Scammed - anyone heard of this?

[JeanGabin]

I've just had an email from an online shop where I'd returned 3 dresses via Evri. They said the contents were not their items, and when they sent pics I could see that the (carefully packaged) contents were not the same.

I had put the clothes in the box it had been packaged in, with tissue paper, then covered it with a waterproof post bag with the label attached. Postage wasn't included so I sent it via evri.
The pics showed no box, but the bag (which had been taped up). Some random clothes in a colour I'd never wear. The items I was returning weren't cheap either.
Feeling a bit sick. I think I only have cover up to £20 via Evri (kicking myself about that now too)

So someone has gone to the trouble of taking ‘your’ items out and replacing them with inferior quality items that are from a different retailer or brand?

If this happened at an Evri sorting office I can’t see why they didn’t just steal your parcel and how would they have other clothes ready and waiting to swap with yours?

If it was a mix up at their end then someone in clear view of others would have to have brought in clothes to swap with returned items. Not impossible but unlikely.

So that leaves a drop off shop who may have an employee who swapped out the contents, although again, they could have just stolen the parcel, rather than go to the elaborate plan of swapping the clothing.

Were the clothes they revived in new condition with tags on?

Tbh I don’t know if there were any tags on. I suppose could it be possible that the packaging of a couple of parcels was damaged and they got mixed up in trying to repackage? It does seem really bizarre, but the retailer sent pics, and it’s definitely my label (on the waterproof bag minus the box, but resealed with tape).
it’s all so odd - and I agree it feels much more likely someone would just take the parcel rather than put something else in it 🤷‍♀️

Thanks Surveille. Felt sick initially but I guess there’s very little I can do about it. Interesting to hear you’ve come across this before though. I tried to see if I could identify the clothes from the little I could see in the pics and think there may be a Temu tshirt (and something else in pink) - so relatively cheap things. I have asked the retailer if there are any labels though in case it is more innocent.

it does feel a bit like being gaslit though - I’ve been trying to remember if there’s any way I’d have sent a pink girls tshirt by accident (even though I don’t have any daughters and never wear pink myself!)

I’m surprised at Royal Mail - I thought they’d have really robust systems in place. Did they tell you it had been taken home and opened?

I guess the lesson I’ve taken from this is to always pay the extra to insure the parcel to the full value and try to use a credit card to pay. It’s not really possible to avoid sending things - it’s hard to buy in shops these days!

I would post on the social media of both Evri and the retailer not making any accusations but asking if anyone else has had the same problem.

Now you’ve written more I’m inclined to think it happened in the shop you dropped it off at.

I understood that when you pay a courier for delivery it forms part of a contract to deliver the goods in good condition. Definitely worth taking up with Evri and they should investigate. The parcel should have a tracking number.

Thanks - I've looked into that and found this article which sounds more promising.
I've also managed to get hold of an actual person at Evri who is sending a claim form. Feeling slightly more hopeful!