Buyer Scam Alert: Protecting Your Business from A-to-z Claim Refund Threats
As an Amazon seller, you work hard to provide great products and service to your customers. Unfortunately, a new scam threatens to undermine your efforts and potentially harm your business. We want to make you aware of this issue and provide guidance on how to protect yourself.
Recently, we've seen an increase in buyers who lose A-to-z claims threatening sellers with negative feedback unless they provide refunds outside of Amazon's system. This puts honest sellers like you in a difficult position. You may feel pressured to comply to avoid damaging feedback, even though doing so violates Amazon's terms of service.
Let's be clear - Amazon, not sellers, is responsible for handling refunds and other monetary transactions between buyers and third-party sellers. Refunding orders outside our system is not allowed and could put your account at risk. We know you want to keep your customers happy, but in this case, the right thing to do is to stand firm and follow proper procedures.
We understand you may be concerned about receiving unfair negative feedback from these buyers. While we can't confirm if declined A-to-z claims result from enforcement against bad actors, we recognize the potential for inaccurate, harmful feedback. If you receive negative feedback after declining an off-system refund request, report it to us immediately. We'll investigate and may remove feedback that violates our policies.
To protect yourself and your business:
- Do not refund orders outside Amazon's system under any circumstances.
- Report any threats or suspicious behavior from buyers.
- If you receive retaliatory negative feedback, report it promptly for investigation.
We're actively monitoring this situation and will continue working to safeguard our seller community. Your experiences and insights are valuable in helping us address this issue. Please share any encounters you have with this scam so we can take appropriate action.
By working together and following proper procedures, we can protect your business and maintain a fair marketplace for all. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Amazon a trusted platform for buyers and sellers alike.
Susan
Buyer Scam Alert: Protecting Your Business from A-to-z Claim Refund Threats
As an Amazon seller, you work hard to provide great products and service to your customers. Unfortunately, a new scam threatens to undermine your efforts and potentially harm your business. We want to make you aware of this issue and provide guidance on how to protect yourself.
Recently, we've seen an increase in buyers who lose A-to-z claims threatening sellers with negative feedback unless they provide refunds outside of Amazon's system. This puts honest sellers like you in a difficult position. You may feel pressured to comply to avoid damaging feedback, even though doing so violates Amazon's terms of service.
Let's be clear - Amazon, not sellers, is responsible for handling refunds and other monetary transactions between buyers and third-party sellers. Refunding orders outside our system is not allowed and could put your account at risk. We know you want to keep your customers happy, but in this case, the right thing to do is to stand firm and follow proper procedures.
We understand you may be concerned about receiving unfair negative feedback from these buyers. While we can't confirm if declined A-to-z claims result from enforcement against bad actors, we recognize the potential for inaccurate, harmful feedback. If you receive negative feedback after declining an off-system refund request, report it to us immediately. We'll investigate and may remove feedback that violates our policies.
To protect yourself and your business:
- Do not refund orders outside Amazon's system under any circumstances.
- Report any threats or suspicious behavior from buyers.
- If you receive retaliatory negative feedback, report it promptly for investigation.
We're actively monitoring this situation and will continue working to safeguard our seller community. Your experiences and insights are valuable in helping us address this issue. Please share any encounters you have with this scam so we can take appropriate action.
By working together and following proper procedures, we can protect your business and maintain a fair marketplace for all. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Amazon a trusted platform for buyers and sellers alike.
Susan
0 replies
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
THANK YOU @SEAmodfor your post.
OP: To protect yourself and your business:
- Do not refund orders outside Amazon's system under any circumstances.
- Report any threats or suspicious behavior from buyers.
- If you receive retaliatory negative feedback, report it promptly for investigation.
EXCELLENT! Remember, it takes two to play the scam game. All buyers need to ask themselves this. Are they going to be part of the problem by giving into the scam, or they going to be part of the solution, by following your points.
OP: We're actively monitoring this situation and will continue working to safeguard our seller community. Your experiences and insights are valuable in helping us address this issue. Please share any encounters you have with this scam so we can take appropriate action.
Now that the Buyer Abuse Prevention Team has merged with the A-Z Team, hopefully @SEAmodwill keep us updated on the steps Amazon is taking to prevent buyer return fraud and scams. In the past years, Amazon's Buyer Abuse and Preventions has been mute on the subject.
Seller_lCX40xAkSs1xm
Wow, this is the most surprising post by a MOD I have ever seen in my more than 10 years on the platform.
Identifying a threat to sellers and the platform as a whole and getting out in front of it.
Very very impressed to see this once-in-a-lifetime type of action by Amazon!
Seller_7STxzA93KoQVs
What about customers who just simply rinse and repeat? In other words they just attempt multiple refunds from third party sellers? All it takes is someone (another employee) or anything not paying attention to the message thread or the order history.
I received negative feedback by telling a customer we wouldn't issue additional refunds and then I received a policy violation by doing so.
Seller_XJk5RkDQR39p0
Perhaps this would not be an issue if Amazon stopped reacting so negatively against sellers regarding buyers' feedback. Secondly please elaborate with an example of this statement
I am trying to understand why a scammer would go outside the Amazon system if the same system is all they need to scam a seller. A scammer purchases something, asks for a refund because "it was the wrong color", then buys another one and claims "he didn't need it", refund...then purchases another one and claims "it was purchased in error"! Three items were lost, and three refunds were all within Amazon of course they were "returnless refunds" because we have to keep them happy.
Moreover, there are many legitimate reasons why a seller would refund a payment using the "refund order" dialogue, it doesn't have to be a threat, including but not limited to, an item not received, an undeliverable address, etc. We understand this to be INSIDE AMAZON SYSTEM please clarify if that is the case, thanks
Seller_yRkAvv95JyptH
Yet Amazon allows scammers to file fake A to Z claims over and over and over again, with no resolve or solution than to "report" the buyer. Do better amazon. We have 5-6x the amount of claims on this page, compared to other platforms, due to Amazon not doing their part. Could care less about the feedback, would really like our item or money back. Feedbacks don't pay the bills.
Seller_XctrnMCRNHJ2p
Well i have a feedback from a scammer so far its been over a month and nothing is happening.
i need it removed please.
Seller_l52e1I9DegfEd
I cannot believe someone gave SEAmod a thumbs down vote for this info!!!!!!! JUST WOW!!!!!!!
Seller_zc50DVO3FE5fz
There's a lot of buyer scams out there - this one is probably one that I really wouldn't feel like is even a "scam". How many sellers are actually sending a buyer a check or zelle etc refund payment to avoid negative feedback? Wouldn't those same sellers just allow the A-Z to go through in the first place if they were that desperate to avoid a negative feedback? Is this *really* a widespread "problem"?
I'd be more impressed if the mods educated sellers on a lot more serious scams such as:
1. Buyers ordering to a freight forwarder, then initiating a return where they purchase something off of Etsy and send the Etsy seller the prepaid return label to make it appear like they've returned the item.
2. Buyers photoshopping return labels, putting a different address in the same zip code that gets delivered and the seller doesn't receive it but the Amazon system makes it seem like it's delivered.
3. Buyers requesting free product promising positive feedback.
4. Buyers requesting address changes or modifications.
Seller_OsTCzqmnWLFhS
There is no way to report the buyer if they don't message inside of Amazon. I have tried several times and it gives no option to report only "report message". I have dealt with scams like this for years and amazon was never any assistance.
