Ebay Mixup - What to Do?

[wilbilt]

So there is this guy selling a bunch of Wiha insulated screwdrivers on Ebay. He has them on Buy-It-Now for a couple of bucks plus shipping. He doesn't combine shipping, but oh well.

I bought one Slotted and one Phillips from him, and he shipped very quickly and was courteous and prompt in communication. (I paid instantly).

The screwdrivers arrived quickly, but he had sent two Slotted instead of one of each. I emailed him about the problem, and he responded - again quickly and courteously - and apologized. He said he would send the correct one if I sent back the incorrect one, and refund my postage. Fair enough.

He also stated he would send the correct one right away if I sent him $5.00 and kept both he had already sent. In the interest of resolving this quickly ( I need the Phillips for a job at work next week) I sent another $5 via PayPal and he shipped another screwdriver.

It arrived today, and is a #1 Phillips. The photos in the auction I bought (and all of the others has has going) clearly show a #2 Phillips, which is what I need.

I sent an email regarding the issue and am awaiting a response. He doesn't have a lot of feedback, but it's all good. I am leaning toward leaving a neutral and just walking away from it. I really don't want to buy a full set of these things $5.00 at a time. A #1 insulated Phillips is practically useless to me.

He seems sincere, but also seems to have a bit of difficulty communicating in English.

What would you do?

[wilbilt]

50 views and nobody's gonna touch it?

Whatever.

[ColdDuckTime]

...well, it's a hard one to call. I suppose the right thing to do is to just buy a full set from a vendor or something and eat the 15 bucks if you really need other sizes. You could keep beating on the guy to do the right thing, but realistically it's about half of what I just spent on some cocktails.

as a complete aside...well, let's say a partial aside...I'm really trying anymore to be 1/10 as upset about 10 bucks as I am 100..and 1/10 as upset about 100 as 1000. It's pretty darned easy to get wrapped up in trivial disputes.

[Danglerb]

*** The getting what you need part. ***
Send him another $5 and make it clear you want a #2 phillips since you need it next week.

*** The leaving feedback part. ***
People who respond to email, try to do the right thing, get a positive from me.

Negatives and neutrals I reserve for dishonest people, people who won't work with me to resolve a problem, and people who "I feel" unfairly leave me less than a positive.

From a purely practical standpoint, has he left feedback for you yet? If not do you want to risk a neutral or negative if he doesn't like your non positive?

*** The technical ebay answer ***
The seller is 100% responsible for the item they describe arriving safely in your hands within something, I forget exactly, two weeks I think, anything less is a non performing seller within the ebay terms of service, and a low feedback seller might be suspended for it.

If you don't need the extra slotted (eventually you will) or the #1 phillips, he should be paying for there return and refunding the pair of $5 you used to expedite things.

How much of a fuss do you want to make over it?

[wilbilt]

as a complete aside...well, let's say a partial aside...I'm really trying anymore to be 1/10 as upset about 10 bucks as I am 100..and 1/10 as upset about 100 as 1000. It's pretty darned easy to get wrapped up in trivial disputes.

That's pretty much on target, actually. I have been working on being less prone to stress from trivial issues myself.

I have always strived to be 100% in any financial dealings with strangers. Nearly 10 years on ebay and 0 negatives. I'm having a hard time with this guy claiming to be sincere...but at the same time, I'd like to just let it go.

Letting it go just encourages more ignorant salesmanship...but it certainly isn't worth having a stroke over.

Thanks.

[Danglerb]

I'm really trying anymore to be 1/10 as upset about 10 bucks as I am 100..and 1/10 as upset about 100 as 1000. It's pretty darned easy to get wrapped up in trivial disputes.

What worries me as I get older is not giving a Rats behind about $1000 from time to time. This is when the other party is "trying" to act in good faith, or I happen to be smart enough to see nothing can be done. The last thing that really torqued me off though couldn't have been more than $20 if I remember right, but I didn't like the attitude.

Work on the solution, not the blame, is what I try for.

[MAD]

I guess I would wait to see how he responds to the second e-mail before leaving feedback in case he makes an extreme effort to make it right. I see nothing wrong though with leaving a neutral (or even a positive)and saying something like: "Seller tried to resolve problem but lack of knowledge = big waste of time".

[Danglerb]

I guess I would wait to see how he responds to the second e-mail before leaving feedback in case he makes an extreme effort to make it right. I see nothing wrong though with leaving a neutral (or even a positive)and saying something like: "Seller tried to resolve problem but lack of knowledge = big waste of time".
Wouldn't it suck to get your first negative from doing that?

My view is that the seller made a "human" mistake, and has tried to resolve the situation each time contacted. They do need to be reminded of a sellers responsibility in shipping the correct item, including paying for shipping on his mistake if he wants the item back, but I really don't want a first negative, so I am very polite and never threatening my own negative, but I NEVER leave feedback until I am satisfied or time is running out that day.

Don't you know anybody that needs a screwdriver for $5?

[bmwpower]

Communication. Just tell him you want the right one, BUT don't send him anymore money.

[Danglerb]

Except it sounds like #2 phillips wasn't an explicit request, and assumes the guy knows more than one kind of phillips exists.

BTW I don't see any recent transactions that fit this description, $5 wiha screwdrivers.

[wilbilt]

Except it sounds like #2 phillips wasn't an explicit request, and assumes the guy knows more than one kind of phillips exists.

BTW I don't see any recent transactions that fit this description, $5 wiha screwdrivers.

He doesn't list them as Wiha. The photo in the description clearly depicts a "PH 2".

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220168056109&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=012

[Danglerb]

My take on this after seeing the listing,

This guy got a set of 6 and is selling them on ebay one at a time and posted one picture. He doesn't know saying they are Wiha doubles the price, may not know there is a difference between them. Cut him some slack, explain what his responsibilities are as a seller, but the poor guy is only claiming to be selling an electrical screwdriver and doesn't say what you get is the actual item pictured. You have to hold the hand of some new sellers, and buyers.

I wouldn't leave less than a positive as long as you can eventually work this out, "as it should be". Its not his fault you need them right away, ebay allows two weeks for shipping and delivery, complaining about less is being whiney.

[wilbilt]

I'm not complaining about shipping and delivery, only that he sent the wrong item...twice. I don't think that is unreasonable.

You would not expect someone selling a set of sockets one at a time to use a photo of the same socket for every item without any other description (at least, I wouldn't).

The seller does not have any more #2 drivers, but has resolved the issue to my satisfaction. I have left good feedback, and would buy from him again.

I suspect his future listings will be more accurate, but who knows?

[1320stang]

Hmm, I would have sent another $5, got a #2 then sold the #1 and the extra slotted for more money on ePay and ended up getting the first two fro free. :D

[eschoendorff]

Honetsly Wil... I would cut your losses. Your time is too valuable to be dicking around with this....