Is this a scam? Can we get our item?

[needasilverlining]

DH won hobby-related item at VERY low price over a week ago.

Hadn't arrived so he contacted seller y'day, who claimed it was delivered and signed for. On a day we were in the house.

On further checking, the address is nothing like ours and neither was the signature. DH rings Royal Mail, who confirm the tracking number went through a nearby sorting office - but not ours. So clearly nothing like right address.

My suspicion is that the tosser has deliberately sent SOMETHING - prob an empty box - to a nearby address so he can offer refund and resell later (bad mistake - these items are seriously rare, like 3 in the UK, and DH has an alert set up...).

Is there ANYTHING we can do to make the git send the item? Appreciate the price may have been disappointing but he was too tight to put a reserve on and it's just bloody dishonest.

i think you should check your mailing address is correct (just to be sure and on the safe side) and then contact ebay regarding the seller, IF he has incorrectly put the address on the package wrong that is his fault and therefore he should reimburse you your money.

is there such an address he posted it to? could you perhaps visit the property and enquire about the package just to see if indeed he sent it there or it was an empty box?

however, i think you are probably right but the most you can expect is to get your money back and ebay will take appropriate measures against the seller, ie block him, reduce his feedback scoring etc.

Thank you for ideas. DH has checked address on his Paypal and ebay and there's only one - ours - so no chance guy has made a mistake that way.

Like the idea of checking the address he sent it to, we'll ask. Can't be too far away... (we know there won't be anything there, but hopefully will scare him).

Will ebay take action for first offence (if it is?).

If he has claimed to have sent it to a different address to yours, then paypal or ebay will not find in his favour should you open a dispute.

You can't force the seller to send you something but you can open a dispute (not received) and ebay/paypal will ask him to provide online tracking proving delivery to YOUR registered address.

If he provides proof of delivery to somewhere else then they will close the case and award in your favour, and you'll be refunded.

The seller might get a rap on the knuckles but they can't force him to send it to you. You can however leave appalling feedback (keep it calm and factual)

Sorry - hope you get your item.