Possibly eBay scam, assistance please?

[Akuratyde]

So sorry to hear that. Hopefully it's tied up at the post office and they get it soon. I'm almost positive that paypal will refund their money if you can't prove that you sent it. What was the persons feedback rating? Was the address a paypal confirmed address?

It's a PayPal confirmed address, but they only have 22 feedback ratings ( all positive) and they opened the Resolution Center Case within 10-15 minutes of me telling them I didn't have a tracking number. That's what seemed so suspicious to me. Well that, and the fact that it's such an expensive item.

what store?

Target.

 

[Diode]

You could try opening a mail fraud complaint with the USPS.

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/mailfraudcomplaint.aspx

Failure to pay would be the course to go - however I would think you're still SOL without having proof the package was delivered.

It's also largely possible the package got lost. I remember a book I sold through Amazon never arrived - turns out the USPS returned a flat rate envelope for postage due, and it took about 2 weeks for it to arrive at my door after being sent. The postal workers in my local office had no clue how that happened.

 

[Cutwolf]

It's a PayPal confirmed address, but they only have 22 feedback ratings ( all positive) and they opened the Resolution Center Case within 10-15 minutes of me telling them I didn't have a tracking number. That's what seemed so suspicious to me. Well that, and the fact that it's such an expensive item.



Target.

Sounds like he may have panicked and opened the case as a hedge against no tracking, thinking you scammed him. If he gets it, he might close the case.

100% on 22 feedback and paypal verified doesn't sound particularly scammy, unless the person got hacked (but if he got hacked, why would he care about getting the money back).

 

[Akuratyde]

You could try opening a mail fraud complaint with the USPS.

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/mailfraudcomplaint.aspx

Failure to pay would be the course to go - however I would think your SOL without having proof the package was delivered.

Right, I already did.

I really appreciate all of the replies, I've obtained the info I needed from my original post, all I can do now is wait and see what happens. More than likely I'll lose the money. That seems almost inevitable at this point.

Hopefully we'll be able to make our mortgage payment this month.

 

[thetruth1985]

It's a PayPal confirmed address, but they only have 22 feedback ratings ( all positive) and they opened the Resolution Center Case within 10-15 minutes of me telling them I didn't have a tracking number. That's what seemed so suspicious to me. Well that, and the fact that it's such an expensive item.



Target.

That's not suspicious at all. Heck I just bought a 10 dollar game off of eBay and I got a tracking number. He most likely assumed you were scamming him when you said you had no tracking number. Have you withdrew the money from paypal yet? If not, then I would take your money out of there and then just pay it back one day when you can afford to. I know it's not the most noble thing to do but you need to take care of your family first and that's more important than anything that somebody can tell you here.

 

[OSMac]

Post a link or item number to the auction if possible...

 

[Akuratyde]

Sounds like he may have panicked and opened the case as a hedge against no tracking. If he gets it, he might close the case.

100% on 22 feedback and paypal verified doesn't sound particularly scammy, unless the person got hacked (but if he got hacked, why would he care about getting the money back).

Those are good points, I guess I just had a gut feeling right after I shipped the package that something like this would happen as I hadn't taken the proper procedures to protect myself, so when I got the email today my first thought was that I was being scammed.

There's definitely a chance it will still arrive. I guess we'll just wait and see.

 

[Apple OC]

if he claims he did not get it after another 2 weeks and puts in a claim ... drive to San Fran and knock on his door.

 

[acribb]

You have 100% just lost the money for that iPad 2.

Paypal will eventually do what is called a charge-back against your Paypal account, giving the money back to the buyer. Your Paypal account will then be negative and frozen and you either pay it up or they take you to collections.

The rules are that anything over $100 requires a signature and tracking number. Without that, you are 100% SOL.

I learned this lesson the hard way selling the original iPhone IN PERSON to a scam artist that paid me with his Paypal account into my Paypal account (Craigslist ad).

3 months later I get the charge-back and learned how this all, unfortunately, works.

I had a police friend look into the matter and he looked the guy up and what do you know, he was fresh out of prison doing time for fraud. He basically said to call it a loss. I thought about taking him to small claims court, but it just wasn't worth it. The guy looked like a thug, and it just wasn't worth the trouble.

Sorry to hear about your loss, however, you should of known that this could happen since you said you had been scammed on eBay before.

 

[Akuratyde]

That's not suspicious at all. Heck I just bought a 10 dollar game off of eBay and I got a tracking number. He most likely assumed you were scamming him when you said you had no tracking number. Have you withdrew the money from paypal yet? If not, then I would take your money out of there and then just pay it back one day when you can afford to. I know it's not the most noble thing to do but you need to take care of your family first and that's more important than anything that somebody can tell you here.

Really? Maybe it's just because I used to sell on eBay all of the time back when it was simple, but I almost never receive tracking numbers from the things I've bought on there and I never thought it was suspicious, and I always got my packages.

I have already withdrawn the money because we needed it. The problem is that eBay/PayPal only give you a week to pay the money back or they send you to collections and I don't want a blemish on my credit over this.

Do you think there's any chance PayPal will waive the fee? Has anyone attempted this? My wife used to work at Discover Credit Card's Customer Support department and she said people would call in all the time demanding charges be removed from their account and sometimes they would waive large fees.

 

[thetruth1985]

Really? Maybe it's just because I used to sell on eBay all of the time back when it was simple, but I almost never receive tracking numbers from the things I've bought on there and I never thought it was suspicious, and I always got my packages.

I have already withdrawn the money because we needed it. The problem is that eBay/PayPal only give you a week to pay the money back or they send you to collections and I don't want a blemish on my credit over this.

Do you think there's any chance PayPal will waive the fee? Has anyone attempted this? My wife used to work at Discover Credit Card's Customer Support department and she said people would call in all the time demanding charges be removed from their account and sometimes they would waive large fees.

I don't think they immediately send it to a collection agency. I think it takes a few months. I'm pretty sure that they will not waive any fees though. Just work out a payment plan after it goes to collections.

 

[imutter]

I thought of something else .postoffice prints reciept with zipcode you send items too did you save that at least ?

 

[Akuratyde]

I don't think they immediately send it to a collection agency. I think it takes a few months. I'm pretty sure that they will not waive any fees though. Just work out a payment plan after it goes to collections.

Again, I'd rather not have a blemish on my credit score so I'd like to avoid going to collections altogether.

I spent 45 minutes on the phone with eBay trying to get them to waive the fee, I escalated it to a supervisor and she attached a note on the case with my request but (surprise surprise) the people who decide the cases aren't available to speak to by phone.

 

[Akuratyde]

I thought of something else .postoffice prints reciept with zipcode you send items too did you save that at least ?

I did, but as I've gone through this before it won't do any good unless you have signature confirmation.

I'd actually like the point out that you actually need to have signature confirmation, not delivery confirmation. Delivery confirmation will only confirm that the item was delivered, however the buyer could always claim the that package was stolen from their mailbox, off their porch, or not received for whatever reason.

 

[AppleGoddess]

I would have locked it, and when he email me give him the code.... Then you have proof, or set it up and use track my iPad.. Really I feel bad for you as you stated you really needed the cash sounds like you put it on a card, and your were going to pay it off and keep the extra cash.

I do wish the best for you.

 

[Akuratyde]

I would have locked it, and when he email me give him the code.... Then you have proof, or set it up and use track my iPad.. Really I feel bad for you as you stated you really needed the cash sounds like you put it on a card, and your were going to pay it off and keep the extra cash.

I do wish the best for you.

Thanks, the iPad hasn't been registered yet though so I wouldn't be able to track it using Find My iPad.

 

[MrMac'n'Cheese]

I did, but as I've gone through this before it won't do any good unless you have signature confirmation.

I'd actually like the point out that you actually need to have signature confirmation, not delivery confirmation. Delivery confirmation will only confirm that the item was delivered, however the buyer could always claim the that package was stolen from their mailbox, off their porch, or not received for whatever reason.

^^^THIS for anything over $250 dollars USD, you need signature confirmation to qualify for seller protection, IN ADDITION to delivery confirmation/proof of shipment.

From paypal:

You must ship the item to the address listed on the PayPal Transaction Details page.

If you’re not selling on eBay, make sure you ship to a Confirmed Address.

This means that you’re shipping to an address that PayPal has validated to help reduce chances of fraud.

Ship within 7 calendar days of being paid by the buyer.

For all transactions, keep proof of shipment and delivery that can be tracked online.

 

[Shasta McNasty]

Hi everyone. My wife and I recently sold an iPad 2 on eBay hoping to make a little extra money as we're in a rather dire financial situation right now due to my wife losing her job.

I honestly stopped reading after this. Im sorry for her job loss, but i hope you have learned your lesson on trying to profit $1-250 max on this thing. Im sure you weren't in that dire of a situation that this amount of money was life changing.

 

[imutter]

I did, but as I've gone through this before it won't do any good unless you have signature confirmation.

I'd actually like the point out that you actually need to have signature confirmation, not delivery confirmation. Delivery confirmation will only confirm that the item was delivered, however the buyer could always claim the that package was stolen from their mailbox, off their porch, or not received for whatever reason.

what you mean you have gone through this before ?
In any case if you offered other shipping and they did not pay for it you have proof you shipped an item there

 

[Akuratyde]

I honestly stopped reading after this. Im sorry for her job loss, but i hope you have learned your lesson on trying to profit $1-250 max on this thing. Im sure you weren't in that dire of a situation that this amount of money was life changing.

Thanks for your kind remarks. You're right, I have certainly learned my lesson and know now that trying to sell anything for profit to help pay bills is a terrible idea. In the future I will simply not pay my bills and maybe even scold my wife for being laid off from her job with no notice and no severance. How dare she!

 

[Denny24]

Should of paid for postage online, priority mail flat rate boxes.
Ebay just deducts its from your paypal account and it comes with free delivery confirmation.
How long has it been since you shipped it out?
Priority mail should take only 3 days max excluding sun.

 

[Rafterman]

Thanks for your kind remarks. You're right, I have certainly learned my lesson and know now that trying to sell anything for profit to help pay bills is a terrible idea. In the future I will simply not pay my bills and maybe even scold my wife for being laid off from her job with no notice and no severance. How dare she!

What he's trying to say was, there are better ways to improve your financial situation than a risky eBay transaction. On an iPad 2 no less, the most scammed item on eBay right now.

 

[OceanView]

Sorry to hear your misfortune.
Hope you can get the authorities involved and recover the iPad or not refund the buyer.

 

[Shasta McNasty]

^Exactly. And he took it the wrong way.

 

[mdlooker]

Reading all of this, I decided to call PayPal's dispute dept. It's been already said within this thread and yes it's true that you should do the following to have a conclusive decision in your favor:

If the item is $250 or more though I like the threads advice of $100 or more

1) Ensure a tracking number is applied
2) Ensure a SIGNATURE is required at the destination

To further cover you
3) Ensure that insurance is applied

The burden of proof isn't predominately on the buyer but is on the seller.

Of course you've learned a valuable lesson here and hopefully all turns up well for you and your wife in these rough times.

This has taught me today also.

Good Luck