eBay - saddle return scam/theft

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DD265

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My friend sold a saddle on eBay. The buyer claimed that it was damaged when they received it so my friend - rather than the hassle of an argument - agreed that they could return it for a refund.

The saddle that was returned is not the saddle that was sent - it is a different brand, size and style.

My friend contacted eBay and the rep basically said that because a saddle was returned the buyer could have her refund and closed the case on the grounds that they couldn't prove what my friend sent in the first instance.

Has anybody else been in a similar situation? Any advice? My friend is out £700 because of some lowlife theiving scumbag.
 
I think I might contact the police! And then phone ebay - phone not email - and tell them I have contacted the police. I would tell the scumbag buyer that I have contacted the police, and I would also tell paypal... that i had contacted the police! good luck to your friend, this kind of thing makes me sick!
 
roz84 said:
I think I might contact the police! And then phone ebay - phone not email - and tell them I have contacted the police. I would tell the scumbag buyer that I have contacted the police, and I would also tell paypal... that i had contacted the police! good luck to your friend, this kind of thing makes me sick!
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^^^^ This ^^^^

I have seen similar posts on a couple of cycling forums I am a member of. It really boils my blood that eBay just try and walk away, leaving the seller to try and sort the matter out themselves.
 
What a despicable person- it's so sad that this sort of fraud is on the increase. I'd do as others have suggested- get the police involved. And send a strongly worded email to the buyer explaining that the police are involved and this case will be pursued.
 
Gosh!!! I've got three saddles which I need to sell, and was thinking of putting them on e-bay. Bit of a re-think now though :(

This is truly shocking; especially so as e-bay sit on their haunches and do sweet FA about what is an obvious fraud. I can't see how they can get away with this.

Just a thought........ but would there be any mileage in going to Trading Standards? And that programme on TV that Ann Robinson does........ Watchdog.
 
Gosh thats a frighteningly easy scam!

I would go back to ebay and ask to speak to someone higher up in the first instance
 
Blimey OP what a nightmare.

.. Did anyone witness your friend packing your saddle up? Or do they have photos/video of it going in the box?
Have they checked the buyer's feedback for any similar complaints?
Agree, try Police.
They might end up having to go the Small Claims route. Trouble is, how do you prove what you sent?
Selling saddles is a complete minefield these days.
Hope your friend gets their money back.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Gosh!!! I've got three saddles which I need to sell, and was thinking of putting them on e-bay. Bit of a re-think now though :(

This is truly shocking; especially so as e-bay sit on their haunches and do sweet FA about what is an obvious fraud. I can't see how they can get away with this.

Just a thought........ but would there be any mileage in going to Trading Standards? And that programme on TV that Ann Robinson does........ Watchdog.
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Preloved. And don't accept paypal unless its a "send to friends" payment.

Trading standards don't deal with private sales and watchdog got bored of eBay a long time ago.

It's the marketing hype that gets people sucked in. Annoys me immensely. EBay is not "a safe place to buy and sell" which they state. It *can* be, but no more so than an advert in the local paper.

EBay is an advertising board basically, only they have rules forcing everyone to behave as if they were a shop, even private individuals selling second hand goods they no longer need. If people only realised that, they could take measures to keep themselves safe. I've bought all kinds if things from private sellers on eBay and elsewhere, sending payment in the post and trusting item arrives. But 3k items? Erm no. And if I sell something I don't want to know if it doesn't arrive, the risk for that is with the buyer under UK law, but not eBay/paypal rules.

ETA on the plus side at least you received a saddle back OP even if it wasn't your saddle, better than an empty box. With any luck its not damaged and you can sell it. This scam is not new.
 
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Get a solicitor to send a letter; you have their address which is helpful as a start.
Do they have your property, intending to permanently deprive you of it (as they now haven't paid for it). That would be theft.
 
Do they live far away? An ominously worded hand delivered letter might help them see the error of their ways, especially if you can get a couple of very rough looking blokes to deliver it.
 
Even with preloved you need to be careful if accepting paypal.
Friend sold his saddle on there.
Buyer received it and claimed it was damaged. He had videos showing it being packaged, but paypal came down on buyers side.
When he received the saddle back, it was his saddle, but had definitely been damaged deliberately with cuts to it.
The correspondence from the buyer showed she didn't know where the gullet was, on a wintec changeable gullet saddle, so had cut the panels looking for it.,
He still lost his money, and obviously has a saddle back that can't be repaired or sold.
 
Definately persevere with eBay as well. A case was brought against me as a buyer wanted to return an item which she claimed was not as described. I fought the case as I knew buyer had bought an identical item for a cheaper price and clearly had decided to pull a fast one. I though there was nothing I could do, but sent a report to eBay re this buyer, and was also on the phone to eBay for over forty minutes because I just wouldn't let it lie. Eventually ebay reversed the decision, my item had already been returned to me slightly damaged, but I did not have to pay the buyer a refund.

If you can prove, by pictures etc, that this is not the saddle you sold, you definately have a good case. Check the buyers feedback as they may have tried this before, and would strengthen your case against them.
 
You have their address! The person who said a hand delivered note would be good. There is no where in this country I would not drive too. If they are far away they will not expect you to go. That is what I would do if EBay would not help. You need to keep on and ring them. You can get to speak to them but you have to keep at them. You have photos of the original saddle do you can prove it is yours.
 
OP, what a nightmare for you. I hope you can resolve it.
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Gosh!!! I've got three saddles which I need to sell, and was thinking of putting them on e-bay. Bit of a re-think now though :(.
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I'm taking mine to a local tack shop who will sell on commision. The tack shop based second hand market initially collapsed with the advent of ebay, but there are so many scams out there that it is having a revival. You have to factor in the shop's cut, and VAT, but at least you should end up with something, rather than being conned out of the lot.
 
Sukistokes2 said:
You have their address! The person who said a hand delivered note would be good. There is no where in this country I would not drive too. If they are far away they will not expect you to go. That is what I would do if EBay would not help. You need to keep on and ring them. You can get to speak to them but you have to keep at them. You have photos of the original saddle do you can prove it is yours.
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THIS^^^^ I would also go for a drive and see their shocked face as they answer their door and you request your saddle back
 
Thanks all for the advice and words of support, I will feed these back to my friend and hopefully she can get things sorted.
 
OP just a word of advice, but if you ARE intending to go to their address......... keep yourself safe, please!

Check out the address on Google earth first, get an idea of the, um, "neighbourhood", if you get my gist.

It might be a good idea to take some muscle with you, especially if you are a woman on their own. A witness would be a good idea anyway.
 
Before you do anything else, just call back. eBay, like a lot of organisations, have huge call centres, some operators being better trained than others.

I've tried this on several occasions when I haven't received a satisfactory response (including eBay!), and a different operator can give you a completely different answer.

If that fails, then you ask for the manager!
 
There's just too many stories like this :(

I almost had kittens after listing a saddle then reading a similar style thread. I was very lucky as I sold my saddle and had no problems at all, very happy lady who left me lovely feedback. I did have a good stalk through her feedback to try and be as careful as possible!
 
How was the saddle originally sent, and how was it returned? Is there any chance there may be discrepancies in weight/size etc..on the boxes. Have you logged it with the Police? If you havent, do so now and obtain an incident number. Has it been logged with Action Fraud? Again, do so now.
Contact ebay and keep contacting them till you get Dublin. Explain all this to them and give them the Police ref no's, tell them you wish to appeal the decision made. You may be lucky
If not your only solutions are a) small claims court & b) going round to their house.
Ebay have been known to reverse decisions when incident numbers are filed. Make sure your friend blocks that bidder from now on.
 
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