Dealing with unsatisfactory ebay purchases

[greasegorilla]

So recently I bought a couple sets of blackhawk 1/2dr sockets from ebay, and Im not happy at all with the products I received. Im not really sure how to handle it. I could of course return it, but I dont feel that I should be responsible for paying $10-15 in return shipping for items that I feel were not as described.

I was buying "new" blackhawk sockets, with the only thing being that they would not come on a rail. Fine with me, I dont need a rail, theyre going in socket trays. The seller sent them bulk thrown in ziplock backs. He padded the box pretty good, but there was plenty of room for them to rattle around against each other. The outside chrome is pretty scraped up, lots of little scatches on all of them, some have gouges in them. The chrome just looks terrible now. Also, it looks like the inside of the sockets were not chromed well on at least half of them. They look dirty/have a minor surface rust. Im not sure if this is usual with blackhawk sockets, or if the seller just had used or factory seconds. Also in the single/double ring around the base (for metric/sae) they look grungy, like they were used and not wiped off well.

So, Im looking for advice on how to handle it with the seller. (should have some pics soon)

 

[volvo92906]

Downrate him and move on... That is the perks of shopping ebay.

 

[pop pop]

Email him and tell him what you told us after you decide what you want to do.

 

[DandDMachine]

Contact the seller see what he will do for you. Feedback is very important and he may do more than you think to keep his reputation. Be polite and tell him what your concerns are. Send pictures so he can see the condition they are in. Let us know what happens and good luck.

 

[Skin]

Just going to take the opportunity to rant about people (no one in particular) expecting their tools to be individually packaged in foam packaging ready for display. Buy tools to use them people. Seriously. You sound completely absurd.

Now rusty/filthy sockets means used to me so that is a completely different matter.

 

[Holt]

Try talking with him. He may think it just a socket and may not know the chrome plays a important part in the life. As far as the inside you cant judge him on that. If they came from the factory with this defect and he is not a tool snop how should he know. Ebay selling is just like retail selling. You need to make the customers happy. If he is not willing to work with you rain on his parade.

 

[Davefr]

It's pretty simple. Either ask for a return (ie SNAD) or live with it.

If you think is was gross misrepresentation then ask the seller to pay for the return shipping and if he doesn't leave a negative FB.

However put yourself in the sellers shoes before you go down this road. Was the item really as bad as you claim? A lot of these sellers buy and sell overstock merchandise and not everyone is a "tool polisher".

Post some images.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I'm not trying to defend the seller....some of them are just plain dishonest. Were they marked "new" "new other" or "NOS"? I would NEVER assume ANYTHING is brand spanking new.....regardless of what the seller says....unless its SEALED in factory packaging. I sell quite a few tools on ebay and I never mark tools as "new" just because they are unused.

If the guy is honest.......send him a message....decent sellers will usually try to discount rather than get a bad feedback.

On the other hand....I recently sold a set of ratchets......they were clearly unused...but had been around. I marked them as "new other" with some scratches etc. The buyer beat me up on the price....then sent my paypal an e-check.....made me wait 6 days for the check to clear (after I told him I didn't accept e-checks) and then bitched about the shipping time AND the scratches.

If you got a good deal...which is why we ALL buy on ebay......see if he works with ya. If he doesn't, send him feedback that fits.

 

[I van putski]

The eBay seller did not manufacture them. Scratched up on the outside! Oh my god!

 

[Pumpman1968]

Just going to take the opportunity to rant about people (no one in particular) expecting their tools to be individually packaged in foam packaging ready for display. Buy tools to use them people. Seriously. You sound completely absurd.

Now rusty/filthy sockets means used to me so that is a completely different matter.

WELL said!

 

[Pumpman1968]

What was the ebay item number?

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Another tool polisher/collector

Man, this is getting way too common on GJ; tool polishers buying tools for display purposes and then bitching about a few scratches when they arrive...

This desires a "you got to be shittin' me" comment also...

 

[tweedlestan]

Just going to take the opportunity to rant about people (no one in particular) expecting their tools to be individually packaged in foam packaging ready for display. Buy tools to use them people. Seriously. You sound completely absurd.

Now rusty/filthy sockets means used to me so that is a completely different matter.

^ This.

 

[Playwme]

eBay is not the place to buy if you're fussy. The trade off for the cheaper prices and the convenience of shopping from your couch is that you take a risk on the items. You win some, you loose some. You have to assume that descriptions will be embellished in favour of the item and buy smart.

You could send him an email, POLITELY enquiring as to whether they were brand new or factory seconds. Don't imply that you're demanding your money back or demanding he pay for shipping. If its a store then they probably have in their terms and conditions that items returned will be shipped by the customer.
Then see what happens. If its a quality seller then they may offer you replacement or send you some freebies to make up for it. If they're pricks, then just give negative feedback and move on with life. No point stressing over a minor thing like that, and especially not over $30 worth of shipping.

 

[rusty65]

One thing I have to say about tool polishing is that if you take pride in making nice quality work then why not take pride in your tools as well and take good care of them and not let them get rusted up and let the chrome chip.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

Another tool polisher/collector

Man, this is getting way too common on GJ; tool polishers buying tools for display purposes and then bitching about a few scratches when they arrive...

This desires a "you got to be shittin' me" comment also...

+1

 

[jacked_72]

Poor packaging on ebay is a PITA. Regardless of whether the sockets are for use or display, a buyer has the right to expect packaging that is good enough to withstand shipment. Point one. If the sockets are used, that is a misrepresentation and we all know that used sockets are worth less than new. They function the same, but they are worth less. Point two.

I say contact the guy and tell him the problem. Most time sellers will take the item back or give a price adjustment. Feedback changed several years ago so that the seller cannot retaliate against a buyer. It is now a buyer's market. If the guy won't make an accomodation for (1) in adequate packaging or (2) passing off used as new, then hit him with a negative feedback (it may get his attention) and file a complaint with ebay. Regardless of whether something will get dinged up and dirty in the future, new is new and used and damaged is new and damaged.

 

[jhelrey]

File a Paypal Claim, item not as described. Explain your case. They will give you a paid shipping label, ship it back, get refund.

 

[ishiboo]

Downrate him and move on... That is the perks of shopping ebay.

Absolutely not.

The proper way is to discuss with the seller first and give him/her the opportunity to make things "right".

 

[PT Doc]

This a good example that the buyer needs to clearly ask the specifics if they are not clearly stated. It's worth clarifying to save the hassle. They might have been new at some point but I feel that sellers take advantage of this and are careful with what they say or don't just to cover themselves.

Can you post a few photos of the worst ones? That would be helpful.

 

[91bronc300]

Can you post a few photos of the worst ones? That would be helpful.

Agreed. Can't really judge one way or the other until you post pictures and a link to the original auction.

 

[Coach James]

This is what I would do:

1. I would take the sockets to Sears and demand they give me my money back. It doesn't matter to me that I didn't but them there, I'm not satisfied so Sears should give me some money.

2. When Sears refuses, I would throw a fit in the store and demand to see the manager.

3. After being escorted out of Sears by the cops, I would log on to Garage Journal and start a "Sears *****" thread and tell everyone how Sears refused to give me my money back for a tool they do not sell, how they do not care about their customers and how I want them to go bankrupt tomorrow.



Or, if I got the Blackhawks for a good price, I would just keep them and use them.

Coach

Coach

 

[tweedlestan]

take good care of them and not let them get rusted up and let the chrome chip.

How exactly do you stop chrome from chipping?

 

[dbabicky]

How exactly do you stop chrome from chipping?

Buy them brand new from the supplier, put them away in your "Show-Box", make sure you gingerly wipe them down with WD-40 every three day's, and NEVER USE THEM !!

 

[Pumpman1968]

This is what I would do:

1. I would take the sockets to Sears and demand they give me my money back. It doesn't matter to me that I didn't but them there, I'm not satisfied so Sears should give me some money.

2. When Sears refuses, I would throw a fit in the store and demand to see the manager.

3. After being escorted out of Sears by the cops, I would log on to Garage Journal and start a "Sears *****" thread and tell everyone how Sears refused to give me my money back for a tool they do not sell, how they do not care about their customers and how I want them to go bankrupt tomorrow.



Or, if I got the Blackhawks for a good price, I would just keep them and use them.

Coach

Dammit Coach.....you made soda come outta my nose!

 

[tweedlestan]

Buy them brand new from the supplier, put them away in your "Show-Box", make sure you gingerly wipe them down with WD-40 every three day's, and NEVER USE THEM !!

I guess so.

I bought a brand new Snappy 6" adjustable wrench, I only use it for "clean" work and the chrome is already chipping.

Doesn't really bother me, after all it's a tool. Tools get dirty, they get scratched, and sometimes (gasp) they might even rust a little.

 

[greasegorilla]

Apparently Im just a tool collector.

Thats some of the rust/grime Im talking about. For the most part, I dont really care about the minor chipping/imperfections on the outside of the chrome, except for the gouges where I could have taken a hammer and chisel and done less damage. This socket is about average, some are better, some are worse. I just picked up the biggest one because it would be easiest to see. Its hard to see it all the way around the socket, but it shows up decent at the bottom in the pic.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blackhawk-1...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2a14e1181b

Thats the auction I bought from. I guess I should just keep them since I paid average retail prices, the seller took over a week to ship out sockets that were clearly bought as new, and I received stuff that looked like it had been in someones road box for a couple months.

 

[dbabicky]

Rust does piss me off though. I lived in LasVegas, NV for 14.5 yrs, never did I have rust on any of my tools. I retired from the Military and moved back to Wisconsin, within 6 frickin months I spotted rust on some of them. Just goes to show, your climate has alot to do with the condition of your tools if you don't stay on top of it.

 

[tjmonsen5]

That socket looks perfectly fine to me. Put them to use and get them dirty and forget about it. Yes, it looks like it may have been used before judging by the marking in the bottom of the socket. I would say that socket is in 9.9/10 condition. Remember that nothing is new on ebay, unless a company actually sells their products on there.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Apparently Im just a tool collector.

........ I received stuff that looked like it had been in someones road box for a couple months.

Yup. Collector.
You've obviously never seen in the inside of a real road box on a service truck.
What kind of drawer liners do you have? Satin? Felt? Cashmere? Velvet?
(just giving you a hard time)

IMO Those looks new to me...It is what is is...99% of tool sellers wouldnt individually wrap sockets in small fleece blankets for shipping. I think the problem here is your expectations were much higher then anybody could have expected. I recently bought a couple lots of MAC tools here off the GJ Classifieds...came in a single ziploc bag...fine by me.

 

[Hootbro]

You're picking the fly **** out of the pepper. Nothing wrong with that socket other than it looks like it has been sitting in an humid environment.

Seller is from Arkansas, it gets humid there. Wipe the socket down with some oil and a steel wool pad and it will knock 99% of the rest away.

I think you are expecting to much and if you want pristine new chrome, buy off a tool truck.

You got what you paid for.

 

[91bronc300]

That grit, to me, looks like it might be from the manufacturing/plating process and not from previous use.

 

[tweedlestan]

Apparently Im just a tool collector.

Thats some of the rust/grime Im talking about. For the most part, I dont really care about the minor chipping/imperfections on the outside of the chrome, except for the gouges where I could have taken a hammer and chisel and done less damage. This socket is about average, some are better, some are worse. I just picked up the biggest one because it would be easiest to see. Its hard to see it all the way around the socket, but it shows up decent at the bottom in the pic.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blackhawk-1...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2a14e1181b

Thats the auction I bought from. I guess I should just keep them since I paid average retail prices, the seller took over a week to ship out sockets that were clearly bought as new, and I received stuff that looked like it had been in someones road box for a couple months.

Sorry bud, that socket's in fine shape.

That's a good price, too. Use them and be happy.

 

[Dieselbutterfly]

you wont get sympathy from some people here,they will tell you not to complain,then when they feel they have been given less than acceptable service/products ,they should maintain the same attitude.for fun, go and research there postings,see if they have ever complained,then you can tell them they were just expecting too much,lol.new means new,used means used

 

[tweedlestan]

new means new,used means used

Correct.

Those sockets are new.

 

[Boiler]

Sorry but that is standard interior finish for most sockets.

The chisel deep gouges on the outside would tick me off, but I haven't seen those pictures

 

[Bull]

I know that Snap-on and other brands will warranty peeling chrome because it represents a safety hazard i.e. sharp ouchies! Do they deal with chipped chrome in the same way?

It's an academic exercise for me; I almost never warranty hand tools for any reason.

 

[Dieselbutterfly]

whoa,i got no opinion on what he bought,only that if HE is not satisfied,he should seek out satisfaction,be that a return or whatever.if other ''new'' blackhawk sockets look like that ,then they are as described by the seller.but if not....well then there is a problem

 

[Pumpman1968]

If you bought them to be used, they will look much worse after you do.

If you bought them to be shiny...polish those bastages up! You'll be fine.

 

[HICKS]

This is what I would do:

1. I would take the sockets to Sears and demand they give me my money back. It doesn't matter to me that I didn't but them there, I'm not satisfied so Sears should give me some money.

2. When Sears refuses, I would throw a fit in the store and demand to see the manager.

3. After being escorted out of Sears by the cops, I would log on to Garage Journal and start a "Sears *****" thread and tell everyone how Sears refused to give me my money back for a tool they do not sell, how they do not care about their customers and how I want them to go bankrupt tomorrow.



Or, if I got the Blackhawks for a good price, I would just keep them and use them.

Coach

Coach

Best. Post. Ever.