Another Ebay lesson learned the hard way

[Robert_in_NY]

I bought a gravity wagon on Ebay from Ohiolandcompany in May. At the time I was looking to buy a couple more items to make my load full for the 5+ hour drive to Columbus, Ohio. I talked to them and asked if they would hold it for me till I could fill out my trailer with other items they may be selling. I was told they would hold the wagon. I talked to them in August and they were about to go on a vacation so they told me that I could pick the wagon up before they left otherwise I would have to wait till they came back a few weeks later. I choose later. Well now they refuse to answer my e-mails or phone calls and will not return my messages. Since it is too far to drive on a wild goose chase and I didn't know their actual farm address I enlisted some help from my friends in the Columbus area from Newagtalk.com They came thru in providing me more phone numbers as well as their farm address. I tried those numbers and still no answer or returns on my messages. I had a farmer who offered to help and lived near there take my invoice and see if the wagon was there and if it was to haul it to his farm so I could pick it up from his place. Well he called me today and told me the wagon isn't there, the people I bought it from told him someone picked the wagon up a couple months ago. It is over 60 days so Ebay can't do anything to help and I paid by check as the seller requested so Paypal is out of the question also for help.

Now the kicker is I knew this seller had feedback dealing with this from other buyers. But I bought my MF 880 plow from them a few years back and they were great to deal with so I chalked it up to buyers who are hard to please as my own experience was great till now. So I learned a lesson to take feedback more seriously on ebay regardless to how nice the people may seem. I feel fortunate this lesson only cost me $500 and a headache.

Moderators, I hope you do not disapprove of my naming the seller by their ebay handle.

 

[scott_vt]

I bought a gravity wagon on Ebay from Ohiolandcompany in May. Well he called me today and told me the wagon isn't there, the people I bought it from told him someone picked the wagon up a couple months ago. It is over 60 days so Ebay can't do anything to help and I paid by check as the seller requested so Paypal is out of the question also for help.

Good Mornin Robert,
Thats a tough one to swallow ! If I learned anything from your post it would be to go get your item quickly ! Sorry to hear you got burned on this deal, if anything it could have been a much more expensive item !

Good luck in your future dealings on E-Bay !

 

[thatguy]

I think I would pursue this through small claims court - if you can file it in your town.. It is just WRONG, and $500 is $500...

good luck

Brian

 

[bbirder]

In the future try to always pay with a credit card. That way you will be protected. I had a similar incident this past summer where I paid thru Paypal with my Visa card. Paypal would not help me, but Visa did and went back on Paypal.

 

[SnowRidge]

The Internet Crime Complaint Center

Fill out an online complaint. A relative of mine works there. He deals with EBay all the time. You may or may not get your money back, but you will be helping other potential victims.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks guys, I wish I had just went down there to get it immediately but I was hoping to buy more from the seller to make the trip worth more. Then when I finally was able to go I could no longer contact them. I did learn my lesson (I have been learning a lot of lessons the last 13 months and none of them have been easy).

I wanted to pay thru PayPal but the seller requested a personal check and I understood why. Paypal fees get a little expensive on items like these and I didn't like paying Paypal their fee when I sold things over $20 much less for things over $100 just so I could get more bidders. In the future though I will always use Paypal or similar service to pay for items online.

I doubt small claims court will do me much good. I will look at a couple options in hopes of getting some of my money back but right now it doesn't look too promising. Hopefully others won't repeat my mistake as I know I won't.

 

[Dozernut]

You could contact the Ohio Attorney Generals office of consumer complaints and file a complaint against the company. This may or may not help you but would bring them under scrutiny. Sorry you got burned on the deal but your posting may help others avoid the pitfall.

Ohio Attorney General - Consumer Complaints

 

[blueriver]

When I buy equipment from an ebay seller I look for the seller who wants cash in hand at the time of pick up. Also, if its not what they said I can walk away with my cash in hand. In your case I suppose payment was asked for because you where waiting to come pick it up. Sorry about your deal Robert ... I have watched them sell alot of items.

Now how about this ... I sold a piece of equipment on ebay over 4 months ago. The buyer called asked me to hold it for him. I agreed as long as he would send me a deposit, he sent the whole payment. I have tryed calling him his phone is disconnected, won't reply to the email. I moved it out of the barn last week sat it by the fence line and guess I will just wait and hope to hear from him!!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

When I buy equipment from an ebay seller I look for the seller who wants cash in hand at the time of pick up. Also, if its not what they said I can walk away with my cash in hand. In your case I suppose payment was asked for because you where waiting to come pick it up. Sorry about your deal Robert ... I have watched them sell alot of items.

Now how about this ... I sold a piece of equipment on ebay over 4 months ago. The buyer called asked me to hold it for him. I agreed as long as he would send me a deposit, he sent the whole payment. I have tryed calling him his phone is disconnected, won't reply to the email. I moved it out of the barn last week sat it by the fence line and guess I will just wait and hope to hear from him!!

I am still holding a mounted cultivator for an Allis Chalmers B I sold to someone on Ebay. He paid in full but then had some sort of problems and he told me he wouldn't be able to pick it up and to keep the money and resell it. I didn't pry but I did tell him I was in no hurry to move it so it will sit here in case he changes his mind. That was 18 months ago and it is still in the same place.