Another Ebay Warning Thread

[andrewey]

Same as Cwentz758- The listing was set as no returns, but I decided to accept the return as ebay has forced me to accept the return anyway in the past and I figured I would be nice and not "fight it".

 

[bam123]

I sent money on a car which said "fully refundable deposit". Luckily my Bank stood behind me because PAYPAL did not. THe guy lied about the condition of the car, I never even saw it in person, and I cancelled it within 24 hours. PAYPAL still harasses me to this day. I refuse to ever use that company again.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Can't really blame Ebay for international shipping delays in the COVID-19 world though.

They should put reasonable delivery dates as a way to set expectations, I'm still waiting on things that were ordered more than 2 months ago and were expected to be delivered a month ago.

 

[Perthegallon]

I’ve been working on a app lately for the reefing community that would work like eBay or sideline if you ever used it and this way you’d get better customer service and little fees it will be on Apple store soon please feel free to check it out when it comes

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I think most members already know this, but I figured I would post this in case it helps just one person :)

I recently sold a piece of equipment on ebay after it failed to sell here. I've been selling on ebay for 12 years and know all about their practice of always siding with the buyer, but I decided to roll the dice (you can see where this is going):oops:.

Needless to say, the buyer requested a return after they changed their mind on the pump and I complied as I thought I was being charitable (I wasn't originally accepting returns). Well, due to either extreme malice or ineptitude, the pump was returned absolutely demolished and completely unusable. I had saved pictures/videos of the original condition of the pump before selling as well as time stamped videos of me opening the box and demonstrating the condition of the returned item. I put a request for ebay to investigate and they automatically ruled in the buyer's favor within 5 minutes. I appealed the decision, which appears to have taken all of 14 seconds to rule once again against me. While this isn't the first time something like this has happened to me, I've usually gotten to enjoy the "theater" of ebay taking a day or so to decide (as if to suggest they are reviewing the evidence :p)- clearly they have streamlined this process to remove that last bit of dignity.

In any event, I hope this serves as another warning about selling you used reefing gear on ebay.

We also sell considerably on eBay and items similar to yours we know that they are for parts and by having that on used items there is no return no nothing but they can do or say, because the use item was intended for parts and of course you would only say that if it's a used item. New items must have a return policy and any business got to have a return policy on new items.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Do you have the serial numbers from the original and the returned one? If so you may be able to take the buyer to small claims court outside of ebay with proof that they lied and stole from you.

the only issue is small claims, is the judge will tell you that you have to collect the monies and that takes more time and money. Bummer

 

[F i s h y]

Unfortunately this has been going on a long time. Chances are high the buyer already had the item you sold him, but broken, which was returned to you, and still has your good working one.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I received something from Ebay today, too... After waiting four weeks for it to arrive.

;Facepalm ;Facepalm ;Facepalm

Did you get CARDBOARD?!?!

 

[Smarkow]

I can tell you that, don't use their website for dispute, call the 800# and talk to the customer services agent be nice, once you talk to them they usually side with you. the CSR usually have more power over the dispute process flow set by the system.

I sold a few lights on ebay. I don’t ship international, but an international buyer bought the lights anyways and had them shipped to a packing place in FL that is supposed to forward the items overseas. The packing place was the terminal address provided to me, and they signed for the package. Buyer initiated all sorts of “failure to ship” type complaints with ebay, and ebay sided with them and froze my funds - until I called their 1-800 number and talked to a human... they could see the tracking number and the signature and ruled in my favor immediately.


My 0.02$ - pick up the phone and get your money :)

2nd thought - can you see a serial number on the pump in your original photos? I know not all pumps are likely to have them, but if the buyer DID a switcheroo... who knows?

3rd thought - see if their ebay and R2R/RC names are the same, or just try to contact them via their real name.

Good luck, and thanks for the warning

 

[Smarkow]

Total time on hold: 4 hours :)

Ugh, sorry just saw this

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I once sold a camera on ebay for $600. I used the sale to fund a vacation. The buyer made a claim against me as "item not as described" because i didnt include the manual.

I didn't notice the email..ya know..vacation. and paypal refunded the money and he got to keep the camera.

Last time i ever used ebay for anything.

 

[bam123]

I sold a few lights on ebay. I don’t ship international, but an international buyer bought the lights anyways and had them shipped to a packing place in FL that is supposed to forward the items overseas. The packing place was the terminal address provided to me, and they signed for the package. Buyer initiated all sorts of “failure to ship” type complaints with ebay, and ebay sided with them and froze my funds - until I called their 1-800 number and talked to a human... they could see the tracking number and the signature and ruled in my favor immediately.


My 0.02$ - pick up the phone and get your money :)

2nd thought - can you see a serial number on the pump in your original photos? I know not all pumps are likely to have them, but if the buyer DID a switcheroo... who knows?

3rd thought - see if their ebay and R2R/RC names are the same, or just try to contact them via their real name.

Good luck, and thanks for the warning

Good Luck. IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A PHONE NUMBER IF YOU ARE A BUYER!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Smarkow]

Good Luck. IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A PHONE NUMBER IF YOU ARE A BUYER!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooo many companies ty to hide their CS numbers to force us to go through email “support” systems. I typically just google “company name 1-800 number” and call anyways.



There is usually a combination of polite firmness that solves these issues, ie their CS rep says “sir, have you tried resolving this issue online?” Me “no thank you, I prefer telephone communication,” CS rep “Okay well for your own convenience please file your issue online.” Me “No thanks, you’ll be helping me today or you’ll be connecting me to your supervisor”

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unfortunately this has been going on a long time. Chances are high the buyer already had the item you sold him, but broken, which was returned to you, and still has your good working one.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I received something from Ebay today, too... After waiting four weeks for it to arrive.

;Facepalm ;Facepalm ;Facepalm

The bait and switch was the first thing that came to my mind

 

[Retro Reefer]

I must be using a different eBay ;) 20 year member with well over six thousand transactions as a buyer and seller, in all those years I've only had a couple minor issues that were quickly corrected by eBay.

I do use some common sense such as..

*If it looks to good to be true.. it probably is.
*If the seller doesn't have almost perfect feedback.. they don't get my business.
*Don't buy anything shipped from overseas.. your time to file a claim may expire before you get the item.
*Set requirements for buyers.. helps prevent getting scammed by people setting up new accounts for nefarious reasons.

 

[windemerejack]

Im not sure about US law but here in the UK it is a criminal offence to obtain goods under false pretences, i have personally tried 2 cases of fraud against 2 people for the same thing, and been successful on both occasions, people think they are untouchable by law because they think ebay will protect them, but the law is the law and that person has committed fraud, Its up to you but i would seek a prosecution against him for fraud

 

[piranhaman00]

Small claims would "not be worth it" I suppose but at least the scammer would lose.

Sucks to hear, I despise paypal and ebay but use them if I have too.