Ebay Scam!? Please help!?

Question

I purchased a brand new factory sealed videogame on ebay (July 2nd). The game was supposed to be shipped in 2 to 3 days with first class mail, but it STILL hasn't arrived as of July 10. I messaged the seller about it and he said this:

"I shipped the game out on July 3rd and didn't think there would be problems. I just wanted to check with you since even with 1st class mail, max is 4-5 days. I called USPS today and they say we need to wait 3 weeks before we can file an insurance claim.... so if in 3 weeks (July 24th) you still haven't received it, please let me know and I will definitely go ahead and refund your money. Sorry about the delay. "

I've purchased games before on ebay and they've all arrived on time and as planned. Am I being scammed in any way, shape or form?

Answer 1

I personally think the seller is telling the truth, obviously the USPS is not going to waste manpower investigating a missing package that has only been in the system for a week.  Good news is, by paying with PayPal you are covered for a minimum of $200 in buyer protection if you don't receive the item or if the item you receive is not as described.

Disputes for Non Receipt and Significantly Not As Described items must be filed within 45 days of the initial payment.

To file a dispute for a transaction sent through PayPal please follow these steps:

Log into your account at https://www.paypal.com/.

Click "Resolution Center" at the top of your Account Overview page.

You will have the option of:

Clicking the "Dispute a Transaction" button, or

Clicking the "Report a Problem" tab and then clicking the "Report a Problem" button.

Select "Item dispute" and click "Continue."

Click the "Find transaction ID" button to display your history.

Change the dates in the drop-down to find the transaction and click "Search."

Click the unauthorized transaction ID.

Click "Continue" and follow the instructions.

Please do not mail or email your dispute, as it causes unnecessary delays.

Any time within 20 days of the date the dispute was opened, it can be escalated to a claim with PayPal. Otherwise, it will automatically be closed after 20 days have passed. If the dispute is escalated to a claim, PayPal will investigate your claim and make the final decision. Recovery of the full transaction amount is not guaranteed. PayPal will seek to resolve your complaint within 30 days from the date your complaint is filed, however, more time may be needed.

If you have any other questions regarding this situation, you can contact eBay Claims at 1-888-445-4992.

Answer 2

You have not been Scammed at all.What the Seller is doing is Dropshipping which means the reason it is late is because his Dropshipper had to Back Order the Product. Sometimes these things Happen but the Seller is not going to come out and Tell you this!        Remember that on Ebay!

Answer 3

ehh you might be anything's possible.

but it doesn't sound like it.

Answer 4

It doesnt sound like it. If you wewre being scammed you probably would not have gotten a response.

Best bet is to check the sellers feedbacks especially there recent ones. Usually, when they ship games them send them "Media Mail". I states that they could take 4-5 days, but soemtimes it is longer even 1st Class.

I bet you get the game an day now. If not, just follow the procedure and they said they would refund you your money.

Answer 5

Look at this sellers profile. Have they been on ebay for over a year, do they have 50+ transactions. If so then probably not a scam. Maybe some other issues.

Did you move recently?  How did the seller get your address?  Sometimes buyers have an old address on file with paypal, and/or ebay and the seller gets that and ships the item.

Maybe he did not have enough postage and the item was returned to him?

There was the July 4th holiday, so that may slow the mail a few days.

At this point you just have to wait a few days.

Did you purchase insurance?  Stop by your post office branch, let them know what happened. Maybe they have the package and are holding it.  

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Answer 6

No one's going to scam you for a couple of bucks.  Scams are always in the hundreds or thousands.

The seller has the right idea.  If it's truly lost, you can get a refund from the seller and he or she can get a refund from USPS.  No one's out any money that way.

In actual fact, it's probably only delayed, and you'll get it in the next week or so.  A service level of three business days may be fairly normal, but according to USPS:

"During the previous quarter, First-Class Mail with an overnight service standard was delivered 96.4% on-time. Performance for two-day volumes was 94.2% on-time and 91.9% for three-day volumes."

So it's fair to say that at least 1 out of every 20 pieces of First Class Mail is delivered late.

Answer 7

No, the seller sounds pretty genuine and helpful. At least he replied back to your complaint, dodgy sellers don't! And he's even apologised for the delay and promised you a refund if you don't get your game. Wait until the 24th, if you still haven't got it, tell the seller. If he won't refund you as promised, put in a claim with PayPal (hopefully you paid with this/?).