Why does Amazon support scammers?
The customer ordered an item, returned an old torn one, and we turned a blind eye and exchanged it. The second time, the customer ordered an item again and returned an old torn one again. We refused with photos. The customer filed an A-Z claim, and Amazon did not deduct the return costs from us. The third time, the customer placed an order with the same plan, but Amazon cannot cancel the order without violations. Furthermore, regarding attempts to communicate and ask why he or she is doing this, Amazon sent us a violation notice for inappropriate communication with the customer. This forces us to ship the order, essentially making us hand money to scammers again. If we look at the situation from the customer's perspective, it's obvious that the customer is acting illogically, having received a damaged item twice, so why would they place a third order at the same store?
But no, Amazon becomes an accomplice, encouraging scammers and punishing sellers. Essentially, it becomes an enemy of small businesses. Is there anyone from amazon who can provide a clear answer to why this is happening?
Why does Amazon support scammers?
The customer ordered an item, returned an old torn one, and we turned a blind eye and exchanged it. The second time, the customer ordered an item again and returned an old torn one again. We refused with photos. The customer filed an A-Z claim, and Amazon did not deduct the return costs from us. The third time, the customer placed an order with the same plan, but Amazon cannot cancel the order without violations. Furthermore, regarding attempts to communicate and ask why he or she is doing this, Amazon sent us a violation notice for inappropriate communication with the customer. This forces us to ship the order, essentially making us hand money to scammers again. If we look at the situation from the customer's perspective, it's obvious that the customer is acting illogically, having received a damaged item twice, so why would they place a third order at the same store?
But no, Amazon becomes an accomplice, encouraging scammers and punishing sellers. Essentially, it becomes an enemy of small businesses. Is there anyone from amazon who can provide a clear answer to why this is happening?
23 replies
SEAmod
Hi @Seller_4VpMiejZYi2RL
I honestly don't know why other than we process many orders a day, an hour, and a minute. Scammers are everywhere, not just buying on Amazon. Do your best to protect yourself. Sometimes taking a cancellation hit is easier than dealing with the results of shipping another order to a scammer. If it is the same product, you could pause your active listing until the scammer moves on to someone or something else.
Susan
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
Never, ever communicate with a fraudulent buyer! Once you do wrong, Amazon just assumes you've handled the whole situation wrong. When something like that happens, report buyer, cancel the order and take the metrics hit. The order defect is better than losing money and if you're careful with your other orders that order defect won't make much impact.
Scammers aren't logical, it's that easy.
Seller_CtKuA9IPJ7TMj
I would cancel all orders from this buyer.
Seller_HRcJa1gdGHeov
As other have said, take the cancellation hit, hopefully they will move on after you cancel 1-2.
Amazon becomes an accomplice, encouraging scammers and punishing sellers. Essentially, it becomes an enemy of small businesses.
Amazon has become very bad for small business, despite the advertising to the contrary. Not only is Amazon hurting small businesses but some of their behavior is borderline illegal, Fair Pricing Bot id a good example.
Seller_8fdr15vK8mUp2
Tip of the iceberg Ranok I'm afraid. This is my story: Regarding recent order
Not clear as to the purpose of Safe-T Claims. I sold a $99 set of Sony earbuds and the customer initiated a return "Didn't Approve Purchase." The customer used my return label to post return the item and when the return parcel was "first scanned" Amazon refunded the customer's money. Several days later I received the return parcel to find that there was no product in it. Parcel was empty. So, at this point the customer has received their $99 refund and yet still has the product. Slick deal! I of course filed a Safe-T Claim thinking that there would be relief and solution for my problem. I sent Amazon an explanation of my claim along with pictures showing the parcel/envelope flat and empty before I opened it. Claim denied. I filed an appeal in which I elaborated my explanation thinking that Amazon didn't understand and resent the pics, just incase. Claim denied. I filed a second appeal with more explanation particularly highlighting the fact that the refund was given to the customer at FIRST SCAN so I had no opportunity to examine the return before refunding the customer's money. Claimed denied for third and LAST TIME. The pics clearly show that I did not open the envelope when I received it and that no one else opened it accept the customer who received it!
How can this be fair I ask? I fulfilled the order perfectly and the customer has apparently stolen from me. And I would have contacted the customer, just to be sure there was not mistake on his end, but Amazon only gives me one choice in contacting the customer at this point: to offer a courtesy refund! All other options are grayed out.
Please, if there is an Amazon MONITOR OR MODERATOR that sees this, please respond. Could someone please perhaps escalate my claim? THANKS!
Seller_Lu3bFSNnS57zM
The biggest scammers on Amazon are the legitimate Brands themselves
Seller_IlUOJ2kFGvRoZ
I'm sure you don't need anyone from Amazon to explain to you why Amazon is the enemy of small business.
Seller_Jzz37VUsxjR0S
This happened to us yesterday. The guy ordered a $300 golf bag put in a return request 2 days later and sent back one that was torn and looked like it was 10 years old. He said we shipped him the wrong bag and said nothing about damages so that would mean we would get the brand new bag back that we sent but no he sent the other one. I told amazon it was materially different and the box was in terrible shape, provided pictures and he got $0 money back because luckily they did not refund at first scan because of the amount. We are so very tired of these scams! These buyers should be kicked off and never allowed to buy on here every again!!
Seller_EJ77FVwpocuId
We go through the same thing, with customers buying a product periodically via FBA only to return an old used version. Amazon helps sometimes but a lot of the times, it's just a loss. Maybe it's time to start requiring restocking fees be paid by the customer? Or at least a human should inspect returned goods (because sometimes they return knock off products too!)
