All Ebay Sellers Be Aware of a new Scam that will leave you high and dry!

*EDIT 2/22/16*
So here is the bottom Line: With all of my proof, Ebay didn't care about the Fraud, Paypal did not care he committed Fraud, Even my local Police Department said they would take a report, but wouldn't even hand it over to detectives. There is a HUGE loophole in Ebay, and as long as they allow deception, theft, and fraud to take place, hide behind policies and refuse to even listen to a 17 year seller, I'm taking my selling off of their site. This opens up every seller to fraud on a daily basis, it creates a breeding ground for scammers, and the scammers are now there and I assume multiplying like rabbits. You are left exposed, in an open field, naked and you have to hold your breath every single time you sell an item, and pray at night that someone doesn't come up with ANY, and I mean ANY excuse to return it- because if you get back: An Empty box, a box of phone books, a box of dog droppings, Ebay says "As long as the buyer shows a tracking number we refund them"
With this type of one sided "marketplace" I have a better chance of going back to straight scrapping, at least I can stand in front of a scale and see my items being weighed and getting paid.
I have learned more than I ever care to know how to get screwed in the past 2 weeks, and its a shame. Your item can be gone, your money you had.. for a brief minute in your Paypal account will be gone, and you'll be left with a worthless item, while someone enjoys the fruits of all your hard work.
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Ok, I am posting this not for pity or praise. I want to share a recent Selling Experience with you on Ebay and tell you all to BE CAREFUL!

I sold a Sunblade 150, it was pristine.
I packed the item in a Dell Computer Box, Put 1" House Foam on both sides of it and sandwiched it together, placing bubble wrap on the face and taping the foam together.
I bubble wrapped the Keyboard, Mouse and all other components separately and placed them in that box. I filled any "dead space" with enough bubble wrap to choke a horse so the computer could not shift.
Note I FAILED to place bubble wrap on the bottom of the computer.

But I took that box (H-Taped all seams top and bottom with strapping tape) and placed that box in a 2nd box. Filling any dead space (approx 1-2" all the way around) with crumpled newspaper.
Off the computer went.

Here is the scam:
Immediately upon receiving the item the buyer claims shipping damage and sends pictures of the heatsink breaking both lugs of the CPU socket. I see tool marks on the heatsink and ask for it to be returned.
The buyer immediately quotes Fed Ex shipping requirements that the item needed 2" of air cushioning on all 6 sides of the unit and because I didn't do that it was Damaged and I owe him all his money back!
Note: There is NO Carton (Cardboard shipping box damage at all)

I receive the item back, I inspect it, I see tool marks where the CPU has been Pried from underneath with a tool, not doubting myself and my observations but wanting to be 100% positive I take the computer to an IT repair shop, I have them assess the computer and draw their conclusions- they are the same- tampered with- NOT SHIPPING DAMAGE.

Ebay awarded him ALL of his money back. They stated because he had it returned- their policy is to give the buyer his $ back. I fought back and said "If I can prove tampering, that voids his buyer protection, which I did with indisputable proof" They still gave him his $ back, I now have a negative feedback after 16 years of flawlessness. I have also pulled all my auctions because I think setting myself up to get scammed again is just not smart.

My moral is this: Watch your backs out there. If you see or hear of this scam.. be glad you read this and will know that it is a scam.
I cannot offer any advice to fix it- Ebay hosed me, they didn't stand up for me, they didn't protect me. My only recourse now is to report it as fraud to the Police and file and IC3 report.
If you feel you have been scammed on Ebay, REPORT THE BUYER, again, I have no idea if this will do any good as this case is still fresh.



All I have now is this: Destroyed computer, with the extra bonus of having to pay to ship it, and pay to ship it back, a negative feedback (Because I stood up, called him out and asked him to explain,) and I'm out the $300 sale price.
Good Luck out there!