eBay

[bigsteve]

A bought a book on eBay last week and paid straight away as it was a Buy It Now (and in any case, I had to, as the seller insisted on it.) Over the weekend I had an email claiming to be from eBay but it wasn't in the usual format, so I presumed it wa Spam and deleted it.

The book turned up today, but I'm pretty sure it should have been a hard back, but I was sent a paperback. So, I log into eBay to check the listing and see I have an email from eBay. It turns out the above email was genuine after all, and it said that the book I purchased had been removed from the listings as it didn't meet the criteria (it was very vague) and I wasn't obliged to complete the purchase - not very useful on a Buy It Now item, insisting on immediate payment. So, because eBay have removed the item, all the links are now dead and I can't see if I'm right or wrong about it being a paperback or hardback. (This might all sound a bit trivial, but the paperback would have been much cheaper on Amazon and I only checked eBay in case it was cheaper.)

So, eBay have caused me problems by removing the listing and sending an email to me way later than when I paid - surely they should have realised I had paid and refunded the money straightaway? I have contacted eBay and the seller, but I'm not too hopeful on this one.

[JasonB]

Yet again ebay stupidty,I never understand how this procedure helps the buyer in any way

[simonross46]

Little things like this put me off using ebay. I love the idea but if something goes wrong it becomes so awkward and complicated ... so if I need to, I use a friends acount and then pay them by cash when it arrives.

[bigsteve]

I'm getting a bit annoyed with eBay. Recently I've been disppointed in numerous ways, but nothing that would really warrant negative feedback - maybe I'm too kind? Incientally, I am also unable to leave feedback on this recent debacle.

[Aza]

Did you pay via PayPal?

You can raise a dispute if you are not happy with the item as you are protected for upto £500 (I think?)...

[bigsteve]

Yes, I did pay with PayPal. Trouble is, I don't know if I have a valid dispute or not!

[Aza]

Go for it, nothing to lose - I guess.

If all else fails, it can be escalated to Paypal if you and the seller don't agree and they can look into and will probably be able to look at the original auction too...

[bigsteve]

Yeah, I guess I'll have to. It sounds like there's problems with the seller as he/she has no listings on atm and he is a PowerSeller. All very strange. I've emailed the seller, so I'll have to wait to see if I get a response first. Thanks for the advice Aza.

[Number2Fan]

Ebay is s***!!!

I don't use it, I do look there but what a pain in the arse.

I buy from reputable sites if I need to or friends, if I really want some second hand crap I go to a boot fair where I can at least see the articles before I pay!

I did try and sell a few things once upon a time on Ebay but i'd rather give something away nowadays.

[Quadrant]

I agree - especially dont like people removing items after Ive won them, because

1) you think they're gonna fleece you

2) you can leave feedback because the item "no longer exists"

[Wakey]

I like eBay, any problems I've had I've been able to resolve to be honest, sometimes it's taken a month or two but I got there in the end!

[bigsteve]

It seems this is on the way to a resolution too after the seller responded. He has offered a full refund and I've to return the item to his freepost address. Clearly I'll make sure I get a certficate of posting, but his PayPal account has been suspended too, so no idea how he will refund me.

[Neuro]

Did you buy this book from "Hong Kong", by any chance Steve?

[Number2Fan]

[simonross46]

that photo actually puts me off Ebay weirdly

[Aza]

Hope you get it resolved, Steve

[JasonB]

Ive used ebay since 2003ish and has no problems that havent been resolved.

I did once buy something from someone that was the actual product described so no problem there but a few days later after receiving item getting a email from ebay saying not to buy from this person, all it meant was we couldnt leave feedback for each other, he mustve been flogging a few other items that went against policy.

Unless the sellers going to send you a cheque Steve, Im not quite sure how youll get are fund untill his paypals back up and running again.

[Number2Fan]

OMG I bought some things off of Ebay last week, first time ever bought stuff from there, I done what I was supposed to do and left feedback, paid instantly etc etc, and I left someone neutral feedback because when I recieved the CD it was WET!! I didn't know if it was wet when they sent it but the cardboard cover is now in the bin and the T/L is blurry now.

So I said that too, on my thing. They just sent me a snotty email, I looked them up and they still have 100% positive feedback it says. Now I hate Ebay again! Bastards, if I wanted hate mail I'd have kept my old username on the JJ board!

Ooh actually that's my ebay name, maybe it's jinxed.

Can I re-register ebay and pay pal??

[bigsteve]

When things don't work out as expected, its always better to contact the seller first as this gives them a chance to put things right. Also, when you leave them neutral feedback, it does what it says on the tin - neither a positive or a negative score is left.

I should add that I did receive a refund for the book that I went off on one about at the start of this thread.

[Number2Fan]

Well I apologised for that much actually, after I thought about it!