circuitryusa

BINGO... have you ever watched the older episodes of American Pickers? *BUNDLE BUNDLE BUNDLE*... it's a great way to spread the real vs perceived value of some items across more variables/items. Maybe you think XYZ Comic #2 is worth $10, but XYZ Comic #3 is worth $28. Someone else may think the reverse, so if you bundle them at $31-35, that comes off seeming like a good deal to the buyer and seller since you never know exactly how they perceive the individual item values vs the collective values ...

Yes, thanks for that. Right now that is the only current way I can report this by using the "report buyer" on the feedback. The return window is still open until tomorrow before I can pull in CS direct on the initial fraudulent return. Good thing is I am patient. I do not sell much... most my stuff on Ebay is "drek" as some of you may call it (just stuff I am hoping to break even on at best, or take a small loss just to clear it out), and that's fine by me... I keep all my best stuff in my safe, send the "so-so" stuff to MCS, and now with this Ebay situation, will likely send the lower-end stuff/drek I sell on Ebay to MCS now too and keep Ebay for non-comic sales. Thanks for the tips!

I got one for you!!! My first scammer, caught in the act of trying to scam me, and of course revolted with the negative feedback. (I'm the seller here) Buyer: theraingerrain (BY THE WAY... it is exactly tips and hints from THIS MESSAGE BOARD community I was able to stay calm, level headed, and get this moving forward. So I THANK YOU ALL!!!! Now waiting on Ebay CC to jump in but I'm optimistic they will see the facts for what they are.... if not, no biggie... I'm moving all my stuff to MCS anyway and ditching ebay for comics as soon as I can... step by step) TLDR: (but if you have the time, maybe you can learn other ways to help protect you): He started by low-balling me offers for some raw Star Wars books. I actually made a deal, despite my gut telling me not to given his language and professionalism. I kinda hoped he would not buy, but he did, and I did my usually stellar response. with this lovely photo: So, within 8 hours, my response broken up to 2 messages to fit in the character limits: " You sent a message Message Hello, I’m sorry you have an issue with this item. As both an Ebay Buyer and Seller, I do my best to ensure utmost care of all items I sell, including accurate descriptions, clearly highlighting my opinions vs facts, proper packaging, final re-inspection before shipping, and finally fast shipping (Ebay allows me 3 days, but I’ve never gone over 1 day). This item in particular and your specific issue is worrisome. I’ve never had an item be incorrect when shipped. I strive to maintain my perfect review feedback, and will do everything in my power to assist you with this situation. I do this as a hobby because it is fun and I get to make people happy. So, I also strive for your happiness with this transaction. A single negative feedback will damage my credibility and ability to keep this as fun for me. I only sell about 1 item every 2 weeks or so. When I do, I place that item aside when I think it will sell, or when it has sold, and I compare it again to the listing photos to make sure nothing changed from the listing or if I notice any new issues or concerns. This allows me to reach out to the buyer and offer any discount. In this case, you and I had chatted for a few days about coming to a deal on these items. So, I know I had this lot placed aside on my desk and compared to my listing photos to ensure I was not selling anything that was not as described. I was happy when we made the deal, and I packaged them up promptly, and took photos when I dropped the item off at the Post Office including the entire package weight using the PO supplied scales and on the drop-off shelf. I will include those photos here." You sent a message Message Message Part 2: I have had a $500 book come to me recently on an auction I won and it was not as described due to damage it had that was not captured in the photos. The seller also did not take returns. However, I reached out to the seller first using the messaging system, and explained what I saw and we agreed to do a contingent return where I offered to pay for return shipping Priority Mail, fully insured, in order to protect my original $500 purchase. Then, just last month I had another auction win with a $280 lot of books that were also not matching photos. I went through the same process by contacting the seller first and we discussed the issues before any return was initiated. Why am I mentioning this? It’s because I understand how frustrating it is to get something you do not want or expect. But it would also have been ideal if you could have reached out to me beforehand to figure out what was going on. This item was delivered on April 1st, with USPS tracking number 9405508205498794285266 nearly 2 weeks ago, so I’m sure we could have resolved any issues promptly over the last 2 weeks. Now, all that being said. I cannot accept this return. Why? Not now, nor have I ever in my life had any single item for Star Trek (comics, figures, trinkets, or the like) in my collection or home, Ever. I also do not have any 2023 FCBD items in my collection. Of note, this star wars set was the ONLY ever Star Wars items I ever had too. I just do not collect Star Wars or Star Trek. That was why I was willing to give a steep discount. There is just no possible way, with 100% certainty, that those star trek books you show in the photos are mine. They never existed in my collection, I do not know what they are, so there is no way I could have sent them to you even if I wanted to create a trouble. Now, if by chance you had posted a photo of X-men books, Sandman books, or any other item similar to my active or cancelled items for sale, you would maybe have made me pause for a moment to think I did screw up. However, there is absolutely zero chance those books in the photo came from me. Hence, I cannot process this return to pay for books to be sent to me that were never mine to begin with. I still want you to be happy, so I encourage you to cross-check any other packages you have that arrived at the same time as mine. Please see the photos here as a reminder that it was a white padded priority envelope, with multiple “Fragile Handle With Care” stickers. Is there a chance my books got confused or mixed up with some of your other items? That is the more likely scenario here. Please let me know. I hope you can find the correct books in your possession and cancel this return. Thanks!" Later that night I did some digging and found the books he posted as ones I sent are ones he sells!!! You sent a message Message Noted the books used in the photos as "proof" of wrong item delivered are EXACTLY the books sold (4 links) and currently active (4 more links) on your store over and over, yet never once associated to my account, purchase, or sales history: https://www.ebay.com/itm/386797897949 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386826762896 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386787038224 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386797934460 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386855665762 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386928344599 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386910230774 https://www.ebay.com/itm/386928314645 It would be fantastic if you can close the refund request immediately and let us both move forward. Thanks! Then his expected response: The buyer sent you a message Message Seems like you’re making some excuses.…. Wanna give me a partial refund, at like 8 bucks or something, and call it day, I’ll leave you a good free back and all?.! if not, I intend to have eBay help me. I don’t take kindly to receiving stuff that I didn’t order and not receiving my order. And my response: You sent a message Message This is perfect and all I needed to support my case. I was actually trying to get Ebay CS to come in early to help protect me and my account from this scam, but unfortunately, I need to wait the 3 days. By offering to leave me positive feedback if I give you money, that is called extortion, and is a violation of eBay’s terms. If I indeed received something entirely wrong in an order, I would not accept a partial rebate and would only settle on complete replacement. Since you are willing to accept a partial refund, in this case, and with all of the evidence I presented, it is abundantly clear to an impartial observer I am correct. I know 100% I did not send you those books in your photo. It’s impossible. Is it plausible I made a mistake and sent you the wrong books from MY collection? Maybe... It could have happened. However, then you would have sent me some photos showing books from MY collection, and not yours. Four of the books in your photo are the same as ones in your “for sale” and “previous sold” collections, of which I provided eight links showing such books. And, all of my books are ALWAYS in bags and boards. No excuses, just facts. So, the way I see it is we have two options: 1) It’s ok to admit you made a mistake and confused my books with other stacks in your collection. You did sit on them for 2 weeks, so it’s easy to shuffle things around. This is me giving you the benefit of the doubt. Cancel the return request without prejudice. We both move about our day. I will block you as a buyer, and I will make sure eBay customer service removes any negative comments you may be inclined to leave. I will not take any further action. We just will have no further business. 2) I will let the three days expire (tomorrow night) by taking no further action. The moment the 3 days expire, I can go to my account and request eBay join in to assist me with this matter. I will present to them all the evidence I have, including our chat history, and these messages. They will decide what happens. Usually, as you may know, eBay tends to side with the buyer, and not the seller. However, I am 100% confident I have enough evidence to have them not ding my account, nor make me pay. Should they decide you are correct then they will likely refund you on their dime. The other outcome is they recognize my information is correct, and they decide your claim is fraudulent. Again, no harm to my account. Either outcome of option #2 does not impact me, but there is risk it impacts your account. So, you decide. I am not giving anyone money on extortion terms, no matter how small. Best Regards and the final two before I got dinged with the negative feedback:

I ship my most valuable stuff split up. Sure, it takes longer, more paperwork, etc... but I sleep better.. And, by splitting it up I mean I also do not mail them on the same day. What's the point if your semi-truck is the one rolled over on the side of the highway with 5 of your boxes in it???... I'd rather just have 1 box in there of 1/5th my shipment. Then, 4 other trucks have the other 4 boxes. Especially now, it's hail/tornado/severe weather season in most of the US.. I want all my stuff on as many different trucks/airplanes as possible. Food for thought...

Shipped 4/3/24!!! Total TAT which included CCS = 13 days!!! New record for me. Grades are averaging a bit lower than I thought for most of them, but a huge boost on one I thought was a "barely break even deal", so CCS must have done a good job on some. Surprisingly graders notes on all 18 books except 2!

Scheduled For Grading (that's a new CCS record of 1 week for me!): 3/29/24 Grading/Encapsulation/Imaging (no joke here!!!): 4/1/24 QC: 4/2/24 Shipped (going direct to MCS for my first time...):

Scheduled For Grading (that's a new CCS record of 1 week for me!): 3/29/24 Grading/Encapsulation/Imaging (no joke here!!!): 4/1/24 QC: Shipped (going direct to MCS for my first time...):

18 Slow Boat Moderns with CCS: Delivered: 3/15/24 Noted as "package received": ???? still never scanned Received at CCS: 3/20/21 CCS In Process: Shockingly, 3/21/24... fastest I've ever had CCS in process after received!! But... they have two newsstand labels designated as direct ... sent email to CS to hopefully fix and get the NS added.

If any of you can, have packages sent to work. I always have my stuff sent to my work. Ebay, CGC, MCS, etc. Someone is always there to sign them and they are kept safely until I arrive (or if I'm out/vacation/etc). The only sucky part is Saturdays for USPS, but they redeliver always on the next Monday. Fedex delivers on work/business days anyway, so it's a non-issue. Holiday shutdowns are the only rub where my company is closed between X-mas and New Years, so I have to mind my purchases at that time. Plus, if you have a kid that naps, you can appreciate the no distraction from a knock or a bunch of tablet beepings outside the door that makes sensitive dogs go nuts and wake them!! As for the few of you dealing with the drama, keep at it... ask the person who closed your case for their supervisor, etc.. be persistent. And good luck! Let us know if you crack the code here!

Specifically, make sure you find out if there is a single value limit on an item... had that with some of my insured items... I had a collective insurance policy rider of 25K (on other items), but no single item could be more than 5K, unless I had a separate rider for that which included receipts/appraisals and photos with serial numbers/identifying info. And, wouldn't you know it, they did not disclose this... I had to ASK about it... So, if you are in that boat, be sure to check to make sure your highest items are covered at full value!!!

For me when this happens I just need to login again. They have a weird system that lets you see some things even if your session expired, but not others. I always try that first (logout or just re-login) especially since I am logged in on 3 different devices, they usually are not in sync either....so I may see my subs on my PC, but not my phone, or vice versa.

Thanks guys for the suggestion! I just placed an order for the Mylites 2 on AMZN! They will go perfect for my "safe queens" that I am not selling, ever... Took me a minute to find them, so here is the exact title on AMZN if anyone else wants them... E.Gerber Mylites 2 Mylar Sleeves 914M2 for CGC Graded Comics CGC/CBCS Comic Slabs 9 x 14-1/4 - Pack of 50

WOW!!! 9.9's on your very first sub!!??? Two of them!!?? Please do share photos.. that is incredible. They hooked you!!! haha Were these direct from the printer or something (completely bypassing the LCS shipping boxes and shelves??)

Took me a couple years trying and submitting, and I'm glad I struck now while the "CCS Iron Is Hot" (they have been doing a great job on my last few subs....unlike last year)... I have not been able to break 9.2 with this issue on my last 8 copies I sent in... had to resort buying the 9.4's and 9.6's in my collection... and just when I was about to give up and throw down for the 9.8!!! I finally get it.. twice... I pegged these all as 9.6 as-is (before CCS), so really happy to see CCS did get me the bump on 2 of them.

haha, yeah I am also feeling these recent TATs are a DREAM compared to my first subs.... I track everything... and this snippet is the pull-down options I have for sorting based on ACTUAL TATs (real days, not Working Days)... . glad these are GONE!!! Hope they never come back... my latest one is at 42 real days (~30 working days with CCS pressing) and almost done...