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Possibly eBay scam, assistance please?
- Thread starter Akuratyde
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I was in a similar situation last year. I had to turn $500 into $2500 in less than a month. I did it but it was a lot of hard work. What I mainly did was buy stuff on craigslist cheap and either relist it on craigslist for a profit or either list it on ebay. The highest priced item I sold was a nexus one on ebay for $400 that I only paid $250 for on craigslist. You can also try hitting pawn shops. I remember I went to a pawn shop that had a brand new pair of Sennheiser PXC 450 headphones for $80. I talked them down to only $65 and sold them later that week for $185 on ebay. In the amount of time that all those scalpers are standing in line to hopefully get a ipad and make a $200-$300 profit, I could make a bigger profit during the same amount of time by just browsing craigslist and pawn shops.
I understand what you are trying to do but I don't think the profit off of 1 ipad is worth it unless you walked into target and bought it without having to stand in line for 6+ hours. Either way, it's not the end of the world but just make sure next time you put more thought into it before you make a hasty decision.
I understand what you are trying to do but I don't think the profit off of 1 ipad is worth it unless you walked into target and bought it without having to stand in line for 6+ hours. Either way, it's not the end of the world but just make sure next time you put more thought into it before you make a hasty decision.
Both good ideas, thank you.
We waited for an hour. We live in a somewhat economically depressed neighborhood so we knew there wouldn't be much of a line. Only 2 people were waiting ahead of us. We are planning on selling a lot of other things on eBay as well (things we had around the house we don't need, not other brand new electronics) and just kicked it off with the iPad 2. At least now I know what not to do for the rest of the auctions.
Having dealt with eBay stuff I do sympathize with the OP but considering how many anti-scalpers threads we've had, I'd say the forum people have been pretty generous.
Put it this way. In other threads we have people bringing out their pitchforks against "Chinese" scalpers yet here we have a self-admitted scalper asking for help with a sales transaction gone wrong and many MR members are helping the scalper not lose his money. I'd call that generous.
Still, I wish OP good luck. Regardless of the sales' nature, it sucks to be scammed like that if the person really did receive the iPad.
I don't know how it would work with your credit card company but a lot of AMEX cards have lost or stolen for 90 days protection. Some visa may too. I don't know, I don't think it would matter if you were selling it or sending it somewhere. Lost is lost. But it might be worth looking into. Also i once contacted the pst office and the lost and found....they found my package after i described the box and contents. The label had fallen off.
No. You don't get a tracking number for Priority Mail. Only the Express Mail (the overnight service).
Something doesn't make sense here. Paypal doesn't allow you to open a dispute until 10 days have passed. You said you shipped it on the 14th.
How has the buyer already opened a dispute AND escalated it to a claim?
How has the buyer already opened a dispute AND escalated it to a claim?
Rule #1 about shipping through eBay. Get the tracking number. The serial number being registered won't help. Unfortunately, chances are you're going to lose your money and your iPad. Really sad, seeming it could have been prevented with a 50 cent delivery confirmation option.
For items over $500, I always use signature confirmation. Paypal instructs you to do that. I'm really sorry about your misfortune. Sounds like the buyer found no tracking number on the package and decided to capitalize on a free iPad.
For items over $500, I always use signature confirmation. Paypal instructs you to do that. I'm really sorry about your misfortune. Sounds like the buyer found no tracking number on the package and decided to capitalize on a free iPad.
Do you still have the receipt?
If you still have the receipt from the post office with priority mail you get a tracking number. At time though you go online and the number will say not in the system. If this ends up being the case then you go to the post office and their system will be able to track the item. Hope this help. You also have an initial $100.00 insurance on the item too that is it is lost you could recoup little bit of the money.
If you still have the receipt from the post office with priority mail you get a tracking number. At time though you go online and the number will say not in the system. If this ends up being the case then you go to the post office and their system will be able to track the item. Hope this help. You also have an initial $100.00 insurance on the item too that is it is lost you could recoup little bit of the money.
. . .
I know it was the b u y e r.
I very clearly acknowledged that in my post.
Paypal requires you wait 10 days before opening a dispute. He shipped it on the 14th.
The question was how the buyer was able to open a dispute and escalate it to a claim BEFORE the ten day period was up.
Calm down. I didnt see that. Sounds like the OP must be mistaken or ebay took a special case (they have for me)
Wow, so much going on with this thread.
First of all, OP, I am very sorry to hear of your experience. Some of the things I will say may not be nice, nor is my intention to hurt you.
I was in hard times many years ago and bought macbooks and sold them. I always required money orders of cashiers checks. (This was before Ebay and pay pal) One time I sold it to someone I had an uneasy feeling about. I thought I was being prejudice and got mad at myself about that. But turns out the guy gave me an altered money order and I was SOL....till I found out my home owners insurance covered it and it was called "Theft by Deception."
Now the next thing is I have a problem with your and many posters here thinking that the buyer is guilty. Maybe he did not receive the package. There is no way to control that unless you have a signature requirement. Many times I come home and packages are just sitting by the door. So maybe your buyer did not get their package.
I have sold many items on Ebay. I find it the best way to sell most of my stuff. I ALWAYS require the buyer to buy the extras on expensive items. That way both the buyer and seller are protected. That's another reason I would only use paypal. It protects both parties. Also, don't let a buyer make you send something out when you can't send it out properly, ie: going to the PO when it is open and get a delivery conformation and signature form. For the future, you can also use UPS from Staples. They are open late and you can get it done there. Remember, charge for this when selling an item.
Next thing, DON'T EVER let anything go into collections. It really hurts your credit. If the OP would loose a job or his wife finds a new one, today, many employers will pull your credit report. The last thing they want to see is low scores and collection accounts.
So in closing, a lot of mistakes were done with this transaction. It sounds like it was an expensive lesson. Next time protect yourself. i hope things turn around for you and your wife. One day, may you look at this as a well learned lesson.
First of all, OP, I am very sorry to hear of your experience. Some of the things I will say may not be nice, nor is my intention to hurt you.
I was in hard times many years ago and bought macbooks and sold them. I always required money orders of cashiers checks. (This was before Ebay and pay pal) One time I sold it to someone I had an uneasy feeling about. I thought I was being prejudice and got mad at myself about that. But turns out the guy gave me an altered money order and I was SOL....till I found out my home owners insurance covered it and it was called "Theft by Deception."
Now the next thing is I have a problem with your and many posters here thinking that the buyer is guilty. Maybe he did not receive the package. There is no way to control that unless you have a signature requirement. Many times I come home and packages are just sitting by the door. So maybe your buyer did not get their package.
I have sold many items on Ebay. I find it the best way to sell most of my stuff. I ALWAYS require the buyer to buy the extras on expensive items. That way both the buyer and seller are protected. That's another reason I would only use paypal. It protects both parties. Also, don't let a buyer make you send something out when you can't send it out properly, ie: going to the PO when it is open and get a delivery conformation and signature form. For the future, you can also use UPS from Staples. They are open late and you can get it done there. Remember, charge for this when selling an item.
Next thing, DON'T EVER let anything go into collections. It really hurts your credit. If the OP would loose a job or his wife finds a new one, today, many employers will pull your credit report. The last thing they want to see is low scores and collection accounts.
So in closing, a lot of mistakes were done with this transaction. It sounds like it was an expensive lesson. Next time protect yourself. i hope things turn around for you and your wife. One day, may you look at this as a well learned lesson.
Maybe OP was so short in cash that HE IS the scammer and never sent the item kept the money and wants our help to show Paypal some crappy evidence. Who honestly knows, no tracking? Tough luck
It s still possible that it will be delivered. Although now from the sounds of it, it might not even be acknowledged that it was. I bought an item on eBay about a year ago and the shipper sent it priority mail with delivery confirmation but some how it never got scanned by USPS. So, I just knew that I'd been scammed! Especially when I looked up the delivery confirmation number and it showed it was not in the system. Well, it took almost 2 weeks but it did finally show up and with the same delivery confirmation number that the seller had messaged me. Needless to say I had to apologize for some of the things I'd said. Personally, I think it was way to early for a claim to have been filed. My guess is the buyer has been burned before and by no tracking info of any type being provided on such an expensive item, they got scared and contacted paypal!