posted on January 26, 2001 11:57:39 AM
I just received a phone call from a friend of mine who purchased something off eBay.
This friend was bidding on a particular item and was contacted by another person stating they could have this item for less if they bought it from him privately.
My friend got the contact information (mail and phone) as well as e-mail along with the username of this individual on eBay. The contact information that was provided as well as the information on eBay both matched and this person had a feedback of 103 all positives (going back some time) so she thought it was safe.
She sent the money via paypal (to the same e-mail account) and this individual had to verify their account to pick it up as it was over their personal limit for the month. The person picked it up and said they would ship it in a couple of days.
A few days later my friend e-mailed this person and got an e-mail back from his wife stating he was on a business trip and would send it later that week.
Later that week she e-mailed again and he e-mailed that he was in an accident and had pins in his leg but would get his friend to send it.
A week later she e-mails again; no response then sends another e-mail 4 days later demanding shipment and a response which she did not get.
She called him on the phone and he answered as it was a cell phone and this guy was driving. So far for the pin in the leg story. He said he would ship it out that day with a tracking number.
My friend is quite worried that she is being strung along and defrauded (the item was $110 US with shipping). She sent the money just over 1 month ago.
What can she do? Should she handle the fraud through PayPal (she has kept all the e-mails he sent) or should she pursue it through VISA and chargeback the purchase.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Chris (not Chris97 on eBay)
[ edited by chris97 on Jan 26, 2001 12:00 PM ]
posted on January 26, 2001 04:53:54 PM
You can also notify SafeHarbor at Ebay as what this seller did is 'auction interference' and a big no no. He can be suspended. Gather up your e-mails and send to Ebay. That may not get you your money back but you should be able to get it through your credit card.
posted on January 26, 2001 06:28:48 PM
Contact VISA IMMEDIATELY ! ! I had the same problem recently. I won an Ebay auction and paid via credit card. The item did in fact get lost in the mail. There was a tracking#. However, the seller REFUSED to re-ship the item or refund my money. The package was even insured. Guess who was to collect the insurance..the SELLER. I sent all emails to my Credit Card Company and they credited my account within 20 days and charged it back to the seller.
Don't even bother playing games with this seller. Your credit card company WILL stand behind you.
posted on January 27, 2001 09:31:30 AM
If your friend bought it around an auction, and not directly as a winning high bidder, or next highest bidder, eBay will not do a thing - nor Safeharbor. Buying this way is against eBay rules for both the seller and the buyer.
People who sell around an auction know that the buyer can't leave negative feedback because an actual transaction never took place so it will never show up.
