Ebay Scam by Chinese buyers, its-a-different-color

The Latest Scam against Sellers, Here it is, with a New Twist

Song Celadon, 12-13th C.

We've been doing business in China for over 30 years, we have great friends there and enjoy a wonderful relationship with our regular customers.

Recently I was made aware by one China based customers of a new scam being done by some Ebay buyer's, in mostly Mainland China. Its a clever one.

"Its a Different Color, Can I get a Partial refund or I will return it."

Its a new twist on an old game..

In China many Ebay buyers have always worked by bidding on items and then trying to "re-sell" the piece before having to pay for it. If, when it comes time to pay for it and they have been unable to sell it first, they simply ignore the invoices and vanish. This has been going on for over 10 years. So far Ebay has done exactly ZERO to combat the issue by requiring bidders in China to prove they can actually pay for the things they bid on. This "re-sell" first angle is nearly 95% of the time a limited issue to Chinese users only in China only...

Ming Dynasty jade Foo Lion

17th-18th C. Chinese jade

The latest angle is sending the piece along after getting paid and the buyer emailing the seller a day later saying:

"I got the (vase, bowl, charger, jade, Silk robe etc) it is a different color than how it looked on my screen",
"can you refund me $200 or I will return it"..or some other portion of the total selling price.

Now either their is suddenly a deterioration of Image Quality in Computer Screens all over China, or this is just a new way to manipulate sellers.

In some cases its a situation where they HAVE sold the piece and are now trying to maximize profits by intimidating sellers into giving partial refunds afterwards.

Whats my advice on all of this latest Ebay Buyer Scam?

First and foremost: The Immediately block them from ever bidding again.

Then...

Tell the buyer to send it back and let them know you will refund ONLY the selling price not including the Shipping charges for the return or what they paid for Shipping initially.

NOTE: In other transactions where the problem is of your own making as a "Seller", refunding the entire amount including the Shipping charges the customer paid BOTH WAYS is the ethical thing to do. Check eBay rules for those governing buyers to make sure everything any seller asks for is allowed.