ebay is it really as safe as it's made out to be?

[rnbguy]

Hi All,

I thought I'd share this experience.

I have purchased an item from the U.S, lost $6,000 due to the item arriving faulty ebay has hit me hard by removing my negative feedback.

Catherine B. from customer service completly made me feel 100 times worse by repeating the same line "sorry sir we can't do anything here".

All this because I advised the ebayer that if he doesnt reply to me soon I'm left with no choice but to leave negative feedback. All I asked was for him to reply to me as he was ignoring me, now ebay (CB particularly) have said I cannot say that here. regardless of ebay advising buyers to speak to sellers BEFORE leaving negative feedback.

Now the ebayer who took my $6,000 is running around with 100% positive feedback....

I wish there could be an ebay alternative out there, this isnt the first time they've let criminal action go without justice.

[davewil1964]

Well somebody recently left me a positive with a low star for postage cost. When I charge what it costs me.

Do you think eBay will do anything (as DSRs are allegedly anonymous)? Level playing field.

And my concern as a buyer would be goods or money back, with feedback a poor last.

[rnbguy]

Hi Dave,

I don't think you've been on here long enough to understand the importance of accurate feedback 🙂

... it can mean more profit in some cases, more sales, and if invalid it can mean more exploit opportunities.

[lyndal1838]

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@rnbguy wrote:

thanks for the replies, the money issue should be under control with paypal they seem to be trying to help, although I won't get the whole amount I might recover alot of it.

I'll speak to the credit card company if Paypal can't retrieve funds and just try to bypass paypal completly.

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What makes you think you will not get all the money refunded by paypal?  If you win a dispute you get the item cost plus postage refunded.

Do not even think about a credit card chargeback while you still have a paypal claim open.  Both of them have as part of their terms that you cannot be claiming on any other party.  If paypal receives a chargeback request from your bank they will close your dispute immediately and the bank may well do the same.

You do realise that after you have opened a paypal dispute you need to escalate it to a claim before paypal will get involved?  Do you know if paypal has escalated the dispute on your behalf yet?

[*crikey*mate*]

Hi Mb, I'm kinda curious how long you think someone needs to be "on here" for them to understand the importance of accurate feedback?

[rnbguy]

good point im going to stick it out for paypal, they seem to be fine so far.

paypal +1

ebay -1

thanks for all your help guys, I tried what was suggested above but ebay turned down my request to re-instate my feedback comment. I'm sure it will eventually catch up to the seller just feel sorry for the others who go through all this while seller continues to sell dodgies 🙂

[rnbguy]

lol crickey the formula is:

((8xm2/the number of years)-1)+m2x3

No really, it depends on one's ability to learn and exposure, you know when you know, similar to falling in love some need more time then others 🙂

[*crikey*mate*]

I understand your frustration, but like any rules, they have to be applied equally. You attempted to use the threat of negative feedback in order to provoke a desired reaction from a trading partner. eBay simply do not allow this.

Had you have followed the correct procedures, your seller would still have his feedback, it is because you broke the rules that he doesn't.

As bizarre as this situation is, the only person to blame for this is yourself, and by breaking the rules of trading on eBay, it is you that has contributed to making eBay less safe for other users. 

I do hope that PayPal helps you to retreive your money. It is a horrible thing to have happened, and a lousy thing for the seller to cut off communication. So, please don't get me wrong, I do empathize with your situation, but you need to understand that you're blaming the wrong entity for the feedback removal.

Once you've been on eBay long enough, you may begin to understand the importance of following the rules. *wink*

[rnbguy]

okay paypal has asked me to return the item to seller, this is someone who has already robbed me once...

I'm stuck between trusting this process and possibly getting stung by some small clause (such as telling someone what they can or can't say) that may cost me more in the long run.

Alternative is to try speak to credit card company and close paypal dispute... any thoughts?

[lyndal1838]

Yes, you have to return the item to the seller in order to get your money back.  You must send it with on line trackable post and upload the details to paypal.  As soon as you do this you will get your refund.

There is no point in stopping the paypal dispute now....the refund is as good as in you account as soon as you give them the postage details.  If you start a CC chargeback you are starting all over again and will still have to sned the item back to the seller but you will also have to get proof that the seller has received it....much more expensive and takes a lot longer to get the signature back, especially if it has to come from overseas.

[*crikey*mate*]

Matey, I'm pretty much one for overkill, and with $6,000 I'd be nervous too.

If it were me, I would be getting this all documented somehow. I don't know how, by the police or by Australia Post, a JP? I don't know, but I would be photographing/filming and getting signatures etc and proving I had sent that package back and that I had wrapped it up properly, addressed it properly etc.

Yes, you need to use some online trackable postage method AND you also need to be able to prove that you did post it (proof of lodgement)

It might even be worth contacting the Online Fraud Squad - just for advice on how to handle this - my point is to let as many people know as possible, to create one hell of a paper trail.

If it helps at all, I have never had any problems with dealing with PayPal and following their directions, but I too would be feeling very nervous about $6,000.

I'm also wondering of you should consider insurance for the item when youn post it as well.

If it were me, I'd be loading it up with everything available - signature, insurance - the works.

Even if Australia Post do get it right, I'm thinking thei seller will fight pretty hard to hang onto his 6K - maybe even pull some dirty tactics, like claiming you exchanged the product or sent the wrong thing back etc.

Photograph everything! Document everything. Create a paper trail that will send a bunch of beurocrats blind for a month.

Yea, an OTT reaction, but 6K is a LOT of money.