Ebay using bait-and-switch tactics as well as refusing to honor contracts? (Not seller, EBAY itself)

[dkitson]

Hi All,

I've had two incidents within the last week that I've noticed, which I know with certainty ebay is behind - and I'm questioning whether others have had the same experience.

1) I bought some items from overseas and ebay encouraged ( as they still do ) me to ask the shipper if they would provide combined shipping. They agreed, so I purchased three relatively inexpensive items, with nearly $600 AU shipping costs, which I realized would come down to around $60 to $80 in total with combined shipping, so I bid on the items... I got three, and Ebay hit be with an invoice for several hundred dollars and I was shocked that I wasn't able to get a combined invoice. So I asked the seller and they sent me a demand they got from Ebay, post-sale, that they not provide combined shipping. I raised it with Ebay, and they said they no longer allowed sellers to provide combined shipping on those orders, and offered to discount the shipping to around $140 or so. They also said I could communicate with the seller directly to arrange alternatives either within or outside ebay ( yes, all in writing ) but would not address that they offered combined shipping in the pre-sale but refused it post-sale. The seller said to cancel the order and pay the extra for the other items and they would just combine, but ebay blocked this also. Eventually, we came up with a way to do it ( with EBAY suggesting it, again, I got this in writing from Ebay ) that we could cancel the order and come up with an alternative, and they suggested the seller relist it and I buy it again.  The seller agreed,  and the final cost was combined shipping for a little less than $60 AU - way less than the hundreds Ebay tried to pile on top.  I was pretty disappointed Ebay did this, and forced us both to work around the problem ( AFTER they tried to blame the seller for the problem, and I pointed out my agreement was with EBAY, not the seller ) but the seller was very accomodating, and I got the item AND combined shipping so I let it rest. Clearly Ebay though was entirely motivated to price gouge on shipping and it was not in Ebay's interest to fulfill their obligation, and I was pretty disappointed in Ebay's attitude that I should just pay them hundreds of dollars extra in shipping because they don't like sellers combining postage and have blocked international sellers from combining postage through GSP.

2) I got a good price on something I could not have afforded otherwise. Seller was accomodating ( it was a computer ) and shipped it. Then I noticed the pricing all went up on other same computers all over ebay, and while the price shows shipping of around $100, once I attempt to buy one, the shipping jumps up to around $500 per items at the checkout. Cleary this computer reached the GSP location and they decided it would cost more to ship that Ebay agreed to charge me through GSP.  As a result, rather than do the right thing and ship it anyway, they cancelled my order and refunded. The seller says nothing like that has ever happened before ( and I believe them, the tracking clearly shows GSP doesn't want to ship it, and made the excuse that they don't ship computers overseas... It's a 1980's era vintage computer, not a top secret government supercomputer or something that could be grey marketted so there's no other valid reason for refusing to ship... ). Now I have lost out because Ebay has upped the prices on all other shipping and is gouging, AND I lost a good price from a US seller.

Ebay GSP has really left a bad taste in my mouth. They gouge like crazy, don't honor agreements, choose to just back out of any agreement (after they have ALREADY taken my money and indicated it's a binding agreement )  and it feels like they are using bait and switch tactics intentionally to get more out of me through shipping costs that they know are unreasonable.

What is going on with GSP and how many others have noticed things like Ebay jacking up the prices AFTER the sale is committed, and you go to pay, post-checkout and after agreeing to a lower cost? I've noticed this a lot lately and I question whether Ebay's tactics here are unlawful? Or is switching (only ever increasing) the cost after you've agreed to a price but before they debit your card lawful?

What have other community members noticed?

Thanks

David

[davewil1964]

I have noticed that you have posted a novel.

You would be well advised to read any of the many threads about the GSP. The common theme is that combined postage is unavailable if you are using the GSP.

Pitney Bowes, the facilitator of the GSP is not eBay. Better to ascertain the facts than spout fallacious conspiracy theories.

Or better yet, do some due diligence.

[gutterpunkz05]

But Dave,  they have proof ebay is behind it.   Strange as ebay does not control  the GSP.

Dont know where the bait and switch comes into play.

[dkitson]

Hi Gutterpunkz -

When the Ebay website itself suggests on the product that I should request a combined price from a seller who is selling via Ebay Australia via the GSP, and the seller agrees, and so I buy because the seller has agreed, and then Ebay refuse to allow me to request a combined price, and refuse to let the seller proviwith a manager (not just the support staffer ) and offer me two choices, which they confirmed I had two choices they would allow - Ebay don't hide this - they send a copy of the transcript to the customer after they tell them. As I mentioned, It's all in writing. I would not feel confident otherwise backing out of a sale agreement and asking the seller to help me workaround the problem, and workaround, btw, is Ebay's term they used to describe what I should do, and I asked and was escalated to a manager who repeated their advice - so this is probably as official as you can get, or at least as they will allow a customer to get with their help services.

1) I pay around $200 total if I go through with the products as the system requests I do (After facilitating the request for combined postage, which was agreed to, but I was just expected to suck it up and pay the extra Ebay fees they lumped in after I won the auction, when they did not tell me they would not allow me to combine shipping despite suggesting originally that I request and receive it if the seller was willing. )

2) I work with the seller and get them to now agree to cancel, combine and relist, and I buy again all three items as a single item with a single chipping charge.  Total now just a touch over $100.

I went with 2) - And then found the seller would lose his 80% discount on listing fees by doing that, so I agreed to increase the price of the items to cover the cost of his loss, since it was a pittance compared to the extra Ebay postage charges... Yep, still shipped by GSP, just at a third of the cost.

Also, I can sit on ebay's webpage right now, see one price for shipping, and then see this massively jacked up price once I go to the item, even without buying it. That's definitely bait advertising. It's like having one price on the cover of a brochure, and another inside the brochure with a much higher price and expecting you to pay the internal charge.

Finally, I have many screenshots showing that the price keeps going up after I agree to purchase in past purchases. Typically, I pay around 12% to 15% premium overall in additional costs over the price plus stated postage costs, none of which are shown at the point where I agree to purchase. Only 10% of that is GST, and not all shows up at the same point in the transaction.

Maybe I'm not using the correct term, but when Ebay offer one price or set of conditions prior to purchase then arbitrarily switch to a less favourable set of terms or prices after I purchase, that seems to be what they are doing... The item itself does not change, so maybe I am using the wrong term. If you can suggest a better one, I will use it 🙂

Thanks

David

[gutterpunkz05]

You dont seem to understand that ebay  do not set the prices for anything.  They do not sell anything, nor do they provide any form of shipping,   No need to  write a book  and take anything  CS tell you with a a grain of salt,  They are merely call  centre staff employed by god knows who and contracted to ebay,  you will be hard pressed using any info from  CS , to hold  ebay to account.