@vintage_1971 wrote:
What has happened to buyer protection on here. I purchased a trail camera that I switched on once since purchasing and now its not operating after only two months of ownership. It seems like there is no support or consumer protection for faulty goods. I have messaged the seller a few times and they asked for video and photos to be sent to their email. As the camera isn't working I don't see how that will achieve anything. They claim there is no warranty, but the papers with the camera say 12 months. Is this platform easy for scammers to rip off buyers? I noticed the seller also had negative feedback for a similar issue! How do I report this to ebay as there is no resolution centre anymore.
You're partly right (about the comment in red).
Ebay covers the buyer for items that arrive faulty. In actual fact, they give you 30 days from the estimated delivery date in which to open a claim, so if you bought a camera or any other item that broke down within that month, you would be best to claim the item was received faulty. Not as described. Keeps it simple and clear cut that way and you'd be likely to win your claim.
I don't see that as cheating. In any reasonable scenario, a camera should work beyond one use, so your camera was faulty.
Your problem came about as you didn't give it a reasonable work out within that month.
What you're now looking at is a warranty and ebay does not cover warranties or guarantee that any warranties mentioned in ads are valid.
It's best to treat any warranty claims in ebay ads as rubbish, unless they are mentioned in the ad of a company licensed to sell the product or they are a big Aussie company with real stores. But really, in that case, their prices are not going to be better on ebay. You might even do better if you just pop into a store in person. That's where the green comment comes in as many buyers believe the warranty stuff they read in ads, so to that extent, it is easy for sellers to fool them.
There are plenty of things you should avoid buying on ebay. Electronics, cameras, expensive watches, any good brand item that is suspiciously cheap yet touted as brand new etc
I have a friend who bought a camera on ebay (years ago). It was from a big company but her camera, like yours, broke down after the second or third use. She contacted the seller and to give them their due, they honoured the warranty but here's the catch. They made her post it overseas at her own expense.
This was in the days before paypal etc.
No one needs the hassle of warranties where you have to post (freely or not) overseas.
Use ebay but just not for purchases where an Australian warranty is important.
If you paid via paypal, you may be able to open a claim on the basis the camera didn't work the second time you used it. It may get rejected but worth a try.
