How should I deal with this buyer?

[Guest]

[kbmum]

I knew eventually I'd get a buyer who would claim that the cards I sold him/her were damaged or otherwise unacceptable.  I sold three cards to a buyer who also has another eBay ID for selling.  Now, anyone who's ever bought from me knows that my auction descriptions are spot on and I take great care with packaging.  Well, the buyer didn't pay me for a week, claimed he was sick, and wanted to trade the three cards for some of his own.  I decided not to trade and he paid the $9.99 auction price plus $5 for Priority shipping.  I thought it odd that he wanted Priority for items that weren't expensive, especially since I knew he was buying the set to try to sell it for $30 (he has these cards in his eBay store and apparently is looking for more to sell).

I just got an e-mail from him claiming that one of the cards has a big bend in it from the top all the way down the card.  Bull!   There was NO bend in that card!  What can I do?  I know the card didn't have that damage.  If I tell him to return the set for a refund or return just the one card, he's going to send me the bent card that was HIS.  This stinks!

[grecopa]

I think you're totally screwed.  Now that Ebay won't let sellers leave neg feedback you really have no recourse.  I don't know how much pos feedback you have built up, but i'm guessing a lot.  I would probably tell him to go jump in a lake and take the neg feeback that is bound to come.  You can always reply to his feedback with your explination.  When checking sellers feedback I always look up any neg they have to see what the story is.  One negative won't ruin you and experienced buyers will overlook it when compared to all the pos you already have.

[kbmum]

I think you're totally screwed. 

Thank you for not mincing words!   I feel totally screwed, and not in a good way.   I called eBay customer service and they weren't much help.  They said to tell the buyer that the card was not damaged when it was mailed and to provide PayPal with scans of the cards in the event that a claim is filed.  My feedback rating is 1167 with 100 percent of that positive.  Yes, one negative won't ruin me, but I truly hate to get it.

[Nienna]

Well, at least with him paying for priority he won't be able to claim he hasn't received the cards and try a chargeback for them but I'm really at a loss as to what to suggest you do! 
You know you'll get his damaged card substituted for your good one if you ask for it to be returned.
There would be no way you could claim from the postal carrier for the alleged damage to that card either, as I know from personal experience how well you package your items ...

I was going to say there would be no point contacting anyone at Ebay for advice ... and you can't leave a neg to warn others that this buyer is unscrupulous in their dealings.

I hope you've blocked the person from bidding on any more of your auctions?

I hate being useless as I can't think of a way out of this one which won't end up with a neg on your account.  :'(

[kbmum]

I might have to revise my opinion about eBay's customer service.  The rep I spoke to just called me back to clarify some points that were in my favor, namely that my listing was very clear that the cards were in good, but not mint, condition with wear on the edges (the cards were given out by Disney World bus drivers, who kept the cards in their pockets or on the dashboard).  That said, the card was definitely not bent.  I wouldn't sell a card like that without carefully describing it in the auction and showing off the damage in scans or pictures.

I've sent the seller an e-mail stating that the card was not bent when I shipped it and requesting a scan or picture to show me the problem.

This is exactly the reason why I will not leave positive feedback for a buyer until the buyer leaves feedback for me. 

[Nienna]

Oooooo!
Sounds like you got an ebay rep who cared about doing a good job which is encouraging!! 
I hope they've logged your call against the auction number in case things turn nasty later on.
Thanks for their ID's too - two more to add to the blocked bidders list!! 
I've just seen how much they're charging for one of these cards too ... $12.50!! 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Disney-World-TRANSPORTATION-Trading-Card-THE-NOVA_W0QQitemZ350099453371QQihZ022QQcategoryZ13840QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I know some of the pinks have been posting that sellers ought to leave feedback straight after receiving payment to ensure they get 5's on their DSRs but I'm afraid I don't share their faith or optimism in leaving feedback (as a seller) this way ... I leave feedback only after I've received mine the same as you do. 

[Bryanjs14]

Same thing happened to me. I sold a guy a high end hockey card for $200 and when he got it he claimed the left corner was bent very badly. The only thing wrong with the left corner was a small ding, the same type of ding we are all used to with the thicker harry potter costume cards....sometimes call it chipping as well. Well the guy kept e-mailing me and asked for a partial refund and I simply told him NO. The card left me with nothing but a dinged corner (which I stated in the auction) and was shippped in a Magnetic top loader, there is NO way it could have been damaged along the way so the guy is full of BS.

He left me the first negative I have gotten in over a year and there is nothing I can do about it. Ebay is a broken broken system now.

[kbmum]

Did he file a PayPal claim?  The eBay rep implied that since I mentioned the condition of the cards in the auction, the buyer may not have any recourse with PayPal.  I specifically said that PayPal always sides with the buyer in a dispute and he hotly denied it.  He said that I'd have a good case with the auction description and pictures of the cards.  I'm not sure I believe him.  I do know that if I have any trouble with the buyer, I will send an e-mail to eBay, just to make sure that there's written documentation about the issue.

I agree that eBay is broken.  Unfortunately, there really isn't a better place to sell cards.   I'm glad I'm not a full-time seller.

[goldenavenger]

With shipping the card using Priority, is there a certain amount of value (insurance) that it covers? If he does get his way maybe you could file through USPS for a damaged card from shipping. ??

If all else fails, you could also have a friend buy one of his cards (the same as you sold him) and claim it was damaged and you should be able to get it back. 

Good luck, I know I'd hate being in that situation. Keep us updated.

Ttyl, Tim

[kbmum]

The domestic Priority envelope doesn't offer indemnity or insurance unless you purchase the insurance separately.  Besides, the card was not damaged during shipment and the buyer replied to me today to tell me the same.  I'm waiting for him to send me a scan of the card, but this isn't going to prove anything.  My card was not bent and he's going to send me a scan of a bent card he had in his possession from before my auction.  Fortunately, I have the original scans of my cards as proof.

[rns91294]

Let us know how the scan looks. I definitely think he is screwing you over with this one. Sucks. If they buyer tol d you it wasn't damamged in shipment, then he should (or anyone) clearly be able to see from your auction scan that the card was never bent.