Rooked out with eBay's approval

Question

I was robbed of 550 euros or of an item that the buyer does not want to return.

The buyer made up that the item does not match the description (it did) and opened a dispute for a return - I wasn't able to arrange a return courier to France, so I asked for an account number to pay for the return shipping - no response - further disputes, eBay granted the buyer a refund - leaving me with a negative balance. The buyer is not responding - he won't send the item back and got his money back. eBay, in response to my appeal describing the situation, upheld its decision - contact and replies from the French eBay.

I want to report the case to the police

has anyone had a similar problem ?

tomkraw87 · Answer

Hi,

Did you cover that negative balance?

I also have a problem with a dispute with eBay. Two years ago I sold a new original product to a customer from the USA. 3 weeks after receiving the package, he opened a dispute claiming that the product was lighter in the photos than in real life, attaching fake photos. eBay told me to accept the return and pay the shipping costs. The buyer demanded $700 from me, while the product was sold for $1300 with shipping included. Of course I did not agree, which ended with support awarding the buyer a refund. In time I removed the cards and the account, so they didn’t take money from the account and only a negative balance was created. After some time they blocked the account on the site and sent warnings. A week ago they threatened debt collection.

What can I do about this? I’m afraid that if they pass the case to a debt collection company in Poland, they will file a lawsuit and the court will grant an enforcement clause and automatically take money from the account without my participation.

Thanks

Tomek

guangxi_hone · Answer

Unfortunately, I’m sorry, but you’re at a lost cause.

You can report it to the police, but recovering the money is practically impossible and costly, which scammers know very well.

Take it as a lesson.

There’s a belief on eBay forums that you shouldn’t sell anything you can’t afford to lose. Even if he sent it back, eBay only takes the tracking number into account, so even if he sends you back, for example, a brick, it will be recorded that you received a return and they’ll take the money from your account to refund the buyer.

It’s a waste of time, so just give up. You can report the buyer to eBay, but that won’t change your situation. At best, maybe, it will prevent him from scamming others.

zenolox · Answer

What was that item? A Van Gogh painting? When will you people come to your senses and state in the listing that you do not accept returns? Besides, how do we know that you’re the one who’s right - maybe the frog-eater is not lying? An enlightened cop (and especially the court) will cite the Latin maxim "audiatur et altera pars" and wash their hands of it. Such scams also happen on OLX and Allegro if sellers don’t take precautions to protect themselves. A cunning buyer can get their coveted item for free if they abuse the buyer protection program. Sometimes a sold item can get damaged during transport (including return transport) and - paradoxically - both the buyer and the seller are right. Sorry man, but you won’t get anywhere. C'est la vie, as the French say.