Received an Empty Box After a Marketplace Purchase

[Amethyst Starlight]

A couple of days ago I purchased a rare Gatcha hair from Marketplace, and unfortunately only received an empty box!

I tried contacting the store owner by notecard and as yet they have not replied. I'm trying to give the store the benefit of doubt and assume it was just a mistake, but their lack of response has made me ponder whether this was a deliberate scam.

This is the first time I've experienced anything like that, so I was a little surprised. I examined the contacts of the box I received and it is definitely empty. However I did notice the box had been created by a different avatar -  which I assume is the same person as the store owner. Messages on their profile indicate I'm not the first to experience this issue. The box is just a wooden cube that anyone can create.

The Gatcha item is still listed in their Marketplace store, despite being a no copy one-off rare item. When I've purchased similar limited quantity items before, the item disappears from Marketplace right away. Not so with this one.

I've flagged the item, but there's no clarity in what option to select. There's nothing in the drop down menus to indicate what happened, and there's no text box to include additional information. So I just guessed and hoped Linden Labs would look into it. I think it would be great if Linden Labs can include these options in their marketplace flagging system. I chose 'Item Not as Advertised' for the first option, but had to totally guess the second. If this is a deliberate scam by the merchant, they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

Now I will not purchase Gatcha items from Marketplace any more in fear it might happen again. I think others will feel that way too - which is a shame because it ruins things for the vast majority of decent merchants out there.

 

Is there anything else you think I should do?

[Lindal Kidd]

If you don't hear from the seller soon, submit an Abuse Report using Help>Report Abuse in the viewer menu.  Use "fraud, $L" as the abuse category.  Describe the event, and include the details from your My Marketplace>Purchase History Log.

While this can be an honest error, the "Empty Box" ploy is also often used as a deliberate scam.

Edited July 19, 2020 by Lindal Kidd

[Bagnu]

I was cheated like that inworld when I first started. I filed a report, but they said they couldn't help

Edited July 19, 2020 by Bagnu

[LittleMe Jewell]

51 minutes ago, Amethyst Starlight said:

Now I will not purchase Gatcha items from Marketplace any more in fear it might happen again. I think others will feel that way too - which is a shame because it ruins things for the vast majority of decent merchants out there.

One thing I check for when buying Gacha items from the MP is whether or not the person has more than just a few items listed and whether or not they have more than just RARE / expensive items.  Someone playing gachas and reselling them will typically have many more commons to resell than rares.

[Kimmi Zehetbauer]

Another reason to dump the gatchas! Cause they gatcha!

[FairreLilette]

You're best bet is to buy re-sale Gachas inworld.  Join ALL THINGS GACHA inworld to receive notices for great sales and yard sales.

I received an empty box twice in all my dealings on Marketplace with Gachas which is thousands.  One seller I contacted sent me the missing item from the empty box from Marketplace.  The other did not.

I'd say 90% or more is reputable; the other, well, it's not known what happened as in my situation one sent the item, the other didn't nor did I ever hear from them.

For the most part though I don't buy re-sale Gachas that are expensive.  I buy them low, even 10 linden at times.  I would never buy a rare from someone on Marketplace, it's too expensive.  

Still report it though especially since there is more than one rare listed.   But, I'd recommend checking out some yard sales through ALL THINGS GACHA group inworld for some fun bargain hunting.  The items are rezzed so once you pay, you then need to right click on the item and choose TAKE because the Gacha item will change into your name as owner upon purchase so you will need to take the rezzed item into your inventory.  

Another good thing about the group ALL THINGS GACHA is you get familiar with the re-sellers names and often times they have a store on Marketplace too.  I've been with many regular Gacha re-sellers for two years now through ALL THINGS GACHA and they rent spaces for stores and have a Marketplace Store with really excellent prices too.  Get to know some of your Gacha resellers that way.  Peace, Love and Gachas is another inworld group with lots of fun yard sales and regular sellers who are there for years.  

Edited July 19, 2020 by FairreLilette

[Chic Aeon]

Another thing to check on the Marketplace is if the reseller ALSO has an inworld shop. This pretty much tells you they are legit.  And an empty box CAN get in the mix simply because it was opened. It retains the same name and all the items BUT the gacha item LOL.  But it certainly would be easy enough to put that on the Marketplace by mistake.   So not all the empty boxes (if the are the original creator boxes) are "fake". They could just be an error. In that case the seller would likely send you the item or refund your money (she says hopefully).  I don't buy a lot on the Marketplace or gachas at all but when I do I also by things that aren't very expensive.   

[Amethyst Starlight]

Thank you for all your replies and suggestions.

I think I will submit an abuse report as the merchant still has not responded, so I can only assume this is some sort of scam. Looks like others have experienced the same balagan too - so I'm not alone.

You are probably right in that I should buy gatcha items from inworld bazaars, but I do not always get the chance. I tend to stick to General and some Moderate rated regions, and often these events are not running when I'm on SL. I block adult rated regions and items completely. This is partly because when I first joined Second Life, I was restricted to General regions, and also because I have a 10-11 year old child avatar. So I'm selective on where I hang out, and prefer venturing to regions I know and trust. If I do go exploring, it's to places that suit my interests - such as art, educational and breedable pet regions (I actually joined Second Life after seeing Fennux on YouTube). Marketplace has usually been easier for me because of convenience, and because sometimes the inworld store is on a region I cannot teleport to. (Such as items listed as 'General' on marketplace being on an Adult rated region inworld!). That though is a different subject completely.

I like shopping for hair. It's a lot of fun trying out all the demos just to see how I look with that particular style. It also helps me find modern 'child appropriate' hairstyles. Especially with long hair where breast curves are a problem. Styling huds are great for that because I can select the behind shoulder options. And sometimes I stumble upon rare gatcha items of a hairstyle that I MUST have, so I will buy it.

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by Amethyst Starlight

[Wulfie Reanimator]

On 7/19/2020 at 7:26 PM, Amethyst Starlight said:

The Gatcha item is still listed in their Marketplace store, despite being a no copy one-off rare item. When I've purchased similar limited quantity items before, the item disappears from Marketplace right away. Not so with this one.

Regarding this part -- merchants can sell multiple individual no-copy items through a single listing. Only when the items run out, the listing will disappear. Commonly it will be just one item, but it doesn't have to be.

In cases where multiple no-copy items are being sold, the one to be delivered will be chosen randomly from the "listing folder."

[Lindal Kidd]

1 hour ago, Amethyst Starlight said:

Especially with long hair where breast curves are a problem.

Warning:  Thread derail in progress!

You run into this with Mesh hair styles.  If you look, you can still find the old Flexi hair styles.  I prefer them for long hair, because they move more realistically.  However, you do have the problem of hair penetrating your body at times.

[AdminGirl]

The empty box thing has happened to me a couple of times. I tend to freak out and assume I've been scammed, but luckily after some time and a few notecard attempts, I've gotten my items in the end. What I do though while I'm waiting for a response is see if any of their groups can tell me when they've last logged on because not receiving a response doesn't always mean it's intentional. Sometimes notecards don't get through or the person just hasn't logged on in a while. I guess your case is different since others have had issues with that same seller as well. Anyway, good luck. Totally sucks.

[Pussycat Catnap]

I've had this happen with a common item, at least once. Don't think more than that.

While I've bought rares on MP, this situation is a very strong argument in favor of using gatcha malls to get your gatcha resells instead of MP...

 

[Arduenn Schwartzman]

I get IMs from people who buy gachas all the time. They always complain about empty boxes. This is because I sell boxes that people can use to sell gaches in. So, please, folks, don't contact the creator of an empty box. Contact the person you paid instead.