# Damn E-Bay! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 4, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485 "2010-11-04T17:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/1 "2010-11-04T17:35:54Z")
I bought an item. I really wanted it, and needed it fairly quickly, so I did “Buy It Now”. I could probably have bought it cheaper by bidding, but the price was fair. I paid with PayPal, so the seller got his money right away. I wrote the seller indicating that I needed the item fairly quickly. He never wrote back. He didn’t ship the item for another week after getting paid. I finally received the item. It was a MIDI interface. I paid $150 for it, shipping included. This goober put the item in the box - the original box mind you with full color graphics all over it announcing what it is, and taped my E-Bay payment summary on it, where it clearly showed how much I had PAID FOR IT! OK, I bought from a goober. So I left feedback. I indicated that he had never responded to my e-mail, that the packaging was unsatisfactory and it took longer to ship than expected. And, horror of horrors, I left “Neutral” feedback. Fucking E-Bay asked me three fucking times if I was “Sure” I wanted to leave Neutral feedback! Fuck you E-bay! Yes, this guy was a mediocre seller, not communicative and packed for shit! “Neutral” was being kind! ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/2 "2010-11-04T17:40:59Z")
Are you serious? Slower than hoped shipping? Risk of mail theft? Being asked for confirmation on your eBay rating selection? :eek: This may be the worst thing that’s ever happened to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/3 "2010-11-04T17:45:10Z")
**G** , have I told you lately that you slay me? Seriously, **gaffe** , I’d be annoyed that the seller was a douche, but what did e-bay do wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/4 "2010-11-04T17:45:45Z")
But you got the item, in good shape, in reasonable time, for a fair price? Yeah, boy howdy, terrible. I shall write an epitaph for your ravaged soul. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/5 "2010-11-04T17:46:31Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Are you serious? Slower than hoped shipping? Risk of mail theft? Being asked for confirmation on your eBay rating selection? :eek: It was bullshit because E-Bay never asks for confirmation for positive feedback. Would you have been happy with having the invoice with price paid taped to the outside of the box? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/6 "2010-11-04T17:48:26Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Are you serious? Slower than hoped shipping? Risk of mail theft? Being asked for confirmation on your eBay rating selection? :eek: > > This may be the worst thing that’s ever happened to anyone. Y’know change the second line, and that makes a pretty cool prayer: _May this be the worst thing that’s ever happened to anyone_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/7 "2010-11-04T17:50:14Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > But you got the item, in good shape, in reasonable time, for a fair price? I got it a month later, in a beat to shit box, left on the front porch (luckily my niece was home to retrieve it) that was a huge fucking ad for the contents with the fucking price on the outside! For a fair price. > [@](#): > > Yeah, boy howdy, terrible. I shall write an epitaph for your ravaged soul. Thank you. Iambic pentameter, please. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/8 "2010-11-04T17:52:47Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It was bullshit because E-Bay never asks for confirmation for positive feedback. > > Would you have been happy with having the invoice with price paid taped to the outside of the box? No, I hear you. I once almost got a speeding ticket [sub]but didn’t[/sub] for going just a few miles an hour over the speed limit. I also once almost got robbed [sub]but didn’t[/sub] while using the ATM. And don’t even get me started on the time when I had to confirm that I _didn’t_ want fries at the In ‘N’ Out drive thru – they don’t ask you to repeat yourself when you _do_ want fries, now do they?? I still wake up bathed in cold sweat from that. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/9 "2010-11-04T17:54:30Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Would you have been happy with having the invoice with price paid taped to the outside of the box? Are you fucking kidding me? Yes, as long as I got my shit on time I wouldn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/10 "2010-11-04T18:03:18Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Are you fucking kidding me? > > Yes, as long as I got my shit on time I wouldn’t care. I’m sorry, but I’m with the OP on this one. Sticking a note on the _outside_ of the box stating the content and it’s worth is an open invitation to thieves. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/11 "2010-11-04T18:09:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m sorry, but I’m with the OP on this one. Sticking a note on the _outside_ of the box stating the content and it’s worth is an open invitation to thieves. Thank you. I’m grateful I paid for this with PayPal and not a credit card, as I’m sure this chucklehead would have put the credit card number on the outside of the box! ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/12 "2010-11-04T18:13:50Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > No, I hear you. I once almost got a speeding ticket [sub]but didn’t[/sub] for going just a few miles an hour over the speed limit. I also once almost got robbed [sub]but didn’t[/sub] while using the ATM. Love your face and everything, but that’s a little different. If someone does something that exposes you to greater risk, that person has erred, even if you got off fine. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/13 "2010-11-04T18:23:46Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Love your face and everything, but that’s a little different. If someone does something that exposes you to greater risk, that person has erred, even if you got off fine. Teasing aside, I don’t disagree that the eBay seller was an idiot. I just don’t think that them doing something that could have potentially had bad consequences but didn’t is a very interesting thing to start a thread about. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/14 "2010-11-04T18:28:50Z")
Seller was an idiot, eBay did nothing wrong. Why the fuck blame _them_? Yes, they asked you to confirm you really wanted to leave poor FB. So? I love how some sellers will threaten all sorts of bad shit if you don’t pay within milliseconds of auction end, but then take their own sweet time in shipping. You want payment within 24 hours? Fine, then ship within 24 hours. A week to ship is longer than usual, and no response to email is not Good. I think a Neutral was correct here. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/15 "2010-11-04T18:54:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Seller was an idiot, eBay did nothing wrong. Why the fuck blame _them_? Yes, they asked you to confirm you really wanted to leave poor FB. So? > > I love how some sellers will threaten all sorts of bad shit if you don’t pay within milliseconds of auction end, but then take their own sweet time in shipping. You want payment within 24 hours? Fine, then ship within 24 hours. > > A week to ship is longer than usual, and no response to email is not Good. I think a Neutral was correct here. Gotta agree with DD. Nothing wrong, BTW, with venting on the BBQ Pit. You may not get an outpouring of sympathy, nececssarily, but sometimes folks are just pissed off and annoyed and its not worthy of mockery. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/16 "2010-11-05T22:43:24Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It was bullshit because E-Bay never asks for confirmation for positive feedback. > > Would you have been happy with having the invoice with price paid taped to the outside of the box? I’ve bought plenty of stuff off of eBay where because the seller is from the US and I’m in Canada they have to declare what an item is and how much it’s worth on a form that stays on the outside of the box. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/17 "2010-11-05T23:21:13Z")
I thought this was going to be about how hard it is to narrow down searches on Ebay. I mean, I typed in “cigarette lighter” and I got over 15,000 matches. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/18 "2010-11-05T23:27:58Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I just don’t think that them doing something that could have potentially had bad consequences but didn’t is a very interesting thing to start a thread about. You’ve made your point, such as it was. It wasn’t relevant to the OP, but–Hey!–it’s a point. I’m fairly certain that I would have rated such a seller lower than neutral, and I also would have been upset at EBay’s institutional bias toward protecting both the seller and themselves by resisting the buyer’s attempt to give an honest rating. EBay is going to be the next Blockbuster. They made themselves huge by jumping into a niche and filling a need, but as time goes by, their insistence on demanding that customers fit their needs rather than the other way around and their horrific lack of service for the people who actually pay the bills–the buyers–means that somebody better will come along and replace them. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/19 "2010-11-06T00:04:41Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You’ve made your point, such as it was. It wasn’t relevant to the OP, but–Hey!–it’s a point. It was totally relevant to the OP. The OP started a crappy Pit thread, so I made fun of them for it. What Pit are you posting in? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485/20 "2010-11-06T00:11:24Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > It was totally relevant to the OP. The OP started a crappy Pit thread, so I made fun of them for it. What Pit are you posting in? The OP was not ranting about the shipper. Were you halfway literate, you might have noticed that the description of the shipper’s actions were an explanation for the complaint against EBay. A perfectly valid and justified complaint. Not enough cuss words in it for you? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-e-bay/559485.md?page=2)