Mephiloco
Well-known
I tried selling some gear on here and it didn't sell, went to ebay. Everything went fine except one item, bought by a guy with 100% feedback (1580 or something). Sold a CV 21/4 for $295. I shipped it, lost the tracking number and put it later (after he had complained to ebay after I merely marked it as shipped). Ebay made me reimburse the total amount for the lens, even though he had the lens at the time, I have the tracking number to prove he received it.
I appealed, and just now I found out, after the appeal taking an additional 3 or 4 days, that my appeal has been denied, and I'm basically SOL. There are no other means for me to get my lens or money back that I can find, no way to actually contact ebay, or do anything at all. All I can think of is to call my bank/credit card company and explain it to them, do a chargeback and basically chalk up my 10+ year ebay account as a loss and just not use the site anymore.
I'm beyond upset right now, since I had to sell my literal favorite lens to cover bills, and now I'm without the lens, or the money I needed for bills.
Any advice would help
I appealed, and just now I found out, after the appeal taking an additional 3 or 4 days, that my appeal has been denied, and I'm basically SOL. There are no other means for me to get my lens or money back that I can find, no way to actually contact ebay, or do anything at all. All I can think of is to call my bank/credit card company and explain it to them, do a chargeback and basically chalk up my 10+ year ebay account as a loss and just not use the site anymore.
I'm beyond upset right now, since I had to sell my literal favorite lens to cover bills, and now I'm without the lens, or the money I needed for bills.
Any advice would help
MiniMoke
Well-known
Alas, ebay protects the buyer, which in itself is a good thing. But sometimes it leads to absurd situations.
Known that, been there, and really thinking about quitting ebay.....
Known that, been there, and really thinking about quitting ebay.....
kxl
Social Documentary
I believe ebay has an appeal escalation process.
Mephiloco
Well-known
I put in the shipping information and tracking information before appealing, but apparently on ebay if someone doesn't put in tracking information, you get the item for free outright. I can't find anything else for me to do, I'm on hold with ebay, 45 minute wait time.
This makes no sense to me. I don;t list tracking numbers all of the time.
Let me guess, you used USPS and the delivery confirmation didn't have a signature, so ebay said there was no proof that it got to the buyer?
Thardy
Veteran
Maybe ask the buyer to reimburse you? Having a high rating should mean some level of honesty.
L Collins
Well-known
At the very least, give him a POSITIVE rating (its your only Option) and then put
*****WARNING: FILED FRAUDULENT CLAIM. CONNED ME OUT OF ITEM. Email me for details********
Had to do the same thing with a scammer from Russia who conned me out of a lens. At least it notifies the next guy that they'll be dealing with a scammer.
*****WARNING: FILED FRAUDULENT CLAIM. CONNED ME OUT OF ITEM. Email me for details********
Had to do the same thing with a scammer from Russia who conned me out of a lens. At least it notifies the next guy that they'll be dealing with a scammer.
Mephiloco
Well-known
there's been no mention of that whatsoever. Done with the first rep, on to the second. Apparently the issue is that I didn't put the tracking number in before the buyer filed a claim, to which I asked "So if I buy something off ebay and I don't receive tracking information I get it for free?" "no sir" "then why is that happening to me?" I explained that I lost the number, had to get it from my post office and then I put it in, and then appealed the decision. They maintain that the appeal was denied because I didn't put in the tracking information before the decision was made on the initial claim (not the appeal), which makes me question why there's an appeal option at all.
They're not contesting that the buyer in Putnam Valley, NY got my lens and has it, as well as his money, but merely they're saying it's a procedural thing.
Mephiloco
Well-known
I sent him a brief message saying that he has my lens and my money and to please return either one of them.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Wait, so they refunded him and then you sent him the lens?
Or did you send the lens, they refunded him, and then you posted the tracking number?
I don't understand how he got the refund before you posted the tracking number - unless it took you a month to put the tracking number in.
Or did you send the lens, they refunded him, and then you posted the tracking number?
I don't understand how he got the refund before you posted the tracking number - unless it took you a month to put the tracking number in.
Pete B
Well-known
I would get the police involved. Its theft.
Pete
Pete
kuvvy
Well-known
Sorry for you troubles but hopefully you will receive one or the other back and be satisfied. I used to use eBay but haven't done for some time and was luck only to have minor hiccups with buyers. In fact my most hassling deal was here on RFF.
Some people just aren't as honest and fair as others.
Paul
Some people just aren't as honest and fair as others.
Paul
big macker
Member
I didn't know one could complain to eBay and get money. I thought only PayPal would do this kind of things. What you said should be applicable in the USA only. As if you have a foreign eBay account, you don't even have the option to insert the tracking number. I always inform the buyer by email the tracking number.
Sorry to hear your experience. I think it doesn't make good sense.
Sorry to hear your experience. I think it doesn't make good sense.
Mephiloco
Well-known
I shipped the lens, marked it as shipped, didn't put in a tracking number. He filed a claim saying he hadn't received it on July 2nd I think. Due to work and the holiday I couldn't get the tracking number from the post office until I finished my shoot that Monday, at which time ebay closed the claim in his favor simply because I hadn't put in a tracking number, even though he had received the lens on the 5th.
I was a little slow in shipping the lens, I had a few days off work after the auction (intentionally) so that I could ship it, but it took him 3-4 days to pay me, at which time I was back to work. I usually work 15+ hour days. I shipped it out at the first chance I had, he received it within a few days. Auction ended on a wednesday morning, he paid me on the saturday, I was starting work on Sunday, shipped it 1 week later. I was slow on shipping, but I don't think that getting in the time he did was anything absurd, definitely nothing to merit him getting the item for free.
Lyndon Johnson used to talk about his youth when he was always broke, or, as he put it, "An hour late and a dollar short." Your story is replete with things you shoulda, aughta done, things you didn't do right now, and in the right way. I think you need to look at your business methods and maybe seek to improve them. And, use every avenue you can find to nail the guy legally.
Mephiloco
Well-known
Ebay isn't my business. I was merely selling something online. I don't think being late to put a tracking number online warrants theft. Lucky for me the guy that bought the lens is a lawyer in White Plains, and my local PD is known as being arguably the worst in the country.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Ebay must have changed their rules, because I thought they would not automatically hand out a refund unless the seller didn't respond at all within a certain period of time. This used to be 40 days I think.
Checking now, I see the rules are currently that if a seller does not respond within three days to the dispute (which cannot be filed sooner than 7 days after payment), the buyer may escalate the case, and ebay will make a decision. I assume this is what happened to you?
I believe you can actually file a claim as a seller against a buyer if you have proof they're ripping you off (for instance threatening to leave negative feedback) this may be an option for you. But I don't think ebay is going to be willing to help.
I personally would want to know who this buyer is so I can block them from bidding on my auctions.
JMQ
Well-known
Dear Mephiloco, you are going to get a lot of advice from fellow RFF members. Some will be useful, some not, some will be half-baked. That's the nature of these discussions. Hopefully you can use the helpful ones. Good luck on the resolution.
bob338
Well-known
So, you shipped the lens more than a week after you received payment?
I would have filed a claim, too.
Mephiloco
Well-known
Just got off the phone with ebay. They explained that the appeals process is not an appeals process in a way.
When I 'appealed' I was appealing their decision to refund the payment based on it not being received due to no tracking. They don't look at the facts or anything else, they just look at their decision they made at the time and what was known at the time. Ebay just told me that I'm out of luck, that the buyer has no obligation to return anything, that ebay will do nothing as they say that since I did not provided a tracking number that I forfeit all rights. I informed them I will be calling my credit card company and will be asking for a charge back, that I am fine with never using ebay again.
All I can do is file a police report, according to ebay; against a lawyer over 1000 miles away over a $300 item.
I realize I could've taken off work, etc, but I still do not believe the buyer getting my lens for free is the proper outcome. I'm hoping that the buyer will voluntarily try to make this right, even though he's not obligated.
Again, the buyer has 100% feedback and a lot of transactions, he's also a person. At this point I just hope he has a conscience.
When I 'appealed' I was appealing their decision to refund the payment based on it not being received due to no tracking. They don't look at the facts or anything else, they just look at their decision they made at the time and what was known at the time. Ebay just told me that I'm out of luck, that the buyer has no obligation to return anything, that ebay will do nothing as they say that since I did not provided a tracking number that I forfeit all rights. I informed them I will be calling my credit card company and will be asking for a charge back, that I am fine with never using ebay again.
All I can do is file a police report, according to ebay; against a lawyer over 1000 miles away over a $300 item.
I realize I could've taken off work, etc, but I still do not believe the buyer getting my lens for free is the proper outcome. I'm hoping that the buyer will voluntarily try to make this right, even though he's not obligated.
Again, the buyer has 100% feedback and a lot of transactions, he's also a person. At this point I just hope he has a conscience.