Problem ebaying a LIVE subscription card (Is buyer trying to scam me?)

P

pstriple

CAGiversary!
I hope this is the right forum. Anyways, I sold a 3 month live card on eBay last week. After the auction ended, the buyer asked me if I could email the code which was fine by me since I didn't have to pay for shipping. I emailed the 9 digit code on the back of the card along with a 25-digit subscription code I had to peel off and thought that was that.

I get an email from the buyer today saying the code "didn't go through" and to email the code again otherwise he will file a complaint and give negative feedback.

I have no idea why this code would not work since it was brand new. I have checked the code on the back of the card to verify it's the same one I emailed. I am not sure if he is entering it in correctly (I've never typed one of these codes in so I'm not sure why there's a 9 digit code AND a 25 digit code) or whether he redeemed it and is now trying to get a refund off me and get it for free.

If I'm SOL I guess this was a good learning experience for me but I don't suppose there's a way to check if a code is already redeemed? Also are there any instructions I can give to enter the code? Are you supposed to type in the 9 digit code first in the "REDEEM CODE" box in the dashboard and will it then prompt you for the 25 digit code? Thanks.
 
So there's no point to the 9 digit code? Why do they even put it on there? He might've put the 9 digit code in, saw it didn't work, and emailed me thinking I was scamming him. If this is true I guess I should email back saying to just type in that 25-digit-code in the "REDEEM CODE" box and ignore the 9 digit code. Thanks. I'll see what happens.
 
Put it in an envelope and send it with DC, prepare for a negative since he's not getting anything free, but your ass is covered.
 
[quote name='pstriple']So there's no point to the 9 digit code? Why do they even put it on there? He might've put the 9 digit code in, saw it didn't work, and emailed me thinking I was scamming him. If this is true I guess I should email back saying to just type in that 25-digit-code in the "REDEEM CODE" box and ignore the 9 digit code. Thanks. I'll see what happens.[/quote]He could put in the code on Xbox.com as well as on the console itself.

He's probably being a dumbass and putting in the 9-digit code. Either that, or he's trying to scam you. I'd bet on the latter.

[quote name='pitfallharry219']Ask for his gamertag and tell him that you'll check into it with Microsoft. I bet the code will somehow magically work for him after that.[/quote]Nice idea. I need to remember that if I'm ever in that situation.
 
Seriously, why do you guys sell stuff like this and then just email the codes? Of course he can scam you. You have no ground to stand on if he rips you off or files a complaint because you didn't follow Paypal's guidelines for shipping an item.

Not to mention, why would you be saving the money in shipping since you'd be charging them for it? I don't get that thought process at all.
 
You should have left the cover on the back instead of peeling it, and just mailed him the card for 50 cents and not had to worry about this. Now he can probably scam you unless MS will verify he used the code. Maybe try calling them up and asking but you probably will at the least need to know his GT to get the info. Even though, I'm not sure that will work.
 
[quote name='mission42']You should have left the cover on the back instead of peeling it, and just mailed him the card for 50 cents and not had to worry about this. Now he can probably scam you unless MS will verify he used the code. Maybe try calling them up and asking but you probably will at the least need to know his GT to get the info. Even though, I'm not sure that will work.[/quote]

Even if they verify it, so what? Not like anything can be done.
 
[quote name='burritoman']Put it in an envelope and send it with DC, prepare for a negative since he's not getting anything free, but your ass is covered.[/quote]
I like this idea better.
 
I would never recommend sending a code to somebody via eBay, but if you are going to, you should at least put the code in on your own console first. Don't actually "confirm" that you want to add the subscription, but just make sure the thing is still valid and actually shows up. This way, you know if it's just user stupidity, or scamming if they claim it "doesn't work".
 
Yes I was a retard for emailing the code but turns it he wasn't a scammer, just inept. I typed the code into my account...and it worked. Either he was trying to add the code to a banned account (beats me why anyone would do that) or he just wasn't capable of typing 25 digits correctly in succession. I'm willing to bet even if I did mail the card, he wouldn't have figured out how to get it to work and would file a complaint claiming I mailed a fake card. I don't know how eBay settles these claims but I think it would be a hassle for me. At least this way I got to use the code (and now I can finally play Gears 2 and GTA4 online) and I refunded him his money. I'm sure eBay won't give me the $1 in fees back but whatever (I got the card for free from a promo). Lesson learned. Thanks for all your help.
 
but if you are going to, you should at least put the code in on your own console first. Don't actually "confirm" that you want to add the subscription, but just make sure the thing is still valid and actually shows up. This way, you know if it's just user stupidity, or scamming if they claim it "doesn't work".
Click to expand...

I can't really reccommend this route... even though you can confirm that they activated it, without delivery confirmation paypal won't care and will refund them their money straight-up without any hesitation. I mean, you could always take other outlets to prove them as a fraud but they're gonna be much more time consuming.

I typed the code into my account...and it worked. Either he was trying to add the code to a banned account (beats me why anyone would do that) or he just wasn't capable of typing 25 digits correctly in succession.
Click to expand...
He may have wanted to sell the activiation number (most likely not through ebay), I've seen a couple people doing that on craigslist before so it might be possible. Regardless, it's good that you were at least able to keep it for yourself. I sold an unused live subscription when I first started using ebay and did the very same thing here not realizing the implications. Luckily they were legit but I keep thinking how I really dodged a bullet there.
 
[quote name='Rig']I would never recommend sending a code to somebody via eBay, but if you are going to, you should at least put the code in on your own console first. Don't actually "confirm" that you want to add the subscription, but just make sure the thing is still valid and actually shows up. This way, you know if it's just user stupidity, or scamming if they claim it "doesn't work".[/quote]

I typed the code into my account...and it worked. Either he was trying to add the code to a banned account (beats me why anyone would do that) or he just wasn't capable of typing 25 digits correctly in succession.
Click to expand...
He may have wanted to sell the activiation number (most likely not through ebay), I've seen a couple people doing that on craigslist before so it might be possible. Regardless, it's good that you were at least able to keep it for yourself. I sold an unused live subscription when I first started using ebay and did the very same thing here not realizing the implications. Luckily they were legit but I keep thinking how I really dodged a bullet there.
 
[quote name='eastshore4']I can't really reccommend this route... even though you can confirm that they activated it, without delivery confirmation paypal won't care and will refund them their money straight-up without any hesitation. I mean, you could always take other outlets to prove them as a fraud but they're gonna be much more time consuming.

I wasn't saying to base a case for fraud around that; my point was that it will show you whether or not the card indeed was working before they got it. At least with this method, you know what to say to the buyer ("You didn't put it in right" and so forth.)

Anyone not getting DC on something/anything is crazy to me. I DC anything I trade/sell.
 
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