posted on May 17, 2001 12:29:51 AM
This never happened to me as a seller on ebay, however does anyone know what to do if the buyer tells you that the item was not in the box? Even though you know that you have placed the item in the box? how would you handle this, if you sent the item lets say by USPS registered/insured or FedEx? You know that he is telling you lie, but how can you prove this?...just a thought...
posted on May 17, 2001 12:44:58 AM
Assuming he's lying: Do you have a record of where you shipped the package? The postage amount that you paid should show whether you shipped a lightweight empty box, or whether the box had something in it.
Assuming he's telling the truth: It's not unheard of for packages to come open (or possibly be purposely opened) during shipping. I would ask your post office and see what they say, and if the item was insured, file a claim.
posted on May 17, 2001 05:31:38 AM
The weight of the box should offer proof unless it was a very light item. If your recept shows you paid to ship 4 lbs and the box and packing amterial say weighs 3 1/2 lbs then obviosly the item disapered in transit in which case I would think the carrier would be verry interested.
posted on May 17, 2001 06:57:09 AM
Hello Jewelplus:
I had a similar case a couple of years ago where a buyer claimed he received an empty envelope, still sealed, but no stamp. The next email from that customer said he received nothing at all from me. Until the second email came I was prepared to bite the bullet and take the loss, even though I was pretty sure I was victim to a scam. After the second email I checked his feedback. That looked ok, but nevertheless, I wrote to the last five sellers he had bought from. 3 of 5 had the SAME thing happen. The man was a very good con, he would first wait until AFTER positive feedback were posted to him to make a stink. I reported this to Safeharbor with sufficient proof. They indefintely suspended this user, but only after three more months elapsed and two more sellers fell victim and with Benny firing off emails 2-3 times every week. They really don't seem to want to get involved.
You should definitely check this buyers feedback and perhaps write a couple of sellers. Unfortunately, eBay is a prime home for cons and you might just have one on your hands.
I have had my Postal Clerk start writing the weight of the package I am shipping on the insurance form or on the delivery confirmation form.
I started doing this when I read on the boards that some sellers had people claim they were not receiving all the items of a set. I was selling a lot of salt and peppers and condiment sets at the time.
Only once has anyone tried to say they did not receive all of the set since I started doing that.
I just emailed them to take the whole thing down to the Post Office and have it weighed as I had my P.O. put the weight on the insurance receipt and we would file a claim.
They emailed me that they had "found" the piece, it was in some of the padding they had removed. Sure it was.
It can't be MY "fault", I've NEVER owned a "fault"!
posted on May 17, 2001 11:47:02 AM
Actually I had a case like this. Lady bought a set of glasses & a tray in separate auctions.
I shipped putting the tray toward the bottom, packing over it & the glasses toward the top.
She kept emailing me asking where her tray was. I kept telling her it was in the box. She SWORE it wasn't! I tore my house apart looking for that tray even though I knew I had put it in there.
Finally, after 2 weeks of me asking her to recheck the box, her insisting it wasn't in the box, she finally admitted she'd thrown the box in the outgoing trash the first day w/o checking the bottom for the tray.
Did you ask your buyer if there was any damage to the box? On one occasion, I had a small item in a larger box which got damaged & the small item fell out.
They really don't seem to want to get involved.