What would you do? (getting hosed on E-bay)

[bigdaddyisu]

I won an auction on E-bay for Snap-on Impacts ($75). Before I bid I asked the seller (804 feedback 98.9% good)for additional pictures (didn't get them) and if they were modified in any way since his picture didn't show the drive or nut ends very weel. He said they weren't modded, just in good used condition. I knew they would be used and I was fine with that so long as they didn't have something other than normal wear and tear. I week later I get the sockets and every one has a chunk ground out on the drive end (not sure the purpose of them) and the smallest socket was ground around the nut end (likely to fit a tight application). I send a message through E-bay relaying my findings and the seller agreed to refund my purchase once he got the sockets back.

Here's where it gets interesting. I sent the sockets out with delivery confirmation via USPS. He rec'd the box on Saturday but claims to have gotten a bag of chia seed (I had to look this one up) inside the box and not the 10 sockets I sent. Incidentally I did a little math and given the density of the seed he claims I sent and the size of the flat rate box I could only phsyically squeeze about 2 pounds of seed in the box. My receipt shows I shipped a 4lb 11.5oz box.

We've been going back and forth for the last couple days. Him stating he'll refund my money once he gets the sockets and me basically saying you got them please send a refund. We've been fairly cordial with each other up to this point but I'm tired of dealing with this yahoo and his excuses.

I figure I can go though the E-bay resolution deal, Paypal resolution deal, or just ask my credit card to issue a chargeback. What would you guys do? Any other ideas? I'm in WI and the seller is in TX and to be honest I don't believe in "making a personal visit" over something like this.

 

[930dreamer]

Get ebay involved asap and your credit card company.

 

[Ed_EOD]

Bad feedback plus eBay/Paypal complaint is what I would do. I'm pretty sure you hold all the power right now.

 

[Rigmaster]

By all means get Ebay/Paypal involved ASAP. Nothing will be done for you unless you notify them that there is a problem. Make sure you keep all of your email communications with the seller, so they can see what went down if necessary.

But, Ebay and Paypal usually side with the buyer in cases like this, just make sure you have your ducks in a row.

 

[warmpancakes]

file a claim with paypal you did get proof of delivery right? If so you will have money back in 2-3 days also post the sellers name so we can all beware of him

 

[Davefr]

Don't waste your time with this idiot. File a SNAD claim and since you have confirmation of the item's return you'll easily win.

After that, leave them negative FB and low DSR scores.

As a backup, you can always do a cc chargeback but I'd start with an EBAY SNAD dispute.

P.S. A seller with FB <99% and 800+ transactions really isn't very good.

 

[MotoDave]

Like others have said, get the Ebay/paypal dispute process started immediately. Sketchy sellers know there's a time limit to when you can file the dispute, I've been screwed over buy a guy promising me he'll make it right and basically stalling till the dispute window is over,m then telling me to get lost.

 

[Skin]

hope you took pictures of the modified sockets before sending them back. You'll probably still be fine but that would of been damning evidence if ebay/paypal even hesitated.

 

[Bolster]

I had something similar happen, on a return, where a seller claimed he'd not received what he sent me. He didn't claim Chia seed, but it was something equally ridiculous. After several more emails (or was it a phonecall?) he admitted he'd mixed up boxes and confused my return with someone else's return. Don't know if your seller will man up to that. But the claim of "you switched out the return" is a known strategy for shady sellers [EDIT: and for shady buyers, too, it seems! See post below.]. As Skin says, best defense is photos of the returned product and of the box, packed with the product. Since then, I always photo returns when I suspect there may be "issues" with the return.

Any bad sale via the internet gets immediately and thoroughly photographed. I even photograph returns to Amazon.

Aside from taking the steps recommended in this thread, also see if you can't reach the seller by phone. Phone will often resolve issues quickly that email won't. Calmly and rationally explain you didn't switch his products for seed.

You can also (calmly, rationally) explain to him what your next steps are, and that you don't want to take those next steps because you're both reasonable people and don't need to go there.

 

[mrholeshot]

I stopped using ebay after i sold a Vintage Guitar to a guy down in Florida. He emailed me me and wanted a refund "Because it wasn't quite his sound" I only accept return for mistakes in the listing, Damage when shipping or stuctual damage I didn't see. I wouldn't refund over it not being quite his sound. He filed a complaint with ebay and I had to refund his money. I've been a member of ebay for many years and had 100% feedback the entire time. Keep in mind that 90% of my listings were between 5000 and 50,000 dollars. This clown had very low feedback and had only been a member for several months and his purchaces were items less than 50 dollars until he hit mine. He sent the package (poorly packed) and as soon as it arrived he got him money back through ebay. The package contained a cheap *** POS guitar in a 10 dollar case. Ebay gave me 0 support. I told them to F**k off, went to Florida and went to the guys house and got my guitar. I don't buy or sell on ebay and shut my account down as well as my ebay owned PayPal account. Ebay hit the skids when you can no longer leave Neg feedback for the buyer. They make all the scumbags look good if they are on the buying end. Use to you could tell a little about who you were selling to. No telling how many people he scammed before he hit me.

 

[Davefr]

.... went to Florida and went to the guys house and got my guitar.

What was your tool of choice for this repo visit?? A tire iron comes to mind.

 

[padronanniversary]

jsut remember


paypalsucks.com

I had paypal hold my money and lock it up. amazing how they can do that, with no recourse. I'm going to wait my 180 days they want, and never ever do business with paypal or ebay again.

 

[Danglerb]

Not saying this is the case for anybody here, BUT most of the sour grapes I hear about ebay or paypal leave out the part where the person failed to do due diligence in the transaction or following up on the complaint with paypal. Generally speaking being partially at fault also makes people the maddest about the whole mess.

This case sounds to me like mail fraud, and it could be worth your time to talk to somebody at the post office. Funny how people manage to sort themselves out fast when they get the formal investigation letter from the postmaster.

 

[bigdaddyisu]

This case sounds to me like mail fraud, and it could be worth your time to talk to somebody at the post office. Funny how people manage to sort themselves out fast when they get the formal investigation letter from the postmaster.

I'd love to go the mail fraud route purely on the principal of the whole matter but I'm not sure how successful it would be. To be fair it would just be my word vs his (I foolishly didn't take pictures like the post above noted). All I can really prove is that the post office delivered a small flat rate box weighing 4lb 11.5oz on Saturday.

Bolster,
Based on my e-mails with this fellow, "reason" isn't in his vocabulary. One of his messages he says that I sent him the sockets but that he's going to send back the seed and hold the refund until he gets the sockets Plus I figure once I threaten filing a claim he'll cut off all communication. I might as well just file it with Paypal tonight and go from there.

Skin,
You mean my inability to fit almost 5lb's of seed into a 2 pound box isn't damning enough?

Thanks for the help guys, I'll be sure to post the resolution if it happens in a timely matter.

 

[bigdaddyisu]

Well, Paypal denied and closed my claim stating "We couldn't confirm that the item was returned to the seller based on the information you provided." even though I provided tracking information. Is there a way to reopen this or should I file a claim with my credit card?

 

[Stuey]

File a claim with your credit card asap. Let Paypal fight them over it.

Don't know what else to advise.

 

[MrMark]

That's too bad. A bad situation to be in. Paypal obviously is caught in a he said - she said situation. It's a credibility contest with no way (cross examination) to judge credibility. The photo's would be better than nothing, but even they do not prove that the sockets went in the box. I guess the best photo would be a picture with the postal worker holding the box while still open with the sockets. Maybe a declaration from the postal worker that the sockets were sealed in the box, if it was done at the post office. That would be how it would be done in Court.

 

[MrMark]

I usually seal my stuff up at the post office so I think I will adopt the practice of photographing the goods in the box while on the scale at the post office in the presence of the counterman.

 

[toolmaker1]

watch his auctions carefully, I would be willing to bet they will go back up for sale on ebay soon. He doesen't sound like the brightest bulb in the box.

 

[Davefr]

Well, Paypal denied and closed my claim stating "We couldn't confirm that the item was returned to the seller based on the information you provided." even though I provided tracking information. Is there a way to reopen this or should I file a claim with my credit card?

Call them on the phone and get a live human. If you have the tracking number and it shows online delivery confirmation to the seller then you win.

 

[Skyline]

Well, Paypal denied and closed my claim stating "We couldn't confirm that the item was returned to the seller based on the information you provided." even though I provided tracking information. Is there a way to reopen this or should I file a claim with my credit card?

I would call Paypal. You do have proof of delivery back to him. This should be enough to win an "item not as described" claim.

 

[scott37300]

Sorry to hear that. Paypal usually will side with the buyer if they provide a return tracking number as soon as it shows delivered the money is refunded.

 

[G1K]

mrholeshot,
Any chance you own a very valuable vintage fender, currently in storage in a vault?

R