A few weeks back I ordered an item off of EBay and paid for it via PayPal. I did not receive the item but yesterday I received the following email:
This made me VERY suspicious, since last week I was told that I would get a shipment by September or I could get my money back and I said as much:
Today I received this email:
I confess that this has made me MORE suspicious. Perhaps I am too much the cynic, but the pull at the heart strings with the “single mom with 4 kids” makes me feel like I’m a chump. So dopers, am I being too harsh or should I take action?
Call me a cynic also, but it sounds like someone is just buying time so that they can abscond with as much money as possible. The person who wrote the emails definitely seems to be trying to engender as much sympathy as possible. She, a single mom with four kids, was just doing a favor for a “friend” who is at a funeral, and she tries to put you on the offensive with claims that you are challenging her honesty. Why the “friend” could not open his or her own paypal account is beyond me. Even if it is all true, it is certainly is no way to run a business so I think you are definitely justified in making a complaint.
Wait- they sold an item that they hadn’t even ORDRED yet? Is that, in and of itself, allowed? Bizzaro. I’d complain. That’s like me selling a CD on E-bay that I don’t own, then ordering it or buying it after the payment is received. Not very smart business, especially if an emergency comes up or the item is no longer available.
Yeah…it’s all very strange, and I don’t blame you for being suspicious.
But…didn’t the e-mail say that your goods would arrive “by September”? I know that it’s getting close…but it still seems as though the time you both agreed on hasn’t arrived yet. Maybe you’re jumping the gun a bit?
Regarding the “shipping before ordering” thing, a lot of eBayers (especially, I would assume, the “Power Sellers”) buy things from wholesalers. A lot of wholesalers drop ship, meaning they send the products directly to you, with the actual seller never setting eyes on the product.
Regarding the rest of it, well, you asked for your money back. Wait until you get the excuses as to why the money can’t be refunded before you start raising hell.
Look on it as as a 23.00 education. You could have been scammed much worse. Out of curiosity what kind of decent comforter can you buy for 23.00? I thought good ones were lots more expensive than that.
A week ago, when I enquired, I was told by september. THEN I got the email outlined above. That is why it seemed suspicious to me. The original sale took place 3 weeks ago and it was my understanding that shipment would take place right away. After waiting patiently, I enquired and was told “in september.” This was not agreed upon, it was a statement. I was also told that if I wanted my money back, it would be returned to me. When I received the suspicous email, I requested my money back. This was offered to me AND is my right as a consumer. And now I’m told that the funds are not available…
Truthfully, the money will not change the quality of my life. I spent more on beer tonight. However, I did NOT buy a comforter. I purchased the FlatHose and I expect it to be delivered.
As far as an education goes, I don’t see it. Are you saying that no one should buy from EBay? Are you suggesting that all of the people who sell on EBay are ALL scam artists? Believe me, if I had given my bank account number to a South African who needed a way to move money then THAT would have been an education. However, when purchasing goods from a valid and respected business model, one can reasonably expect that the goods will be delivered. If this were not the case, EBay could not and would not thrive. If you are not saying that, then what lesson DO you think I should take from this?
err on the side of caution whenever dealing with EBay. I bought a book from a powerseller that had incredible 5 star ratings. I, as you, was strung along for as long as he could. What finally did it for me is I looked at his recent feedback (he was screwing everybody) and I saw that he was still selling HUNDREDS of items. The quicker you raise a stink, the sooner he/she gets banned. the less headaches for everyone.
SquareTrade is the recommended resolution provider on EBay, but my scam artist used that to buy time and get more money. His account was frozen due to a sudden concurrent string of complaints, but he did abscond with a nice chunk of money.
If his account is frozen, he can’t leave nasty feedback, and EBay is more understanding about removing offending feedbacks (yet, still look forward to a headache)
A good neighbor policy would be to report the scum.
I’d be complaining. I had a somewhat similar experience. You re-read the ebay ad & see what they say about shipment. (Better yet, before bidding ask the seller about shipment terms.) I complained to PayPal once and received a refund. Khadaji, time is money, and you already wasted time with that back-and-forth email. I think you should take action.
With ebay, its better for me if you give me the item number, so I can check on it.
If you want you money back:
Paypal lets you do charge backs within a certain time limit I believe. Better read up at paypal…
or
talk to your bank or credit card comp about refusing the payment, if it went through the card.
Otherwise, it seems you are below their insurance limit of a $25 deductible?
