To think this at the very least morally wrong if not legally?

[BadabingBadaboom]

Long story short there was a discussion between myself and another Mum at the park recently. She was basically asking about a few of us getting together for dinner (she's not a friend really but we share friends). I mentioned money was a bit tight until payday.

She then told me that when money's a bit tight she sells fictitious items on eBay on a one day sale but with an extended delivery date. Once it's sold she used the funds and then a week or two (payday basically) she refunds the money.

She's basically using it as an interest free payday loan at someone else's expense. I may have pretty much said that and she wasn't particularly happy that I thought this to be entirely immoral at then least.

AIBU to have been parading my judgy pants that day?

Yes I'd have thought that's illegal - fraud surely?

No - that's really very wrong and she should be ashamed of herself.

She must have a terrible ebay record. This is morally wrong. Those poor people expecting something that never come. This could be a birthday pressie for a child or adult. Sorry im shocked!

I think what's she's doing is utterly outrageous! I'm not sure I'd have said anything to her unless she was quite a good friend, though... If she's just an acquaintance, I'd probably just have judged her silently and got away as quickly as possible so I could call my DP and share my horror with him.

I'd find out her ebay user name and report her...on the quiet Bang out of order

I actually couldn't have hidden my shock I was visibly

I said about the eBay record but she said that she always responds to messages quickly and the people actually leave good feedback saying "thanks for all your help" etc! We had only just arrived at the park so I felt like I couldn't just hightail it out of there but I did as soon as was possible and phoned my Mum

Why would you even tell people you do this. She honestly thinks it's no big deal.

Should also say that she mentioned another couple of Mums I know do this and it was one of them that turned her onto it!

I honestly didn't even know this was a thing. It wouldn't even cross my mind to do something like that. I struggle on occasion with cash flow and use eBay to actually sell things but would never do that!

What excuses did she use to refund the money. This has to be fraud.. Still shocked

What sorts of items is she 'selling'?

It is definitely wrong, although if she's giving an extended delivery date then it's not as bad as it could be - presumably the buyers wouldn't have been waiting for anything to turn up.

She said she sometimes says that the item got lost in transition or it was damaged not sure what other excuses she uses.

I didn't actually ask about items and she didn't divulge.

So she claims lost in transit so refunds in full and hopes they don't neg her. I guess she just uses stock photos from the internet too?

Selling items you don't have in your possession - I guess you could say it is fraud, but proving it as the buyer is pretty impossible.

I don't know. I actually just thought it was maybe items she had in her house but had no intention of selling. Maybe not though.

I'm she would tell relative stranger she's a con artist effectively!

It's illegal. Leave morals out of it (which are individual and subjective, as well as irrelevant)

Wow, there are some really scummy people out there!

Actually that is very clever isn't it? The 'customer' gets a full refund so is happy. She is full of apologies, gets good feedback for refunding...
I'm sure it is fraud though. Dreadful behaviour.

What an awful woman.

I've never heard of that before.
What a terrible thing to do!

The truth is even though I 100% disagree with it I kind of could understand if it was a one off if someone felt they really had no other option and were that desperate. I could at a push see why they would do something like that. But it sounded like it was a fairly regular thing and she was so blasé about it!

The idea of her sitting in a park; gleefully telling all and sundry about her "cleverness"...

Some people are complete scum.

Wow - you have to admire her spunk really.

I tell you what - if i were on the bones of my arse and that was the difference between feeding my children and not.....

But yeah its probably wrong.

But the refund comes from paypal surely? Not the actual seller?

I've had this happen but on a facebook group where i brought an item via paypal.
I think its disgusting.
And fraud too if the refund is from PP and not out of her bank

That is pretty shocking. If she does it consistently I'm surprised she hasn't had any complaints. If anyone complains to Ebay, I'm sure what she's doing will stand out a mile as soon as they look at her account history.

I would imagine paypal would go out of business if they had to pay out for all ebay refunds