eBay Buyer Beware (2 Viewers)

[chkmte]

Last month I purchased a fairly large lot (of poker chips) on eBay. Long-story-short, I received less chips than advertised. I still scored, but the fact remains I was shorted.

I attempted multiple times to contact the seller, who failed to respond. I opened a case and waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally, I called eBay (no) customer service. Here's what I was told:

You can initiate a return and send the entire lot back for a full refund, or the seller and I can communicate and agree on a partial refund. The problem is...the seller refuses to communicate with me.

Since it was a deal to begin with, I'm not going to send the entire lot back. That's my choice. But something feels wrong here that a seller can manipulate the outcome in this manner. First, with a false advertisement and second, with no communication.

I suppose if I was a complete ass, I could've initiated a return and sent back about half the chips. That would keep this clown from pulling the same shenanigans again - but I'm not a complete ass.

So, if you come across a similar issue in the future - know that under circumstances similar to mine - there's nothing you can do about it.

Tim

 

[slisk250]

You do have another option. We have a few threads here outing bad sellers. Explain the exact situation and let the community know who it is.

 

[leo822]

That sucks Tim. Sorry it happened to you.

 

[Quicksilver-75]

Please out the seller. Otherwise this thread has no real purpose to be blunt. eBay has a bad rap already from largely one-sided accounts. Outing the seller has two effects. If he is a lurker/member you're likely to get some resolution. You will also potentially save fellow members here a hassle down the road.

 

[chkmte]

You do have another option. We have a few threads here outing bad sellers. Explain the exact situation and let the community know who it is.

At the risk of accidentally knocking the gas can over, I think I'd better just leave it at this. I don't want to reignite certain conversations.

 

[chkmte]

Please out the seller. Otherwise this thread has no real purpose to be blunt. eBay has a bad rap already from largely one-sided accounts. Outing the seller has two effects. If he is a lurker/member you're likely to get some resolution. You will also potentially save fellow members here a hassle down the road.

Had certain "fellow" members treated me differently about this lot, I might expound. However, I've presented the circumstance I wanted to present. I apologize if that is unsatisfactory.

 

[Kyle]

What did you buy?

 

[surferb]

I'm not seeing the use of complaining about this without outing the seller. What are you looking for? Sympathy?

 

[dennis63]

Many, many cases of buyers (and sellers) having trouble on E-Bay.

We are very spoiled here on PCF to be able to deal with people who keep their word, uphold their deals, value their reputation and offer good chips.

 

[detroitdad]

Many, many cases of buyers (and sellers) having trouble on E-Bay.

We are very spoiled here on CT to be able to deal with people who keep their word, uphold their deals, value their reputation and offer good chips.

CT?

 

[12thMan]

We are very spoiled here on CT to be able to.....

I agree 100% with your sentiment though, I know what ya meant.










edit: @detroitdad beat me to it while I was trying to grab a gif from photobucket. by the way, fuck photobucket, why does their site run like it's 1996??

 

[bentax1978]

CT?

Tomato, Tomato.

 

[12thMan]

Tomato, Tomato.

Pinto, Maybach more like it.

 

[Quicksilver-75]

Tomato, Tomato.

Ban hammer!

 

[bentax1978]

Ban hammer!

Just in case it didn't come across the internet properly, let me try again.

[SARCASM] Tomato, Tomato [/SARCASM]

 

[chkmte]

I'm not seeing the use of complaining about this without outing the seller. What are you looking for? Sympathy?

I'm not complaining. I'm warning. You can't get a partial refund without the seller agreeing to the terms.

Why so snarky?

 

[mummel]

I agree. Post the sellers name so you stop someone else from getting screwed down the road.

 

[legend672]

Well did you buy 500 chips and he sent you 480 ? Or is it one of those I got 3 racks of 8 dollar a chip quarters for 2 bucks a chip and he only sent me 294 kind of complaint ?

 

[surferb]

I don't blame eBay for that policy in the context of most sales. If you're unhappy with a transaction then cancel it. From what I've heard, eBay tends to side with the buyer. If you're still happy enough with what you got, consider that you got a good deal, leave bad feedback (and let us know who) .

I can't imagine a scenario where that warning would be useful. I'm still going to bid on chips on eBay - they protect me as a buyer better than this site or anywhere else (I've done many successful transactions here and CT without ever being screwed).

If you disclosed the seller, then we could avoid bidding on their auction and such a scenario. There is value to that.

The snarky response seemed appropriate to this post. Guess I'm in a snarky mood. This feels like more like a teaser post then one that is trying to be useful.

I'm not complaining. I'm warning. You can't get a partial refund without the seller agreeing to the terms.

Why so snarky?

 

[gmunny]

The same thing happened to me about a month ago. It wasn't worth sending them back for a refund, so i just left a negative and explained in the feedback, short by 200+ our of around 700 chips and no communication. Luckily it wasn't big $ or chips that i really really wanted. Just some RT plastic fantasy/replica chips. Based on the other crap they were selling and how it was shipped, i tend to think they really didn't count them correctly. Sucks, either way though.

 

[surferb]

gmunny - that's no good :-(

 

[BGinGA]

This entire thread is pointless without the OP outing the eBay seller for what was done (short-shipping and no communication). If chkmte chooses to not warn the chipper community members about this eBay seller, well, that's his option to do so. And so speaks volumes about his 'community spirit', or lack thereof.

So maybe the thread isn't pointless, after all......

 

[dennis63]

CT?

Oops!

Of course I was thinking PCF.

Never post on a cell phone before the first cup of coffee...

 

[chkmte]

Well did you buy 500 chips and he sent you 480 ? Or is it one of those I got 3 racks of 8 dollar a chip quarters for 2 bucks a chip and he only sent me 294 kind of complaint ?

I purchased about 1800-1900 chips, was short a rack of chips worth about $1/each. Since I did get a deal, it was my decision to keep the lot. However, it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

My biggest issue seems to be with eBay. There policies almost always favor the buyer, except in this case.

 

[Chicken Rob]

I purchased about 1800-1900 chips, was short a rack of chips worth about $1/each. Since I did get a deal, it was my decision to keep the lot. However, it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

My biggest issue seems to be with eBay. There policies almost always favor the buyer, except in this case.

eBay policies still favor you. If you had been screwed, they will side with you and you'll be made whole. You can't fault eBay for not having a customer protection policy that mitigates partial shipment. It would be very difficult to write such a policy. So you either accept the deal or you don't, but buyers are pretty well protected on eBay. So much so that I don't sell there anymore.

 

[jbutler]

...buyers are pretty well protected on eBay. So much so that I don't sell there anymore.

Yeah I have to agree with this. Unless absolutely necessary I'm a buyer only on eBay now because buyers get way the best of it in virtually every dispute.

 

[Irish]

My biggest issue seems to be with eBay. There policies almost always favor the buyer, except in this case.

What's your issue in this case, that eBay wouldn't issue you a partial refund once you filed the complaint? There's zero chance of that ever happening, you can't expect them have the knowledge to arbitrate a case where you only received part of what a lot advertised, especially in the case of a chip set where different denominations often carry a premium. Now multiply that times the thousands of different types of products and collectibles on eBay. Never going to happen - their policy is 100% realistic- take it up with the seller to negotiate a settlement, and if you can't, you get a refund. Not sure what your gripe is...

 

[AWenger]

I'm not complaining. I'm warning. You can't get a partial refund without the seller agreeing to the terms.

Fair point. But after your case plays out with a resolution, I would second the other recommendations to post the sellers name for our information.

 

[jbutler]

What's your issue in this case, that eBay wouldn't issue you a partial refund once you filed the complaint? There's zero chance of that ever happening, you can't expect them have the knowledge to arbitrate a case where you only received part of what a lot advertised, especially in the case of a chip set where different denominations often carry a premium. Now multiply that times the thousands of different types of products and collectibles on eBay. Never going to happen - their policy is 100% realistic- take it up with the seller to negotiate a settlement, and if you can't, you get a refund. Not sure what your gripe is...

I understand the gripe: a seller could pretty easily angle the system by sending fewer sprockets than advertised if the selling price is still a good deal with a few fewer sprockets than listed in the auction. Then the buyer can either accept the good (but not as good) deal with the fewer sprockets or send all the sprockets back to the seller and get a refund.

I think OP was just venting about eBay and really the point of the post was to alert people to the possible angle, the use of which could put the seller one a partial freeroll.

 

[Irish]

I understand the gripe: a seller could pretty easily angle the system by sending fewer sprockets than advertised if the selling price is still a good deal with a few fewer sprockets than listed in the auction. Then the buyer can either accept the good (but not as good) deal with the fewer sprockets or send all the sprockets back to the seller and get a refund.

I think OP was just venting about eBay and really the point of the post was to alert people to the possible angle, the use of which could put the seller one a partial freeroll.

That's a gripe with the seller, not with eBay.