posted on September 18, 2000 09:26:15 AM
I just stumbled across "The Mediator: AW's forum for investigating auction user complaints." It's not really a forum, but seems set up like the "action lines" run by some papers and TV news stations. You email the Mediator contact (Dave Baranowski), and he/AW looks into your problem. You can see two sample complaints and their resolution at http://www.auctionwatch.com/awdaily/viewpoint/mediator/091500.html. Baranowski's email addy is at the end of page 2.
This service seems brand new as of September 15 and has been run in "Viewpoint" as a story, so I wonder whether it'll be continued, and if so, whether it'll have its own slot somewhere. The tales of AW's conversations with eBay and others make good reading, and I'd like knowing where to find more when it's available, even if I never have to use the service myself.
posted on September 18, 2000 11:43:03 AM
I have several concerns about this and similar posts. First, why do we always see the problem and rarely the solution? I never learn if the person got their money back, if the scammer was caught. Second, dont you notice a common thread in all of these? "Ebay said there is nothing they can do." "Paypal said there is nothing they can do." Ebay, Paypal, Yahoo etc are giving these scammers a free ride. They are the ones who supply the ID and they should be verifying the seller. Yet in almost every case, they protect the scammer and refuse to reveal the information which would enable to victim to recover. Isn't this a crime called aiding and abetting?
I understand your point, and followups would be a welcome part of such a feature, IMO. In the two AW examples, though, I think they've done pretty well. In the first, it's now up to the buyer to work with Kevin Pursglove to get resolution:
"In Marc's case, Pursglove said that he needs the item number and the closing date of the offending auction. If Marc chooses to pursue the case, Pursglove said that he personally will oversee it."
In the second, AW's intervention with NiceBid apparently led to delivery of goods to the purchaser, which I'd figure was a positive conclusion:
"He [NiceBid CEO Roger Wells] also said all the items John ordered had been shipped. Recently, John reported that all the items showed up."
Just thought I'd point it out, but I certainly think a follow-on to the first piece would be a great idea.
posted on September 18, 2000 01:00:51 PM
Yes, I saw that nicebid follow up. I was referring specifically to cases where someone was deliberately cheated. I know some people who this happened to via paypal and I have seen posts from others. And almost always the response from Paypal, ebay, yahoo whatever is that there is nothing they can do. This is what I would like to have explained.
