(vanity) If you've had a bad experience on eBay, tell me about it

3/14/11 | marty

[martin_fierro]

If you've had a bad experience on eBay, please tell me about:

• How it arose (were you buyer or seller)
• How the problem got resolved, it at all
• How satisfied you were with the resolution, if any

[Clay Moore]

Bought a diesel injector pump. I specified the part number that I wanted. Finally the wrong pump shows up after the magic 30 day date. I call the seller and he says no returns. I said you did not ship what I ordered.

I demand my money back and he says ship the pump back and I will ship you the right one.

I shipped it back and so he refuses to refund my money or ship me what I ordered.

Paypal did nothing.

Ebay killed his account (like he can’t just start a new one)after I kept after them.

Anyone around Pomeroy OH want to break some knees? -s?-

[lowbridge]

Out of the many times I bought off of eBay, I can recall only one slightly bad experience. Bought a bunch of knick knacks from a couple of guys who owned a pawn shop. I sent them a money order. A few weeks go by and I receive nothing. I send them an email asking about my stuff. They replied that they sent it (UPS). Please give me another week or so to see if it will arrive. A couple weeks go by and nothing. I email them again. They say they will file a claim with UPS about the missing shipment. About 4 weeks go by and I hear nothing. So I email them again, and this time, I get a response from the guys partner who asks: "Missing shipment? UPS? Filed claim? What are you talking about?". I remind him that I bought something from them over eBay. Shipment got lost. They were supposed to file a claim with UPS. I get a response saying that they didnt make the claim. They found the claim form in a drawer somewhere. But this time they'll be sure to fill it out and send it. A few more weeks go by and I get an email from them saying that they got back from UPS one of the several boxes they were supposed to send to me. Apparently it got damaged in shipment. They say if they get back the other boxes, they re-package it and re-send it. I just tell them I want my money back. They reply: "sure, well refund part of your money because we are assuming that you got part of the shipment". I tell them they assumed wrong because I got NOTHING and insist on FULL refund, including the money for shipping.

Finally, after 6 months of this going back and forth, they FINALLY sent me my full refund in the form of a personal check. I was worried that it would bounce, but it didnt.

[tgusa]

Over 100 transactions, all buying. Bought one laptop which wouldn’t load my hard drive - long story - but seller took it back no questions asked, and I got all my $$ back in good time. I’m totally satisfied with eBay as a buyer. Sure, there are some scumbags - I won’t buy from somebody with less than 99% approval rating.

[autumnraine]

Never had a problem (so far) and I’ve bought for years. Got a really nice Disney World Paris Minny Mouse coat for my (then) 8 year old and it needed dry cleaning from the house having smokers in it. Other than that, everything fine.

Matter of fact, I order Gameboy games from China all the time. If you order from the same seller, and they will combine shipping, it can work out to $11 per game opposed to $30 to $40 per game here at Walmart. All my kids’ friends think we are rich and we most certainly aren’t. Just mom is a big ebay buyer.

Oh, and I got a Bible printed ‘upon order of Queen Victoria” from Scotland for my aunt’s church. Pretty nifty!

[KarlInOhio]

I've had about 50 eBay purchases and had one item not show up. The seller sent me a new one without much trouble. I didn't have to get eBay or Paypal involved.

[lowbridge]

Man, some people have all the luck.

Wanna trade the Jesus and Elvis painting for this?:

[happilymarriedmom]

Never had a bad experience as buyer on ebay....my only bad experiences have been as a seller. Buyers are KING on Ebay. If you are not satisfied after dealing with the Seller you can lodge a complaint with ebay and they pay you back. If you’re a seller and are having a hard time with a buyer...tough luck.

[scottteng]

I have had some odd happenings but nothing that was not resolved in my favor. I have had worse luck with big box stores refusing to take back something that was DOA or died within a couple of weeks. Even had an item I sold lost in mail told her to wait a couple more days then email me again and she never did so I assume it got there. I did have one guy that I think was running a scam on his shippers insurance but I got what I ordered after it was supposedly returned to him broken into with some of the coins missing. The only tip is do not let anyone string you along file the complaint they are easy to close if you are satisfied.

[trapped_in_LA]

I used to buy a lot of gun parts off e-bay until they banned most of that stuff. Never had any problems. Now it’s my wife that does most of the e-bay shopping. She buys mostly clothes and has had a few items that were not as advertised. E-bay refunded her money for all of them so no complaints, other than I wish they’d bring back the guns parts, can’t find them nearly as cheap on other sites as e-bay had them :)

[JoeProBono]

[GreenAccord]

You hate (nearly) everything.

Hey now, what makes you think 17,157 anecdotal posts to that affect are grounds for rendering that opinion?

[RoseyT]

I have had 1 so-so experience and one BAD experience. This is the bad one. An item I needed was sold by Walmart.com but was on backorder. I found the item on eBay and did a "buy it now." The seller implied that she had the item in hand in the item description. It turned out that she was a drop shipper. She ordered the item from Walmart.com and they shipped it to me. It took WEEKS for it to arrive. I complained to her and in turn she left me the only negative feedback I have ever gotten on eBay, which was complete crap as I had already met the terms of the transaction as a buyer by paying immediately after I clicked the "buy it now" button.

The bottom line is that according to eBay's current terms, a seller does NOT have to inform you that they are a drop shipper. You have to specifically ask if they have the item IN HAND and ready to ship.

[TankerKC]

Hey now, what makes you think 17,157 anecdotal posts to that affect are grounds for rendering that opinion?

You are right. And, I know he will hate that I was hasty in my judgement...

[Constitution Day]

You wisenheimers are welcome to stay off my thread.

Don't make me come after your red stapler, pal.

[Paradox]

I once had a screwed up transaction, I dont even remember what it was anymore. Paypal got involved. End result, Paypal suspends my account and basically took my money, a few hundred. There was no convincing them of my innocence, etc, etc...

[clbiel]

While selling my friend’s audio equipment I forgot to check the [U.S. bidders only box], but luckily remembered to check the [ We do not ship outside the U.S.] box. I got some Canadian DEMANDING I accept payment and ship to him in Ontario. This included flaming me to E-bay. E-Bay said their hands were tied, fight amongst yourselves. Resolve: I wrote him and said I would accept payment and ship as soon as he furnished a U.S. shipping address. Either that or court. He relented.

[SunkenCiv]

Dang.

[George from New England]

I’ve had an ebay account since 1998. 13 years. keepsakevideoct

I learned along time ago that a good way to reduce my chances of fraud was to be sure to have a direct email address from the seller before sending money.

I am now being told by a seller that that violates new ebay rules. So the seller expects me ‘to trust’ them and only have an ebay email address (one on the inside @members.ebay.com)

I cancelled the purchases and don’t expect to go back and buy anymore from ebay.

Ebay is not my god.