Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: What to do if an ebay transaction goes wrong?

This is topic What to do if an ebay transaction goes wrong? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 09-16-2004, 09:43 PM:

More specifically, I bought a used double CD which was described as LIKE NEW. While that leaves some room, the one I got was definitely nowhere near like new. The case is cracked in several places, the booklet is very worn and most importantly, the CDs were dirty and scratched and don't play properly even after careful cleaning.
It actually said "play without problems" in the description.
Anyway, I contacted the seller and he pretended to be very "surprised" but doesn not seem to want to refund the money. Then I left negative feedback, and the last I heard of him was that he is "disappointed" now.

It's only a $12 item, so it's not so big a deal. OTOH, I think it's a matter of principle.
But I could find no place on ebay to report dishonest behavior. I doubt they even have people and/or time to look into small stuff like that.
Still, is there anything I can do?

Posted by Dean Kollet (Member # 1789) on 09-16-2004, 10:06 PM:

eBay Buyer Protection Program

hope this helps...

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 09-16-2004, 10:06 PM:

Michael:

Near the bottom of the "My eBay" page after you log in is a section of Related Links including "Dispute Resolution" and "Report a Problem", check them out to report the seller. Also if you click on "more..." you'll get a detailed list of links to get your money back or report the seller for fraud.

IIRC, the "Safe Harbor" icon also provides links for dispute resolution.

Hope this helps! [beer]

Edit: Dean! Great link, thanks! You beat me to it! [Big Grin]

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 09-16-2004, 10:10 PM:

Hi, Michael!

[Edit: Dean and Tony beat me to it as I was writing this. I'm just too slow! [Smile]

]

You may want to try "Square Trade", which works with eBay to (hopefully) resolve issues like yours. And with recent changes to eBay rules, they can even work to remove negative feedback if a satisfactory resolution is achieved, especially if the seller irresponsibly screws you over with a retaliatory neg [Mad]

.

I personally have had no experience with SquareTrade...your mileage may vary. [Smile]

Good luck! [thumbsup]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 09-16-2004, 10:16 PM:

Thanks everyone, I had not seen the Dispute Resolution button in My Ebay. Somehow I couldn't get to that result by going through the FAQ.
Maybe it's a little overkill for a $12 item, but I think I will try that anyway.

Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 09-17-2004, 04:34 AM:

Hey Michael,

I got [sex]

out of $12 and a really cool Peter Max
Lithograph from 1968 slightly Rare!

[fu]

Safe Harbor!
[fu]

Mutual negative removal!
[fu]

Square Trade!

Results:
[thumbsdown]

My Total Ebay purchases 223 items!

My highest losses for fraud and Damaged items,
too salvageable to redeem insurance(most cases under insured by seller): $836.00

Amount spent to date: close to $30,000

True appraised value so far, $649,000

Opinion:
You win some, you loose some, Caviat Emptor!!!

I'd have better luck sending you a
Live Albino Terantula as a Halloween gift!!! [Devil]

Coming to Dallas in October?

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 09-17-2004, 09:49 AM:

If you have web space you can post a more expansive description of your issues with the transaction and place the link in your feedback line. That also allows you to change it after the fact. I did that once with some minor quibbles about the purchase of a book.

http://ebay1.filmteknik.com/

The link takes you to a page with a few simple paragraphs of text about a particular transaction.

Posted by Erica Peterson (Member # 1784) on 09-17-2004, 02:36 PM:

If you paid with PayPal, you can use their buyer protection program. It's good for up to $500, but can only be used twice per year so you may not want to use it for a $12 item if you are a frequent eBayer. Take photographs of the item, and include links to them in your PayPal claim. I had a $500 claim resolved in my favor when a purchase never arrived - I showed PayPal the Fedex tracking information online which indicated that the package had been left at the door but not signed for (and then was apparently stolen). The seller had to sign a blank on the Fedex form waiving the requirement for a signature on delivery, so PayPal found that they were at fault and issued me a refund.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 09-18-2004, 04:22 AM:

In the meantime, the seller refunded the money through PayPal -only the money I paid for the item and shipping, but nor for shipping it back. Should I insist on the return shipping costs? Maybe not, at least he finally had an insight.
The strange thing is that now it says under My Ebay that I still haven't paid for the item. Is this a trap?

Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 09-18-2004, 05:36 AM:

No it's not a trap Michael,
My ebay is in still in beta testing and still has some bugs!

Just clear the page by deleting the item from the list, clear the cookies and everything should be o.k.

My losses occured before paypal got their stuff together!