Am I being scammed or not by an ebay buyer? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 12-30-2007, 01:32 AM

I unloaded some cd's and DVD's I no longer wanted on ebay several weeks ago, and today I got an email from a po'd buyer saying he had yet to receive a CD I sent his way 2 1/2 weeks ago. I responded and told him if he doesn't receive it by next Saturday (the fifth), I'd gladly recompensate him for the payment, but then I dug out my delivery confirmation receipts and the item was delivered successfully twelve days ago. I re-emailed him mentioning this. I wonder if this guy was trying to find a way to sneak and make money back but didn't know I had a delivery confirmation to prove his word wrong, or if he actually didn't receive the package.

*Happy Face* · 12-30-2007, 01:50 AM

I wouldn't know; Possibly. Always be careful before you go selling anything
in online auctions. I preferbly stay away from them.

Chelsea · 12-30-2007, 02:02 AM

Sometimes the mail *does* screw up. As a general rule, when it comes to eBay sales, anything more than a little small potatoes item - I always ship UPS - it costs a few more dollars, but I *greatly* prefer their tracking systems.

dawsongirl · 12-30-2007, 02:23 AM

Any time I've ever had something that had delivery confirmation, I've never heard that it was not received. I can't imagine, unless this guy lives in an apartment or someone stole it off his porch, that he didn't get it.

Janice · 12-30-2007, 02:30 AM

I don't suppose it states who took the package? It's hard to know if you're being scammed or not. Like Cathy says, it could have been stolen. I had a horrible experience on eBay. Once was enough.

Dean Winchester · 12-30-2007, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I don't suppose it states who took the package? It's hard to know if you're being scammed or not. Like Cathy says, it could have been stolen. I had a horrible experience on eBay. Once was enough.

nope, USPS.com just said it was delivered successfully at 9:38 am on 12/17 (they have a part where you track your delivery confirmations, it's a way of sellers and buyers both to know the status of a package mailed out). It was only about $15 plus shipping, but still I'd hate to be ripped off if he really did receive the package but just wanted to test if he could get a few bucks or not. He only has a 21 feedback so he hasn't been through a lot of transactions it looks like.

Zoneboy · 12-30-2007, 03:46 AM

John, If your records show that it was delivered and the buyer says it wasn't then there are 3 possible answers. Either he's lying thru his teeth or it was stolen or the carrier delivered it to the wrong address which is a big problem with delivery confirmation, It gets scanned no matter where it's left at.

Seth was right about UPS but I only use them for heavier items. I ship cd's & dvd's USPS and have had only one to get lost in 4 years which I was able to replace. You might want to consider using signature confirmation to prevent this from happening again.

Dean Winchester · 12-30-2007, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

John, If your records show that it was delivered and the buyer says it wasn't then there are 3 possible answers. Either he's lying thru his teeth or it was stolen or the carrier delivered it to the wrong address which is a big problem with delivery confirmation, It gets scanned no matter where it's left at.

Seth was right about UPS but I only use them for heavier items. I ship cd's & dvd's USPS and have had only one to get lost in 4 years which I was able to replace. You might want to consider using signature confirmation to prevent this from happening again.

yep, signature confirmation does sound smart as well.

What I am curious about is that maybe the guy was out of town for a few days and the postman ended up taking the package back to the post office for pickup instead of leaving it outside for a few days. I'm going to ask him to try the post office and see if they have it there to be safe. That once happened to me a few years back when I purchased something but happened to be out of town for several days, the post office instead had it after a few days of me leaving the package unattended.

Either way, I'll only be out $20 or so, but I definately will be more picky from now on, I've always gotten delivery confirmations on everything I sell so I know when something has arrived so I don't have to worry about someone nagging over not getting their item.

Zoneboy · 12-30-2007, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

What I am curious about is that maybe the guy was out of town for a few days and the postman ended up taking the package back to the post office for pickup instead of leaving it outside for a few days.

If a delivery attempt was made and the carrier took it back then it would be indicated when you entered the delivery confirmation number. Carriers normally take a package back for the following reasons: Signature requirement, too big for the box or if they don't feel safe leaving it with nobody home. If it was took back then the carrier wouldn't have scanned it because each number is unique and can only be scanned once. If you feel that you're being scammed then you might also want to consider adding this person to your blocked bidder list if you haven't already done so.

Corolla · 12-30-2007, 05:20 PM

Was it a cross-border shipment? USPS isn't exactly the fastest at that. If USPS says it was delivered, then it was scanned and delivered and the buyer is probably trying to rip you off.

Dean Winchester · 12-30-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~NeonFire372~

Was it a cross-border shipment? USPS isn't exactly the fastest at that. If USPS says it was delivered, then it was scanned and delivered and the buyer is probably trying to rip you off.

nope, the guy was in Florida, I'm in Kentucky, so about 800-1000 miles

Corolla · 12-30-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

nope, the guy was in Florida, I'm in Kentucky, so about 800-1000 miles

Media mail? First class? Priority Mail? Express Mail?

None of them should really take that long...

Zoneboy · 12-30-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~NeonFire372~

If USPS says it was delivered, then it was scanned and delivered and the buyer is probably trying to rip you off.

That's my guess also but like I said, It's possible that the carrier left it at the wrong house or it was stolen. John, Did the buyer pay you with Paypal by any chance?

Dean Winchester · 12-30-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

That's my guess also but like I said, It's possible that the carrier left it at the wrong house or it was stolen. John, Did the buyer pay you with Paypal by any chance?

I did use Paypal with him. I heard back from him and he said he never received the package, and judging from a 100% positive track-record, I went ahead and refunded him the money because it could go on for days and no progress, so I'd rather just swallow my loss than risk negative feedback. I've been on ebay since 2001 and have a 100% feedback with over 500 transactions, so I'd like to keep it that way

Chelsea · 12-30-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

so I'd rather just swallow my loss than risk negative feedback. I've been on ebay since 2001 and have a 100% feedback with over 500 transactions, so I'd like to keep it that way

Which is the sentiment that folks trying to scam you out of an item are looking for. Once someone's feedback score is into the triple digits, one negative feedback would only bring their percentage to a 99% positive - still acceptable by almost anyone. At 500+, the impact is about .2, which would drop you to 99.8%, near-perfect. I can understand wanting that elusive 100%, but eventually something happens, and a sale *does* go badly. Better to take a 99.8% and not get scammed than to have a 100% and be out both the item *and* the money.

As a general rule, I'll buy from anyone at 97-98% or above, when their feedback score is at least 100. ~75-100, you better have 1 negative feedback at most, under 75 no negative feedback at ALL or I don't buy from you.

12-30-2007, 01:32 AM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Am I being scammed or not by an ebay buyer? I unloaded some cd's and DVD's I no longer wanted on ebay several weeks ago, and today I got an email from a po'd buyer saying he had yet to receive a CD I sent his way 2 1/2 weeks ago. I responded and told him if he doesn't receive it by next Saturday (the fifth), I'd gladly recompensate him for the payment, but then I dug out my delivery confirmation receipts and the item was delivered successfully twelve days ago. I re-emailed him mentioning this. I wonder if this guy was trying to find a way to sneak and make money back but didn't know I had a delivery confirmation to prove his word wrong, or if he actually didn't receive the package.

12-30-2007, 02:02 AM	#3
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	Sometimes the mail does screw up. As a general rule, when it comes to eBay sales, anything more than a little small potatoes item - I always ship UPS - it costs a few more dollars, but I greatly prefer their tracking systems.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

12-30-2007, 03:46 AM	#7
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,446	John, If your records show that it was delivered and the buyer says it wasn't then there are 3 possible answers. Either he's lying thru his teeth or it was stolen or the carrier delivered it to the wrong address which is a big problem with delivery confirmation, It gets scanned no matter where it's left at. Seth was right about UPS but I only use them for heavier items. I ship cd's & dvd's USPS and have had only one to get lost in 4 years which I was able to replace. You might want to consider using signature confirmation to prevent this from happening again.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

12-30-2007, 01:50 AM	#2
Happy Face Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2007 Location: The most boring place on Earth... Posts: 108	I wouldn't know; Possibly. Always be careful before you go selling anything in online auctions. I preferbly stay away from them.

12-30-2007, 02:23 AM	#4
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Any time I've ever had something that had delivery confirmation, I've never heard that it was not received. I can't imagine, unless this guy lives in an apartment or someone stole it off his porch, that he didn't get it.

12-30-2007, 02:30 AM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I don't suppose it states who took the package? It's hard to know if you're being scammed or not. Like Cathy says, it could have been stolen. I had a horrible experience on eBay. Once was enough.

12-30-2007, 05:20 PM	#10
Corolla Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2006 Location: Owen Sound, ON Posts: 2,376	Was it a cross-border shipment? USPS isn't exactly the fastest at that. If USPS says it was delivered, then it was scanned and delivered and the buyer is probably trying to rip you off.