I bought a board game last month on eBay. Turned out it was counterfeit. He refunded my money and told me I could keep the game. He wanted me to remove the negative feedback that warned other buyers that my copy was a fake. I said I would if he pulled his listing, emailed the other buyers to warn them, etc. He didn't. So I left the neg. (If you're going to post and flame me for keeping the game, please don't. He should have known it was fake, or at least believed me when confronted with the evidence, the knowledgeable opinions of other games, and the expert opinion of of the game manufacturer themselves.) I only have one item for sale right now on eBay. The buyer has 100% feedback, but I just want to be sure my tinfoil hat is working properly. I am planning on video taping me putting the coin-related item into the package while at the Post Office, then mailing it with tracking and insurance. Not sure about signature confirmation, but it is over $250, so I think I need to. Any other ideas? The item is slabbed by ANACS (which I submitted, so I know it's legit). I don't want the buyer to claim that it's fake, that they never received it, etc. Thanks for reading my long rant, and thanks for any advice. <flame on>
I think that’s an overkill. Just block the seller of the board game from bidding on your items and move on. Most people are honest, even on eBay.
Honesty. Integrity. Common sense. Use all three when buying or selling on ebay. Just bought a coin from a guy on ebay. It was really cheap for what it was. He admitted his prices were bargains, but that isnt what stood out to me. When I received the coin he had added a hand written note. He said that I bought the coin as is (he didnt accept returns) but if I had any problems to please contact him and we would be able to work something out. Now I by no means want to return it, it was just the idea that he wanted to help if there was a problem. Sellers like him are why I feel comfortable buying on ebay. And as a buyer, have some common sense. P.S. I didnt even know they made cointerfeit board games lol.
Just mail with insurance and signature confirmation. Video taping yourself at the PO is overkill although Im sure the other customers would enjoy watching the guy in the tin foil hat filming himself!!
I agree, there's no reason to film yourself. Just do the standard insurance and proof of delivery or signature required. The fact of the matter is that anytime a buyer makes a stink they'll probably get a refund and there's not much you can do about it. eBay really is for buyers, I'm surprised people can still make enough money to put up with all the bologna these days. I don't sell much on there anymore.
You'd think, with eBay policies so heavily weighted in favor of the buyer, that every seller would be getting ripped off regularly. And yet, that's not the case. Maybe most people are ethical and well-behaved, as best they can manage...?
I have 70 feedback on eBay (not a lot i know) and only 1 negative in my selling career. I get a message, of course on the day I'm leaving for vacation, that the buyer claimed the items weren't in the conditions as described. I asked him how he would like to move forward, I was happy to help. He wanted a full refund and to keep the item. That wasn't going to happen (especially because i know the item i sent was as described, and i believed i was "being taken for a ride") So i offered for him to return the item (at his shipping cost) and then I'd give him a full refund (i didn't even offer returns at the time). He didn't appreciate this solution, so he decided to just leave a negative feedback. I contacted eBay, said i tried to work out a solution with the buyer and the buyer just ignored me. I also noted that if the buyer still wanted to work something out i would be willing to work with him. EBay took down the feedback and i never heard from the buyer again. Generally, if you are doing the right thing on eBay, you wont get stuck with a negative feedback. For a $250 item, i would insure the package, just in case. The post office does make mistakes sometimes, or some buyers aren't exactly 100#% truthful. Also pack it correctly to eliminate the possibility of damage. The last slab i was send was wrapped in thick paper towels. I never thought of shipping like this, but it definitely acted as an insulator, reducing chances for damage. I ship everything i ship in bubble mailers as well.
Ebay requires signature confirm on items $750 or more, so don't waste your money on that. For that type of stuff while bubble mailers are cheaper I use priority mail small flat rate because its simple. Slab in bubble mailer, throw in box, print label done. Comes with free $50 insurance. I self insure and so far only had one get lost out of 1,500 or so.
I'd do the signature over 250. Also if you do get insurance make sure its the USPS insurance, Shipcover which is the default doesn't cover coins last I knew
My take is that eBay seller protection has you covered up to $750 without a signature, unless of course the box get trashed enough to drop its contents. You're right about Shipcover. I think it's really sleazy that eBay still makes it the default in the Coins and Paper Money category, even though they have no trouble at ALL blocking gift certificates for payment in that category, charging different FVFs for stores by category, etc, etc...
I can't remember paypals threshold, 250 is just enough for me to pay the extra 1 percent to get a signature since someone can't claim they didn't get something with their signature on file. It's not even that cheap either. I'm guessing they make money off it and that's why its the default, but I am sure a lot of people buy it being unaware that even though they paid for it their shipment wouldn't even be covered
Have a buying account and a selling account. This is pretty much your best bet at protecting yourself from stuff like this.
There is no way to protect yourself from a SNAD or "it's counterfeit" claim. Ebay WILL side with the buyer, but the claim of non-delivery is covered with the delivery confirmation, or signature conformation if it is over $750. If you can show confirmation from the post office that it was delivered and that you mailed it to their confirmed address (confirmation won't show where it was delivered to, but that doesn't matter) ebay will usually side with the seller that is WAS delivered. If they claim it arrived empty, well that is why you either buy insurance, or take the risk and self insure. And if you are REALLY worried about it getting there, ship it Registered mail. It WILL get there. (And if the insured value is over something like $1000, Registered is cheaper as well. Just be advised that it can be significantly slower. If you ship Registered warn the buyer that it may take a little longer to arrive.)
The problem with registered mail and eBay though is if you are worried about scammers, it is possible for a buyer to get a refund before the registered mail arrives depending upon on how slow it goes
