Buyer's Wall of shame anyone? Hope not!
We talk about dishonest sellers, but what about buyers? Here is this morning's experience, which in fact started a few weeks ago, seemingly with an innocent mistake.
So I sold an item on eBay, posted it from Serbia to the UK and it all looked normal for a while.
A few weeks ago I get the following message, 3-4 days after I've shipped the item:
"Item is lost. You need to file a case with the carrier. I expect a full refund. Will open case with eBay."
... to which I respond in the friendliest possibly voice: "..but hold on, your item has not even left Serbia. Please give it another week, or maybe even longer, with the holiday season and all...", but thinking to myself, there will be trouble.
He responds: "Apologies, messaged the wrong person" and we both go silent for a few weeks. I have a sigh of relief and go about my business, but this thing is constantly in the back of my mind, as if I sensed something fishy was about to take place.
Anyway, during this time, I am tracking the item online and finally, I see it was delivered yesterday! A huge relief! Or, is it....?
This morning I get a message from the buyer: "Item seems lost. If this is not delivered today, I am opening a case. Not the first item I had lost during the holidays."... same story and I am thinking, yeah, well, what else is new?
I respond politely, again, showing them the tracking information. Then I get on the phone and get Royal Mail to send me a copy of the delivery receipt. I have this document now, with the person's actual signature on it. Following this, I've sent another message to the buyer, in a neutral voice this time, saying that I have the evidence of receipt and have reported them to eBay.
What this person does on eBay is very clear to me, since two weeks ago, when I checked the account, prompted by the first message received. They buy very reasonably priced items and then resell them. At the same time, they open refund cases with eBay, claiming they never received the original item. They use the holidays and the busy post offices/customs to blame for "losing their stuff". They probably even get their money back sometimes, then they resell the items and lo and behold: Double profit!
I am waiting to see how eBay will handle this case of obvious attempt at theft. My spirits are seriously down this morning.... and it's not even about the money. :(