"Item Not as Described" Cases: Why Dropshippers Get Them and How to Avoid Them

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"Item not as described" (INAD) is the case type that most reliably hurts a dropshipper. Because you didn't handle the item, you only find out when the buyer opens a case.

The usual causes

• Wrong variant. Buyer ordered blue, Amazon shipped the default color. Variant mapping errors are the number one cause.
• Quantity or pack-size mismatch. A "2-pack" on eBay was a single on Amazon.
• Different seller, different item. A third-party seller shipped a lookalike or a refurbished unit.
• Photos that imply more than is included. Accessories shown but not shipped.
• Used or damaged condition from Amazon's warehouse or a marketplace seller.

How to prevent them

1. Verify the variant and pack size on Amazon before every order.
2. Buy only items "sold by" and "ships from" Amazon, or sellers with strong history.
3. Write descriptions from the Amazon listing's facts, not from memory.
4. Keep photos limited to what is actually in the box.

When it happens anyway

Respond first, within hours. Offer a replacement or refund before the buyer escalates to eBay. Resolving it yourself is cheaper than losing a case. More on the full flow in the returns playbook.