Advice for a VERY weird Ebay auction - please!

frankhardy

I had an Ebay auction to end of August 13th. The winner had a feedback of 2 with 1 negative and 1 neutral. The auction ended at $405. The man paid with Paypal on the 15th. Ok, no problem. (Note: the auction was not for cards. It was for Jeep wheels and tires for a friend). I shipped through DHL for a cost of $25.71 each ($102.81 total). They arrived in New York state the first of last week (I think around the 22nd or 23rd). I used the man's CONFIRMED Paypal address. DHL delivered them to the address, and the man did not live there, nor had any neighbors ever heard of him. DHL tries then to call directory assistance to get his telephone number. No luck. So, DHL calls me last week and tells me of the situation. I emailed 2 or 3 times with details of the situation and finally got a response. Here was his response -

[name address]

That's it! All he emails me is his name and address which, by the way, matches his CONFIRMED Paypal address. No explanation. No nothing. Just his name and address. So I email him back. He replies with this.

"Are we good to go now?"

That's it. No explanation or nothing.

I emailed him 2 or 3 more times with no replies.

Well, yesterday, the lady from DHL in New York state (where the buyer lives) calls me again. She said that they tried to email him with no luck. She said that if he didn't contact DHL within 24 hrs, that they would have to ship them back to me. So, last night, I emailed him again. Now, his emails are not going through like the email address is no longer valid. So, this morning I copied the email and sent it to him through Ebay.

Isn't this weird? He pays me, and seems like he wants nothing to do with getting the wheels delivered to him. I transfered the funds to my checking account and withdrew it last week.

It seems maybe like a scam, but if I were trying to scam someone, I sure wouldn't pay them. Even if he hijacked someones Paypal account, you would think that he would try to get the wheels.

What is going on here? I'm sure not going to refund the money!!! If DHL sends them back to me, I guess they are mine again?!? Maybe wishful thinking? How long do I have to wait before I am clear with Paypal? They have buyer protection and seller protection. I wouldn't want Paypal getting the funds back unexpectedly.

HELP!!!!

fsjeter

Does DHL leave a doorhanger the person can sign to have the package left or an address where they can pick up the package in person? Seems to me that the person is out of luck if they don't follow through. You've done what you could. Incidently, this persons neg isn't related to the same type of situation is it?

Scott

oddball

maybe DHL is just being stupid. send a certified letter to him via USPS telling him about the shipping problems and that if he wants his merchandise he needs to give you a legit address and send you money to reship them. if he doesn't respond, keep the money and the merchandise and forget about it, he knows how to get in touch with you if he changes his mind later and decides he does want them.

pandrews

<< <i>maybe DHL is just being stupid. send a certified letter to him via USPS telling him about the shipping problems and that if he wants his merchandise he needs to give you a legit address and send you money to reship them. if he doesn't respond, keep the money and the merchandise and forget about it, he knows how to get in touch with you if he changes his mind later and decides he does want them. >>



get lost..

Axtell

I'd send a refund minus your shipping costs that way you are out no money, then relist the item.

Yes he's made it impossible to ship the item, but your keeping the money and the product just seems wrong to me.

CopperJJ

I agree with axtell on refunding minus the shipping, but wait until you have them back in your possession. I'd also get his phone number from the ebay information and call him. I would probably then check the address and phone number on a phonebook website, reverse look up, etc. to see if person seems legit. Also contact ebay and let them know. Not sure if/what they can do though?

frankhardy

Where on Ebay do I get the phone number?

rbdjr1

<< <i>Where on Ebay do I get the phone number? >>



try ebay "live chat" help

link to a live ebay rep

rbd


edit: P.S. Maybe they can help you?

Also: Did you look on the "Paypal payment details"? Maybe a buyer's telephone number is listed there? How about the Internet White pages information? Silly, but who know's? Or even toll-free and regular telephone information for the street address (i.e., cross reference directory). Don't give-up!

frankhardy

I have tried looking up the phone number on the internet - no luck. There is not a phone number in the Paypal details either.

Also, how am I going to refund his money if his email address isn't valid anymore?

earlycalguy

go to ebay 'help section' type in 'contact information'. you provide the transaction number and buyer's ebay name. you and he both will be emailed each other's contact info.

any attemtped communication with this person should be done thru ebay mail and not personal mail. obviously keep all of the shipping stuff from dsl.

I would keep the money and also the merchandise. I'd wait 60 days or so and if he doesn't contact you then I'd say it's yours to keep. you've done more than your part to contact this person and have spent some unnecessary time on this.

MorrellMan

Just a thought - I wonder if someone is playing a bad trick on your "buyer"? He may not know the extent of the damage; I'd sit tight and see what happens. If he discovers someone jacked his paypal account and he files for a refund, you may be out the shipping as well. Good luck.

stevek

After 9/11 many things changed with some addresses. I wonder if this buyer, seriously, even knows his own correct shipping address. He may just use a PO Box for mail. You may want to try calling that local post office to try to confirm the correct address for this buyer.

DeutscherGeist

You never know what is going on. It sounds like you contacted someone through email, perhaps the email was hijacked, which would explain the terse response. It could be someone playing revenge on your buyer.

Keep all correspondence and records in case you might need to verify your end of the story. After all efforts are exhausted in contacting the fellow and you never hear from him either, sit tight, because you might hear something within a few months from somebody (Police, PI). I don't think you can count the case closed after just 60 days.

You are not in bad shape because you have the money and the merchandise may come back to you (meaning it did not get stolen). You also have evidence of trying to contact the guy. Just keep your Paypal account balance zero so no one can just withdraw funds without due process. If the buyer contacts you in a year, but you have sold the tires by then, just give him his money minus the shipping cost. The buyer is most likely a victim to something because any rational person would not throw money away like that.

Snowball

Could be hijacked account. I'm not sure if paypal also check for name (or just address) with CC company to get "confirmed" stated on paypal account. Did you check the activity of that ebay ID?

where in NY?

frankhardy

Lindenhurst, NY. He only has a 2 feedback and his last purchase was quite some time ago.

earlycalguy,

I did what you said and did get his phone number. All I got was a generic voice mail. I left him a message last night. Maybe he will return the call. Who knows.

Knuckles

Maybe try searching for him on SuperPages.com to see what address comes up.

Isn't it funny how whenever you win something for a friend or sell something for a friend 9 times out of 10 things go sour some how.. At least with me anyways..

I would just sit tight like previously said and wait for something to happen. You may have to ship them again once things are straightened out or put them back on eBay.

Good Luck,

Garret

Snowball

Sounds like Long Island(?). I was thinking might be lower Westchester County. Lot of areas here are called P.O. address. Like Scarsdale post office covers many town/area use the same zip code (and also caters neighboring zip) but they belong to another town and can use another name with same zip code. Also same zip with almost same street names (like one is ave. the other is rd.). So mails end up in the wrong place.


Try this search website might help. and also this other search website

frankhardy

This is just too weird. DHL called and said that they shipped them back to me yesterday. Now, this morning, I get this email from the "buyer."


"DHL went to my house according to them and said one of my family members said I didnt exist. That never happened. I have spoken with my family everyday about the tires and they said nothing came at all. DHL shipped the tires back to you this morning. I paid the max amount of money that i am willing to pay. Either we get DHL to ship it back because they messed up or i need to get my money back ...i think i would be easier if you had my number ...."



NOW, he emails me! He waited all this time without hardly a word, now, AFTER DHL ships them back, he wants to talk. I have emailed and called several times with no response.

GoblinOutpost

GoblinOutpost

This is such a strange incident.

Make sure to keep your DHL receipts to prove you have shipped them out. That is the most important thing eBay will ask first.

Also, is the $$ for S/H part of the payment or you offered free S/H. The customary approach says you refund only the cost of goods minus S/H. If you have stated that, you are protected in keeping that portion of the paypal payment.

Under the current situation, I would ask for the buyer's phone number. Just so you have his on file and avoid being stuck with email. If the buyer still wants the goods, ask for payment for S/H again. If not, refund the goods and keep the S/H paid. Forcing the guy to take the goods at this point will be useless as he can always refuse to accept goods when they get delivered. And ebay/paypal will most likely make you cough back the goods $$.

If you end up shipping again, maybe it would be useful to ask for a name of whoever else lives there who can also receive the goods. Just a thought.

Good luck.

frankhardy

Thanks everybody for your advice.

In the previous post, I stated that he emailed me and he left his phone number. I just called him. His story seems legit. His house burned and he is living in a mobile home next to the burned house. That's why he can't access his email on a regular basis because his computer burned. The phone number that I got from Ebay was an old number, and he had not updated it. Anyway, the wheels are headed back to me. The lady at DHL told me to go to the local DHL and have them "refuse shipment" and have them return it to NY. I still have to call the buyer back to tell him. So, it looks as though DHL was at fault, and it looks as though it will be resolved in a few days. We will see.