lsst
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posted on July 23, 2002 11:52:49 AM new
I used the buy it now feature on two items by the same seller.
The seller is fairly new with positive 4 feedback. The company has been in business for 15 years according to his listings.
I paid with a personal check and it cleared over a week ago.
I contacted the seller about when the item would be shipped and he stated within 72 hours. He stated he would e-mail a tracking number.
72 hours pass, I e-mailed yesterday asking for a tracking number. I get a weird e-mail stating the item has been lost or damaged in shipping and the company has filed a claim. If paid by paypal, you will receive a replacement or refund.
If by check, the wait will be 10 days.I still do not understand if the 10 days is for the the refund or replacement.
I replied stating If the item had just been mailed, how could it be lost or damaged so soon? Please e-mail a tracking number.
I receive a copy of the first e-mail again and no tracking number.
I pulled the contact info and called the number. I get a recording stating he will not respond to phone messages and all business must be done by e-mail.
Now I notice, He is selling his business on E-bay and when I visited the website he is selling, it states shipping of his items is delayed several weeks.( He does not state this in his listings.)
At this point, I want my money back. I checked with my bank and it is too late to stop payment on the check. I just do not believe I will see a refund from this guy.
The total for both auctions is about $327.What can I do now? I do not want to wait 10 days -if the guy does come through with the refund or replacement.
Thanks, Lauren
[ edited by lsst on Jul 23, 2002 11:56 AM ]
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quickdraw29
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posted on July 23, 2002 12:10:16 PM new
What choice do you have at this point? Wait ten days and pray hard the money comes in.
He must be selling a retail business, correct? If so he must have some reputation to last 15 years. You might have a hard time getting your money back if he's going bankrupt, but I don't think this guy is a hit and run scammer so just keep sending thise emails every few days so you're top on his list to refund.
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.
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lsst
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posted on July 23, 2002 12:18:02 PM new
The guy is selling a website business. From reading his website, you do not need an inventory or warehouse!
I do not believe he mailed the item. After visiting his website, I question even if he has the items in stock.
I have e-mailed him again asking for the tracking number and if I will be receiving a replacement or a refund. I truly believe the money is long gone. Lauren
[ edited by lsst on Jul 23, 2002 12:21 PM ]
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Libra63
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posted on July 23, 2002 02:05:35 PM new
By the looks of things he made his money and out he is going. It is probably not only you but a variety of buyers that have been scammed by the seller. Maybe you should get in touch with one of the other buyers and find out if they received their merchandise.
If not maybe all of the buyers that were scammed by this seller should get together and decided as a group what you should do. eBay should be notified what is happening, but I doubt if they will do much. Maybe end his auctions I don't know. I wish you luck
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lsst
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posted on July 23, 2002 02:37:18 PM new
This is the latest e-mail sent to me from the seller.
Hello,
Your package was not issued a tracking number because of the method
in which it was shipped. Had it been issued a tracking number, you
would have received that tracking number via email. Your package
was returned one day after it was shipped.
You will be receiving a refund as your items were too damaged and
we have no new extra pieces in this pattern coming in until August
11.
-------------
This is strange as I thought all insured items have a tracking number. Lauren
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biskitsandgravie
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posted on July 23, 2002 02:50:02 PM new
Not all insured packages have a tracking number. You only get one if you pay for it. That is for USPS.
How did he ship the items?
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nightbird84
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posted on July 23, 2002 03:03:38 PM new
Hi Lauren (great name!)
Hate to say it but it doesn't sound good. Did you talk to your bank about any repurcussions? Otherwise you will just have to wait for a refund and hope he comes through.
Something else I am confused about ...if they only have 4 feedbacks how can they use the Buy it Now? My understanding is you cannot use it until you have 10 feedbacks.
Lauren
[ edited by nightbird84 on Jul 23, 2002 03:11 PM ]
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zoomin
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posted on July 23, 2002 03:36:18 PM new
Hi Lauren!
Sorry to hear of your dilemma ~ that's a lot of $$!
There is something that your bank can do called a "late return".
Depending on how long you've had your account and how well you know your acct rep, you may want to make a phone call.
A 'late return' is similar to a credit card chargeback and it is not used often (that's why most consumers are unaware of it).
It is primarily used for services not rendered or when a check has been cashed into a fraudulent business. Most notably, to protect consumers who send large amounts of money to mlm scams and the like.
They may not do it for you, but they can, so be really sweet and very naive when you inquire about the existence of a 'chargeback'!
Good luck!
(6 years as a bank officer/registered rep)
edit to add:
Being scammed by seller?
yes.
[ edited by zoomin on Jul 23, 2002 03:37 PM ]
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lsst
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posted on July 23, 2002 06:10:28 PM new
I contacted my bank first and they stated it was too late to do anything as the check cleared 8 days ago. I will go into my branch and ask about the charge back .
What would be the best way to request he send the refund? For example, I was thinking requesting him to send it certified or registered so he can not claim it was lost or damaged! LOL
Also, would the e-bay insurance program thing apply here as both transactions were under $200 each?
Thanks everyone for the great advice! Lauren
[ edited by lsst on Jul 23, 2002 06:12 PM ]
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lsst
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posted on July 23, 2002 06:18:25 PM new
I do not know about the 4 positives and why he can use the buy it now feature.
I just hope he comes through with the refund.
Nightbird84, Great name, too!
I do not know which carrier he used as getting any info out of him has been like pulling eye teeth!
Lauren
[ edited by lsst on Jul 23, 2002 06:20 PM ]
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sparkz
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posted on July 23, 2002 08:46:51 PM new
You have his name and address if you sent him a check. Take a long shot and call long distance information and see if you can turn up a telephone number different than the one he gave Ebay. If you locate a number, call him. If the only public number shown for him goes to a recording that refers you to email, then he's hiding from something. With a 4 feedback, he hasn't had enough lunatic buyers yet to cause him to sequester himself.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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biskitsandgravie
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posted on July 23, 2002 09:56:29 PM new
He can use buy it now if he is id verified by ebay.
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lsst
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posted on July 24, 2002 07:31:36 AM new
I have e-mailed several other buyers whose auctions ended before mine and they have not received their items . The seller keeps giving excuses. He has not given the promised refunds. Lauren
[ edited by lsst on Jul 24, 2002 07:36 AM ]
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alwaysfun
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posted on July 24, 2002 07:47:54 AM new
I would call his local police and report him as a scam seller. We did this once with a seller that we bought some software from and it was worth over $600. We never got the money back, unfortunately but the police did go out and talk to them..they were college kids. But every situation is different.
Good luck, this is a bad dinger and I hope it works out for you!
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stormypetr
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posted on July 24, 2002 07:55:53 AM new
Ebay insurance would apply but you would need to file a complaint with Ebay first. You have to wait 30 days from the end of the auction to file the complaint. You can request the insurance as soon as you file the complaint. Be warned, even if they rule in your favor, it takes FOREVER for them to send the check. They will pay up to $200 - $25 deductible ($175) for each auction. You can file this insurance on up to 3 auctions per quarter. You and the seller must both have at least a +1 feedback rating at the time the auction ended. Tammy
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Libra63
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posted on July 24, 2002 08:02:06 AM new
I just visited his auctions. He has now put more items on. I wonder if he pays his eBay Bill?
I just wish that people would be honest, it is difficult to survive in this world anyway without being scammed.
I hope everyone that has bought from him paid by credit card because when the charge backs start coming in PayPal will freeze his account. I know people write about PayPal all the time and like any other company that has a credit card business they are out to protect the buyer. It might not seem like it but they are. Someone has to protect us from sellers like them. Well I wish you good luck and maybe if you team up with other buyers from him you can get him. I doubt if you will get your money back but I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
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lsst
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posted on July 24, 2002 10:08:14 AM new
I looked at his listings again and under the payment instructions he states he ships ups insured. Do all insured UPS packages have tracking numbers?
Also, one buyer has left 3 negs.
Yesterday, I e-mailed the seller stating the total of refund, my address and that I wanted it sent certified or registered for tracking purposes.
He e-mails me twice today asking for my address, how I paid (paypal, check ) for the refund. Even if he was on the up and up he sure is disorganized! Lauren
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lsst
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posted on July 24, 2002 02:24:24 PM new
The seller had listed a lot of items earlier but now only one is showing up. I thought if he cancels his auctions they still show up.
Lauren
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lsst
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posted on July 24, 2002 02:37:41 PM new
Well, I did a search and the items he cancelled were due to item no longer available due to item being lost or broken or are no longer available for sell.
He just listed the items last night.
Lauren
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