EBay scam advice needed

[Ham_and_Jam]

I’ve purchased an iPhone 16 on eBay, nearly £900 from a private seller using credit card registered on my account. They had 100% feedback on over 200 sales since 2004.

Delivery was advertised as delayed until 20 December. This wasn’t a problem as not it any hurry.

Anyway just noticed the feedback on the sellers profile has dropped in recent days due to the seller selling similar phones and not delivering on the stated delivery times. The other buyers are stating all communication has gone dead.

So whats the best course of action for me? Do I have to wait until 20 December (or later) to confirm it’s not coming? Or can I open a case now?

I’m assuming canceling the order won’t work as the seller had to action that?

Anything else I can do?

[Jakg]

Ham_and_Jam said:

I’m assuming canceling the order won’t work as the seller had to action that?

Don't do that.

Ham_and_Jam said:

So whats the best course of action for me? Do I have to wait until 20 December (or later) to confirm it’s not coming? Or can I open a case now?

You can't open a case until the deliver window. If you try, it'll tell you:

eBay said:

Your item may still be on its way
If you haven't received your item by [some date], go to your Purchases and find the item. Then select More actions beside the item and choose I didn't receive it to open a request.

So just wait for that date to pass (i.e. the next day) and you can open the case.

Then you need to wait a week or so before you can escalate to eBay if the seller doesn't reply.

If something goes weird (i.e. the user gets banned) you might want to consider contacting eBay to speed things along, but in my experience you want to keep eBay customer service out of it in case they do something stupid and just let the process complete normally.

It'll be sorted out, don't stress.

Ham_and_Jam said:

Anyway just noticed the feedback on the sellers profile has dropped in recent days due to the seller selling similar phones and not delivering on the stated delivery times.

Bear in mind it's christmas, and the eBay estimations are quoted dispatch time + quoted delivery time. Some sellers are slow dispatching (i.e. only dispatch twice a week so if you miss their "slot", blah blah blah) and of course everything is slow at Christmas. If your concerned, it's probably a problem... but it could not be.

Because I sold something at 11:59 PM, eBay estimates it'll arrive with the buyer a day sooner than the next item I sold at 7AM the next day. Because I have an extra day to dispatch it, obviously.

Edited by Jakg on Sunday 15th December 22:18

[Ham_and_Jam]

Jakg said:

ear in mind it's christmas, and the eBay estimations are quoted dispatch time + quoted delivery time. Some sellers are slow dispatching (i.e. only dispatch twice a week so if you miss their "slot", blah blah blah) and of course everything is slow at Christmas. If your concerned, it's probably a problem... but it could not be.

Because I sold something at 11:59 PM, eBay estimates it'll arrive with the buyer a day sooner than the next item I sold at 7AM the next day. Because I have an extra day to dispatch it, obviously.

Edited by Jakg on Sunday 15th December 22:18

Great. Thanks for the advice.

I’m not too stressed as I assumed eBays protections would kick in. More annoyed.

I definitely think it’s a scam as the feedback stated from the other buyers state they should have received there items by 9 December, so well past the required date.

I also noticed all the sellers other items (about 15-20 things) had all disappeared. It smells fishy.

Ah well I’ll just wait till after Christmas to start the claim.

[havoc]

Ham_and_Jam said:

I definitely think it’s a scam as the feedback stated from the other buyers state they should have received there items by 9 December, so well past the required date.

I also noticed all the sellers other items (about 15-20 things) had all disappeared. It smells fishy.

Hacked account, potentially.

Good luck.

[ESSEM123]

I would probably ring ebay before the delivey date and get their opinion. Considering the other feedback they might let you open a case now.

Request a call back via the help and contact tab and see what they say.

From what you've said, it doesn't look good but in the worst case your buyer protection should see you right.

[littleredrooster]

I had exactly the same thing last Christmas when I ordered two iPhones.

Delivery was missed by almost three weeks because of seasonal demand and pathetic delivery service, but they did arrive eventually.

[Sebring440]

ESSEM123 said:

Considering the other feedback they might let you open a case now.

Is that something you've just made up?

Or do you have experience of it actually happening?

[Simpo Two]

Ham_and_Jam said:

I definitely think it’s a scam as the feedback stated from the other buyers state they should have received there items by 9 December, so well past the required date.

A hacked account no doubt. Giveaways are (1) it's an iPhone, the scammer's favourite (2) no sales for the past year (3) previous sales are for baby clothes, shoes etc.

Hope you get redress. A Russian bloke got into my account after I logged in on a friend's computer. Luckily I was able to get my account back and didn't lose anything.

[I am alright Jack]

littleredrooster said:

I had exactly the same thing last Christmas when I ordered two iPhones.

Delivery was missed by almost three weeks because of seasonal demand and pathetic delivery service, but they did arrive eventually.

Evri? They once had a package of mine for 36 days, now I try very hard to not buy anything from a seller who uses either Evri or Yodel.. The problem now is that it's an option for Ebay to sort the delivery out for private sellers so of coarse who do they use.

Sorry op for going off track but st delivery companies are real pain in my life.

[Dave _]

I am alright Jack said:

Evri? They once had a package of mine for 36 days, now I try very hard to not buy anything from a seller who uses either Evri or Yodel..

My local Evri driver is actually very good, has even delivered early on a weekend when it’s said Monday delivery.

Yodel, on the other hand…

[ESSEM123]

Sebring440 said:

ESSEM123 said:

Considering the other feedback they might let you open a case now.

Is that something you've just made up?

Or do you have experience of it actually happening?

I've got a fair bit of experience of ebay and in my experience they take their buyer/seller protection very seriously. It would be a good idea for the OP to speak to them, at least he will know timescales for claims etc.

[GasEngineer]

Have you received a dispatch notification with tracking info OP?

[Jeremy-75qq8]

Screen shot the feedback in case the account vanishes. Same with the order / updates / messages sent etc

[Ham_and_Jam]

Jeremy-75qq8 said:

Screen shot the feedback in case the account vanishes. Same with the order / updates / messages sent etc

Good idea. Done that now.

[Ham_and_Jam]

GasEngineer said:

Have you received a dispatch notification with tracking info OP?

The order is still ‘being prepared’ as the expected despatch date is still in the future (29 December), so no tracking info given.

I also put my local Argos as the drop off point with it heing an expensive item, so there couldn’t be any shenanigans with receiving it.

[pigface1001]

Sebring440 said:

Is that something you've just made up?

Or do you have experience of it actually happening?

They do it on case by case, I would expect them to suspend account and frreze money going to seller.

Ebay are quite good as sorting crap out

[Ham_and_Jam]

Just noticed a third buyer leave negative feedback and start a claim with eBay.

Their purchases were due to be delivered by 9 December, so they are following normal procedures.

Is there a point at which I should just report not received based on other buyers reporting the same? It’s blatantly a scam.

[TheDrownedApe]

no point. just wait until it isn't delivered then raise a claim. Nothing else, worthwhile, you can do

[RayDonovan]

I had an issue years ago and surprisingly, eBay were exceptionally helpful over the phone.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Jakg said:

Ham_and_Jam said:

I’m assuming canceling the order won’t work as the seller had to action that?

Don't do that.

Ham_and_Jam said:

So whats the best course of action for me? Do I have to wait until 20 December (or later) to confirm it’s not coming? Or can I open a case now?

You can't open a case until the deliver window. If you try, it'll tell you:

eBay said:

Your item may still be on its way
If you haven't received your item by [some date], go to your Purchases and find the item. Then select More actions beside the item and choose I didn't receive it to open a request.

So just wait for that date to pass (i.e. the next day) and you can open the case.

Then you need to wait a week or so before you can escalate to eBay if the seller doesn't reply.

If something goes weird (i.e. the user gets banned) you might want to consider contacting eBay to speed things along, but in my experience you want to keep eBay customer service out of it in case they do something stupid and just let the process complete normally.

It'll be sorted out, don't stress.

Ham_and_Jam said:

Anyway just noticed the feedback on the sellers profile has dropped in recent days due to the seller selling similar phones and not delivering on the stated delivery times.

Bear in mind it's christmas, and the eBay estimations are quoted dispatch time + quoted delivery time. Some sellers are slow dispatching (i.e. only dispatch twice a week so if you miss their "slot", blah blah blah) and of course everything is slow at Christmas. If your concerned, it's probably a problem... but it could not be.

Because I sold something at 11:59 PM, eBay estimates it'll arrive with the buyer a day sooner than the next item I sold at 7AM the next day. Because I have an extra day to dispatch it, obviously.

Edited by Jakg on Sunday 15th December 22:18

Followed this advise to the letter.

Just had confirmation from eBay that my full refund has been issued.

Thanks to JakG and all those who contributed.

Happy New Year