Got ripped off

TBrown · Jun 9, 2005

Well, after 23 good experiences on ebay, it looks like my hot streak has finally come to an end. I recently bid on and won an auction for a folding keyboard for my old Palm PDA. I paid with Paypal the same day, but so far I haven't recieved the item. I've also sent the seller several emails but haven't recieved any response whatsoever. Although the seller didn't have much feedback it was all positive, but now I'm beginning to think I've been ripped off. He's taken my money and given me nothing in return. Now, it wasn't alot of money, under 10 bucks. After looking at Ebay's policies, it looks like there's little I can do about it. They have a purchase protection program, but it cost 25 bucks to process a claim. Visa also has a zero liability program, but it costs 10 bucks to file a dispute. So I guess I can do little more than leave negative feedback.

Is this a common scam, selling low dollar items and delivering nothing because it costs more to file a claim than it's worth?

beenthere · Jun 9, 2005

Start the negative feedback. That will slow him down doing it to someone else, and may have an early effect on getting him off dead center. Just a thought.

Junkman · Jun 9, 2005

You don't say how long it has been, so if it hasn't been at least 4 weeks, I say cool your jets. You never know what is going on in the other persons life. He might be sick, had a tragic accident in the family or some other event that has caused the delay and answering e mail isn't tops on his priorities. You can request his personal information from e bay and that will include a telephone number also. Give him a call and discuss this first. Giving someone negative feedback doesn't gain you anything and he can also return the favor and give you negative feedback. You only use that as a last ditch effort when all else is lost. You have 3 months to post feedback, and if he isn't selling at present, that should also give you some idea of there being a problem. For under $10, I wouldn't go off the deep end. I have purchased and sold on e bay for many years and have faith that in the end, it will work out for you. I have yet to be burned and I have never burned anyone that I sold to. My one negative came from a person that tried to pay with a company credit card and it was rejected. After 2 weeks, when I told him that it was being offered to the next highest bidder since he had no way of making the $800+ bid, he left me negative feedback for revenge. I returned the favor the next day. I deal with reasonable people reasonably, and unreasonable people not at all..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

EddieWalker · Jun 10, 2005

So far I've bought over 100 items on ebay. My biggest problem is with slow shippers. One guy was just disorganized, but he did eventually come through. The other went on vacation for a week and responded when she got back. It happens.

If the seller has all positive feedbacks and has been around a little while, I'd wait a bit before going negative.

gsxr1100 · Jun 10, 2005

Join the club. The sellers out there are getting more and more and the scammers are getting more and more. Negative feedback does ZERO! Most times the auctions pix do not even match the item being sold. Plus the safe harbor and Paypal guaranteeing you for XXXX dollars is a TOTAL JOKE! Good luck trying to get Paypal to get your money…been there done that.

Only been out there since 11-1997 and I try to stay away from it.

roho · Jun 11, 2005

Well welcome to the real World! Hi TBrown, basiclly same thing happened to me on half.com on a textbook! It's been since may 6th sale & have tried seller a few times and followed process but haven't heard from half.com! Turned into bad experience! Don't feel like excusses about seller is necessary, short of ones own death, nothing should stop a email explaining problem! Hate to say it, But We BEEN HAD!!

TBrown · Jun 13, 2005

Well, I don't know if I violated any of ebay's rules or not, but I looked up all the sellers other auctions that closed after mine and sent the buyers messages through ebay's contact system. I didn't badmouth the seller, but I did inform them of my situation and ask them if they'd been able to contact the seller. Lo and behold, I got an email from the seller shortly afterward (Sunday 6/12) and he simply said he'd be shipping it Monday. So I don't have it yet, but things may be looking up.

roho · Jun 13, 2005

Good luck, my seller was new seller and had only bought a few times and then dropped out! eBay has a live chat HELP & YOU can at least type message to them if YOU run into problem but half.com doesn't have that, & I thought I was pretected because it was throu eBay but apparently NOT!!!

frank_f15 · Jun 13, 2005

i have bought a few things on Ebay and only got stiffed once, i SELL a lot on EBay and i pride myself on being honest with pictures and descriptions of items, and my shipping is extra fast. This is not a business for me it is a hobby and a way for me to divest myself of things i will never use again. MOST Ebay SELLERS ARE HONEST.

DHennet · Jun 17, 2005

If you do end up going the negative feedback route, I would send one last note to the seller. Advising them that with out the product or communication, you will post negative feedback.
Now, I'm normally not real patient, but negative feedback needs to be used carefully. It's all to easy for someone to post negative feedback on you. Unfortunately it's like your credit rating. A lender doesn't care what excuse you have, a negative mark is a negative mark.