Don’t assume it’s fraud

Posted by Offer Tsuriel on January 28, 2010

You must be thinking, “What, are they crazyl” Although we just assaulted you with all the ways there are to get robbed , we mean it. Don’t jump to conclusions. Sometimes a situation isn’t fraud so
much as it is incompetence. No one wins if we all enter this arena with the attitude that I’m going to get you before you can get me! So, when you think something may be fraud, be smart and careful, but don’t take to the bunkers right away.

“Some of the biggest hits we’ve taken from buyers were not fraud . We shipped the order, for example, and the buyer claimed he never received it. It felt like fraud at the time, but it was true,” notes blueberryboutique’s David Yaskulka. There’s a fine line between providing excellent customer service and being ripped off.  You’ll have to hone yo ur instincts in order to tell the difference, and in the meantime, you may have to give more than yo u’d like. No one wants to feel robbed, but it happens to all of us at one time or another.

The same can be true of other sellers taking your listing details. Of course, you know that’s wrong, but as surprising as it may seem, some inexperienced sellers don’t.

 

 

I found others were stealing the text and pictures from my listings,

reported PowerSeller beachcombers!

I address this through e-mail. I explain to them that the material is copyrighted and remind them that eBay will end the listing if they have to and ban tbem from the service if they continue. I tell tbem I’ll let it go this time, but if it happens again, I’ll have to report them.

Then she adds the seller to her favorites and checks back on them for a few weeks to make sure they’ve learned from their mistake. She’s found that usually works, because these are not really criminals, tbey’re just eBay sellers who don’t know better. Now she’s helped someone advance in her business instead of making her a criminal.

Usefull Tips:

• Lengthen your fuse. Once you know you’ ll have to deal with fraud and you won’ t let others defraud you with impunity, you don’ t have to jump every time you face a problem. Sometimes a disgruntled buyer is disgruntled legitimately, and you’ll turn a bad situation into a good one, if you take a deep breath, keep your cool, and gather your facts. Then you’ ll be ready to address the issue, and you’re likely to turn a disgruntled buyer into a loyal customer who trusts you and comes back to buy from you again.

• Remember tbat you’re a business owner now. “Every store owner in the bricks-and-mortar world knows to expect a certain percentage of loss every year through fraud,” noted Drew of PowerSeller whitemountaintrading. “It’s built into the business plan. eBay sellers need to do the same. I build a percentage into my yearly outlook to cover myself for fraud. I’ve never come close to reaching it.” Drew has a good point. If it ’s not possible to run a business without having some degree of loss through fraud and theft, why would you expect your eBay business to be any different?
• Know your category. Spend enough time in your category to know the major players. Watch to see who is new and who may need some education in manners and good practices. When you know the neighborhood well, you’re more likely to be an effective member of the neighborhood watch team.
• Audit your auctions. Drew of whitemountaintrading audits his auctions twice a day. He enters all of his listings into eBay’s search features. He searches by brand as well as by item type. Then he can see who his competitors are and what they’re doing. Not only does this keep him up to date on potential fraudsters, but it also keeps him right in the forefrollt of his competition.
• Watch for one-day auctions. Sometimes a one-day auction can be a great way to turn something over quickly, but a one-day auction can also be a way for a criminal to make a quick strike and be gone before anyone notices. When you know your category, you’ll learn to recognize suspiciouis one-day auctions, those offering very high-priced items, for example. If a one-day auction is set for Friday through Sunday, that can also be a warning. A scam seller will be on and off the site before anyone at eBay could possibly be available to shut the auction down . Be especially vigilant for one-day auctions that require Western Union payments or wire transfers. There really is no reason for these payment restrictions, except that they’ re impossible for the buyer to recover after the fact.