Ebay/Amazon scam?

Jeff423

Jeff423

US Veteran
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
1,537
Reaction score
1,276
Location
St. Charles County, MO
I don't know if this is a scam or not because I received the item I ordered but:
Last week I decided to purchase some new sound suppressors. I looked at them on Amazon and ebay and since the prices were about the same I decided to get them from ebay because I had a few $ in Paypal that I wanted to use.
They were supposed to arrive in about a week. Two days later a package arrives from Amazon containing the ear muffs and a gift receipt saying they were provided at no cost and would I write a review?
The next day I get a message from the ebay seller saying the item was delivered. I got back to them-making no mention of the Amazon delivery and saying the post office has nothing showing they were delivered. They responded with tracking information from an off-shore delivery company saying the package was delivered.
Has anyone else seen this before? I initially thought that the "gift" was real because I had looked at the item on Amazon but now I'm starting to wonder.
I plan to pursue this further with ebay.
 
I have read of people receiving unsolicited items from Amazon for free and being asked to write positive reviews. Apparently this is a method some sellers adopt to drum up positive reviews. I think this is what's happening.

The eBay seller and Amazon seller are the same. I think he uses Amazon as his delivery "brand" (?) for both platforms.

I think the scam is that the gift approach seems a somewhat dishonest way to generate positive reviews, but I don't think you are in danger of losing money.

glenwolde said:
To be clear: you did pay for them?
Click to expand...

Good point...
 
Last edited:
So; Did the PayPal payment go thru? If it did they were NOT provided at no cost. If the Paypal payment was not taken or if refunded then you were gifted the muff. Either way you got what you were looking for so you are good. If the muffs and service were good go ahead and leave some feedback or not - up to you.
 
Onomea said:
I have read of people receiving unsolicited items from Amazon for free and being asked to write positive reviews. Apparently this is a method some sellers adopt to drum up positive reviews. I think this is what's happening.

The eBay seller and Amazon seller are the same. I think he uses Amazon as his delivery "brand" (?) for both platforms.

I think the scam is that the gift approach seems a somewhat dishonest way to generate positive reviews, but I don't think you are in danger of losing money.



Good point...
Click to expand...

Yes, I did pay for them on ebay.
From my point of view: I received a gift from Amazon and the ebay seller has not confirmed it was from them so I have still not received their item. I would be happier if the seller would admit that is what is being done rather than quote ebay's standard message to check with my neighbors etc.
But, to be clear I have received an item - I just don't know from whom.
 
sceva said:
So; Did the PayPal payment go thru? If it did they were NOT provided at no cost. If the Paypal payment was not taken or if refunded then you were gifted the muff. Either way you got what you were looking for so you are good. If the muffs and service were good go ahead and leave some feedback or not - up to you.
Click to expand...
Interesting point. I'll check with paypal.
 
My paypal account was charged.
This is not a big deal hence the question mark in my original post but (and I'm retired so I have plenty of time to pursue this and be petty):
Based on the information I have there are two transactions:
1. Amazon sent me an unsolicited gift.
2. I paid for an item on ebay and have not received it.
So I should have two sets of earmuffs - if it really was a gift from Amazon.
If the "gift" from Amazon was really from the ebay seller why the duplicity?
 
I have bought things on ebay that were shipped by amazon before. I think the sellers list items they don't have and order them from amazon when you buy them.
 
I had the same thing happen to me. My wife (who sells on Ebay) informed me the seller had "drop shipped" the item. This is against Ebay rules but happens. The seller lists something they don't have, then purchases it on a third party site and has it sent to you as a "gift". The item almost always has a slight mark up so they can make a profit.
 
jscheck said:
I had the same thing happen to me. My wife (who sells on Ebay) informed me the seller had "drop shipped" the item. This is against Ebay rules but happens. The seller lists something they don't have, then purchases it on a third party site and has it sent to you as a "gift". The item almost always has a slight mark up so they can make a profit.
Click to expand...
You may be on to something there.
The item looks OK but the packaging has been tampered with. Based on your information I'm guessing that these are from Amazon's "Used-Like New collection". It was also about $6 less than I paid.
I think I'll report this to ebay on Friday when they get involved.
 
madmikeb said:
A lot of sellers on ebay drop ship from Amazon. Happens all the time.
Click to expand...
That's interesting. If I receive a damaged item how are returns handled?
FWIW: I just checked ebay's customer service and drop shipping is prohibited.
This just keeps getting better. They have a better than 97% positive rating on ebay but in the last month there are about 30 people with problems identical to mine.
 
Last edited:
Jeff423 said:
I don't know if this is a scam or not because I received the item I ordered but:
Last week I decided to purchase some new sound suppressors. I looked at them on Amazon and ebay and since the prices were about the same I decided to get them from ebay because I had a few $ in Paypal that I wanted to use.
They were supposed to arrive in about a week. Two days later a package arrives from Amazon containing the ear muffs and a gift receipt saying they were provided at no cost and would I write a review?
The next day I get a message from the ebay seller saying the item was delivered. I got back to them-making no mention of the Amazon delivery and saying the post office has nothing showing they were delivered. They responded with tracking information from an off-shore delivery company saying the package was delivered.
Has anyone else seen this before? I initially thought that the "gift" was real because I had looked at the item on Amazon but now I'm starting to wonder.
I plan to pursue this further with ebay.
Click to expand...

This is not unusual and not a scam. There are plenty of sellers (actually, they are RE-sellers) who will provide you what you purchased but use Amazon as their supplier. Occasionally the item even comes from Amazon in another country, but regardless of the source you purchased and item, paid for it and received it. The gift receipt is simply a way to hide the Amazon price from the recipient so you don't know how much you overpaid.

Is it illegal? No, but when it happens it sure makes me feel like I could have done a better job searching Amazon before buying it off of eBay.
 
Apparently it is against ebay's policy.
I have to go back to an earlier position. If it came with a gift receipt from amazon and the seller won't admit that's what they did how do I know it wasn't a gift?
It's beginning to look like the seller sent me an opened item from an Amazon return instead of the new item I ordered.
 
Last edited:
Several weeks ago I bought a new KitchenAid mixer off eBay for my wife. It was the best price I found anywhere. When the mixer arrived it was from Amazon. The mixer was new and in its original sealed box. Not the first time things like that have happened to me.
 
I've ordered several items from ebay that were delivered by Amazon I their packaging. Don't think it's it's scam, just another avenue of sales for Amazon sellers.
 
Not that it's a big deal but it's prohibited by ebay. When you received the items did they come with gift receipts? Have you needed to return any of these items?
 
Where are you guys getting the idea that drop shipping is prohibited on eBay?
Here is the link to the informationhttps://www.ebay.com/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/drop-shipping?id=4176#:~:text=Drop%20shipping%2C%20where%20you%20fulfill,overall%20satisfaction%20with%20their%20purchase.

In some cases eBay promotes drop shipping (when the average seller sources the product from an eBay approved drop ship business.)

Amazon tells you how to do it.
What You Need to Know When Dropshipping from Amazon to eBay - eDesk | Faster, smarter customer support software for eCommerce

Nothing fishy or illegal about it.
However, if what you received was used and the eBay listing was for new, file a claim with eBay.
 
s&wchad said:
Just a couple of quick quick questions...
Did you receive what you ordered?
Were you charged the correct amount?

If the answer to both is yes, how exactly were you scammed? :confused:
Click to expand...
Please note the question mark in my original post.

From an earlier post in this thread:
Based on the information I have there are two transactions:
1. Amazon sent me an unsolicited gift.
2. I paid for an item on ebay and have not received it.
So I should have two sets of earmuffs - if it really was a gift from Amazon.
If the "gift" from Amazon was really from the ebay seller why the duplicity?

Additionally the item I received had obviously been opened.
I have sent a message to the seller asking if they sent the "gift". I'm awaiting their reply.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Amazon Problems
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
2K
Rustyt1953
Rustyt1953
C
Glad tidings from Amazon
Replies
1
Views
301
schutz5
S
BigBoy99
QR Scam
Replies
19
Views
678
soFlaNative
soFlaNative
Nevada Ed
New Scam
Replies
17
Views
779
LoadedRound
L
Narragansett
Another scam??
Replies
12
Views
778
Golddollar
Golddollar

Latest posts

Back
Top