bulletpruf:
I just spent about an hour and a half on the telephone with Ebay, and learned a few things:
If a seller posts an item - let's say an incomplete Proto 1/4" drive socket set - as an "auction" item for $35.00 + $12.95 shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281966779830?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
(listed 03/13 @ $35.00 + $12.95 shipping)
it's perfectly OK by Ebay if a prospective buyer makes an offer which is acceptable to the seller as a "buy now" option.
If a seller posts an item - let's say a set of vintage ignition wrenches made by an obscure 1920's radio manufacturer - as an "auction" item for 99 cents + $4.50 shipping (or $48.00 + $4.50 shipping "buy now"):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231869945539?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
it's perfectly OK by Ebay if the seller decides within 12 hours of the auction's closing that since nobody has yet bid on the item, the seller can simply pull the listing.
However, if a seller posts an item - let's say a complete 3/8" drive S-K socket set - and a buyer purchases and pays for the item, and then the seller turns around and says "the item is no longer available", Ebay might choose to look into the matter. In such an instance, however, it is the
buyer that would have to contact Ebay in regard to the issue. For reasons which should be understandable, they cannot address the issue with a third party.
After being transferred to different people no less than four times, I also addressed to them a recurrent issue I have navigating their website, and their repeated attempts to download and install a third-party tracking software program (aka "malware" or "spyware") into my computer (known by filename "smart-tag.js"), for which I have no use and in which I have absolutely no interest.
After having sent dozens (if not more) messages to them regarding the matter (and not receiving any response, in spite of my requests for same), I figured I may as well bring it to their attention as long as I had them on the phone.
They were unable to resolve the matter, but have assured me they "will look into it and get back to me."
Having spent my entire working career in sales and marketing, about 17 years of that in the capacity of the buyer for a chain of retail stores, I consider myself fairly well-acquainted with what could be reasonably considered "acceptable business practices" and "customer relations".
As a relatively new user of Ebay, only having been a user of their site for five months as of today (03/15/16), and taking into consideration the volume and dollar amount of purchases made, I am presently less than pleased by the manner in which they have addressed my concerns.
In what would normally be referred to as a "good" business relationship, there exists a symbiosis between buyer and seller: the buyer's needs are fulfilled, and the seller makes a reasonable profit.
The true indicator of a seller's ability and willingness to provide "good" customer service is the manner in which they deal with the proverbial "difficult customer".
With a "100% feedback rating" as an Ebay buyer, I wouldn't consider myself to presently fall into that "difficult customer" category. As well, I doubt the few members here from whom I have made purchases would consider the transactions to have been "difficult".
Again, I am presently less than pleased with the response (or rather lack thereof) that I got today on the phone. Had it been any of the hundreds of vendors I dealt with on a daily basis in the past, I would have simply flipped through my Rolodex, contacted another sales representative, and done a line change-over and gone with a different vendor.
So until, and if, Ebay chooses to address my concerns in a timely manner, this may well be my last post in this thread, and quite possibly the end of my business relationship with Ebay.
* shipping costs may vary depending upon your geographic location *
pliers
Wilde 260P 8 in. hose clamp pliers (Corbin-type hose clamps)
new NOS
$5.95 incl. shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Wilde-wrench-USA-made-/381570374353?hash=item58d75ddad1:g:Pz8AAOSwoudW6B4p
==
socket
S-K 10-pc 1/4" drive 6-pt SAE socket set (sockets only)
3/16" - 9/16"
used. look new.
$18.00 + $7.00 shipping now. 0 bids now. ends Tues. 03/22
==
wrench
S-K 4-pc SAE flare nut / line wrench set
3/8" - 7/8"
used
$29.99 + $8.80 shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/S-K-STANDAR...205319?hash=item1a0ffa3447:g:EwEAAOSwT5tWMoGY
