eBay allows potentially dangerous items to be sold

[loustanis]

I purchased a 42V battery charger.  Checked my eBay email a few days later I found that, even before the item arrived, eBay emailed me to advise that the charger  was under a safety recall.  Given that eBay was aware that the item was under recall, why did eBay not prevent the sale from proceeding or at least warn me of the recall at the time of the purchase transaction.  eBay's email starts as follows "We take product safety very seriously. We’re reaching out to you because an item you purchased may have been recalled or pose a safety hazard. We recommend that you stop using this product."  So lets look at this logically. eBay, who claims to take product safety very seriously, allows an unsafe product to be sold.  eBay clearly has visibility of and monitors each transaction.  So why the notification AFTER the purchase?  Why not as part of the final steps BEFORE finalisation of the sale and payment for the item?   eBay's expectation is that I will now contact the seller, arrange return the item and seek a refund.  As far as I'm concerned, eBay should refund me the cost of the item and deal with the seller directly to avoid such issue to arise in future. 

[davewil1964]

I wanted to prove a point.

I did mention that scheduling a test on a fictitious date didn't reflect well on the society, their staff or their claims to be above average. Got the normal corporate garbage in response.

Which is pretty much why I did the Groucho.

[countessalmirena]

Yes; if I were more gracious, I would have pointed out their data flaws was well, but I was cruel enough to let them stew in their errors. I’m ashamed of myself…

[lezned-toycollector]

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@loustanis wrote:

To LEZNED - you responded too quickly and without any diligence.  If you'd checked, you would have discovered that the seller has been the subject of and eBay black mark in the last day or so for breach of ebay policy.  As far as "may have" - ebay actually posted a link to their email to me that provides far more information.  

As far as Sandypebbles  - I challenge you to buy anything on ebay not made in china.  As far as "before the fact".  What does that even mean?  My suggestion was that ebay should alter their product vetting processes so that they set a warning on the purchase prior to completion.  If the item is on a recall list, as the item I purchased was, the warning should appear prior to buyers committing to the purchase. 

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I did not respond "too quickly" at all... I considered all of the information you provided and responded accordingly.

I double and triple checked the content of your post before I responded. Obviously, you're implying that you have additional information which you failed to share here. So how exactly do you expect me to check said information which only you have access to??? Unlike you, I know nothing at all about your situation other than that which you have chosen to share. The information you provided is what my post related to... nothing more and nothing less. I'm not a mind reader and I definitely never make assumptions.

At the end of the day, it's not my issue if you're deliberately withholding information - that's entirely on you.

May all your chooks turn into emus..... 

[springyzone]

I don't know how seriously ebay takes product safety. Not very, as far as I can see. They do what they have to do, legally, and that is about it.

You say you purchased an item located in Dandenong South. I well believe you as a fair few warehouses are located there. I've had a friend do the same a while back.

The thing is that for a lot of buyers, when they see something as located here, they are going to assume that it is a legal import, the same as they could buy at the shop & that they are just buying from a different retailer.

The fact it may be made in China won't worry most people because, as you say, what isn't made there these days?

I don't blame buyers for thinking this way because before I frequented these forums, I would have assumed anything I picked up from a warehouse in Dandenong was  a legit product too.

But if you read countess's posts, you'll see that a lot of things get into this country under the radar, almost, so to speak. They haven't passed Australian safety tests, they are not being sold here by legal distributors.

Sometimes the stuff people buy is coming direct from China. Ebay isn't stopping any of it, every sale is a bit of extra commission to them and it is perfectly legal for them at the moment to allow those ads.

As far as your warning message goes, from what I have read of the replies, it seems to be just a generic message to alert you to the fact that there has been a recall of the type of product you bought. May not be the same brand, may have nothing to do with what you bought, but I'd guess it is their legal responsibility to do it, so they do it. You'll notice they don't take the extra step of checking if your particular product is the specific one under recall.

What I have taken from all this is that ebay, as a huge business enterprise, will stick strictly to the law, but it will rarely (that I can see) go above and beyond. There are just some items it is not worth buying on ebay, full stop. Not unless the seller is a licenced distributor and in that case, the price point isn't going to be much different anyway, you're better off to just go to the actual store. Anything electrical comes into that category. Plus phones and what have you.

As for buying direct from China, don't do it at all unless it is for non electrical incidentals that can't void your home insurance etc

You as buyer need to be the one doing the investigations, don't rely on ebay at all.

[gutterpunkz05]

Hey Lou, You are quick off the mark to reply with abuse, but for some reason you appear unwilling or unable to provide basic information that has been requested.

As you have been unable to provide the listing number, a link to the recall notice will suffice,

[loustanis]

Item number is 387764973317

[loustanis]

item number is 387764973317

[loustanis]

Here's the entire message from ebay:

Hello loustanis,

We take product safety very seriously. We’re reaching out to you because an item you purchased may have been recalled or pose a safety hazard. We recommend that you stop using this product. If you have questions about the item(s), please reach out to the seller or the manufacturer. Item details are listed below. 
This item has been recalled for safety reasons. To learn more about the recall affecting this product, please visit the website at: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/CPSC-Urges-Consumers-to-Not-Buy-or-Use-Universal-Ch...


If you have any problems, we recommend that you contact the seller from your Purchase history and try to reach a resolution. If you can't reach a resolution, or the seller doesn't fulfill their return policy, you may be eligible for eBay Money Back Guarantee. 
Item details: 387764973317 - DC42V 2A Power Supply Charger For 36V Li-ion Lithium Battery With 6 Connecters
If you have questions, please go to "Help" at the top of most eBay pages.

Regards,

eBay

[loustanis]

Hey Lenzed - given that you believed that you only had part of the story, why not post something like "Is there other information you can provide?" .  Irrespective of the source of my purchase and any other details, my point has merit.  ebay is clearly monitoring and vetting  each transaction, sufficient for them to email me because of a specific item I purchased.   They also have a list of products subject to recall. Their processes need to improve to prevent a purchase of a product which, at the time of the purchase, is not only not fit for purpose but potentially can cause damage.  I actually used the charger immediately I received it and prior to reading ebay's warning and being aware if the risk.   What would have happened if the potential danger had become reality?  Who would have compensated me for that?

I was hoping that my post would have been accepted in the spirit it was intended - to get others on board to convince ebay to change its processes.  The way it is now, a transaction to purchase an item under recall is allowed to be completed and then we, the buyers, have to go through the process of  arranging/arguing over a refund with the vendor.

Your attempt at obfuscation as a means of protecting your earlier comments are just that, obfuscation. 

[lezned-toycollector]

Surely you're not serious. Why are you attacking me without reason?

I didn't believe I only had part of the information - you let slip that the information you provided was incomplete by openly admitting to withholding information. That's on you - not me.

As stated, I replied to your OP based on the information you provided. I gave truthful and factual information which I stand by. I also included legitimate examples of 2 separate instances of my similar personal experience - again factual.

Then you had the audacity to attempt to belittle me because you had deliberately withheld relevant information - woeful behaviour! I could (and would) have provided more factual information had you shared that which you chose to withhold.

I find your bullying and provocative posting style to be highly inappropriate and extremely offensive. I have no intention of playing your silly games, so please cease and desist immediately.

As for your misapprehension that eBay monitors each individual transaction, you are waaaaay off the mark. Do you have any idea how many items are listed on eBay? Do you have any idea how many employees would be required to actively monitor every listing?  The simple suggestion of such is an astronomical joke of the highest proportions... but thanks for the repetitive laughs - very much appreciated.

Don't bother replying to me as any response will fall on deaf ears. My input here is over.

Have a great day ☺️