posted on July 17, 2001 10:46:18 PM
I'm a relative newby seller on ebay and have several very nice remarks from buyers in my feedback. As a rare buyer, I initially asked a question of a seller about the condition of her item and rec'd an evasive answer "very nice cond.". I wrote back and asked for specifics: scratched, chipped, ??, etc. Only then did she write back that one small part was broken. I ended up winning the item ($10) and was told it was $7 for shipping, which was ridiculous for it's size. I wrote asking could she recheck as $5 should more than cover it. She relented, never wrote to say she rec'd my ck. or later when the item was mailed - very poor follow-through. The postage was, indeed, $5 on the actual postage strip. I've kept the box.
I rec'd it - with THREE broken parts and a few missing parts and the broken parts were even missing, meaning it was shipped that way, not broken during shipping. I'm able to disguise those areas but was angry. (I never bothered to contact Seller; I knew it wasn't worth it.) In thinking about it, 3-4 wks later, I decided to give her feedback, but used a NEUTRAL, stating I was "disappointed in the item as it had undisclosed damage despite my asking about it prior to auction end". Well, you guessed it: She then gave ME feedback with a NEGATIVE !!!, saying I was a "LIAR - It was exactly as stated and I was a pain to deal with". I commented under the feedback to her negative, stating this was strictly retaliatory.
THAT was the thanks I got for nicely leaving her a neutral when she so definitely deserved a Negative. But, I just felt morally that potential buyers should be aware as she also sells some very expensive items.
I feel this is so unfair. If I bothered to write ebay, and send them all the copies of our emails wherein she stated it was in fine condition, etc., do they EVER retract when it's an obvious retaliatory FB? I don't want to waste my time collecting everything, writing an email to explain the situation, etc., if they NEVER retract something like this. So sorry about the length; didn't know how to shorten it for comprehension purposes.
posted on July 17, 2001 11:06:17 PM
From reading your post it is my understanding that you didn't contact the seller to see if something could be worked out?
She came down on the postage and handling, which she did NOT have to do?
You didn't give her a chance to correct the problem.
I didn't bother to contact Seller bec. by then it was obvious I would be wasting my time. When she wrote me being so evasive about the condition and then finally revealed some of it, I should have know better than to have bid on it in the first place. But, for a $10 purchase, I didn't even want to have to repack the item, etc. and deal with her, when I could just disguise the damage and missing parts and chock it up to experience. It wasn't worth it. As far as the shp'g was concerned, the shp'g was supposed to be "actual cost". The very fact that it WAS $5 (I kept the box, remember) clearly indicates she was trying to make an add'l $2 unfairly.
posted on July 17, 2001 11:53:28 PM
Pania,
Based on the information given us by arline,
it is clear this seller is a liar, cheat and vindictive.
I know for a fact that some sellers will sell defective items, without declaring the fact and 'IF' subsequently caught out will
'gratiously' refund money- less expenses.
I wish more sellers like that would get a neg, it would make the honest ones stand out more.
"contact the seller to see if something could be worked out" is what they want- I wouldn't give'em the chance if I could afford the loss.
$5.00 may have been the postage but as you will learn from reading these thread there are other cost involved with shipping. Actual shipping cost does not always mean postage only. Actual shipping can include everything from gas to the post office to the time to pack it etc. I have learned to always ask what is actual shipping.
As a seller I went to a flat rate and tell them exactly what that includes, ie priority w/ dc or insurance for media mail whatever.
As a buyer when I see and unexplained flat rate I ask how it is being sent. When I see actual shipping I ask does that mean postage cost only and how!
posted on July 18, 2001 08:18:39 AM
Hell will freeze over before eBay will remove feedback...even those negs that are obviously retaliatory! I had that happen to me...7 retaliatory negs. I wrote Meg a 2 page letter with a two page attachment citing details, auction numbers, etc. I got a nice e-mail from a Customer Service Rep saying that they would NOT remove feedback. He directed me to a mediation service and said that if they got an "order" from this service, then the feedback could be removed. This mediation service costs, I believe, $15.00. I'm wonderiing if eBay gets a "cut" of this fee??? Anyway, my advice would be to forget about sending anything to eBay...don't waste your time as you'll get absolutely zero satisfaction.
posted on July 18, 2001 08:41:30 AM
NOPE, I wouldn't waste time with ebay. They have their money. I have contacted them with complaints of not receiving goods paid for and other fraudulent activities. They are not concerned. Since you did receive something (even damaged) I doubt they would even repond to your complaint ,... much less do any type of investigation..
