Buyer beware

[graeme7518]

I bought a complete kitchen on eBay.  It was expensive. I then spent a day organising people to help me dismantle it, transport it and reassemble it.  I entered into a contract to sell it and install it. I spent hours measuring and planning. The seller then cancelled and refunded.  I am several thousand dollars out of pocket.  EBay said that because I got a refund - maybe I did, but it seems likely to take five days or so to happen - I have no rights. Ebay threatens buyers that they are entering into a contract that they must honour. There is no means of contacting them except by chat because the 'purchase was refunded'. Ebay's chat doesn't work - the minutes count down then when it gets to 1 minute it freezes. There is not even an email address to record disappointment. Be aware that when you purchase on eBay you are on your own.  There is no redress other than refund. In any legitimate market the law of contract would allow redress through the courts.  eBay is designed to ensure that can never happen. Draw your own conclusions, but beware.

[graeme7518]

So your view is that having bought and paid for something, I am expecting special treatment for the thing to be supplied? No wonder I am warning people to beware of EBay!!!

[graeme7518]

Thanks Countessa.  I will take all of the consequences on the chin, it will cost me a few dollars and a lot of time plus a little bit of ill will. My fault for doing someone a favour.  For every good deed there is a punishment.  I will start again for her - but with Facebook marketplace, not EBay.  But my warning stands - a purchase on eBay means nothing. And be prepared to be out of pocket for what you have paid until the wheels slowly turn and you get a refund.

[sandypebbles]

You were refunded for the 'item' purchased were you not?

You mentioned the 'spending a day organising people to help me dismantle it, transport it and reassemble' and measuring ,planning etc etc'

And the 'when you buy on eBay you are on your own'

Indicating to me that you expected to be compensated by the seller/eBay for the time and money spent on doing those things 

IF that is what you expect, then that is expecting special treatment 

It would be like me driving to another state to pick up something I had purchased on eBay and whilst I was travelling the seller cancelled and refunded the cost of the item but expecting them to also pay my petrol costs and other expenses because I chose to drive interstate to collect it

Just as far fetched 

That is the trouble with posting on a public forum, you are not going to like every response you get if it is not what you want to hear

[graeme7518]

Hello Springy.  All of the above is largely irrelevant.  In law we had offer, acceptance and consideration. The vendor needed to provide performance (supply).  Your answer confirms my warning - buying something on EBay and paying for it has no meaning.  I purchased the kitchen on behalf of someone else to install it for her labour free. Having set up the expectation I will now need to start again.  I wish I hadn't started.  Your answer seems to imply a sale isn't a sale until you have visited someone's home and established bona fides.  I do have police checks and a working with children permit.  Presumably the next time I buy a cable for my phone I should visit China and establish my bona fides?  My post wasn't to seek compensation but to sound a warning to others. Of course I don't expect compensation.  My beef with EBay is primarily that having been screwed over, I can't even leave negative feedback because the sale was cancelled. Looking at feedback I see the vendor has form for this behaviour. Nor have I been able to contact EBay - no email, no physical address to write to, a chat channel that repeatedly does not work during business hours. I stick with my presumption that while most people on EBay are honest, there are rogues and they operate with impunity. And CAVEAT EMPTOR. The way that EBay operates provides a lovely platform for dodgy operators. The way that Facebook marketplace operates is an order above that of EBay, and I shall confine my activities to that in future.

[domino-710]

What's this then:

After purchase spent ten hours measuring, planning. XXXXX then cancelled. Refund apparently on the way, but not received yet. Avoid this seller. Disgraceful.

LOLOLOLOL.

[padi*0409]

Oh dear Dom, that must be another one of the questions the OP doesn't like...............

[domino-710]

LOL

[janeababe]

Yet again, another tale of *woe-is-me*…….……

…..but just ends up sounding more and more like a crybaby who has lost their dummy! 

Changing his story, playing the martyr! 

Look around, there’s more than one kitchen for sale on eBay!

…If you want to leave eBay and shop on marketplace, ha! Good luck with that! 

Your money won’t be missed here! 
Good luck in the courts…… I’d love to be a fly on THAT wall, that’s for sure 😂😂😂

[jellybirddesigns]

@graeme - there are some bad sellers on this platform and some bad buyers.

Buyers who don't pay after winning an auction, buyers who open disputes for no reason,  buyers who claim items arrive damaged (but refuse to provide evidence), buyers who claim items not arriving (when they do), buyers who scam left right and centre (and get away with it). Buyers who leave negatives for sellers without trying to resolve the issue first. Spend a week on these forums to see how sellers get s***ed over. The list goes on......

Nobody on here needs to be warned. The vast majority of Ebay users never visit the forums. What are you going to tell the CS reps who are the face of Ebay? That you encountered a lousy seller? Some rep working in the Phillipines doesn't care. You got refunded and the issue is closed, no matter how bitter you might feel about it.

I'm sorry you had a lousy experience with this particular seller. Sometimes the dice just rolls that way but can happen on any online platform.

[domino-710]

Get a life - it's a bit like me buying an air fryer  on eBay - then spending hours - finding recipes - then no air fryer.

I'll sue for my time. 🤣

Signed : The Kitchen Goddess.