posted on September 28, 2001 10:22:02 AM
I have had only two problems in the years, I have been an internet buyer. Both had to with internet auctions.
1. Seller did not send item. Payed by Money order.
2. Seller did not send Item. Payed by check.
1. Seller went to Jail for 30 days. I received money lost & lawyer, court fees and loss of my time. Also required to give positive feedback to me after I posted the neg.
2. Seller did not go to jail but, paid court cost, lawyer fees, time loss & received money lost. Also positive feedback required after I posted tne neg.
I use a Credit card. It is called YOU go to JAIL or else.
I would never go to the extent that you have. But, I must say that definitely puts a stop to the fraud on the internet. I have also never been out a large sum of money. I might consider legal retribution if that were the case.
posted on September 28, 2001 10:40:56 AM
Triggerfish -- Ebay has changed the rules making it a violation to sell your profile. Plus, Ebay not talking to much about this case as a group of Ebayers were looking at a class action suite against Ebay. 300 to 400 thousand dollars were probably lost by this scam back in Feb, March and April of this year.
posted on September 28, 2001 10:43:21 AM
People who only accept money orders make me very nervous! If there is enough good feedback, ok. How easy is it to get kicked off e-bay, change your id, then continue fraudulent transactions. I see people all the time with new ids, but you can tell they are experienced bidders, or sellers. There has to be a reason for the new id.
posted on September 28, 2001 11:14:31 AM
You can't just rely on feedback. It's easy enough to build up feedback. Look at all the feedback auctions out there. If you want to test this sometime, run a dutch auction 1000 items at a penny each for an item with little value, say "grandma's cookie recipe" and state that you leave feedback for all bidders and see how your feedback grows.
Don't rely on feedback alone.
posted on September 28, 2001 04:28:53 PM
Only once so far, bought a bad CPU. Course the seller had in grey 4pt text at the bottom of the auction that it was as is, had not been tested etc. I'm out $65, but I was able to get another CPU for free from a friend so it's not totally horrible.
Now though I'm a lot more careful.
posted on September 28, 2001 07:40:34 PM
Once, big time to the tune of $397.00. Still get a sick feeling in my stomach when I think about it. Seller (intentionally) misrepresented a Barbie Doll, used alot of key words that one would just automatically think to be a Bob Mackie, Empress Wedding Doll, but ended up getting shipped an (Empress Sissy) $40.00 Doll (Big difference). The minute I received it, I pulled her contact info, all bogus info. Emailed eBay immediately (I was really upset that they let someone put in totally bogus info and unleashed her on unsuspecting buyers) and she was "not registered" in no time at all. Used Ebay's insurance and got compensated $175, but still out another $220. The whole process was a pain in the butt and seemed to take forever (Auction ended the end of January, receive a check from the insurance in June.) Even now, how do you know when someone is "preying" on buyers.
Auctally I've never been scammed on Ebay. It's too easy to find reputable sellers if you take the time to check them out.
As far as moth holes go, I have purchased items that I swore were perfect (when I looked it over) and a week later there was a hole that I couldn't have possibly missed. So, in my oppinion, it is entirely possible that the person didn't see the hole or holes when they sold you the item.
posted on September 29, 2001 02:10:09 AM
It had got to about 1 in 6 buys were junk for me. I have pretty much quit buying on eBay. I buy from a few sellers I have purchased from in the past that stand behind there merchandise.
posted on September 29, 2001 03:26:39 AM
By the way, I have never been scammed, but
I did pay for an item that was lost in the mail. The item was only $12.50 and it was a
vintage magazine from the 1940's. It was sent
media mail and NO insurance (I didn't feel it was worth it for a $12 item). I felt worse that the item was lost then I really did about the $12.00. I contacted the seller and wrote them a nice e-mail basically saying I know these things happen and its not your fault.
They offered to give me a 10% discount
on any other auction they were running in the
future. I thought that was nice and still haven't found anything worth buying which is probably because the item they sold me was
out of their normal selling field.
posted on September 29, 2001 07:23:58 AMLisa B wrote: In any event, once a problem is brought to a seller's attention, it is that seller's responsibility to make it right. If the seller ducks behind an "all sales final" defense even though all defects were NOT disclosed, or if the seller tries to put the blame on the customer, then that seller is at best, irresponsible and lacking in customer service.
I wonder, if any of you went to a live auction, purchased an item, and found out when you brought it home that it was defective, if you would go back to the auction and demand a refund (plus your gas money for getting it home and back), all the while claiming the auction house has "scammed" you?
They would laugh in your face!
eBay runs AUCTIONS, and I feel should be held to the same general rules as live auctions. They are not your local department store, and shouldn't be treated as such. They are an auction house, and should be treated like an auction house.
Sure, there are the con artists on eBay, and they should be brought down. But a lot of the "scammed" complaints posted here are nothing but differing opinions on condition! How do you know that the seller has "scammed" you? Those are strong words!
Ask questions prior to bidding. Save all responses that you get. If an item says it is 1.00 CT, and it shows up 0.33 CT, demand a refund. If they refuse, take them to small claims court.
But when an auction states "ask all questions prior to bidding", and you don't, then you don't deserve a refund.
Oh yeah. And before you go emailing claiming:
1. An item doesn't work
2. An item is missing accessories, power cord, etc.
3. An item is chipped, cracked, crazed, etc.
Go back and look at the auction, and make sure it wasn't listed as such!
posted on September 29, 2001 09:36:16 AM
revvassago
Whoaa.......
Big difference between an acution house and e-bay.
You get to look the item over in person, if there is a flaw and you buy, you didn't check it out that well, your fault.
Buying by pictures and descriptions are the only thing we have to go by on e-bay. Pictures don't always tell the story, can be misleading and so can descriptions.
[ edited by mhillyrd on Sep 29, 2001 01:17 PM ]
posted on September 29, 2001 09:41:56 AM
outoftheblue
15 very obvious moth holes, jacket dispayled on a mannequin in the photo....I don't think you could miss that unless you were blind. Condition described as good.
Fraying button holes, and seams, again displayed on a mannequin, blind, or dishonest? Description said excellent condition.
A porcelain seller with over 300 transactions tells me he's not aware of what a collector looks for in porcelain condition, item has hairline crack, obvious and yellowed with age. Descrition says condition good, no chips or cracks.
posted on September 29, 2001 09:50:49 AMCondition described as good.
This is where you need to be very careful. "Good" condition for most collectables is a low grade.
If you bid on something described as "good condition", but expect that to mean "near mint", you are most likely going to be disappointed.
A discription that simply says "in good condition" doesn't really say much. For a collectable, I (personally) wouldn't expect "great condition".
posted on September 29, 2001 10:22:59 AMMhillyrd.... did you ever receive a refund from the person who sold you that item with the problem with the button holes???
posted on September 29, 2001 11:02:56 AM
psalms139
Yes, as a matter of fact I did. The whole issue of that particular item was resolved right here on auctionwatch. But, it wasn't easy to get the refund.
posted on September 29, 2001 11:38:36 AM
I might also add I did not neg. the seller in question just as promised. I had many people telling me I should. She did keep her promise and I kept mine. I would NEVER buy from her again, as I have since found out she has numerous ids. and numerous negs., it is or was a pattern with her sales.
posted on September 29, 2001 11:42:04 AM
mhillyrd, sure, you can tie the new bidder id to your current credit card and billing address. The did at one time have two seller ids, I quit using one so that ebay could merge them, which takes a long time, after getting a box of junk for ny $75, I started using my old id to bid only. It serves two useful purposes, my customers cannot see that I an bidding against them, and I can now leave negatives and not care about the retaliation.
If a seller has been honest enough to admit they made a mistake and gives me my money back after I return it, I always leave them a positive. I get this once a week, "You are trying to exchange your junk for my nice item." That really burns my butt more than anything. After dealing with me, they don't forget about me anytime soon, I file every fraud report that can be thought of, leave them a negative and go on to the next one. I have been told I an a b*itch, so what? I expect to get what I paid for and will take nothing less. I make my living this way and cannot afford to take those kind of losses. This makes it sound like all I do is complain, but there are plenty of sellers I am happy with. Heather
posted on September 29, 2001 12:31:40 PMMhillyrd: I looked back on that particular thread. You said you were going to post back here when & if this seller ever refunded your money. Your actual post was:
I will let you know if the refund comes through even if I have to open a new thread.
We never heard from you again... hmmmm?
That seller DID keep her word and refunded you. Putting this seller under the guise of a scammer does not fit this particular seller. I see you do not give refunds either, according to your negs!
I have seen the likes of buyers cropping pictures and making damages to items just to get a refund. There are those types of customers out there. Thank goodness they are NOT in the majority.
And, the seller you are referring to has a 99.995% positive feedback rating. The rest of her ID's that I am aware of have even a higher feedback rating than that. Not sure where you are getting your "facts" from?
Also, now that you mention that sellers feedback I would like to point out that your feedback rating is LOWER than this seller's that you are referring to. Yours is 99.98% positive.
Yes, there is a pattern in that sellers feedback...an HONEST PATTERN!
posted on September 29, 2001 12:31:44 PM
microbes,
with clothing, if it's described as in 'good condition,' it should be just that. to me that would mean it might have some minor overall show of wear, but no real flaws. sounds like some of these items should have been stated as in 'fair' or 'as-is' condition.
i've never been scammed as a buyer. only once have i had any problem at all - the seller mismeasured, and the item was significantly smaller than described, so i couldn't wear it. she did refund me, but after a fair amount of fussing. other than that, all my buying experiences have been excellent.
If you don't ask questions prior to bidding, then the loss is on your hands, regardless of what the description says. Asking questions on eBay is like inspecting the item at a live auction.
posted on September 29, 2001 01:02:51 PM
psalms139
Actually one of my negs. I did offer a refund on one, on the other I did not because it wasn't justified. The item refund was requested after three months. I don't intend to go into details here. One was a case of a seller demanding more money after I sent a money order to her for her requested amount.
The seller I am referring to has many negs. and different ids, thats all I'm saying.
The fact that I forgot to post the outcome to this board I will neither defend of deny, but it was not an attempt to cause anyone harm. The discussion was very heated about this topic, but as I remember I did prove my case.
posted on September 29, 2001 02:04:08 PM
mhillyrd you said:
The seller I am referring to has many negs. and different ids, thats all I'm saying.
Since when is having many different ID's a bad thing?
I know that many sellers have different ID's for different types of products they sell, and others for buying.
Again, you bring up this seller has many neg's.
However, her "worst" ID has a higher feedback rating than yours!
We will see how many neg's you have had when you've had over 6,000 transactions
(I checked to see how many feedback she left others.)
By the way, selling clothing is a tough category!
you said:The fact that I forgot to post the outcome to this board I will neither defend of deny
The FACT is that you SAID YOU WOULD POST the outcome even if you had to start a new thread.
This thread you have started is basically venting about sellers who scam buyers, or UN-TRUSTWORTHY sellers; but you in fact have proved that you have not kept your word in certain situations.
Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
I see you have your reasons why you did not refund, as I am sure this seller had hers.
All I am saying that you did get a refund. That seller did not scam you as you were implying.
You said:as I remember I did prove my case.
Sorry, I don't agree.
posted on September 29, 2001 02:23:41 PM
This particular thread is not even about the seller in question. It is a general thread about negative buying experiences.
I disagree with you also as I did prove my case there was no question about it. The outcome of that thread was in my favor, if you will remember.
posted on September 29, 2001 02:30:02 PM
I will lock this thread as it appears at least one person can find buyers/sellers easily enough to discuss them.
