eBay closed my return and stopped me from contacting customer support

[sirtookie]

Hello I purchased a camera from overseas and it was dead on arrival, eBay encouraged me to return it and pay the $360 freight to send it back. I did all of this on time because we are dealing with an amount of around $5000, I tried to entre the DHL tracking into the eBay form and as I suspected it did not work. I contacted customer support and the guy said dont worry I will do it manually, I then tested the tracking myself and yes it worked so I sent a screen shot to eBay showing it worked. I also sent this to the customer all good I thought. Then eBay suddenly disconnected me from contacting customer support before the allocated time limit was up. Now today the closed the return case over the weekend. Now I have sent the $5000 camera back, eBay will not reimburs me for the freight and will not help me get my money back. I have all the copies and proof that ebay screwed up, I have no choice now but to take action to retrieve my money. I am a 100% feedback high rated buyer and seller. So if eBay treat me like this what are they doing to others.

[lyndal1838]

You are right springy.....there is no way we could know for sure if a poster is on a pension. 

There is no reason that we should know either, which is why it is superfluous for anyone to mention their financial status or source of income when they come to the boards.

Whether a pensioner or the CEO of a multi million dollar company, if someone has been ripped off and needs help then they should get that help without comment.

However, if a poster thinks it appropriate to mention their financial status then they have to expect to receive comments.

[springyzone]

You're right. The main point has to be about the ebay problem itself. Everyone deserves a fair & honest deal on ebay, regardless of their financial position.

[brerrabbit585]

In my personal experience, the only time pensioners mention that they are one is when they think they're worse off than everyone else. I know plenty who are grateful for the pension and say they've never been so well off in their lives. These people never mention it when they're buying anything because they don't feel any need to. It's only those who feel hard done by that mention it.

I've had times in my life when I've had no income at all and I've found it quite insulting when a pensioner has tried to get me to do something for them for nothing by saying they can't afford to pay anyone because they're "only a pensioner." The word "only" says it all. They obviously thought there was nobody in the world worse off than them.

[digital*ghost]

My 2c, for whatever it's worth*

I think context matters, and that the information is often offered not to garner extra sympathy or help, but to defend and / or clarify a position.

For example, in some cases it would be the inverse to "they have plenty of money, they can afford to lose it"; which are excuses that are often used to justify stealing from others (downloading entertainment illegally often isn't even thought of as stealing, because people don't feel like they're taking anything away from anyone precisely because they already have "lots of money"). When we live in a culture where so many think it doesn't matter if someone else loses, or doesn't gain, as long as the other person is presumed to have more money than the person doing the taking, it's little wonder others sometimes feel like pointing out that they, in fact, aren't rolling around on beds covered in $100 bills. 

"I'm a pensioner with a disability" could easily be taken as just another way of saying "I'm in a situation where this kind of loss is going to be absolutely devastating", and these things are often said out of frustration and a need for understanding - the fact that the situation is further clarified, doesn't give any cause to dismiss the situation entirely - at least, not to me. 

Of course, if someone contacted me and tried to play poor little me precisely to get something for free or at a discount, or posted in the forums about sellers not doing X for them (where X is something a seller has no obligation to do) because of their financial, or physical, situation, then my response would be entirely different, because that's coming from a place of feeling like something is owed to them, or is an attempt at straight up manipulation, but I didn't get the impression that was the intent here. 

*

Spoiler

Well, 2c I guess. 

[springyzone]

I feel you're right, DG. We live in a world where context does matter and it is usually taken into account. For example, a $5000 loss is more serious than a $5 loss or a $50 loss.

That's not to say that if anyone has problems with a $5 or $50 purchase on ebay that their problem doesn't matter. They deserve a fair go too. But anyone with a $5000 purchase and problems does deserve a bit more ebay investigation.

It's a similar thing with a buyer mentioning their financial position. I know it does annoy some posters here, especially if people are trying to get special discounts etc. But that wasn't the case here. I feel sirtookie was trying to convey the message that this was an important purchase, it took a lot of money and if he loses it he won't be in a financial position to cut his losses and just go out and buy another one. It's also worth noting the words pensioner and disability weren't mentioned in the opening post but the second and at the time, the OP was feeling upset so I think we should cut him some slack here.

Meanwhile, while everyone here gets into a debate about whether people should or should not mention if they are pensioners (and personally, I don't have a problem with people posting whatever they feel comfortable with), the problem that sirtookie came here to talk about is being sidelined.

This thread is 3 pages long and how many people have actually come in to make a post that will give sirtookie some useful advice about what steps he can take?Countessa made a great start but soon after that, the comments veered around to whether a pensioner has any right spending that amount, comments about pop up blockers, comments about whether people should mention they are on a pension etc. Now I don't mind a bit of off topic discussion, I'm guilty of it myself a lot of the time, so I am not trying to be critical as I know how it happens, we see a post & reply to it.

But in this case, we have a man, a buyer who has asked a question looking for help and he has actually come back to read the replies (and that doesn't always happen). So I think we need to concentrate on the problem, see if we can come up with any relevant advice.

I wish I could help more, I've never been in a position like this with ebay but I do think sirtookie is going to have to ring ebay and insist on talking to a supervisor. Or maybe do the bank charge back if that will work. But I do wish those with more knowledge could help. 

[4channel]

Good overall  take on the situation springyzone . While I believe that sirtookie mentioning their pensioner status puts things into perspective, this can leave this member open to attacks. There is a bullying clulture here by a small number of members. This has been going on for years and they attack people unfairly and try to intimidate them. This is directed sometimes at newcombers in what I believe is a bid to shut them up and frighten them off. I have witnessed on occasion, some cruel things being said and done. Rather than debate fairly, they go beyond ad hominem with the twisting of things around and even some invention of things which are false.

[collect247]

I've never bullied anyone,I say as I see it but on the other hand you keep mentioning that there are bullies on here so either put your money where your mouth is or shut up as you're the one that is stating lies about others.

What culture? I don't see any bully culture I just see people stating what they believe and it's their own opinion.

I'm of pension age and I don't cry to anyone about it as it doesn't have any relevance period.

[4channel]

---

@collect247 wrote:

I've never bullied anyone,I say as I see it but on the other hand you keep mentioning that there are bullies on here so either put your money where your mouth is or shut up as you're the one that is stating lies about others.

What culture? I don't see any bully culture I just see people stating what they believe and it's their own opinion.

I'm of pension age and I don't cry to anyone about it as it doesn't have any relevance period.

---

Not even thinking of you or stating lies. But I might one day put you in to the "pest category". Not sure yet.

[4channel]

And there are indeed a few bullies here but I'm not going to stir up a hornets nest by mentioning names.

Also people who have bad experiences aren't coming here to whine or get sympathy. Some come just to have a talk and get some feedback from others as well as trying to make sense of a bad situation. They shouldn't be pounced on.

[countessalmirena]

@sirtookie,

How has it worked out so far?

Have you been able to speak to an eBay CS rep and had a satisfactory response?

If you need to take things further, please post to let us know, and there are experienced responders here to guide you if you need it. I'm happy to be of help if required.

Best of luck! I know what it's like to have a high amount on the line.