More Ebay Fun and Frustration

[Catsmasher]

I recently ordered a Dreamcast game off of ebay. It was listed as 'good used' condition and seller indicated free shipping in a USPS flat rate box.

Well when the game showed up, it was wrapped in an old paper sack and duct tape, the case was badly broken, and the manual and inserts were badly water damaged. The wrapping paper was fine and there were no plastic bits in the wrapper, so it had to have been in that condition when it was shipped. I knew then that I should not have violated one of my cardinal ebay rules = Never buy an item that uses a stock photo instead of an actual photo. The seller did have a 100% feedback rating, but I did not realize that it was mainly as a buyer - they had sold very few items.

 

Well I contacted the seller and insisted on a full refund, including the return shipping. They replied by denying that the game was in that condition when it was shipped, and indicated that it was not their policy to pay for return shipping. Then they even threatened to report ME to ebay for insisting on getting reimbursed for return shipping. I have returned several items from ebay (and amazon) and never had an issue with return shipping as long as I contacted the seller first. Why should I have to pay ANYTHING because someone misrepresented the condition of an item.

 

After a few emails, it was apparent that this seller was OK with denying what they had done and questioning my honesty - so I decided to eat the cost of the game and leave negative feedback I also suggested the seller learn a little bit about customer service.

 

It seems like this is happening more and more often on ebay these days. Am I the only one who has noticed this?

[boxpressed]

I bet you can still recover your money by opening a case under the eBay Buyer Protection policy.

[Ransom]

Yea, I'd open a case.

 

As far as frequency of such problems, I haven't noticed any more this year than last. Maybe I've just been lucky, but it's been the usual for me: I examine the pictures very, very carefully and then decide if it's worth asking any questions about the item. If so, I ask 'em (and ask for photos if necessary). If it's not stated, I ask if the item will be shipped in a sturdy box or in an envelope. And so on. I then bid only when satisfied. I've still missed things and gotten crappier stuff than I thought I was getting, but over all it hasn't been any worse than any other year.

 

I've been sorely tempted to bid on some things from questionable sellers, though, so I understand your situation. I hope you're able to get it resolved.

 

I've only negged a guy once (after going through something similar to what you did, with seller misrepresentation then getting abuse from the seller). I eventually had to open a case with eBay. The seller had already given me positive feedback as soon as he shipped the item, but after I negged him and opened the case he changed the text to read something like, "Run away! This guy's a scammer!" I got my money back, though, and that seller's account is closed. He's probably back using some other account, but I still feel some satisfaction from making him go through the trouble. All he had to do was not be an ass and it would have been fine.

[128Kgames]

I learned a long time ago never to buy anything without seeing an actual picture(s) of the item, especially a collectible.

[Catsmasher]

My rules are:

Dont bid if it is a stock photo.

Dont bid if the seller feedback is not 100%

Dont bid if the seller doesnt have a lot of feedback - like over 500 or so.

 

I got excited and violated my own rules.

 

I have been using ebay since 1998. I used to be impressed how well it worked and how seldom I had issues. Now I am dissapointed how often I have problems.

 

Times change....

[Atari_Bill]

My rules are:

Dont bid if it is a stock photo.

Dont bid if the seller feedback is not 100%

Dont bid if the seller doesnt have a lot of feedback - like over 500 or so.

 

I got excited and violated my own rules.

 

I have been using ebay since 1998. I used to be impressed how well it worked and how seldom I had issues. Now I am dissapointed how often I have problems.

 

Times change....

 

I typically agree with not buying if they are using a stock photo. Last year however I found what seemed like a pretty decent deal on a 'Death Trap' cart for the 2600. It had a stock photo but the seller said teh label was in good condition. I ended up with it at around $40. When I got it, I was in for a surprise. The cart was New In Box. Looks like the box was just pulled out of the case! That's my one exception for the rule, but 99% of the time, yeah I'll avoid them.

[AtariLeaf]

I can understand, to a certain extent, why the big sellers may use stock photos (although I always avoid bidding/buying from them as well), there's no excuse for the mom and pop or average Joe selling stuff on ebay with stock photos when cameras are so plentiful. I see that as laziness and a lazy seller is not someone I want to deal with - when they're lazy in their listing its very possible that they'll be lazy in their packing and shipping methods.

[SoulBlazer]

My rules are:

Dont bid if it is a stock photo.

Dont bid if the seller feedback is not 100%

Dont bid if the seller doesnt have a lot of feedback - like over 500 or so.

 

I got excited and violated my own rules.

 

I have been using ebay since 1998. I used to be impressed how well it worked and how seldom I had issues. Now I am dissapointed how often I have problems.

 

Times change....

 

Holy crap, those are tight!

 

I totally understand #1, but you take out 99 percent of the EBay people with #2 and #3. Hell, I've been on EBay since 1999, and I don't even have 100 percent feedback (due to a lying SOB negger several years ago) and nowhere NEAR 500 feedback!

[sqoon]

I buy loose cart games often only with stock photos and have not been burned once. Even a Sega CD game or two.

 

Generally though, on higher priced stuff like consoles and complete systems something is up if the seller cannot provide some photos. I don't think I would ever buy a system without seeing some pics first.

 

I most often ask a lot of questions up front, especially regarding packaging on breakable items.

 

Could you file a PayPal complaint and get your money back? I think they tend to favor the buyer most times these days in dispute situations.

[Mayhem]

Yeah, I allow a little leeway on feedback, because you can't account for dipshit buyers that you might deal with...

[Lendorien]

Hm. I don't buy stock photo auctions either. I also avoid auctions with almost no written descriptions. Feedback is not a big a deal for me if there are a couple dings. Bad buyers do happen. I prefer people with more than 50 feedback and I do look through the list to read negative feedback to see what they say.

 

When I sell on E-bay, my descriptions are extremely detailed. I do that so people can't complain, and it also makes me look more up and up.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I can understand the "no stock photo" rule, but not the over 500 feedback one. Who is going to have over 500 feedback? That's right, the bigger dealer who will know the system and know how to get the most money he can out of his auction. I can guarantee you that the mom and pop who decide to throw some of their old stuff up on this "eBay thing" will never get 500 feedback, but may provide the better deal. After all, when going through a flea market, who do you usually look for, the professional guy with the big set up who is there every weekend, or the mom and pop hoping to score a few bucks from the stuff in their garage or basement?

Edited April 16, 2012 by Jimmy Yakapucci

[godslabrat]

Stock photos... kind of depends. If I'm buying something NISB, the photo is kind of irrelevant, since I know even if the box is mangled, the contents are good. I'm rarely concerned about the condition of the box itself.

 

What I do avoid are the "mega sellers", who have a long colorful mini-webpage in their description, listing all the wonderful things about themselves, their ebay business, their company history, how it burns when they pee, etc, but only a quick blurb about the product itself. That's not only unhelpful, it's just plain annoying.

[+HatNJ]

 

 

What I do avoid are the "mega sellers", who have a long colorful mini-webpage in their description, listing all the wonderful things about themselves, their ebay business, their company history, how it burns when they pee, etc, but only a quick blurb about the product itself. That's not only unhelpful, it's just plain annoying.

 

Here! Here!

I second that If they want to Link to their web page fine but I want the description of the item I may Buy or Bid on not the life history of them selves

I also do not need an audio blurb that starts up as soon as you click on their auction had this happen 3 times today and almost blew my eardrums out

[CorTat-G]

I haven't won something from an auction on eBay in years. I allways buy my stuff "Buy It Now!" and from a store that sells this stuff, with guarantees, and a complete description. Needless to say I have not had a problem buying stuff that way. But I never buy consoles online(With the exception of my 2600), So auctions are probably better than B.I.N. if your buying consoles IMHO.

[RedRaider]

I've been burned several times in the past six months buying Sega CD and Sega Saturn games on eBay. Different sellers pulling the same 'Bait-N-Switch' game. Pics were posted in their auctions, yet when I received the items they clearly were not in the same case the seller took the pics they posted up in. Cases posted on the auctions were almost pristine, yet I received cases covered in crap, cracked in several places and missing hinges. Over the years I was either lucky or people were more honest, since there is no such thing as luck it is definitely the later. I contacted the sellers, let them no I'm not a sucker, yet did not file a chargeback. I do have a list of their names and will be starting a thread on my forum soon, so the Great Equalizer will cache their scamming butts forever on the web. Google bots are the ally of Truth and Justice.

[thegamezmaster]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Seems like you only here about the bad sellers and not the good ones. When I sell, I always tell the buyers if there's a problem with what they bought let me know first so we can work it out. Have had to do that a few times but at least both parties come to a mutual agreement and everyone's happy. Plus I always pack stuff with a lot of bubble wrap!

[IntellivisionDude]

I follow the stock photo rule unless i'm just looking for a cheap cart and care less what it looks like. I bought a few $1 Genesis and Nes titles off Half.com and Amazon just to be able to play them.

 

I'm sometimes more lenient with the feeback. Like if it's a seller with feedback in the thousands, i'll take a good look and see how many negatives and what they were for and if they have any impact on what i'm buying. If in the last 12 months they have over 1,000 positive and less than 20 negative i'll sometimes take a chance if it's a good deal. Luck always seems to be on my side. Most of the time anyway. lol

[Dauber]

Dont bid if the seller feedback is not 100%

Dont bid if the seller doesnt have a lot of feedback - like over 500 or so.

 

1) What if the seller has a ton of feedback but just one rating that knocks said seller under 100%??? And the seller replies with "Seller did not read description, description was clear, offered refund anyway" or something?? And I swear, once I saw a negative feedback on someone that read, "I have no problem with this person; I just like to leave negative feedback."

 

2) If everybody followed the "if the seller doesn't have at least _____ amount of feedback," NOBODY would be able to sell anything on eBay.

[godslabrat]

Dont bid if the seller feedback is not 100%

Dont bid if the seller doesnt have a lot of feedback - like over 500 or so.

 

1) What if the seller has a ton of feedback but just one rating that knocks said seller under 100%??? And the seller replies with "Seller did not read description, description was clear, offered refund anyway" or something?? And I swear, once I saw a negative feedback on someone that read, "I have no problem with this person; I just like to leave negative feedback."

 

2) If everybody followed the "if the seller doesn't have at least _____ amount of feedback," NOBODY would be able to sell anything on eBay.

 

Yeah, I've had bad expereinces with feedback, both in leaving and getting. I pretty much want to see 98% or better... and I do factor in how much of the negatives have been left in the past year. I mean, maybe someone got pnemonia and was late shipping out a dozen boxes five years ago? Maybe they had cancer or went through a divorce, and just flaked on the eBay stuff for a bit? That shit happens, sometimes you just have to admit you screwed up and do better next time. It doesn't make them a bad seller.