Ebay Problem

[jims-terrano]

Had a bit of a problem on eBay and thought that I would post on here just in case this happens to someone else.

For a few weeks I've been watching a pair of Wings from a Mistral, started off at £150 for the pair, then advertised again for £90 and then revised down to £75 for the pair all on Buy It Now prices.
Took the plunge this morning after sending messages to the seller who said there was no rust and that I could collect this weekend. After paying couldn't find a phone number for him so sent him mine. He replied back to me with his number and then I also noticed he refunded my Paypal payment.
He has not put this in writing via a message only on the phone that he has had people collect in the past and then cancel the paypal payment and so wants cash on collection. His advert clearly states collection in person and payment method of paypal.
Decided not to risk going all that way in case there is some kind of scam going on. I'm about to cancel the order with him.

What's everyone's thoughts on this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121695795294?_trksid=p2060353.m2748.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[don simon]

Decided not to risk going all that way in case there is some kind of scam going on. I'm about to cancel the order with him.

What's the scam?
It sounds fair enough to me. People claim for non-delivery after paying with Paypal as there is no proof of delivery.
If you go to visit, you can check the product, pay cash and be on your way.
The seller will be happy as he doesn't pay Ebay fees.

The only risk is that you travel a distance to discover that he's already sold them to someone else.

I was invited to a colourful area of Widnes to do an Ebay sale as cash in hand on £2k worth of camera gear. I declined politely.

 

[jims-terrano]

I agree with the point you are making about a seller wanting to protect themselves in just the same way as me. However the big problem that I have is that the seller has changed terms after the sale has completed and would not put that in writing only verbally by phone. The advert clearly stated collection in person only and payment method of paypal. If he had mentioned this in his previous messages before I had paid I could accept that. He may very well be honest and simply looking after number one but the point is the terms of the sale were changed after the sale was completed and payment sent via paypal.

 

[don simon]

I agree with the point you are making about a seller wanting to protect themselves in just the same way as me. However the big problem that I have is that the seller has changed terms after the sale has completed and would not put that in writing only verbally by phone. The advert clearly stated collection in person only and payment method of paypal. If he had mentioned this in his previous messages before I had paid I could accept that. He may very well be honest and simply looking after number one but the point is the terms of the sale were changed after the sale was completed and payment sent via paypal.

Fair enough if he's changed things afterwards but he's the only one who can lose from this as far as I can see. He can't leave you negative feedback because you have all the messages showing Ebay that you're happy to buy.
The sale now shows as sold, so he's got the fees to pay for.

Again he might not want communication as you would then have something to give to Ebay.

In his defence he's got 500+ sales and 100% positive. granted 400+ are purchases that he's made.
If the price is fair, there's no need to suspect that they've been nicked.

You'll go, you'll pay and you'll walk away with a couple of wings.
If you turn up and he hasn't got them, you've had a nice trip out ( I appreciate you probably don't want this).

On the face of it I wouldn't be too worried, apart from the wasted time travelling to see him.

I don't see a scam here, unless you simply send the cash to him.

 

[jims-terrano]

Well like I said the main point is changing terms after the sale. I do look at feedback so yeah saw his record. I still smell a rat for this to be changed after payment has been made and as my wife says not worth risking a 250 mile round trip now this has happened.

 

[don simon]

250 mile round trip puts it in the negative territory unless I had some sort of guarantee/deposit paid to secure.
I'd put it to him in that way, that you're happy to go the official Paypal/Ebay route with all communications recorded and that you're not happy to travel that distance without assurances.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

If you have a Paypal account registered to your Ebay, it puts the "Paypal preferred" on automatically, and I must admit that in the few sales I have made, I could not find any way to put "Cash on collection only" on a listing.

To be honest, as a seller I would be weary of a person paying via PayPal, and then coming to collect, as it does not make sense. After all, PayPal always finds on the buyers side, and if you pick up he does not even have a way of proving it was you that took it, so by default, if you claimed it was not you, and wanted a re-fund, he would be up the creek....

The only thing is the way he went about it.

 

[don simon]

After all, PayPal always finds on the buyers side

Not always. As a seller I won a Paypal case, I had the money frozen during the case which was a bit of a pain. I won that case by demonstrating that the buyer was a numpty who had ignored instructions. The whole thing was a royal pain, but sellers can win.

 

[jims-terrano]

So the main point I was making is that I adhered to the sellers instructions as per below.

I bought the item knowing that I had to travel to collect in person.
His advert said payment method was paypal or debit/credit card. Paid in full immediately.

I had asked him two questions, was there any rust and also could I collect this weekend. He answered both questions. Surely that alone gave him two chances to say he wanted cash on collection.

I understand people have to look after number one and be savvy, just like I do.

So given the above how can anyone even agree with his change of terms?

I adhered to his terms of sale without question so how on earth could I be in the wrong?

 

[Terrano Steve]

I currently have a few bits on e.bay to sell, my thought is the seller has reduced the price a few times to try to shift them as soon as you hit buy it now he is liable for e.bay seller commission if you pay by pay pal they also take commission if seller offers you postage or courier of x amount e.bay takes 10% of that as well.
I believe every one is entitled to make a living but this is legalised robbery when you write a listing you can not ask for cash or cheque etc as preferred
payment.

I recently purchased the contents of a closing down local motor factors with the idea of selling it on e.bay but it was a bit of a shock to find out how much I was left with after fees.
For this reason I don't think you see the bargains on e.bay any more as they are not really worth the seller listing them.

 

[Terrano Steve]

What I was trying to say is e.bay set his terms whether he liked them or not.

 

[jims-terrano]

From what you have said it has compounded my thoughts and exactly why I have never sold on ebay. Thing is though that if someone chooses to sell through ebay you choose to abide by their terms and conditions.

I actually looked through ebays T&Cs last night and sure enough it does say once a buyer has paid the seller cannot change the terms of the sale.

 

[panelbeater]

i was watching the wings as well and as i just put a new set on my blue terrano i already have a set of plastic ones,new,to fit on my other t2,but as these are at woodhall spa a good distance from me,i decided to offer an amount but got a short sharp reply,anyway i am up his way in a couple of weeks so thought sod it i will go for them but suddenly sold.
the last good pair i paid under 50 1 needed a bit of welding which i did 1 was solid both no trims on so can see rust,both now fitted.
hope you get it sorted.

 

[AlexD333]

I must admit I don't understand the issue?

You paid him? Now he wants a different method? :nenau

 

[rustic]

When I sell or buy on ebay, where collection is involved, I always accept/pay cash on collection.

When selling, I include the payment method in the description.

Postage is very expensive, and so are the PayPal fees, you have no choice with ebay fees, so for ebay, I prefer to collect large items locally.

The advantage of cash on collection is... you can always walk away if not as described.

We have collected ebay items from all over the country over the years, but we take that as an opportunity to visit an area we have never been before, a sort of weekend away.
If you treat these collections as a door to door collection, then it can't be cost effective.

 

[jims-terrano]

All the seller had to do was advertise exactly as you said Rustic or even tell me in the communications we had.

All people have to do is be honest up front and have clear communication.

Instead someone that refunds payment via paypal without saying anything other than an email with only a mobile phone number on it. You have to smell a rat when that happens.
Anyway Ive got all my communications through ebay messages other than the phone call, quoted the phone call in a message to him afterwards. I've not lost any money. Will sit it out until the sale is cancelled either by him or eBay.

 

[emjaybee]

All the seller had to do was advertise exactly as you said Rustic or even tell me in the communications we had.

All people have to do is be honest up front and have clear communication.

Instead someone that refunds payment via paypal without saying anything other than an email with only a mobile phone number on it. You have to smell a rat when that happens.
Anyway Ive got all my communications through ebay messages other than the phone call, quoted the phone call in a message to him afterwards. I've not lost any money. Will sit it out until the sale is cancelled either by him or eBay.

I've been keeping my trap shut on this one, but I'm with you. I use Ebay a reasonable amount as does my wife. I buy tool spares/tools/tractor spares etc and I also sell tools and equipment that are no longer required.

I have learnt that a 100% feedback review means jacks41t. All that means is that no-one has left a bad feedback.

If this bloke refunds your money there will be no feedback required. So he can piss you about until the moon farts, and it will not reflect on him at all. If you smell a rat in any way shape or form then back out and stay out.

I suspect that he has reduced the price until he gets a bite, but he is not happy with the price. So he refunds your money and says "cash on collection". You turn up and suddenly he wants the original £150 a pair.

I had a lovely game with a bloke a few months back. He was selling a ride on lawnmower (market value about £600), it went for £750 to seller "123abc". Two weeks later re-listed. I asked why and he said seller mucked him about and it was "none of your business". It sold again to seller "123abc" for £750!!!

He was bidding himself up, but as the market value was £600, no-one else was bidding above that. He had 100% feedback. I sent him a nice message pointing this out and the mower hasn't been seen on Ebay since.

My point is:

"if it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, a walks like a rat, then it probably is a rat!"

Leave it alone. No-one needs agro, lifes too short.

:thumb2

 

[panelbeater]

being as i was watching the wings i had a mail saying sorry i missed the item,on the site the item came up as ended.will see if they come up for sale again.

 

[briggie]

from my own personal experience of buying a car on ebay with cash ...... at least you have some form of protection with paypal , and from a security point of view you aren't carrying cash to a strange place .

 

[emjaybee]

from my own personal experience of buying a car on ebay with cash ...... at least you have some form of protection with paypal , and from a security point of view you aren't carrying cash to a strange place .

You keep coming up with pearls of wisdom like that and they're likely to revoke your "trainee idiot" status!

Spot on bloke.

:thumbs