eBay promotional discount system.

[dka184]

Recently I had the misfortune to suffer a major disappointment in an auction purchase where the original seller's page also included the link to ebay's current promotional discount offer system. There was no option to 'purchase now' on the page and was exclusively an auction purchase method only that was on offer for purchase purposes. On the basis of this, and assuming that the discount would be made available  I proceeded to be the top bidder and based my bidding on that discount availability. When I went to the purchase page I found that the discount offer had disappeared so no code was available to reduce the auction sale purchase price. I then rang eBay to complain and was told by the rep I spoke to that this was a recurring problem that numerous other eBay account holders had suffered from also. I was told to hold back from paying and that the complaint would be forwarded to the relavant department for consideration and receive a decision and I was to wait. This was embarrasing to me as the seller was inconvenienced and of course I was aware of the 4 day deadline in which to pay. After 3 days of waiting as instructed, there was no contact from eBay so I rang again only to find that eBay was not prepared to address the matter and that I should tell the seller that I would not proceed with the purchase and to use the eBay link to tell the seller this. Unfortunately I had to contact the seller directly to explain as the eBay link for this process had expired! I am an 18 year client of eBay and I am seriously considering closing my account as I believe that eBay is duplicitous in regard to this matter and have simply wiped their hands of the matter. Not very happy!

[padi*0409]

With all promotional discounts offered by eBay, in the T&C's it states "this offer may be withdrawn at any time" (or words to that effect). So you should be treating offers as a bonus and not a given.

The CS crew have given you the excuse "We'll escalate this to the relevant department", that is simply an excuse to get you off the chat line - it's never going to happen due to the conditions I stated above where eBay, at it's discretion, can cancel the offer at any time.

[padi*0409]

Just to add to my previous reply.  

The seller may well open an "unpaid item dispute" against you if you don't pay. This will mean a strike against your account - so long as you don't get another within 12 months you'll be fine. BUT if you do get another one, you'll find yourself unable to buy from any seller that has their buyer blocks in place.