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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be seething that someone is trying to cheat me an expensive item on eBay?!

153 replies

ponderingthisthing · 18/11/2021 08:21

Sold a BNWT expensive designer blouse on eBay which has gone through the global shipping programme. The buyer messaged me with a picture to say that there's a hole on the sleeve. There is no hole in the one I sent!! The picture the buyer sent me is a zoomed in view but it looks like a terrible quality replica.

I made the terrible mistake of just uploading stock photos and can't believe I didn't take pics of the actual blouse. Does this mean I'm now doomed and will lose hundreds of pounds to this scammer, who will end up getting the genuine item for free? I know eBay almost always sides with the buyer so not feeling hopeful here. Also the buyer has over 2k ratings on eBay and is clearly business seller. Any tips at all on how I could protect myself? Feel so sick about this whole ordeal.Sad

OP posts:
WeLovePeaSoup · 18/11/2021 13:57

@Costumeidea
hardlyeverwornit.com/
It’s Tamara Ecclestone online shop. Your item should be safe there. There are rules I’m sure but I think it’s a good online shop for designer goods.
Good luck x

SergeantCatFlap · 18/11/2021 14:07

Suggest you tell the buyer to please return the item, and you'll check it, and say you always leave an invisible mark on the label to ensure quality.

Almostmenopausal · 18/11/2021 14:20

@Bollindger

Go to the shop pick up a new blouse, take a few quick photos, plus the area of the problem, send them back to the buyer and eBay saying not there when sent.
Problem is, all photos have the info of when they were taken and what device they taken etc within the pixels. EBay look at these things. So if op did what you suggest then it will show the photos having been taken after the claim was filed
Tilltheend99 · 18/11/2021 14:29

Yes, you should not have used stock photos I’m afraid. I would never ever buy something off of a reselling site that only has stock photos because it can easily work both ways.

MidnightMeltdown · 18/11/2021 14:40

If she's lying then this is awful. However, I've been in the other side of this.

I once bought a dress that had a hole in it. I requested a return and the seller was furious. She told me that she had checked it very carefully and was 100% sure that there was no hole when she sent it and accused me of making the hole!! Clearly she hadn't checked it as carefully as she thought.

Jenasaurus · 18/11/2021 15:01

Your not from Cambridge are you OP

BigYellowHat · 18/11/2021 15:15

How annoying @ponderingthisthing We had someone try to scam us with an iPhone and it took months to sort. Hope it works out.

TheBullfinch · 18/11/2021 15:55

Are you sure it was perfect?

I recently bought a top on Ebay listed as in 'Excellent condition' BNWOT. When I inspected it, it had a tear in the sleeve and and a burn mark on the hem. Seller was adamant it was new but it had clearly been worn as it had stains too. Envy not envy.

Original poster
ponderingthisthing · 18/11/2021 16:39

We're not talking about a moth hole here. A proper big ugly hole that would render the blouse useless were it returned to me. The area where there's a hole also looks scuffed so looks like it was torn. Yes I am certain it was not posted in this condition, so if it's not a replica on the pic then it was badly damaged in some way after it arrived. I would have no use of it if it gets returned to me. I don't know what happened but I feel so sick about the whole thing. It's partly my fault of course for not taking the necessary steps to protect myself, so I feel cross with myself too. Urgh.

A case has been opened so let's see what happens. I bet I will now just end up with the fake/ damaged item and a big loss.

OP posts:
Oftenithinkaboutit · 18/11/2021 16:41

@ponderingthisthing

We're not talking about a moth hole here. A proper big ugly hole that would render the blouse useless were it returned to me. The area where there's a hole also looks scuffed so looks like it was torn. Yes I am certain it was not posted in this condition, so if it's not a replica on the pic then it was badly damaged in some way after it arrived. I would have no use of it if it gets returned to me. I don't know what happened but I feel so sick about the whole thing. It's partly my fault of course for not taking the necessary steps to protect myself, so I feel cross with myself too. Urgh.

A case has been opened so let's see what happens. I bet I will now just end up with the fake/ damaged item and a big loss.

Surely would have shown up on your photos?

Or does stock photos mean you used the advertising phtosos for the item?

tallduckandhandsome · 18/11/2021 16:44

Even if you had actual pictures if your blouse, they would have just said the hole was in a part of the blouse not pictures.

Keep pushing, I hope eBay pleasantly surprise and side with you.

HollaHolla · 18/11/2021 16:44

Well, don't be so hasty to think that eBay will side with the buyer. I had bought about £20 worth of Xmas stuff on eBay, and haven't received it. Despite contacting the seller twice, no response. I opened a case today, and within about 20 mins, it had been closed - with the siding with the seller. They refuse to tell me why they've sided with the seller, given there's no evidence of things being delivered!
So, I'm £20 out of pocket, and no item. I'm pretty pissed off, to be honest.

Waahingwashingwashing · 18/11/2021 16:49

How do you know it wasn’t damaged in transit? Surely the postage insurance will cover it?

Oftenithinkaboutit · 18/11/2021 16:58

@Waahingwashingwashing

How do you know it wasn’t damaged in transit? Surely the postage insurance will cover it?
That’s a damn good point

I mean presumably you covered the item with insurance op?

Royal nail refunded me with an eBay issue. B straightforward
Hermes too
You actually even send the eBay listing!

Oftenithinkaboutit · 18/11/2021 16:59

@HollaHolla

Well, don't be so hasty to think that eBay will side with the buyer. I had bought about £20 worth of Xmas stuff on eBay, and haven't received it. Despite contacting the seller twice, no response. I opened a case today, and within about 20 mins, it had been closed - with the siding with the seller. They refuse to tell me why they've sided with the seller, given there's no evidence of things being delivered! So, I'm £20 out of pocket, and no item. I'm pretty pissed off, to be honest.
They never ever ever close after 20 mins. There’s a long drawn out process of waiting for a response etc
Gingernaut · 18/11/2021 17:04

The buyer might well have been conned with the damaged replica, found your item and decided to buy your item, make a complaint and send back the replica.

Whether the buyer is a serial con artist, or this is a one off, this is shitty behaviour.

icedcoffees · 18/11/2021 17:18

We're not talking about a moth hole here. A proper big ugly hole that would render the blouse useless were it returned to me. The area where there's a hole also looks scuffed so looks like it was torn. Yes I am certain it was not posted in this condition, so if it's not a replica on the pic then it was badly damaged in some way after it arrived.

Why are you convinced it happened on arrival and not during the packing process or in transit?

You claim it's a very rare designer piece - so in reality, what are the chances this lady has a an exact replica of it that's ripped? Surely they're absolutely tiny?

I agree with PP who say you're the one who (to eBay) will appear dodgy, not her. You used stock images and didn't photograph the item before sending. You have absolutely no proof that you didn't post a damaged item in the first place.

Original poster
ponderingthisthing · 18/11/2021 19:06

@icedcoffees

We're not talking about a moth hole here. A proper big ugly hole that would render the blouse useless were it returned to me. The area where there's a hole also looks scuffed so looks like it was torn. Yes I am certain it was not posted in this condition, so if it's not a replica on the pic then it was badly damaged in some way after it arrived.

Why are you convinced it happened on arrival and not during the packing process or in transit?

You claim it's a very rare designer piece - so in reality, what are the chances this lady has a an exact replica of it that's ripped? Surely they're absolutely tiny?

I agree with PP who say you're the one who (to eBay) will appear dodgy, not her. You used stock images and didn't photograph the item before sending. You have absolutely no proof that you didn't post a damaged item in the first place.

If it got so damaged during transit, surely it would've been very visible to the recipient (e.g. large hole on packaging), who should have refused the package? Buyer did not mention anything about damaged packaging.

I sent it special delivery within the UK but it then got sent via the Global Shipping Programme so I don't know if it would be covered. If I make a claim then I think they might expect evidence of damage on the packaging?

No it's not extremely rare for replicas to be made of sell out designer items, especially in some parts of the world.

OP posts:
Original poster
ponderingthisthing · 18/11/2021 19:08

@BigYellowHat

How annoying *@ponderingthisthing* We had someone try to scam us with an iPhone and it took months to sort. Hope it works out.
I'm sorry to hear this. I was planning on selling some apple products but completely put off now.
OP posts:
Waahingwashingwashing · 18/11/2021 19:13

But when you took it to the post office or did the postage online it would’ve asked you the value of the item? Didn’t you get insurance? Why not for such a high value item?

Oftenithinkaboutit · 18/11/2021 19:29

You didn’t get out Insurance OP??!

Original poster
ponderingthisthing · 18/11/2021 19:49

With special delivery it's covered for £500 I think. I wasn't asked about the value. What I meant was, it's covered for the U.K. leg of the journey, but as it's sent via the global shipping programme, I have no control over what courier is used by eBay after it leaves the UK.

OP posts:
Waahingwashingwashing · 18/11/2021 19:58

But you said it was worth more than that? And you knew it was going abroad? Why didn’t you pick an appropriate shipping method with an appropriate level of insurance?

Original poster
ponderingthisthing · 18/11/2021 20:10

@Waahingwashingwashing

But you said it was worth more than that? And you knew it was going abroad? Why didn’t you pick an appropriate shipping method with an appropriate level of insurance?
Because I thought with the global shipping programme, all I needed to do was to ensure that item arrives safely in the eBay U.K. hub, eBay would take care of the rest?
OP posts:
Oftenithinkaboutit · 18/11/2021 20:17

A lot of assumption about an item that cost well in excess of £600 you say.