posted on October 2, 2000 10:37:09 AM
I've had my first and only bad experience with an eBay seller and would like to ask the experts in the crowd to give me advice concerning what I should do next.
The auction ended on Aug. 15 for a piece of jewelry described as being in excellent condition. When I got it, I noted immediately that it was not in excellent condition; the side of the piece not facing the camera was missing its intricate design elements. I contacted the seller, who was very apologetic and acknowledged that the mistake was hers, then asked me to return it to her for a refund. I did this immediately.
I still don't have my refund. She e-mailed me to tell me she had sent it and that I should get it in mid-Sept. Here it is Oct. 2, and no refund. I've e-mailed her once a week (trying not to indulge in overkill) telling her the check has not arrived. She's ignoring these follow-up e-mails.
Her feedback is low okay; nearly 1400 positives, 20ish negs, 20ish neutrals. Rave feedbacks, by and large.
How can I light a fire under this woman?!? I've been pleasant and understanding but I'm at the end of my rope. I don't want to threaten her because my goal is to get my money back, but nice doesn't seem to be working.
posted on October 2, 2000 10:48:16 AM
She doesn't sound like a crook- probably either a mail problem or a miscommunication. I'd give her a call and work it out.
posted on October 2, 2000 10:58:25 AM
Tell her you intend to file a fraud complaint under ebay's insurance program. That should light a fire. if that's what you want to do, of course.
Remember that you have a limited time (60 days?) to file such a complaint. Not sure how much this item was, if it wasn't over $25 it doesn't qualify either.
posted on October 2, 2000 12:01:04 PM
Last, but not least, I hope that you sent the item back with some form of "proof of mailing". If not, it's going to be very difficult to prevail in a fraud claim, since you can't prove that you sent the item back.
posted on October 2, 2000 12:32:20 PM
Cynical is my middle name, so yes, I did mail it back to her in a way that insured that I knew she got the returned piece of jewelry. I also kept an e-mail from her telling me she had received it. In fact, I've kept copies of all my correspondence with her and her very limited correspondence with me, going back to my initial contact concerning sending her payment when I won the auction. I've got the e-mail in which she assumed blame, her e-mail telling me she was mailing the refund, and her e-mail telling me she had mailed my refund. I've got my cancelled check, too. I do this with all the things on which I bid, just in case. I've never had to use any of these stacks of copies before now, but in this instance I'm glad I'm a record-keeper!
I'm going to e-mail her today to give her a chance to reply before I take more stern action. (The transaction involved nearly $70, and I know I've got a 60-day time constraint vis-a-vis eBay's policy.)
