Buying but later told item "NOT IN STOCK"- How common? Scam?

[discochickky]

This has happened to me several times recently, all with online (both ebay and others online) all itmes over $100 up to $700 (electricals mainly, but soft furnishings also). Yes I do (eventually) get a reund BUT is this some sort of a scam? Or is this common practice? Probably not a "scam" as such I guess, because using Paypal I get refunds, but it seems kind of strange that this should be happening so often.

Even though I've emailed or telehoned the company beforehand to "make sure" that item is "in stock" it has still happened to me. They say supplier has item, yet they do not and it's discontinued. This is not all the same item either, these are different items from various sources. This has happened to me over a peiod of a year. I don't live in a City, so oredr Online often.

Anyone else?

Cheers.

[discochickky]

^ "refund" I mean. 🙂

[zanadoo_56]

I think it is increasingly common.

I've bought dolls clothes that were advertised as 10 or more of this item could be purchased....only to get a refund because there was none in stock.  And more often than not the item is still being advertised!  That's on eBay.

I've also had the same problem with books (from eBay and elsewhere on the net) where whoever is selling the books don't actually have them, but order them from the publisher when someone buys one.  Only problem is, either the book turns out to be (temporarily) unavailable, or in one case I had last year, the book was actually out of print.

[centauroau]

sellers with several hundred items on sale... its common, they sell also in a shop...and through ebay.. so what goes out the door.is gone and will get reorderd... on ebay..buy it now.. they just relist it..regardless if in stock or not... just easier for them...

it should not happen with a normal auction and bidding...

its more the question how the sellers deals with it.. refund straight away..or you wait...

i waited 5 weeks for a backpack...was dirt cheap... got a bit mucked around.. got at the end a different colour, but saved $150 ...

[davewil1964]

It is because if they discontinue the listing, they lose their sales history in 'best' match, on eBay, which drops them down in listings sorted by 'best' match. Others just jack the price to unrealistic levels, to prevent sales, until they can restock.

As far as books go, most of the big sellers are dropshippers. They don't hold stock in-country, order the item to be sent to your address after you pay, and have no idea of what books they're advertising are available. They just seem to advertise all the publishers' catalogues they can find. I've seen them advertising new books that have been out of print for 20 years. What are the chances?

Some booksellers, mainly the smaller ones, actually have the books on-hand. Especially the out of print ones.

[xxstuckonstickersxx]

Probably drop shippers, they don't hold the product but order it after you have ordered from them. Then they find out their supplier is out of stock.

[phorum_junkie*]

Drop shipping

Poor stock control

Delivery delays

Inexperienced sellers starting prices too low

Scammers who hope you won't use Paypal

and probably a lot of other reasons.

While I have had it happen more often in the last couple of years I rather think that it is probably an actual decrease in percentage terms as there are now many, many more items for sale both on ebay and on line generally.