r/Ebay•
iamlikethewindbaby

Interesting Ebay/Paypal Claim. Need your thoughts.

A couple weeks ago I sold an antique globe for $700. After the purchase the buyer changed his address from California to China. I don't ship out of the country, I reported the buyer for non-payment so I wouldn't be charged the selling fee.

I later relisted the item and it was purchased by another Chinese buyer, but this time located in Boston. I packed it up and shipped it out and two days later I see an "Item not as described" charge back on Paypal.

I offer hassle free returns on eBay. I also purchased insurance on the item, I would have taken a return no questions asked, but it still would have been nice if the buyer contacted me.

On the paypal claim the buyer stated that the cast iron base was broken and had been repaired (which it wasn't). Confused as to why the buyer would just open a claim on paypal and not ebay when I offer returns, I decided to contact the buyer......

A few minutes later I realized I contacted the wrong buyer. I accidentally sent a message to the first buyer who had never paid for the item. To my surprise they replied saying the the cast iron base was broken. I sent him a few more messages and he replied to them as well, I asked for a picture and he haven't responded yet.

So the buyer who didn't pay for the item and then the second buyer are clearly the same person. To top it off I have messages from the first buyer asking me questions about the globe and stating that they he had purchased a similar globe to mine in the past.

Now I'm no detective and this happened quite by accident, but this person is surely trying to scam me. With all the evidence that I have what is my best option?

Posted Feb 22, 2016, 5:46 AM UTC

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