$7000+ eBay Scam, could hit all mailbox/vault services (COMC/SMC/PSA Fanatics Vault)

[MavsRChamps]

More I think about it ... unless I'm missing something I think there may be a 10%+ chance someone at COMC swapped the card (without OP's knowledge obviously)? I mean say they opened up the package, saw the card, then acted like it was a different card, covered up your name to insinuate they didn't know the card was for you, etc.

It seems possible to me. COMC as a brand wouldn't risk their reputation for a $7K card, but a singular employee opening packages may in my opinion.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by MavsRChamps

More I think about it ... unless I'm missing something I think there may be a 10%+ chance someone at COMC swapped the card (without OP's knowledge obviously)? I mean say they opened up the package, saw the card, then acted like it was a different card, covered up your name to insinuate they didn't know the card was for you, etc.

It seems possible to me. COMC as a brand wouldn't risk their reputation for a $7K card, but a singular employee opening packages may in my opinion.

Sure, anything is possible. When someone makes an argument they are not always 100% convinced that their side of the argument is correct or the truth. I don’t think people calling the seller a scammer are saying there is ZERO chance that the someone at USPS or COMC did something shady.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by mc1

I don’t think people calling the seller a scammer are saying there is ZERO chance that the someone at USPS or COMC did something shady.

Maybe you just don’t understand the meaning of words but yes… calling someone a scammer means there’s a 0% chance that there’s another possible scenario

[johnscards]

This is mail fraud and nothing of value will be accomplished without the Feds. Seriously. Better start getting them involved now since it will be a very, very long process.

[Ericc5Bears]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

How is this rational at all?

If you're doing 6-7 figures of real business, what is the incentive to scam like this?

In the last 3 months he's sold around 40k of items, assuming every single one was paid for with no returns that's only 160k total revenue per year. He'd need at least a 25-30% profit margin to even make mid 5-figures per year. You don't think someone who could only be making 25-30k per year off this (hell, if he bought a good chunk of these cards at 2021-22 prices he could be losing money) wouldn't jump at the chance for a free 7k?

[Nomad]

So we lucked out, in that a single small-time guy thought up and executed this.

Before going to the FBI and such, why not see if he wants to make good, with cards if not money?

And then close whatever loophole allowed this.

[Sticks33]

Originally Posted by Mahomie

I've never had to request feedback revision through Ebay, so I can't attest to how easy the process it. But, it is also important to note that buyers aren't able to receive negative feedback (even when it's likely warranted).

You have to look at the actual comments to get the full story. Here are a few feedback comments that the seller has received in the past as a buyer:









There might be more, but those are just a few that I found with a quick search.

This is really good evidence. If they’re really a stand-up seller, would they have this many negative buyers feedback? Seems unlikely.

I can’t imagine anyone thinking this isn’t seller fraud at this point.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Maybe you just don’t understand the meaning of words but yes… calling someone a scammer means there’s a 0% chance that there’s another possible scenario

Right, if you say so.

Originally Posted by Sticks33

This is really good evidence. If they’re really a stand-up seller, would they have this many negative buyers feedback? Seems unlikely.

I can’t imagine anyone thinking this isn’t seller fraud at this point.

The one sentence reply is not a good look either.

[boxbuster7]

so the seller of the jordan exquisite is the one that did this scam?

right?

[Blazed]

Crazy

I doubt it was COMC as I have high end stuff sent there all the time so I can get graded through their grading service and have never had an issue with loss or theft

I have had the COMC name smudged on 2 that I Can remember and had to contact them. Once I contacted them they added them to my account. One card was $5.3k and the other was $600

And from my understanding COMC has top quality cameras all over the receiving area, which is also why I use them

Post office is possible but the PO employee would need to be carrying around cards to pull off the swap. Don't see that happening either

The highest probability is the seller saw an opportunity and took it

That said, if I bought a $7k card and this happened I'd spend whatever was needed to make sure someone was charged with mail fraud

[Ericc5Bears]

Did some digging into the seller since as someone else mentioned his info is publicly available on his instagram. Found this within about 30 seconds, a court case he was involved in where he and his father sued their school district because they were banned from attending basketball games after cursing at and threatening a shot clock operator. Replaced his name with his alias as to not dox but yeah, seems like a real stand up guy.

On January 24, 2022, Defendant Redmond, was coaching the boys’ varsity basketball team at a school in the School District. Defendant Redmond’s son, Matthew Redmond (“Matthew”), approximately age 20 was operating the shot clock. After the basketball game, Plaintiff’s son, bigfoot greeted and hugged his son, T.F. (Plaintiff’s grandson). Once T.F. went to the locker room, bigfoot began directing profane and threatening statements at Matthew, Defendant Redmond’s son. As bigfoot was being pulled away from Matthew, Plaintiff proceeded down to the floor and walked over to Matthew. Video evidence shows that Plaintiff and Matthew exchanged words in raised voices and that he directed profane statements at Matthew. Plaintiff insinuated that he would be waiting outside for Defendant Redmond. Once Plaintiff exited the gymnasium, he stood in the doorway and continued to make comments to Matthew and others. Plaintiff was asked to leave the area and at times refused to do so.

Matthew subsequently reported the conduct of Plaintiff and his son, bigfoot, to his father, Defendant Redmond. Defendant Redmond later told Defendant Dee that, upon hearing what had happened to Matthew, he was concerned for their safety. Later that night, Defendant Redmond called the local county Sheriff’s Department and reported the incident. An investigation occurred which included Defendant Redmond obtaining statements from witnesses in his capacity as the School District’s Athletic Director. All of the witness statements indicated that Plaintiff was seen yelling at Matthew using profanity, stating negative comments about Defendant Redmond’s coaching style, and that Plaintiff was asked to leave and at times refused.

[BigAl83]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

This site is pretty much just becoming a mob with pitchforks screaming scam at everything.

If the seller would have come here and posted this exact same story everyone would be calling the buyer a scammer.

The reality is that there isn't enough information either way to make any sort of conclusion. Half the story is left out and most of what is being shared is assumption

It was never my intention to leave things out, but as it was already a pretty long read i didn't want to make it extremely long, risking that no-one would even read this.

I want to be as transparent as i can be. So i'll share the complete and uncut messages i have received and send.

This is the case i have opened:




As you can see i shared 3 pictures with the seller. One is the picture of the package provided by comc to me (which is included in my first post).
I have also added the complete email text and shared this with the seller so he could see how i received it by comc (to be completely transparent with him as well!). Below you will see those two exact screenshots which have been shared with the case i opened:









I didn't get a single reply from the seller, even though all i ask for is a solution for the mixup (in no way am i calling him a scammer here).
I would have been perfectly fine with returning the Chamberlain and receiving the MJ Exquisite.
Instead he just automatically closes the case without a single reply, simply because he could since i was outside the 3-day return window. So yes this got me a little bit angry and less kind in my next DM:






No reply on the case opened, and 3 days to get a reply that he just doesn't make mistakes. At first i didn't immediately think i was being scammed, and was firmly believing it was just a mixup, hoping we could work something out to get the correct card shipped to me.
But after this, yes i do believe i was being scammed.

I double checked with comc right away and they assured me they extensively searched at their end. The bottom message was send first by me to double check, and the top message was the reply i got:

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by Ericc5Bears

In the last 3 months he's sold around 40k of items, assuming every single one was paid for with no returns that's only 160k total revenue per year. He'd need at least a 25-30% profit margin to even make mid 5-figures per year. You don't think someone who could only be making 25-30k per year off this (hell, if he bought a good chunk of these cards at 2021-22 prices he could be losing money) wouldn't jump at the chance for a free 7k?

I don't think it would be rational to destroy a business over $7k but fine

Admittedly, there's quite a bit of smoke just around his character and him as a person.

I still don't think there's any value in the mob just piling on and dismissing any other possibility when there's still no actual evidence.

The OP should absolutely get the postal inspector involved.

[thomasz71]

Are there messages between you and seller from 7/3-7/15 asking wtf was happening between label printed(7/3) and scanned first by USPS(7/15)?

[BigAl83]

Originally Posted by thomasz71

Are there messages between you and seller from 7/3-7/15 asking wtf was happening between label printed(7/3) and scanned first by USPS(7/15)?

Nope, that's another mistake on my end. I didn't ask him in between why the package wasn't at USPS yet. I was completely operating in good faith, since 99,9% of my packages are perfectly fine.

[waytoomanycards]

I'd ask comc for help with filing a report with the usps postal inspectors, just to increase the odds that a person actually looks at it. I mean, they might have contacts and they're the primary witness.

[Nomad]

Claims court might also be a place to go, but I guess you would want evidentiary reports from postal service and COMC first. Do you know the geographical locale of the alleged issue?

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by Sticks33

This is really good evidence. If they’re really a stand-up seller, would they have this many negative buyers feedback? Seems unlikely.

I can’t imagine anyone thinking this isn’t seller fraud at this point.

Seller definitely seems shady.

I've seen some honest mix‑ups occur, too. On Reddit recently, I came across a seller and buyer who were accusing each other of scamming, and it turns out (after a few days of back and forth discussion) that the seller had just swapped shipping labels by mistake while mailing out multiple packages in one day.

OP's situation is absolutely an exploitable flaw, though. A dishonest seller can simply cover up the COMC username and ship a different card, making it incredibly easy to scam buyers using that vault service.

[Nomad]

If it was a larger amount, a lawyer would be in order to create a class suit and really prevent it from happening again. But sometimes you can get a large award just to set an example in a first-of-kind case. For example, if it cost those parties that had lax rules in place that fall below "foreseeable risk" standards a million each.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

this is some high level stuff

so just to confirm the seller is the one pulling off this scam?

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

so the seller of the jordan exquisite is the one that did this scam?

right?

What are you insinuating?

[DynaEtch]

Unbelievable. OP I’m sorry this happened to you….occams razor makes it pretty clear to me to guess what happened here. It is very disappointing to see Ebays quick dismissal of this- if you haven’t already, and if it’s possible (not sure how it works with international)- might be worth getting on the phone and talk to ebay support…actually talk to someone…easier communication than email messaging. Although maybe late now.

eBay of course shouldn’t be the one footing the bill, especially if this is what it looks like (well to most).

USPS should be contacted and this should be looked into…I would also pursue with COMC customer service, see if they can help you.

How about the card itself? This is as tainted of a card as one can have now at least, given this info. What about it is identifiable that the hobby can look out for? The BGS label obviously, but if it’s taken out…I assume this isn’t a numbered card? How about the pattern on the Jersey fabric? People should look out for this card now.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by BigAl83

Yeah it seems like they are just fed up with me not letting this slide. But in all honesty i think i have been very polite, and trying to stick to actual facts and providing evidence to support my case. That is the most frustrating part, it almost makes it look like i'm the scammer here.

The post by aschade does seem to suggest, that if you submit within the 72 hour window they tend to automatically side with the buyer.
It makes you think that they don't even want to actually hear the story or complaint all together. Within 72 hours, automatically siding with the buyer, after 72 hours, automatically siding with the seller.

I feel your pain. This is such a tough pill to digest, and honestly one that I wouldn't let off easy if I were in your shoes.

It also highlights the ludicrousness of their 3 day policy, especially when intermediary services are involved. But that's probably by design to discourage the use of said services...which is really dumb by nature. I know of very few other major e-retailers that have such a short window for product inspection.


I'm curious, were those email strings of communication or via the Ebay online dispute submission forms? Because I was under the impression they completely did away with online support including live chat and even their store membership concierge e-mail service (which really sucks).


In any event, I'd personally give them a call. Multiple calls if needed. Demand to speak to a manager. Most of the time it'll take a few calls to get to the right person but generally calling tends to yield better results than written correspondence where you'll get tossed around between multiple people handling the same case.

Best of luck, I really hope this gets sorted for you in some way.

[TeeBee12]

Didn’t read the entire snafu, but just wanted to chime in for a solid purchase plan to thwart these kinda things. I’ve had everything from fake mx psa slabs, same zip but diff address (to circumnavigate automated denials in cases), to “oops I mixed up packages”. So here’s my process, but I do not ever recommend 3rd party vaults. Get an llc and resale cert for so many obvious reasons. If you don’t, you’re doing it all wrong. Think the farmers wife’s side hustle-bead-business in “the accountant”. Saved the farm. But I digress.

So, forget eBay being the decider. Your banking institution is. So layer it.

first thing is use an American Express. Easy appeals. They are a buyers card vs debit or anything visa that ultimately protects vendors.

Next link that AMEX to PayPal. Provides an extra appeals level. You can not use AMEX directly through eBay anyways. Wonder why?

Then pay for your purchase thru PayPal funded by your AMEX.

Then burn your bridges accordingly.

First through eBay. But they have rules. But not your rules.

When they auto deny it or pull this loophole sh!t, call PayPal.

It should stop there. But even if it doesn’t, AMEX will. They are pros at spotting scams and sucking the money back from PayPal who ultimately sucks it back from eBay. You will have to provide the necessary correspondence and keep up w/ your case, but it will be credited (the second you report it) as the buyer obviously will not be able to provide proof that they delivered the goods sold. Plus you get points. If you use the llc business Amex you’re even protected automatically to additional levels depending on your state.

Then top it off. Figure out an online banking card that allows you to pay Amex with a decent 1% rewards program. More points. If you wanna kick it up an additional notch, use a rebate website to login in to eBay and purchase. You’ll get a check every quarter outta the blue. In this case $72. And a quasi-additional layer to your bean dip purchase plan.

Caveat emptor. Protect your neck & sh!t.

[pingbling23]

Terrible situation to be in. I agree with jcard though, not much proof to go on. For educational purposes for anyone reading the replies. What is the appropriate course of action for the seller here if they are an honest seller? Would you just refund the money and go on with your life if someone made these claims and you know you sent the correct card? I would have definitely given as much info to the buyer as I could. No offense to the op but the misspelling of words and the way you write sentences would put me on guard. I don’t understand why you never contacted the seller when it was taking forever to ship? It could just of easily been a postal employee or a comc employee that is the bad actor. I wish eBay was more of a help but what can they realistically do? If they just refund everyone when a complaint is made that’s not good business sense. Op I hope it works out for you. I can only imagine spending that much and not getting what I paid for.

[coltsnsox07]

If I remember correctly, don't cards that come from COMC come with a little slip in the toploader like it's from the COMC inventory kind of thing? There's nothing like that in the Wilt.