posted on August 11, 2001 05:51:03 AM
Am I just an idiot or was I ripped off. I bought a 1,000 CD lot from a seller. Of course in the title he mentions a few big names, and in his description he mentions a few more big names. And he says the lot includes many names including the ones mentioned and that there are many repetitions. They arrived today, and of course there were the 10 CDs he mentioned, one of each, and then about 25 crap CDs about 40 each that he did not mention that are not even worthy as giveaways at the flea market. I do mean useless, they are new and sealed, but I would be lucky to get $0.10 for them. Should I just call this a bad investment, since technically I did get what he said, although I believe it was very, very misleading.
Any opinions?
posted on August 11, 2001 05:56:26 AM
I don't bid on lots unless I know exactly what I am getting. Might be kinda hard with a 1000-item lot but I wouldn't have trusted that kind of listing in the first place. Since you technically got what was advertised, I think you're stuck.
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
posted on August 11, 2001 07:23:10 AM
This is an old scam often done with CDs DVDs & Video Tapes.
I know a bidder who purchased 500 VHS tapes the seller listed 8 popular blockbuster titles.
The bidder received those 8 tapes along with 492 assorted tapes that were all les then 30 minutes such as 20 copies of HOW TO SET UP AN AQUARIUM, dozens of advertising tapes for products like Craftmatic Adjustable Bed & Rogaine and others that are worthless.
Ebay and a court ruled it was not selller fraud because the ad stated These 8 VHS tapes plus many others there may be duplicates.
Remember if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
posted on August 11, 2001 08:17:04 AM
I figured I was screwed. He also got 9 others, one guy twice. He must have made a quick and easy $18,000 or so. What are the chances of a chargeback?
posted on August 11, 2001 08:20:02 AM
Most people will supply a list by email or entertain some questions. It's up to the buyer to determine if there's enough to make it worthwhile. All lots usually have some junk or less than useful copies. Even selected material usually contains some items that just don't sell or are defective.
posted on August 11, 2001 08:30:28 AM
I certainly expected some junk, I buy many lots often and have never had a problem, I usually am pretty thorough and ask questions. This guy had about 180 pos. FB and sounded real good (great scam artist I guess). 25,000 CD's were bought out from a store supposedly and he was reselling in 1,000 CD lots. He listed 10 well knowns (I know I should have questioned this), and said many multiples, leaving the impression that the multiples were the CDs he listed. Of course it included just those 10 CDs in perfect condition, and the other 990 were cheap hole-pinched, honestly not even worth $0.05 mass produced TVT record company seconds, many singles and EPs, which he said he would "try" to keep out. Nice picture as well, of course the few you could make out were the "good" ones.
I feel so stupid that I let this happen to myself.
posted on August 11, 2001 08:49:24 AM
"...the lot includes many names including the ones mentioned and that there are many repetitions."
These lines say it all, you got what you paid for. It's up to you to check with the seller beforehand for more information, otherwise you are making a blind or speculative bid.
posted on August 11, 2001 12:44:08 PM
I've often had good luck with auction lots that are not completely itemized, as long as I've had a chance to view the lots in person. Unfortunately, if you can't see the items (or a list of what's included), you're flying blind, and you definitely have to consider a lowball bid.
I know it's too late now, but the way I would approach this type of item is like this:
Okay, so the listing mentions "a few big names", along with "many repetitions"- now, the question you have to ask yourself is:
If there were any other big names in the lot aside from the named ones, do you think the seller would skip listing them, and do you think if there were multiples of any of the big names, do you think he would skip mentioning that, too?
The likely answer to each question is "Probably not", so bid accordingly.
posted on August 11, 2001 12:51:37 PM
This is along the lines of the infamous Sony Playstation Box and Receipt. Yeah, it's slippery and dishonest as all hell, but you got exactly what was described -- no more and no less. In case of doubt you should have asked. I feel your pain as I have bought some less than stellar CD lots in the past. But that's all part of the game of buying on the cheap and sight unseen.
posted on August 11, 2001 07:36:33 PM
In his description he also states about 2% will be singles, I received about 40% singles and another one of the buyers says his is about 60% singles. So, he says I'll receive about 20, I actually get 400 singles. Are we talking fraud now? I definitely did not get what was advertised.
posted on August 11, 2001 08:35:29 PM
If you paid with a credit card and did not sign your signature to anything you can get the chargeback. I had a customer do this to me. The only way a seller can defend a chargeback is to produce a signature. The seller just has to sit back in horror as his money disapears from his account and you get your money back.
