posted on November 7, 2003 05:54:28 PM new
Guess it's my turn to experience this one and I need to vent! I sold a movie projector to bidder. It was working fine when it left here. Buyer contacts me and says "light bulb is burned out and will cost him $50 to replace. What do I want to do about it?" I explain that if he'll return the projector, I'll refund his purchase price of $9.99. Take a look at his reponses:
"There is no use in sending the item back is there? It would cost me more to ship the item back to you then it costs for the item! But I guess that just works out great for you!! I am adding a Negative feedback on this item because it did not work like you said it did!"
He posts his negative and I respond in kind. Then I get the following:
In a message dated 11/4/2003 11:00:49 AM Pacific Standard Time, xxxxxx writes:
I want to know if you will pay the shipping on this item if I return the item to you? Since I payed for the shipping to recieve the item you should pay for the shipping to take the item back. If this is not acceptable let me know so I can report you to Ebay for fraud.
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My Reponse:
Hello XXXX,
First of all, it would have been nice of you to make this request prior to leaving your negative comment on my feedback.
I am not guilty of fraud inasmuch as the projector was working when it left here. If it was broken in transit, you could pursue a claim with the US Post Office since you bought insurance. How can I be sure it wasn't "broken" after you received it? Your first contact said the bulb was burned out ....it wasn't burned out when it left here.
Feel free to contact eBay with your complaints. I have saved your emails and will be happy to provide them to eBay.
Sincerely,
Sharon Johnson
Here's the next communication:
"I will not be sending it back to you because it is not worth the price for me to have to pay for shipping which cost more than the item. The negative feedback is just deserved! You offer to take the defective product back but only if I have to pay for shipping on a product that I paid for shipping once before. I will never do a transaction with you again and I will warn all those that do transactions with you of how you treated me and that you sell defective products."
I simply ignored this and went on about my life. Then I receive this from a new bidder:
"Hi, I thought I should let you know that I received an email from someone who said that I should be careful when dealing with you because your products are defective. With the bowl that I am bidding on, I see that you have been very clear about the chips on the bottom. Just thought you would want to know."
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I've thanked this new bidder and she's fine with my auctions. Think I'll even cut her a break on shipping when that auction ends.
I reported this idiot to eBay and received a canned response as follows:
"Thank you for providing us with the details about this situation with xxxxxx.
We are concerned about violations on the site and have thoroughly investigated your report. Please be assured that we have taken the appropriate action in accordance with out site policies. Our actions may include issuing a warning, temporary or indefinite suspension, or terminating the membership."
Sorry for the lengthy post but boy, I was steamed! Does anyone know if eBay really does anything to these types or do they just get to continue their harrassment?
I have had this happen more than once. In fact, a couple of times while bidding I got emails from other bidders telling me the items were no good. I immediately contacted the seller(s) and between us we reported the offenders. I would also email her to let her know that auction interference is against Ebay rules and you have reported her. I state in my TOS that auction interference is not tolerated by me and I do report it.
You've reported her so hopefully she will at least get the warning they send out.
posted on November 7, 2003 06:09:52 PM new
Sharon,
Get your nice bidder to send you the email she received from the jerk. It needs to have full headers attached. eBay always wants this to verify the transaction interference. It has happened to me a number of times.
You may even want to send out a form letter to recent buyers (or current bidders) asking if they've gotten the same email and if so to forward it to you.
I always make a point of copying the miscreant on the complaint to SafeHarbor.
Good luck with this. May good triumph over evil.
--
The beauty of the California political process is that "Recall Gray Davis" can now have a question mark on the end.
posted on November 7, 2003 07:15:40 PM new
On something like an old movie projector you just about have to include a clause that says the items is sold as-is. You can add that it works perfectly but still must be sold as-is. The bottom feeders will get you if you don't.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on November 7, 2003 08:14:33 PM new
Ace is right. What happened in this case was that it was working perfectly when you had it, but as soon as the gorrilas in the back room at the post office drop kicked it onto the truck, the fragile and deteriorated filament in the lamp fell apart. This is especially true if you ever sell electronic equipment with vacuum tubes that have been in use for quite awhile. I always put an "as is" disclamer in my ad for those items, and sometimes elaborate on the reason for the disclaimer as many people are not aware that filaments and other tube elements can become fragile after several hours use.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on November 7, 2003 09:52:54 PM new
Thank you all so much! The nice bidder who let me know about all this had already deleted the jerk's email so I don't have it to send on but I did let eBay know the jerk is contacting my bidders.
I like the idea of contact the others as well just in case he's written to them as well. Thanks!
And thanks too, for the "AS IS" disclaimer for this type of auction. I'll sure be doing that in the future.
I'm glad to hear the jerk will get a warning at least.
Thanks again to all of you! I'm beginning to feel a bit better.
Sharon
