindover]

The hoops I jumped through were first I was asked for an affidavit, upon filling that out they decided my appeal so I used the call me line with reference to the appeal a decision. The fellow I had understood the situation and re-opened the case with the requirement to provide a police report. I went to the local RCMP detachment and filed a police report, after getting the case file number the investigating officers name and the detachment information I replied to the email that requested that information (they ask for a copy of the police report but if you're unable to attain a copy then you need too provide the previously listed info). A couple days after that my PayPal was charged, so I called again because they likely hadn't had time to receive and verify the information I had sent them, after the gal on the phone verified that I had sent the information she reversed the decision and refunded my PayPal account. eBay seems to take your complaint more seriously if you file a police report as someone who is trying to scam eBay is unlikely to go to the police and start an investigation. Lesson here is file a police report even if its a smaller item (mine was a very expensive camera lens) the police if they have enough hits on one account, address, or name will investigate and its the only way you're able to deter criminals from taking advantage of you and other sellers.