Extortion Attempt
So this is a FIRST for me.
I just got an email from Amazon Customer Service on behalf of a customer DEMANDING that I issue them $30 in PROMO CREDITS (which I can't do obviously) because:
"I recently received an order (gift) from my friend, I received it from the delivery driver, when he handed me the package, he insulted me with the word "meaning a black man" and hit me in the face. It was terrible. For this misunderstanding, I would like to receive moral compensation in the form of a $30 promo balance on my account to cover the physical mayhem. Gift order ID is Removed 1 - Lil Dude (or Dudette) on Board Turtle Vinyl Decal Sticker (Tuesday, June 27). Please research the issue and contact the customer."
Extortion attempts are a normal thing, but this is a new one for me. Clearly the Customer Service agent who handled this interaction could not use the word the customer probably wanted them to use. But... this customer has a Female name. They also filed an A-Z which Amazon granted on 7/3 when they claim they didn't get this order... but it appears from this message that this supposedly happened on 6/27. Tracking actually shows that this order was delivered on 6/20/23. Regardless, they clearly got the order. My tracking also shows that it was delivered at/in a Mailbox... so this scenario likely did not happen and this customer is just looking for free stuff. I get it. But demanding a PROMO CREDIT for a derogatory term? If that truly happened, wouldn't you demand a LOT more than $30? and why would you want a Promo credit? I cannot issue those as an FBM seller, and in all honesty, I wouldn't even if I could.
I mean they are clearly trying to extort me for something I could not have possibly had any hand in. I ship USPS only. ONLY. So this would have been done by their MAIL CARRIER. Why would they not contact USPS about this issue? I've reported the messages to Amazon and Also opened a case. You cannot attempt to extort a seller and think that is appropriate... Also did I mention that I lost the A-Z even though this customer NEVER contacted me after I shipped their order? They had contacted me PRIOR to shipment asking to make sure they ordered the correct size and color and AMAZON deemed that "contact" about their "lost" order, so they were not required to contact me post shipment period to be granted the A-Z. So not only did Amazon not follow their own policy and ding me for it, but now allowed a CS Agent to send an EXTORTION message to a seller. Do they have NO training whatsoever to recognize this as an extortion attempt and stop it from going forward?
53 replies
Seller_GYBivd6QH6hzX
Honestly the "customer service agent" forwarding the message was probably just the chatbot, I doubt it was an actual person.
LOL "moral compensation" is a new one, haven't heard that term before... but yeah, the whole thing clearly never happened; I'd guess it was just a script the customer saw on TikTok or something to scam money out of Amazon, and if it'd been an FBA order it might have worked - we've seen the "customer service" team refund some of our FBA orders in full for no apparent reason.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
If you can determine the name and address of this clown PLEASE report the issue to the Postal Inspectors as mail fraud.
ALSO the Government has a site IC3 (Amazon will remove the link if I put it here) where you can report the use of the internet for theft if it was UPS, FedEx or whatever. It is generally used to report on websites but it can be used to report buyers as well if you happen to encounter one of the Amazon scam crowd.
In both cases it at least puts the con artists into a data base for future reference by the authorities.
There's an OLD saying -- If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.
PLEASE REPORT, REPORT, REPORT, REPORT.
Seller_8sP6ffckcRn6v
This is between them and the carrier.
...If it happened.
They should had called the police that they were hit in the face.
Or maybe they hit the mail carrier. Sounds like someone who is capable of doing so.
I would mark as reply not needed and would not engage at all.
Seller_aV1Bh32hE0KND
This must be a new scam going around unless it's the same customer. 😵 😵 😵
See the → thread posted by @Seller_oDrtF23VsXOi9
How stupid are they, they admitted that they got the package in their message.
We can get a Community Manager involved to reopen the claim and look into getting you reimbursed and the ODR removed and hopefully, some action will also be taken against this customer.
Post a copy of the order ID # or case # and we can tag a CM.
Seller_qb9YwQ7193BDg
no response needed and move along with your day
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
Amazon considers the filing of the A-Z Claim as "Contacting the Seller". I KNOW the written policy would imply otherwise, but you will not win that fight.
None of this would matter, NOR would you have Lost the A-Z Claim, if you had simply purchased Postage for the order using Amazon Buy Shipping and made sure that the package was scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window. Amazon protects Sellers against this exact type of Claim if you follow procedure. Rather than save a few pennies on shipping, Buy Postage from Amazon and consider the difference to be CHEAP Insurance against INR Claims (which you would otherwise lose).
If you choose NOT to take advantage of Amazon's protection plan, you are crossing your fingers in hope that the Buyer will not Claim INR EVERY time you ship. That scenario would certainly keep me up at night...
As I have mentioned before, anyone who has ever worked Retail has a story about a customer who demanded a Refund that was against policy and still received the Refund anyway. This is usually in the name of Good Customer Service, or to get the customer out of the store before it escalates. Whatever the reason, you should consider the granting of an A-Z Claim for INR to be a similar situation. Amazon may not be deciding on who is "Right", but is simply making the customer happy. If YOU don't want to accept that burden, than you can relieve yourself of it by purchasing Postage using Amazon Buy Shipping and make SURE that the package is scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window.
Finally, as to the actual subject of the matter (the carrier insulted the Buyer), I would have replied with sympathy to the Buyer, apologized for the experience, and explained that we (you) had no control over such an occurrence, and direct the Buyer to file a complaint with the carrier.
I would also explain to the Buyer that Amazon has no procedure that allows for a Seller to offer a "Courtesy Refund" except in cases of received Returns.
I hope this will help you in the future.
Good Luck!
Seller_uf4dbtieBCxcX
Don't be too hasty to think that it was an Amazon customer service rep. We have seen customers use the same format that an Amazon CS agent message would appear as but it had nothing to do with them.
These scammers are very adept at making things look official when, in fact, it is just part of the ruse.
Our two cents and good luck.
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
Report message to Amazon. Definitely sounds like someone who watched some Tiktok or youtube video on how to scam Amazon. People have lost their dang minds with this stuff. If they were hit why wouldn't their first response be to call the cops?
Extortion Attempt
So this is a FIRST for me.
I just got an email from Amazon Customer Service on behalf of a customer DEMANDING that I issue them $30 in PROMO CREDITS (which I can't do obviously) because:
"I recently received an order (gift) from my friend, I received it from the delivery driver, when he handed me the package, he insulted me with the word "meaning a black man" and hit me in the face. It was terrible. For this misunderstanding, I would like to receive moral compensation in the form of a $30 promo balance on my account to cover the physical mayhem. Gift order ID is Removed 1 - Lil Dude (or Dudette) on Board Turtle Vinyl Decal Sticker (Tuesday, June 27). Please research the issue and contact the customer."
Extortion attempts are a normal thing, but this is a new one for me. Clearly the Customer Service agent who handled this interaction could not use the word the customer probably wanted them to use. But... this customer has a Female name. They also filed an A-Z which Amazon granted on 7/3 when they claim they didn't get this order... but it appears from this message that this supposedly happened on 6/27. Tracking actually shows that this order was delivered on 6/20/23. Regardless, they clearly got the order. My tracking also shows that it was delivered at/in a Mailbox... so this scenario likely did not happen and this customer is just looking for free stuff. I get it. But demanding a PROMO CREDIT for a derogatory term? If that truly happened, wouldn't you demand a LOT more than $30? and why would you want a Promo credit? I cannot issue those as an FBM seller, and in all honesty, I wouldn't even if I could.
I mean they are clearly trying to extort me for something I could not have possibly had any hand in. I ship USPS only. ONLY. So this would have been done by their MAIL CARRIER. Why would they not contact USPS about this issue? I've reported the messages to Amazon and Also opened a case. You cannot attempt to extort a seller and think that is appropriate... Also did I mention that I lost the A-Z even though this customer NEVER contacted me after I shipped their order? They had contacted me PRIOR to shipment asking to make sure they ordered the correct size and color and AMAZON deemed that "contact" about their "lost" order, so they were not required to contact me post shipment period to be granted the A-Z. So not only did Amazon not follow their own policy and ding me for it, but now allowed a CS Agent to send an EXTORTION message to a seller. Do they have NO training whatsoever to recognize this as an extortion attempt and stop it from going forward?
Extortion Attempt
So this is a FIRST for me.
I just got an email from Amazon Customer Service on behalf of a customer DEMANDING that I issue them $30 in PROMO CREDITS (which I can't do obviously) because:
"I recently received an order (gift) from my friend, I received it from the delivery driver, when he handed me the package, he insulted me with the word "meaning a black man" and hit me in the face. It was terrible. For this misunderstanding, I would like to receive moral compensation in the form of a $30 promo balance on my account to cover the physical mayhem. Gift order ID is Removed 1 - Lil Dude (or Dudette) on Board Turtle Vinyl Decal Sticker (Tuesday, June 27). Please research the issue and contact the customer."
Extortion attempts are a normal thing, but this is a new one for me. Clearly the Customer Service agent who handled this interaction could not use the word the customer probably wanted them to use. But... this customer has a Female name. They also filed an A-Z which Amazon granted on 7/3 when they claim they didn't get this order... but it appears from this message that this supposedly happened on 6/27. Tracking actually shows that this order was delivered on 6/20/23. Regardless, they clearly got the order. My tracking also shows that it was delivered at/in a Mailbox... so this scenario likely did not happen and this customer is just looking for free stuff. I get it. But demanding a PROMO CREDIT for a derogatory term? If that truly happened, wouldn't you demand a LOT more than $30? and why would you want a Promo credit? I cannot issue those as an FBM seller, and in all honesty, I wouldn't even if I could.
I mean they are clearly trying to extort me for something I could not have possibly had any hand in. I ship USPS only. ONLY. So this would have been done by their MAIL CARRIER. Why would they not contact USPS about this issue? I've reported the messages to Amazon and Also opened a case. You cannot attempt to extort a seller and think that is appropriate... Also did I mention that I lost the A-Z even though this customer NEVER contacted me after I shipped their order? They had contacted me PRIOR to shipment asking to make sure they ordered the correct size and color and AMAZON deemed that "contact" about their "lost" order, so they were not required to contact me post shipment period to be granted the A-Z. So not only did Amazon not follow their own policy and ding me for it, but now allowed a CS Agent to send an EXTORTION message to a seller. Do they have NO training whatsoever to recognize this as an extortion attempt and stop it from going forward?
53 replies
53 replies
Seller_GYBivd6QH6hzX
Honestly the "customer service agent" forwarding the message was probably just the chatbot, I doubt it was an actual person.
LOL "moral compensation" is a new one, haven't heard that term before... but yeah, the whole thing clearly never happened; I'd guess it was just a script the customer saw on TikTok or something to scam money out of Amazon, and if it'd been an FBA order it might have worked - we've seen the "customer service" team refund some of our FBA orders in full for no apparent reason.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
If you can determine the name and address of this clown PLEASE report the issue to the Postal Inspectors as mail fraud.
ALSO the Government has a site IC3 (Amazon will remove the link if I put it here) where you can report the use of the internet for theft if it was UPS, FedEx or whatever. It is generally used to report on websites but it can be used to report buyers as well if you happen to encounter one of the Amazon scam crowd.
In both cases it at least puts the con artists into a data base for future reference by the authorities.
There's an OLD saying -- If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.
PLEASE REPORT, REPORT, REPORT, REPORT.
Seller_8sP6ffckcRn6v
This is between them and the carrier.
...If it happened.
They should had called the police that they were hit in the face.
Or maybe they hit the mail carrier. Sounds like someone who is capable of doing so.
I would mark as reply not needed and would not engage at all.
Seller_aV1Bh32hE0KND
This must be a new scam going around unless it's the same customer. 😵 😵 😵
See the → thread posted by @Seller_oDrtF23VsXOi9
How stupid are they, they admitted that they got the package in their message.
We can get a Community Manager involved to reopen the claim and look into getting you reimbursed and the ODR removed and hopefully, some action will also be taken against this customer.
Post a copy of the order ID # or case # and we can tag a CM.
Seller_qb9YwQ7193BDg
no response needed and move along with your day
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
Amazon considers the filing of the A-Z Claim as "Contacting the Seller". I KNOW the written policy would imply otherwise, but you will not win that fight.
None of this would matter, NOR would you have Lost the A-Z Claim, if you had simply purchased Postage for the order using Amazon Buy Shipping and made sure that the package was scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window. Amazon protects Sellers against this exact type of Claim if you follow procedure. Rather than save a few pennies on shipping, Buy Postage from Amazon and consider the difference to be CHEAP Insurance against INR Claims (which you would otherwise lose).
If you choose NOT to take advantage of Amazon's protection plan, you are crossing your fingers in hope that the Buyer will not Claim INR EVERY time you ship. That scenario would certainly keep me up at night...
As I have mentioned before, anyone who has ever worked Retail has a story about a customer who demanded a Refund that was against policy and still received the Refund anyway. This is usually in the name of Good Customer Service, or to get the customer out of the store before it escalates. Whatever the reason, you should consider the granting of an A-Z Claim for INR to be a similar situation. Amazon may not be deciding on who is "Right", but is simply making the customer happy. If YOU don't want to accept that burden, than you can relieve yourself of it by purchasing Postage using Amazon Buy Shipping and make SURE that the package is scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window.
Finally, as to the actual subject of the matter (the carrier insulted the Buyer), I would have replied with sympathy to the Buyer, apologized for the experience, and explained that we (you) had no control over such an occurrence, and direct the Buyer to file a complaint with the carrier.
I would also explain to the Buyer that Amazon has no procedure that allows for a Seller to offer a "Courtesy Refund" except in cases of received Returns.
I hope this will help you in the future.
Good Luck!
Seller_uf4dbtieBCxcX
Don't be too hasty to think that it was an Amazon customer service rep. We have seen customers use the same format that an Amazon CS agent message would appear as but it had nothing to do with them.
These scammers are very adept at making things look official when, in fact, it is just part of the ruse.
Our two cents and good luck.
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
Report message to Amazon. Definitely sounds like someone who watched some Tiktok or youtube video on how to scam Amazon. People have lost their dang minds with this stuff. If they were hit why wouldn't their first response be to call the cops?
Seller_LyYw7fQRKc5G7
Did you report the email for Abuse?
Seller_GYBivd6QH6hzX
Honestly the "customer service agent" forwarding the message was probably just the chatbot, I doubt it was an actual person.
LOL "moral compensation" is a new one, haven't heard that term before... but yeah, the whole thing clearly never happened; I'd guess it was just a script the customer saw on TikTok or something to scam money out of Amazon, and if it'd been an FBA order it might have worked - we've seen the "customer service" team refund some of our FBA orders in full for no apparent reason.
Seller_GYBivd6QH6hzX
Honestly the "customer service agent" forwarding the message was probably just the chatbot, I doubt it was an actual person.
LOL "moral compensation" is a new one, haven't heard that term before... but yeah, the whole thing clearly never happened; I'd guess it was just a script the customer saw on TikTok or something to scam money out of Amazon, and if it'd been an FBA order it might have worked - we've seen the "customer service" team refund some of our FBA orders in full for no apparent reason.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
If you can determine the name and address of this clown PLEASE report the issue to the Postal Inspectors as mail fraud.
ALSO the Government has a site IC3 (Amazon will remove the link if I put it here) where you can report the use of the internet for theft if it was UPS, FedEx or whatever. It is generally used to report on websites but it can be used to report buyers as well if you happen to encounter one of the Amazon scam crowd.
In both cases it at least puts the con artists into a data base for future reference by the authorities.
There's an OLD saying -- If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.
PLEASE REPORT, REPORT, REPORT, REPORT.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
If you can determine the name and address of this clown PLEASE report the issue to the Postal Inspectors as mail fraud.
ALSO the Government has a site IC3 (Amazon will remove the link if I put it here) where you can report the use of the internet for theft if it was UPS, FedEx or whatever. It is generally used to report on websites but it can be used to report buyers as well if you happen to encounter one of the Amazon scam crowd.
In both cases it at least puts the con artists into a data base for future reference by the authorities.
There's an OLD saying -- If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.
PLEASE REPORT, REPORT, REPORT, REPORT.
Seller_8sP6ffckcRn6v
This is between them and the carrier.
...If it happened.
They should had called the police that they were hit in the face.
Or maybe they hit the mail carrier. Sounds like someone who is capable of doing so.
I would mark as reply not needed and would not engage at all.
Seller_8sP6ffckcRn6v
This is between them and the carrier.
...If it happened.
They should had called the police that they were hit in the face.
Or maybe they hit the mail carrier. Sounds like someone who is capable of doing so.
I would mark as reply not needed and would not engage at all.
Seller_aV1Bh32hE0KND
This must be a new scam going around unless it's the same customer. 😵 😵 😵
See the → thread posted by @Seller_oDrtF23VsXOi9
How stupid are they, they admitted that they got the package in their message.
We can get a Community Manager involved to reopen the claim and look into getting you reimbursed and the ODR removed and hopefully, some action will also be taken against this customer.
Post a copy of the order ID # or case # and we can tag a CM.
Seller_aV1Bh32hE0KND
This must be a new scam going around unless it's the same customer. 😵 😵 😵
See the → thread posted by @Seller_oDrtF23VsXOi9
How stupid are they, they admitted that they got the package in their message.
We can get a Community Manager involved to reopen the claim and look into getting you reimbursed and the ODR removed and hopefully, some action will also be taken against this customer.
Post a copy of the order ID # or case # and we can tag a CM.
Seller_qb9YwQ7193BDg
no response needed and move along with your day
Seller_qb9YwQ7193BDg
no response needed and move along with your day
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
Amazon considers the filing of the A-Z Claim as "Contacting the Seller". I KNOW the written policy would imply otherwise, but you will not win that fight.
None of this would matter, NOR would you have Lost the A-Z Claim, if you had simply purchased Postage for the order using Amazon Buy Shipping and made sure that the package was scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window. Amazon protects Sellers against this exact type of Claim if you follow procedure. Rather than save a few pennies on shipping, Buy Postage from Amazon and consider the difference to be CHEAP Insurance against INR Claims (which you would otherwise lose).
If you choose NOT to take advantage of Amazon's protection plan, you are crossing your fingers in hope that the Buyer will not Claim INR EVERY time you ship. That scenario would certainly keep me up at night...
As I have mentioned before, anyone who has ever worked Retail has a story about a customer who demanded a Refund that was against policy and still received the Refund anyway. This is usually in the name of Good Customer Service, or to get the customer out of the store before it escalates. Whatever the reason, you should consider the granting of an A-Z Claim for INR to be a similar situation. Amazon may not be deciding on who is "Right", but is simply making the customer happy. If YOU don't want to accept that burden, than you can relieve yourself of it by purchasing Postage using Amazon Buy Shipping and make SURE that the package is scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window.
Finally, as to the actual subject of the matter (the carrier insulted the Buyer), I would have replied with sympathy to the Buyer, apologized for the experience, and explained that we (you) had no control over such an occurrence, and direct the Buyer to file a complaint with the carrier.
I would also explain to the Buyer that Amazon has no procedure that allows for a Seller to offer a "Courtesy Refund" except in cases of received Returns.
I hope this will help you in the future.
Good Luck!
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
Amazon considers the filing of the A-Z Claim as "Contacting the Seller". I KNOW the written policy would imply otherwise, but you will not win that fight.
None of this would matter, NOR would you have Lost the A-Z Claim, if you had simply purchased Postage for the order using Amazon Buy Shipping and made sure that the package was scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window. Amazon protects Sellers against this exact type of Claim if you follow procedure. Rather than save a few pennies on shipping, Buy Postage from Amazon and consider the difference to be CHEAP Insurance against INR Claims (which you would otherwise lose).
If you choose NOT to take advantage of Amazon's protection plan, you are crossing your fingers in hope that the Buyer will not Claim INR EVERY time you ship. That scenario would certainly keep me up at night...
As I have mentioned before, anyone who has ever worked Retail has a story about a customer who demanded a Refund that was against policy and still received the Refund anyway. This is usually in the name of Good Customer Service, or to get the customer out of the store before it escalates. Whatever the reason, you should consider the granting of an A-Z Claim for INR to be a similar situation. Amazon may not be deciding on who is "Right", but is simply making the customer happy. If YOU don't want to accept that burden, than you can relieve yourself of it by purchasing Postage using Amazon Buy Shipping and make SURE that the package is scanned into the carrier's possession before the close of the Amazon scheduled Ship-By window.
Finally, as to the actual subject of the matter (the carrier insulted the Buyer), I would have replied with sympathy to the Buyer, apologized for the experience, and explained that we (you) had no control over such an occurrence, and direct the Buyer to file a complaint with the carrier.
I would also explain to the Buyer that Amazon has no procedure that allows for a Seller to offer a "Courtesy Refund" except in cases of received Returns.
I hope this will help you in the future.
Good Luck!
Seller_uf4dbtieBCxcX
Don't be too hasty to think that it was an Amazon customer service rep. We have seen customers use the same format that an Amazon CS agent message would appear as but it had nothing to do with them.
These scammers are very adept at making things look official when, in fact, it is just part of the ruse.
Our two cents and good luck.
Seller_uf4dbtieBCxcX
Don't be too hasty to think that it was an Amazon customer service rep. We have seen customers use the same format that an Amazon CS agent message would appear as but it had nothing to do with them.
These scammers are very adept at making things look official when, in fact, it is just part of the ruse.
Our two cents and good luck.
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
Report message to Amazon. Definitely sounds like someone who watched some Tiktok or youtube video on how to scam Amazon. People have lost their dang minds with this stuff. If they were hit why wouldn't their first response be to call the cops?
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
Report message to Amazon. Definitely sounds like someone who watched some Tiktok or youtube video on how to scam Amazon. People have lost their dang minds with this stuff. If they were hit why wouldn't their first response be to call the cops?
