Needing Ebay Advice

[coincollectingenterprises]

440 - 100% with 59 positive feedback left in the last month. Mainly collectible sports cards. I have asked twice for a photo of what he was delivered and I am still waiting on it. What would I choose as the reason behind reporting a buyer?

Could I interject some more advice: If you have some time, call Ebay. Tell them everything you've been saying. and ASK THEM what to do

[jcuve]

Could I interject some more advice: If you have some time, call Ebay. Tell them everything you've been saying. and ASK THEM what to do

I agree. A call might help...

[Scott99]

Could I interject some more advice: If you have some time, call Ebay. Tell them everything you've been saying. and ASK THEM what to do

I agree. A call might help...

I think I'll do that. Don't want to do anything drastic if it can be resolved otherwise.

[Antiquity]

I would call as well,

I have always found well informed and helpful people on the other end when Ive had problems.

On a side note I always insure over $50, for less I will take my chances.

Goodluck and I hope everything works out.

[liveandievarieties]

I've dealt with this scenario a half a dozen times in the last 4 years. Ebay's going to side with the buyer, they always do. But there's no harm in requesting the buyer to produce the evidence he says he has. Ultimatly, you're out the cost. I have learned to pack everything tightly, using packing material- miscellaneous styrofoam or cardboard. If the rolls only take up a third of the box, they can't be rolling around by themselves. A well packed solid box is much less of a target by postal employees (sadly, it's usually been during transit that the problem occurs). Ebay will tell you that without insurance, they can't help- with insurance they'll tell you to pursue the claim with the postal service. "Buyer protection" really is that- not for sellers.

[SuddenAdoration]

what a bummer!

I was told from a post office employee to ALWAYS insure and or buy tracking. He said since all or most of the employees for the post office had to take a cut in pay and hours, they lost their benefits, leaving a lot of disgruntled employees. So theft and damage of the packages is rampant.

We not only take photos when sending out sold items we also video the packaging process. We sell a lot of high end audio gear, and we had to learn the hard way.

You have protection being a seller. You can call paypal and ebay and ask them for help. Good luck.

[seal006]

I am a bit skeptical here. You said the buyer claims that the box was intact, but had a note stating the box was shipped empty? Even if you paid for postage online, you still have to take a box weighing over 16 ounces and give it to postal employee at the counter. Or if you set up a package pickup, a postal employee comes to you to retrieve the package. Either way, it is the responsibility of the postal employee to check the postage and package before "accepting" it. Also, the note thing is quite fishy. I have never in my 20+ years of shipping through the USPS ever heard of a note stating package was empty. I have seen notes of "damaged in transit." How would a postal carrier know it was empty. Who is to say you were not mailing a single piece of paper in said box? I would contact eBay and share your concerns of what is potential mail fraud on the buyer's part. I would also go back and look at their feedback. Click on the tab "Feedback left for others", and see if they have had similar complaints. On higher priced items, I let the buyer choose if they want insured or not. Once I have proof that I have mailed the package, unless there is something wrong with what I sent, I have done my part.

[Vickilynn]

what a bummer!

I was told from a post office employee to ALWAYS insure and or buy tracking. He said since all or most of the employees for the post office had to take a cut in pay and hours, they lost their benefits, leaving a lot of disgruntled employees. So theft and damage of the packages is rampant.

We not only take photos when sending out sold items we also video the packaging process. We sell a lot of high end audio gear, and we had to learn the hard way.

You have protection being a seller. You can call paypal and ebay and ask them for help. Good luck.

You have been given some great advice here from everyone. Most of us has run into a bad buyer from time to time.If this is the situation in your case then in IMO it is up to us to call out the scammer and make sure it does not happen to someone else. In my case my buyer had scammed at least 3 others without detection.THIS IS WHAT I DID -Customer complained that 3 items out of 220+ were missing when they received the package.I 100% knew this was a false statement. I refunded him anyway $330 and waited for the 2 boxes with 220 individually bubble wrapped items to return with great caution When the Ups pulled up I asked him to open & weigh the box (only one came back).There was only 120 items returned not wrapped.Then I called the Police ( Ebay suggested) The Police came within 15 mins. The State police officer scanned the box label and it came up with a fraud label on the package LOL. Not only did he try to scam me but he tried to get away with not paying for postage.After filing a report with the police and faxing it to Ebay they refunded me all my money within 3 days and the buyer was red flagged.It takes 3 to be banned from Ebay.Remember, all eBay requires of buyer is to return item with DC to prove return. Print all your pictures of the of the rolls if you have them and pertinent messages, ask them to hold the return at the PO and when it arrives go there and open the box in front of the manager. In this case $25 is a cheap lesson learned, but next time it could be a much higher price to pay.I particularly like SuddenAdoration's advice about taking photos when sending out sold items we also video the packaging process. Also I agree that exact weight documentation is important when proving a case. Hope some of this helps. Vickilynn

[Maineman750]

You said the buyer claims that the box was intact, but had a note stating the box was shipped empty?

That's not what I read...and I have gotten notes from the post office saying the package was torn open upon arrival.

[liveandievarieties]

Yup, the old "damaged in transit" letter- basically saying "you trusted us to take care of your property and we dropped the ball, but won't be accepting responsibility- thanks for using USPS!".

[seal006]

That's not what I read...and I have gotten notes from the post office saying the package was torn open upon arrival.

Roger, here is the exact statement of the OP, "Recently I sold some bank wrapped rolls to an individual. I received a message on Ebay from the user on the day of delivery stating that the contents of the flat rate box was gone and that the post office delivered an empty box with a note on it from the post office saying "the package was empty on arrival".

I am only going by what the OP stated, I have never heard of "box was empty" note. EVER.

[SuddenAdoration]

I have heard of empty boxes being delivered... but there wasn't a courteous note of the package being empty.. lol I used to work for an express delivery company years ago and our delivery drivers, one in particular would open up our promotional packages and eat the cookies in the boxes!

On a more serious note, I never have heard of the "package is empty" note either they would have absolutely no way of determining that... just like Sean has stated in his post above... there could be one piece of paper in the box... Besides you have the proof of weight on the receipt.

I wouldn't offer this guy anything, no refund or solution until he provides proof with pictures.

[Scott99]

Thank you everyone for all the fantastic advice! I will definitely be utilizing it on all my future sales.

I've received the image of the package which I think proves his story. He told me that he didn't want me to be out a lot of money just starting out, but I think the best option for both of us would be that I refund his money.

The package itself is strange because it has none of the tape on it.

[Maineman750]

Oh yeah..I forgot this tip Scott. The postmaster at my PO said to run tape along all of the edges.

[seal006]

Where is it open?