drjackk
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posted on March 8, 2004 02:58:22 AM new
I have just figured out a new scam. It has now been pulled on me twice, and I finally am getting the message.
Twice I have gotten a really good price on some lots of model kits. I send my money order right away to the address provided. I hear nothing back for two or three weeks. I email the seller, only to find out that the check never arrived, and the item was sold to the second bidder. The last one that that happened, I happen to know the second bidder. I emailed him and he said he never heard from the seller.
Then I see the collection or parts of it offered later by the seller. It seems the seller did not get the price they wanted, so they conviently lose my check. It is never cashed and I get my moneys worth, but lose the good price and the whole intent of bidding.
Have others of you faced the same thing?
Don
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neroter12
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posted on March 8, 2004 03:24:11 AM new
It sounds like something a kid would do if they werent happy with the winning bid.
If you use a personal check, you easily have your proof if money recieved and cashed. If you send a money order, you might want to send it registered or mail it in a bubble envelope for a little more $$ and put a delivery confirmation on it for .55 cents.
But it still comes down to: if you cant force a buyer to actually pay and buy, neither can you force a seller to sell.
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classicrock000
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posted on March 8, 2004 05:01:39 AM new
why dont you email the seller and tell him you contacted the 2nd highest bidder and he said that he never heard from you.Tell him you will turn him into Ebay-no that wont dont any good,but it might put a scare into him so he wont do it again
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alldings
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posted on March 8, 2004 06:38:58 AM new
Forget the warning email to seller! Just turn his / her sorry butt into eBay with as much evidence as you can gather.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on March 8, 2004 06:43:46 AM new
From the eBay Investigations page:
"eBay cannot force a seller to honor their transactions. You should leave appropriate feedback for the reluctant seller to warn other buyers of his or her past history. Depending on your local jurisdiction, you may have independent legal recourse against the seller."
It's pretty clear that eBay will not get involved in situations like yours. Sorry.
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auctionACE
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posted on March 8, 2004 10:18:31 AM new
Pay by PayPal whenever possible. The check or money order payment method let the seller pull this stunt.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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Libra63
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posted on March 8, 2004 01:38:37 PM new
You know you can trace your money order, but next time if you really want the item use Bid Pay which I think now is western union. It might cost more but would make your seller a little more honest. This is one reason I use Personal Checks. I have had only 1 bounce in 4 years and with a feed back of 925 that's a pretty good ratio..
In his TOS what forms of payment does he accept? Also what does his feed back look like now that you have given him a negative.
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reamond
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posted on March 8, 2004 02:41:51 PM new
I don't think the issue is whether the check/MO was cashed. The issue is did the the seller lie about receiving the payment and how can you force the seller to complete the transaction.
Another trick for sellers, even if you use Paypal, is to refund the payment and claim that the item was lost or destroyed.
So what can the buyer factually say in the feedback ? "Seller is a liar!! "? Don't think so.
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sanmar
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posted on March 8, 2004 03:17:03 PM new
If you can proove that the seller actually received the payment & did not ship the purchase, it is mail fraud & a Federal Offense. The USPS looks very dimly at this & if you file a complaint, the seller will get an unwelcome knock on his door.
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reamond
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posted on March 8, 2004 04:49:16 PM new
I think it's pretty clear that cashing the instrument is not the issue either- the seller said he never received payment.
How do you prove otherwise ?
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