posted on October 28, 2000 08:27:25 AM
I bid on and won an auction, Great. Only the item I bought was not the item pictured. The winning bid was $5.50, shipping from Canada was $7.00, International M.O. $3.00. Not a lot of money, but it is when the item is not what you think it is.
Now the story gets better. The item I bought is coming from Canada, I found another item with the same picture in England. I know they are all part of The Common Wealth, but.... The picture and discription match on the item from England. The one I bought says "picture is a sample", not even close to the item being sold. The picture is not taken from an AD, but looks like it was taken on someones back porch table. I made the mistake of not reading the listing carefully and except the fact that as the high bidder I am obligated to complete the sale and have already sent the M.O., but I am still mad. I am going to try and resolve this, but I think this is going to get ugly.
How to determine were the picture came from is my question. Did the person in Canada lift it or vise versa? Does this picture belong to ether item? I try to make my pictures tell the truth on items that I sell not just the words. Will ebay care if I ask them? Will they help?
posted on October 28, 2000 08:41:01 AM
It should not matter where the picture came from or if the picture is lifted from somewhere else. The item delivered must be the one represented in the picture. How else can the bidder make a decision without a trueful representation. A sample is one of the same items. It is misrepresentation if the item you received does not match the picture. I would ask for a full refund including all shipping cost.
If it does not look like a duck, it is not a duck
posted on October 28, 2000 10:06:56 AM
I agree the picture must be of what you are selling no doubt there.
but this dont have to be a picture ripped off from some where else many sellers save and reuse old ads and photos from there past sales.
in any case this item you got was totally miss represented . if you really feel that this is partly your fault they still deserve a neg not describeing this for what is was.
posted on October 28, 2000 10:48:01 AM
I have now had two responses from the seller each one telling me that I will like the item. I guess he just does not get it this is not what I was bidding on.
I just sent out the payment yesterday all he has to do is return it. He wants to ship the item and if I do not like it I can return it. Makes alot of sense to me, if I worked for the postal service.
An intersting thing is he did not complete a purchase, checked his feedback, because he felt the seller lied to him about the item. I guess whats good for the goose is not always good for the gander.
He told me he used the picture because he did not have a digital camera yet. Maybe I should buy him one so others do not have to go through this.
posted on October 28, 2000 01:28:43 PM
I don't get it, I guess. If you haven't gotten the item yet, how do you know that it isn't identical to the one in the picture?
posted on October 28, 2000 03:04:08 PM
danilynn71, the item we are talking about is a tennis racket. I collect and sell them. When I was looking at others on the ebay site I came across the "same" picture of the item I had just purchased. I then went back and re-read the listing for the item I purchased, it had what I now know as the name of the STYLE of racket. This is not the name of the racket pictured. It was in small print, no capitals.
I then emailed the sell and asked about the picture and was told that I was correct that the picture is not the item I bid on, but I will enjoy the racket that is being sent. WRONG. This is very misleading.
I have been trying to gently get the seller to understand what he did is wrong. He has only 14 feedbacks. This will end up being a lesson I won't soon forget. I most likly will not send the item back, but will put it in a place were I can see it to remind me not to ASS-U-ME.
posted on October 28, 2000 03:20:47 PM
I don't get it either.
Seller's description is only about 2 lines- and very prominently he says that the picture is a sample, that the actual racket is gold and red in color.
Seller's been pretty up front with the fact that the picture is NOT what you're buying, but a similar item. I wouldn't choose this sales strategy, but there's nothing wrong with it (aside from the issue of whether he had permission to use the pic- but that's another story).
He lists the make and model, and the condition and the approximate age of the racket.
I think you bought a $5 racket!
At any rate, wait till it arrives, and if it's not as described, I'd go from there. And next time, read the description.
posted on October 28, 2000 04:15:35 PM
After looking at your feedback (magazine_guy) I have respect for your comments, but the way the item is listed is very misleading and I find it hard to belive that this was an exceptable listing in you opinion. I agree that reading the listing is important and I have already said that I am also to blame for quickly reading, not scurtinizing, the post.
I am not sure if you know anything about tennis rackets, but similar is NOT the same no matter what you sell or buy. In this case not even close. In Florida the Attorney General would call this bait and switch, and has done so with similar car ads, but what does a lawyers know.
Thank you for taking the time to look at the listing and for your input. All comments are appreciated.
