Guy trying to rip me off on freight

[meclazine]

I recently purchased an item in Perth, Western Australia.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171070912924?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Item lists in Perth, Western Australia, and the freight charge is $125.00

When I said I would pick it up, the item's freight was reduced to $75.00

When I said I would pick it up, the item's location changed to Esperance, 729km to the south east.

I have friends who own a business in Esperance, so I asked for it to be dropped off there, but now the location of the seller has changed to Kalgoorlie 380km again to the north.

I was going to let him know I also have friends in Kalgoorlie, but the actual product is allegedly situated in Esperance.

The seller is refusing to budge saying that he will not drop the item off at my friend's business in Esperance. He can only drop off the item at a courier once I have paid him $330.

But freight from Esperance to Perth would only be around $30, so he is ripping me off $50.

My question is, how does eBay operate in a circumstance where the freight is overquoted?

It was originally quoted (and still is) in Perth, Western Australia, so for a vintage case, I need to look at it to check it's authenticity.

After reading some of the slippery comments from the seller (who had 100% feedback) it has become pretty obvious that this wont be an original case, and he does not live in Esperance.

Is eBay so perversely degraded that people actually get away with behaving so dishonestly? 

[putney32]

well he does sound like the seller from Hell (not Esperance) HOWEVER, you have not helped the situation at all

You have made several mistakes, and assumptions, well outside the generally accepted ebay guidelines

 you didnt ask for pickup BEFORE buying

he has every right as a seller to refuse pickup if it wasnt ofered in the listing

you should/could have asked ebay via the Contact Member link for his phone number

you left feedback, thereby in his eyes, you have ''completed'' the transaction, ie have no interest in further negotiation. fb is always the LAST step in a transaction.

(and yes he can have this removed if he opens a non payer dispute)

so many things could have / should have taken place from before you purchase right up to today.  now you have only 2 options, walk away and cope the non payer strike or pay the whole amount owing as per the agreement you entered into when you placed your bid.

this in no way escuses his behavior, which as a seller I think is appaling, however, you did bid at an agreed price, you need to follow thru.

[putney32]

above reply is in response to the OP not to deja vu

[*new2vintage]

By the way although it depends on distance and weight freight can be expensive.

[phorum_junkie*]

Although technically it is probably a rip off the seller is doing nothing against ebay policy, once you buy you have agreed to the sellers postage quote unless you email and agree another price beforehand. As they do not give cash on pick up as a delivery or payment method you cannot insist you want to pick up and if they say you can they are entitled to charge anything they like to let you do so. If it was showing $125 in the postage details to your address then they cannot charge more than that wherever they claim the item is situated but neither do they have to charge you less if you live in the next street.

If you don't want to pay then don't however if the seller opens a non payment dispute the neg will be removed,you will also get a strike but it will almost certainly be removed on appeal if all the communication is through ebay messages.

[meclazine]

The integrity of the business process relies on honest and open people.

I have given my contact details at all times to this person, and at no stage have I declined to pay for the case. I have the $255 which is a major amount of money for a case. I won the auction, and want to pay for it.

It is deceptive to pretend that it exists in Perth when it clearly does not.

He simply relisted it back on eBay before I have had a chance to pay. We are only 12 hours after the fact.

I just asked to see the goods, or get someone in the world to see them first before money goes across.

He has simply scammed me at every opportunity, avoided the issues, lied about its location, then in the end, confirmed that he was lying.

He will not reduce the postage to a fair and reasonable level after he listed the product in this town.

I dont give a rats arse about the stars and strikes etc. They mean nothing. He had 100% positive rating, and he was cunning as a **bleep**house rat. 

eBay is one filthy corner of the internet that a lot of people choose not to associate with because of situations like this.

Cheers.

[*new2vintage]

Whatever - your mistake was not asking questions before you won the auction. It was possible for you to avoid this.

[meclazine]

You dont know that. You just assumed that.

I did ask questions before the auction, and indicated I was a pickup/dropoff buyer willing to purchase it outright.

All he then said was to bid for the item through the auction process and good luck. We could negotiate after the auction if I won.

I dont want to purchase the item outside eBay.

After the auction, the story changed, 12 times.

[bsal6160]

your problem was NOT waiting to get answers BEFORE you even bid on the item.

[*new2vintage]

If you weren't told pick up would be arranged it was pointless to participate in the auction. There was too much uncertainty. Now that he has relisted the case the seller isn't likely to still want to sell to you.

[meclazine]

Troll away bud....but,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_customer_is_always_right