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Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

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Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#121

Post by bcrosby95 »

mgiampapa wrote: post #112
canada_dry wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...someone at FedEx doesn't really know how to... Yes, this is true. I think a basic service offering might just record the weight and photo of each item being packaged up.

Even a low tech photo record weeds out a lot of fraud. Oh you aren't returning a thing that resembles the photo that was shipped to you? This won't eliminate fraud, but it will move the bar in a non trivial way. Combine this with a photo ID check at the store for the person doing the shipping and your halfway there.

Lots of objects have serial numbers or model numbers visible on the outside too. That would raise the bar even higher.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#122

Post by kube-system »

tedivm wrote: post #111
kube-system wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not take the buyer to small claims? Or at least, have a lawyer draft them a nice letter.

How? All they have from Amazon is a last initial.

And an address. That's probably enough.

https://www.whitepages.com/reverse-address

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#123

Post by _underfl0w_ »

filoleg wrote: post #71
ebaySucks123 wrote: post #28

I had the same exact experience the last time I sold on ebay, in 2017. I sold an $800 item. One day before the claim window closed, the buyer filed a claim saying it had never arrived and claiming they emailed me several times and I never responded. I submitted proof of delivery from UPS and pointed out the simple fact that I had received no messages from the buyer through ebay messaging. Ebay gave them a full refund…

EBay in 2017 was a giant shitshow (and probably still is, but I don't use it anymore). Both their security and support are complete trash, even if you happen to be lucky (like me) and they reply quickly. I woke up one morning to get an email notification thanking me for purchasing a back bumper, a wing, and a few other parts for a 2012 Hyundai Genesis, which I obviously don't have and neither have I made that purchas…

This is really bad advice, but remember that two can play at this game. You have this idiot's real name and address, as well as the make and model of the car they drive. Food for thought.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#124

Post by allovernow »

Similar story on eBay. I shipped ≈10k worth of goods to a buyer. He tore a hole in the box and claimed half of the contents were missing, after signing for the package. Despite this eBay refunded his money and refused to listen to our story until we took it to Twitter and pinged some high level manager.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#125

Post by _underfl0w_ »

sevenf0ur wrote: post #59

> If you’re going to sell on Amazon or elsewhere, take an actual video of you packing the camera. You need all the defense you can get against items mysteriously disappearing. Isn't this evidence just as bad as the buyer's account that he didn't receive any accessories? One could just unpack the box right after filming.

I think this every time someone suggests filming part of the transaction. Nowhere does video of an action imply that it was not immediately undone right after filming.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#126

Post by nulbyte »

nicolas_t wrote: post #90
milankragujevic wrote: post #33

Similar thing happened to me with PayPal, buyer got to keep the item, and got a refund (by doing a chargeback on their CC) and I got billed the amount + 15% of fees and punishment. I provided exhausting proof of delivery and that there was no contact or complaints from the buyer, but they didn't care. They said, since it's a chargeback, they HAVE to give them their money back. The buyer was a client of Commonwealth B…

Interestingly about chargeback, I've noticed the same. I tried to file a chargeback with my bank in France and got denied despite it being a valid claim and me providing all the documentation for it. But, when I used my US credit card to file a chargeback it went through fine and there was no issue. I wonder if some countries are more lax with charge backs?

Some merchants certainly are. And in GP's case, PayPal might be playing the role of merchant, since they technically took the payment. I wonder if they just offer refunds to avoid having to accept chargebacks as such.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#127

Post by nulbyte »

qwertox wrote: post #76
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm, my first thought is: contacting a buyer outside of Amazon is against Amazon's TOS. But if the author isn't interested in using Amazon after this incident, Amazon's TOS don't matter much. I'd be interested to hear from someone with a bit more legal knowledge how this might go. It's a good thought for sure.

Why would he contact the buyer outside of Amazon? He would go to the police to point out his issue with the buyer, there's absolutely no need to contact him outside of Amazon. I'd rather think that Amazon would be forthcoming in assisting any demands an investigation would make, like provide all the information regarding the seller and buyer on this issue to the police. Sure, it would be nice if Amazon would withhold…

> Why would he contact the buyer outside of Amazon?

You can't sue the buyer by serving Amazon.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#128

Post by endorphone »

node1 wrote: post #37

I have heard many stories online where customers bought new graphic cards/cpus/camera gear from 'Sold by Amazon.com' but instead receive used ones. Or receive different cheaper (older generation) products. It does not seem to be a good place to buy or sell expensive items.

That can happen anywhere, through any medium (e.g. bricks in a box instead of a PS4 from Best Buy). It seems amply evident, despite the recurring horror stories on HN, that most customers are having a pretty decent time of using Amazon.

In any case, isn't the author's scenario pretty bizarre? I had no idea that Amazon served as a mechanism for selling one-off small scale used items. Further the author mentions that it would be cheaper buying and selling than renting...only this is precisely the risk you need to factor in buying and selling (which could have been a fake cheque, getting rolled during the exchange, etc).

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#129

Post by loeg »

nicolas_t wrote: post #90
milankragujevic wrote: post #33

Similar thing happened to me with PayPal, buyer got to keep the item, and got a refund (by doing a chargeback on their CC) and I got billed the amount + 15% of fees and punishment. I provided exhausting proof of delivery and that there was no contact or complaints from the buyer, but they didn't care. They said, since it's a chargeback, they HAVE to give them their money back. The buyer was a client of Commonwealth B…

Interestingly about chargeback, I've noticed the same. I tried to file a chargeback with my bank in France and got denied despite it being a valid claim and me providing all the documentation for it. But, when I used my US credit card to file a chargeback it went through fine and there was no issue. I wonder if some countries are more lax with charge backs?

US has really strong laws for consumers with credit cards. The consumer is presumed right and it is up to everyone else in the chain to return their money first thing. Then the other party has the burden of proof for arguing against the chargeback.

Re: Amazon let a fraudster keep my Sony A74 IV and refunded him

#130

Post by loeg »

bagacrap wrote: post #67
paxys wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not suing Amazon but rather the person who defrauded you. You have no agreement with him/her.

... you're going to travel to another state for this purpose?

The place the suitor lives is a perfectly fine venue... make the fraudster travel.
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