Help!!!! with an Ebay transaction (as a seller)

[snakeygoddess]

Hi ladies!I know that there is an ebay thread, but I wanted to talk with you all also. I received a Poppy Zebra Large Wristlet as a gift, but I already have one. So, I put the new one up for bid on ebay because I figured that I could use the $$$ more than a store credit from Coach. After a couple of days of no communication from the buyer, I began sending emails via Ebay as well as sending two invoices on different days. After several days, this lady (a term that I am using VERY loosely here!) finally sends me an email saying that she would be sending payment via Paypal shortly. Because her payment was so late, it ended up taking me a couple of days to ship out her item but I figure, hey, she was late too so she is obviously not in a hurry. I did not charge her for shipping, and send it USPS Priority in a flat rate box for $4.95. Then last week I go into my email to clean up the spam/junk mail, and I see a NASTY email from this lady. So as my mom always told me, "kill 'em with kindness". So I send her an email starting off with, "Good Afternoon to you too" and explain that I just retrieved this email from my junkmail. This rude email states that she already sent me one unanswered emai. Now, I had received a prior email from her via eBay and replied to that one earlier, but apparently she never received it. I checked ebay and saw that she is no longer a registered user, so I assume that is why she didn't receive my original response. Anyways, I explain that it was sent USPS Priority and that she should receive it within a few days. The next thing I know, there is a hold on my Paypal acct and she has filed a claim! In my response, I explain how horrible she has been from the beginning, taking a week almost to send payment, and that to just be done with her I am willing to cut my losses and split the cost with her, meaning that I will refund half the winning bid. She requested a tracking number in her original statement on the dispute and I answered that USPS does not offer tracking, and she did not request a Delivery Confirmation number. Now, I've been selling on ebay since 2000 and have NEVER had someone say that they did not get what was mailed to them. Because of how probelmatic this lady has been, and from what she has written in her emails, I am convinced that she received it and is scamming me. Today it has now escalated to a claim. I only have three options on the Paypal page: 1) Hit the option that I have proof it was shipped. 2) Hit the option that it was never shipped and refund payment. 3)Hit the option that I already refunded the payment. So, I obviously hit the first option being that I have the receipt from the Post Office. The next page that opens up and requests the tracking number! I leave it blank and state in the Notes section that USPS does not have "tracking" like UPS does and that she did not request nor pay for Delivery Confirmation. However, Paypal would not let me use this option WITHOUT the tracking number. What do I do?? How do I handle this?? Believe me, I am tempted to just go to Coach and purchase a new one to send her because I know that she has the first one and is just a scammer. It's a shame that people like her ruin the whole experience for the rest of us! Does anybody have any ideas of what I can do?? I need help. TIA.

[CoachGirl12]

You may want to ask this same question in the ebay forum since there are a lot of experts in that forum that deal with a lot of these situations...

[CoachGirlJami]

USPS DOES offer tracking - if you sent it Priority, it's included with the postage cost - there should be a number on your receipt that starts with "9101" - THAT is the tracking number. Put that in the Paypal dispute console, and you are covered, and they will release the hold once they check and see that it's been delivered to someone.

In the future, it's ALWAYS a good idea to print your postage through Paypal - then the tracking number is emailed to the buyer, and shows up with the Paypal transaction so you don't have to deal with lunatics like this. And also insure every package - it's less than $2 extra and covers your @$$ (I was an eBay powerseller back in the day, but don't sell over there anymore, because they suck). Good luck!

[snakeygoddess]

Here are some of the emails she sent. The first one I received AFTER I already replied via Ebay about the shipment. That is the ONLY email she sent prior. And since I replied, I had no idea that there was any problems. I certainly did not appreciate being threatened....

From Buyer: I have sent several emails in about me item that I paid on the 19 of Oct. I still have not received my item do u have a tracking #.

PS This will be my lasts email to you before I email paypal and let them know you have not responded to any of my email nor have I received my item.



From me: Good Afternoon to you, too. I just stumbled upon this while cleaning out my JUNK mailbox which is where your emails have gone. Due to the fact that it took you longer to send payment, it was not convienant for me to get to the PO at that point. I had emailed you through ebay, but I see that you are no longer a registered user which is the source of the problem and why you did not receive it. Expect it within a few days. USPS does not give tracking #'s.

from buyer: Well it been 12 day SINCE I PAID and no item yet. USPS DOES GIVE A TRACKING # WHEN YOU SEND THING WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. IT MY CHOICE TO CLOSE MY ACCOUNT WITH EBAY SO I WOULD NOT BUY ANYMORE.(WITH IS REALLY NOT UR BUSINESS.) (IT MINE) IF I DON'T RECIEVE IT TODAY I'LL INFORM PAYPAL AND EBAY. AND THEY WILL ASK YOU FOR THE TRACKING #. WHICH EVERYONE SENDS ITEMS WITH TRACKING # WITH EBAY/PAYPAL OR DELIVERY CONFIRMATION WITH USPS.....

From me: Well, you didn't pay for Delivery Confirmation so I did not request it either. Do what you have to do, it is not my responsibility once it leaves my hands. I would love to work this out with you, but you are very unreasonable which makes me think that you are just a scammer. I will contact ebay myself and see what I should do about this and you.


The way this lady responds is just very suspicous to me. As somebody who worked for several years in a psychiatric facilitly and studied people's behaviors, I truly believe that this lady is a liar.

[snakeygoddess]

Originally Posted by CoachGirlJami

USPS DOES offer tracking - if you sent it Priority, it's included with the postage cost - there should be a number on your receipt that starts with "9101" - THAT is the tracking number. Put that in the Paypal dispute console, and you are covered, and they will release the hold once they check and see that it's been delivered to someone. In the future, it's ALWAYS a good idea to print your postage through Paypal - then the tracking number is emailed to the buyer, and shows up with the Paypal transaction so you don't have to deal with lunatics like this. And also insure every package - it's less than $2 extra and covers your @$$ (I was an eBay powerseller back in the day, but don't sell over there anymore, because they suck). Good luck!

I don't see a number that starts with "9101" but on the receipt there is a transaction number and a usps # that looks like "1295**-****". Is this the tracking number?? Thanks so much for your help!!!

[CoachGirlJami]

Originally Posted by snakeygoddess

I don't see a number that starts with "9101" but on the receipt there is a transaction number and a usps # that looks like "1295**-****". Is this the tracking number?? Thanks so much for your help!!!

It might be (I'm not super-familiar with receipts from the actual post office - I am lazy and print everything out of Paypal, hehehe) - go to usps.com, and enter that number in the "Track & Confirm" box and see what it comes up with....Let me know - I'll try to help any way I can - this lady sounds like a crazy b!@tch, and the sooner you are rid of her, the better. (People like her are the reason I left eBay). Ugh.

[September24]

Go to USPS.com and enter that number in the "track your package" section and see what comes up.

Oops, posted at the same time LOL

[2manybagz]

I had the same thing happen to me, but it was a coach item sent to japan about a year and half ago.
She claimed she never got it, so i basically lost $around $400.00
the bag was 198.00. Which paypal gave back to her and she got to keep the bag.
This was horrifying, and there was nothing i could do about it. Since no tracking # that means no proof.
Which stinks..
So i learned to never send out of usa and to always no matter what use delivery confirmation....
I have been a member on ebay since 2000 too.
As far as i know there is nothing you can do(without the tracking #) she will get her money back and keep the bag...
I am so sorry about this.
I know how you feel the very same thing happened to me....
I wish i could have had better news...
Unless there is something new (that paypal or ebay can do) since mine has happened that i am unaware of. I would call both of them to see....
Blessings,
and sorry for this, it stinks...

[snakeygoddess]

Originally Posted by CoachGirlJami

It might be (I'm not super-familiar with receipts from the actual post office - I am lazy and print everything out of Paypal, hehehe) - go to usps.com, and enter that number in the "Track & Confirm" box and see what it comes up with....Let me know - I'll try to help any way I can - this lady sounds like a crazy b!@tch, and the sooner you are rid of her, the better. (People like her are the reason I left eBay). Ugh.

Thank you so much for your help! I NEVER knew that there was a tracking number on here. lol. Guess that "witch" didn't realize it either!!!!

[CoachGirlJami]

Yay! So, did that number work? hehehe Now she can take her Paypal claim and shove it....

[snakeygoddess]

Originally Posted by CoachGirlJami

Yay! So, did that number work? hehehe Now she can take her Paypal claim and shove it....

That would have been too easy. It worked, but the date didn't seem right. After double checking that buyers address I realized that this receipt is for a different auction. No worries, I recently switched to a new wallet so not everything is in this one. As soon as I get home from work I will check the old one for the proper receipt and check the tracking. Thanks again ladies!!!!

[Conchenn]

This sounds like such a mess! I hope you can find the receipt and I hope everything works out for you!

[mbparcia]

Op, If you can't find the tracking number Paypal will rule in her favor.
It's the responsibility of the seller to insure the package and to get a tracking number. Ebay changed its rules and now the sellers are no longer allowed to charge extra for insurance, you should roll it into your costs.

Also, for Paypal to Protect you the item must shipped within 7 days from payment. Paypal and Ebay have a lot of new rules and it's a pain to sell on Ebay, but you do you should know their rules in order to avoid someone scamming you.
Good Luck, I hope you can find your receipt and everything works out for you!

[Nico3327]

Let me preface by saying that this woman appears to be extremely unreasonable and rude and I'm sorry that you have to deal with this. I truly hope you find the back-up you need to win your paypal case.

I do think though, that there are a couple things I would have done differently. I don't think it is ever safe for a seller to assume that because the buyer took extra time to pay that it is okay to take extra time to ship. I also don't agree that once the item leaves your hands (as a seller) that you are not responsible for it - in fact I would venture to say this is flat-out untrue. As a seller, you are responsible to get the item to the buyer in the condition in which it was described in the listing.

Ebay is difficult for sellers these days, and it sucks, but the only way to make it bearable is to follow their ridiculous rules. I would definitely say that from now on it is best to purchase delivery and/or signature confirmation and insurance no matter what the value of the item.

I hope you win your case!

[Coach10619]

You as the seller ARE responsible once the item leaves your hands. If you sell something and your buyer don't get the item and you don't have any way to prove that you shipped it or that the buyer recieved it, you will be held responsible and YOU will be out the item and the money, not the buyer.

Plus, I don't want to sound rude here but, if I was your buyer and hadn't recieved my item in over 12 days and got an email from my seller accusing me of being a scammer, I'd be pretty ticked off.

You need to get all the info you have about the package and try to find out where the package is right now because, if your buyer don't get it and you can't provide a tracking/delivery confirmation number to paypal, you will lose the claim.

Just keep this in mind for future sales, you should ALWAYS get delivery confirmation on anything under $250 and for anything over $250, you need to insure it and get a signature confirmation, if you don't, you will be held liable if anything were to happen to the package, not the buyer.

Originally Posted by snakeygoddess

Here are some of the emails she sent. The first one I received AFTER I already replied via Ebay about the shipment. That is the ONLY email she sent prior. And since I replied, I had no idea that there was any problems. I certainly did not appreciate being threatened.... From Buyer: I have sent several emails in about me item that I paid on the 19 of Oct. I still have not received my item do u have a tracking #. PS This will be my lasts email to you before I email paypal and let them know you have not responded to any of my email nor have I received my item. From me: Good Afternoon to you, too. I just stumbled upon this while cleaning out my JUNK mailbox which is where your emails have gone. Due to the fact that it took you longer to send payment, it was not convienant for me to get to the PO at that point. I had emailed you through ebay, but I see that you are no longer a registered user which is the source of the problem and why you did not receive it. Expect it within a few days. USPS does not give tracking #'s. from buyer: Well it been 12 day SINCE I PAID and no item yet. USPS DOES GIVE A TRACKING # WHEN YOU SEND THING WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. IT MY CHOICE TO CLOSE MY ACCOUNT WITH EBAY SO I WOULD NOT BUY ANYMORE.(WITH IS REALLY NOT UR BUSINESS.) (IT MINE) IF I DON'T RECIEVE IT TODAY I'LL INFORM PAYPAL AND EBAY. AND THEY WILL ASK YOU FOR THE TRACKING #. WHICH EVERYONE SENDS ITEMS WITH TRACKING # WITH EBAY/PAYPAL OR DELIVERY CONFIRMATION WITH USPS..... From me: Well, you didn't pay for Delivery Confirmation so I did not request it either. Do what you have to do, it is not my responsibility once it leaves my hands. I would love to work this out with you, but you are very unreasonable which makes me think that you are just a scammer. I will contact ebay myself and see what I should do about this and you. The way this lady responds is just very suspicous to me. As somebody who worked for several years in a psychiatric facilitly and studied people's behaviors, I truly believe that this lady is a liar.