I just got screwed by a buyer! Need help

[kibosh]

Hi guys,

If this is not the right place for this post, please move it.

Months ago, a buyer bought a sealed castle set from me and it arrived at his house, but he claims the box was dented. We initiated a charge back through his credit card company saying his product was not as advertised. He just won his case, and I am out $300+. I think this is mail fraud. Can I press charges against this guy?

So irritated....

[GallardoLU]

how was the set advertised? and do you have any proof of its condition when shipped? any insurance on the package?

as for criminal charges you would need to prove the condition it was in when it left your hands and the condition the shippers left it with the buyer in.

[kibosh]

It was advertised as a sealed set on Bricklink. No proof of condition, and insurance was declined. Based on the claim he initiated, it states the product must be returned. He has not contacted me, and will not respond to email.

[VintageLegoEra]

It was advertised as a sealed set on Bricklink. No proof of condition, and insurance was declined. Based on the claim he initiated, it states the product must be returned. He has not contacted me, and will not respond to email.

Lets take it step by step. So the claim process took place via paypal. Right?

What paypal first will do is to ask the buyer to return the item back and then you refund him the amount. So how come he didnt returned it back and you were cut by 300???

There is another thing. Once the claim is ooened, the Mount will be held by paypal till the case is closed and set by 2 of you.

I believe the amount os held till he returns back the set and then paypal confirm it then everything will go to normal.

Please advice.

[kibosh]

The claim was submitted to his CC company. He has not made any attempt to return my Lego set. Paypal disputed the claim, but the CC ruled in favor of the buyer.

[Mr Greeble]

My goodness, this person seems shitty. You don't have any pictures of the set before it was sent?

Edited July 14, 2016 by Mr Greeble

[kibosh]

Totally. He goes by one name on Bricklink, and a different name on PayPal. I just talked to PayPal, and they said it was highly unusually that the claim would be closed without proof that I got my merchandise back so they are contacting the CC company again.

[RTZX9R]

Was the purchase made for "goods and merchandise" or "friends/family"? If it was for goods and merch then I beleive Paypal has some guarantees for seller protection. If it was friends/family then you may be SOL.

Also - was the buyer in another country? Low feedback? Any warning signs? Not saying you at fault at all, but this may indeed be a legit scammer and you need to file a NPB on Bricklink and alert them to this asap.

[Anonknee Muss]

I don't know much about laws in selling goods and sending them by mail, but I hope justice is brought to this scammer, good luck, honesty is the best policy.

[Agusti Padros]

Hi guys,

If this is not the right place for this post, please move it.

Months ago, a buyer bought a sealed castle set from me and it arrived at his house, but he claims the box was dented. We initiated a charge back through his credit card company saying his product was not as advertised. He just won his case, and I am out $300+. I think this is mail fraud. Can I press charges against this guy?

So irritated....

Tricky. Unless you can prove that it left your house in perfect conditions, and that the damage wasn't caused by you. It could indeed be a fraud, so try'n look for any kind of warnings, such as the feedback that people give back... Sorry to ehar what's happened to you

[kibosh]

Tricky. Unless you can prove that it left your house in perfect conditions, and that the damage wasn't caused by you. It could indeed be a fraud, so try'n look for any kind of warnings, such as the feedback that people give back... Sorry to ehar what's happened to you

No I can't prove it left my house perfectly. I can prove he received it though because he admitted it in email. According to PayPal, he should have first supplied proof of the return before his CC company closed the case. My guess is he will not be able to send me back the sealed set. And if he broke the seals, it should no longer matter the condition of the box.

Was the purchase made for "goods and merchandise" or "friends/family"? If it was for goods and merch then I beleive Paypal has some guarantees for seller protection. If it was friends/family then you may be SOL.

Also - was the buyer in another country? Low feedback? Any warning signs? Not saying you at fault at all, but this may indeed be a legit scammer and you need to file a NPB on Bricklink and alert them to this asap.

I don't remember the purchase type, and since it's been closed, it's gone from my history like it never happened. Same country. He did have low feedback, but it was positive.

[BrickCurve]

Ouch! I agree about the NPB notification on Brick Link. What also might help would be contacting Brick Link directly and seeing what they recommend.

[kibosh]

I did submit a NPB notification through Bricklink.

[VintageLegoEra]

I did submit a NPB notification through Bricklink.

Hope this works and i will advise you to write an email about your issue to Bricklink Admin so they will be aware.

As a seller in ebay since long time, and what i know through my experience, what ever buyers buy snd if the item was not as described or broken or whatever else, the policy is to return it back for full refund. If you are sure everything was sent perfecr, and the buyer is trying to act like a Sh**, the you need to prove with photos. I always take photos of the parcel, sets and shipping papers before i post items.

But what i cant understand, how he got the 300 without returning?

[kibosh]

But what i cant understand, how he got the 300 without returning?

That's the thing I don't understand, and my biggest issue. No way should he be able to keep both.

[VintageLegoEra]

That's the thing I don't understand, and my biggest issue. No way should he be able to keep both.

PayPal always go for prove and attaching photos in their site. Looks like they closed the case into buyers favor since you didn provide any prove, but you can still call them which is better than mailing them. Honestly, when you call them and explain it works well than mailing them.

And Because there is a selection of many solution seller can offer to buyer when buyer open a case one of it is ( issue a full refund and keep the item ). Looks like you didnt notice that when the case was open......

Try to call them and clarify to PayPal.

Edited July 15, 2016 by VintageLegoEra

[Hinckley]

I would try to contact Bricklink admin as well about this issue.

And please post his name so that other sellers can block him. Whenever I've had a problem with a Bricklink user, I post on the Bricklink forums. They have a sub–forum entitled "Problem Order". I think it's a good move considering he won't respond to your emails.

I once had a buyer try to tell me she had a piece missing and I knew I had put it in the envelope. We went back and forth three times and she found her son had taken it. Supposedly. Ever since then I photograph every order before I seal the envelope and keep it in a folder on my computer. With iPhones it's so easy to catalog everything I'm shipping.