Another Switcharoo Case - Very Expensive Item!
I knew this one was going to be a switcharoo as soon as I saw the return authorization and reason.
Return came through within hours of delivery to the customer with the reason being "Item No Longer Needed."
The item was sold brand new and factory sealed with manufacturer cellophane around the exterior.
It arrived back to me an hour ago, I immediately grabbed it and opened it up. Cellophane cut with a lazy attempt to reseal it with packing tape by the bad actor. I opened it up and see what I expected a used unit (scratches, scuffs, and a cracked housing).
Serial number does not match our records or what is on/in the packaging.
Immediately documented all angles, damages, packaging, etc - 100% restocking fee assessed. I really enjoy selling here on Amazon but, this is the second very expensive switcharoo I've gotten in the past few weeks. I assume it will continue to get worse as we move into the holiday selling season.
Another Switcharoo Case - Very Expensive Item!
I knew this one was going to be a switcharoo as soon as I saw the return authorization and reason.
Return came through within hours of delivery to the customer with the reason being "Item No Longer Needed."
The item was sold brand new and factory sealed with manufacturer cellophane around the exterior.
It arrived back to me an hour ago, I immediately grabbed it and opened it up. Cellophane cut with a lazy attempt to reseal it with packing tape by the bad actor. I opened it up and see what I expected a used unit (scratches, scuffs, and a cracked housing).
Serial number does not match our records or what is on/in the packaging.
Immediately documented all angles, damages, packaging, etc - 100% restocking fee assessed. I really enjoy selling here on Amazon but, this is the second very expensive switcharoo I've gotten in the past few weeks. I assume it will continue to get worse as we move into the holiday selling season.
34 replies
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
I don't have a solution for Amazon allowing theft and fraud BUT if this was shipped using the USPS please report the issue to the Postal Inspectors as mail fraud. If not, report it to the carrier.
ALSO the Government has a site IC3 (Amazon will remove the link if I put it here but it’s part of the FBI for an easy search) where you can report the use of the internet for theft if it was UPS, FedEx or whatever. It is generally used to report on websites but it can be used to report buyers as well if you happen to encounter one of the Amazon scam crowd.
In all cases it at least puts the con artists into a data base for future reference by the authorities.
There's an OLD saying -- If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.
PLEASE REPORT, REPORT, REPORT, REPORT.
And, DO NOT forget the Police Department where you are, as well as where the 'buyer' is!
Seller_zGoDlPZLneGhF
!!! Update !!!
After sending the buyer an email and explaining they sent back a unit with a different serial number. They have requested I cancel the return and send everything back to them. We all know that isn't possible and that they will be auto refunded if I mark the return as "complete" while the return tracking ID shows "Delivered" back to us.
The bad actor claims the device was "misplaced" - I would have believed that if they didn't attempt to reseal the cellophane or placed the protective plastic stickers from the brand new unit onto the used and damaged unit they sent back to us.
Nightmare customer! Everything from here on out is "No Response Needed" - they have admitted their wrongdoing and clearly have no plans of sending our unit back.
Seller_FcJ62CpbWSlbK
The switcheroo is only being reinforced by the refund on first scan policy. Luckily very few ever actually make the return, but when they do it is a crap shoot of what comes back. Occasionally it is a perfectly, still sealed product. Most often it is someone else's item. Or it was used for 3 weeks... The weirdest one was the return that was shipped to another city. It was a drop shipped item. So, was I providing that drop shipper's shipping label? I did get a $3.24 safe t for losing the product and 2 ways of shipping. Safe t is the thing that needed revamping, not the inventory page.
Joey_Amazon
Hello @Seller_zGoDlPZLneGhF,
I'm sorry you're going through a situation like this. I appreciate how you're using the forums to highlight this issue and share your knowledge and experiences dealing with this bad actor (buyer) with the community.
That said, I'd like to offer my assistance. If you're open to it, please share the Order ID associated with this case. I'm happy to review it and take appropriate action if necessary.
Thank you,
Joey
Seller_4HsL3GZbyDLea
We sell mechanical parts. Lately customers are simply removing their machine's old, failed part and sending it back and keeping the new part. The last time this happened it was for an part that sold for $32. Amazon gave me a $4.80 refund.
Amazon has created a paradise on earth for low life scum scammers. Amazon is going to force us third party sellers to socialize the financial lives on every criminal dirtbag in America.
Seller_Ha6JyVvDK6Ybs
WE RECENTLY HAD ONE HIG DOLLAR ITEM ORDERED 2 DAY MAIL AND SAME DAY IT WAS DELIVERED IT WAS RETURNED AS DID NOT APPROVE AND WHEN ITEM ARRIVED BACK IT WAS SIMILAR ITEM THROWN INSIDE BOX 5X SIZE WITH ZERO STUFFING AND RETURN CODE WAS DID NOT APPROVE. ITEM RETURNED HAD ZERO EVIDENCE OF OUR IDENTIFYING MARKINGS THAT WERE SEEN IN IMAGES TAKEN AND SENT TO CUSTOMER BEFORE ITEM SHIPPED. HAD TO FIGHT FOR SHIPPING AND ONLY GOT SHIPPING TO CUSTOMER AND 10% RESTOCKING ON A DESTROYED ITEM THAT WAS NEVER OURS SO WHAT WE LEARNED THIS IS ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE ON AMAZON.
Seller_Px6QkVa9HjgaM
We noticed an uptick of switcharoo cases as well. Since we don't buy shipping labels of Amazon, all our cases for Safe-T are denied.
Seller_02hM6xWloe5YP
We get a ton of these as well. We have worded an email template that seems to work well. 90% of the customers respond back saying they messed up. There are still the real bad actors that create more lies, stories, etc.
Here is the template we use. You are free to take it and use or make it your own.
Hello,
The {ITEM} that you returned to us were not purchased from us. The serial numbers do not match any we ever sold or purchased from {BRAND}. I understand you may have made a mistake, but until we receive the {ITEM} we sent you, no refund can be provided.
Please let us know if you would like this incorrect shipment back. You will need to provide a shipping label or a pickup from UPS. If no arrangements are made within 30 days, we will dispose of it. Thank you.
Our way of saying, "Hey, we caught you, and will not put up with your BS. Here is an easy way out of this for you. Chalk it up and move on."
