What to do with a bad ebay sale?

bob338 said:
So, you shipped the lens more than a week after you received payment?
I would have filed a claim, too.
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understandable. I got upset this past week because our mail carriers simply don't deliver the mail if it's raining here (not even kidding), and I got fed up and called the post office and they came out and delivered my mail at 8.30 pm. I see why the claim was filed, it was merited, my issue is with the appeals system and that despite there being evidence that the lens was shipped before the claim was filed and then delivered before the decision was made that ebay stands by their ruling.

It angers me that basically this is all over me not putting in the tracking number and just marking it was 'shipped'. It angers me even more that now this likely means my gxr kit is going up on the block
 
It's frustrating. Ebay has become a real risk for sellers. I sell a fair amount of stuff there, and I've had pretty good luck so far, but these things come up once in a while. I've lost about $700 in the last year due to sleazy buyers. So far, it's worth the risk to me. As soon as it isn't, I will join the hordes running from ebay...


Mephiloco said:
understandable. I got upset this past week because our mail carriers simply don't deliver the mail if it's raining here (not even kidding), and I got fed up and called the post office and they came out and delivered my mail at 8.30 pm. I see why the claim was filed, it was merited, my issue is with the appeals system and that despite there being evidence that the lens was shipped before the claim was filed and then delivered before the decision was made that ebay stands by their ruling.

It angers me that basically this is all over me not putting in the tracking number and just marking it was 'shipped'. It angers me even more that now this likely means my gxr kit is going up on the block
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The USPS is a corrupt joke, they're as bad as Ebay.
Our mailman came in my shop a few weeks ago and asked if he had delivered the wrong package to me earlier that day. I said no, and he started laughing about how he loses parcels all the time and one day he might get in trouble with his supervisor.
The package he had delivered to me that same morning was a 35mm Summicron someone sent to me, uninsured.
I shudder to think how many packages are lost and end up in dumpsters...




Mephiloco said:
understandable. I got upset this past week because our mail carriers simply don't deliver the mail if it's raining here (not even kidding), and I got fed up and called the post office and they came out and delivered my mail at 8.30 pm. I see why the claim was filed, it was merited, my issue is with the appeals system and that despite there being evidence that the lens was shipped before the claim was filed and then delivered before the decision was made that ebay stands by their ruling.

It angers me that basically this is all over me not putting in the tracking number and just marking it was 'shipped'. It angers me even more that now this likely means my gxr kit is going up on the block
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If he screws you, file a bar complaint with the New York State Bar. You may do so against attorneys who are not YOUR attorney but have engaged in any conduct that is deceitful/fraudulent. The conduct does not need to be related to a civil/criminal matter of which he is a part.

At the very least, he'll be answering a bar complaint, which is a first class PITA. Take this from an attorney who has been practicing for 24 years and have had to deal with a few frivolous bar complaints in the past.
 
Mephiloco said:
I'm hoping that the buyer will voluntarily try to make this right, even though he's not obligated.
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I would try to get on the buyer's good side and ask him to just pay for the item price, but keep the amount you charged for shipping since you took so long to send it.

How was your communication with the buyer during the week you took to ship the item? Did you tell him beforehand that it would take you a week to send it?
 
This is just one in many stories that terrifies me of selling on ebay although I have purchased things on and off for over ten years. At any rate..

I would contact the buyer and offer him a refund on shipping or if you free shipped, a small percentage off purchase price for 'his inconvenience' in return for a refund of the rest of your money and corrected 'positive' feedback if he left poor feedback for you.

Be fair, allow him a few days to respond and if he doesn't respond or doesn't respond to your satisfaction, do as was suggested, contact credit card company/paypal and report him to the BAR for your inconvenience and loss. Being a lawyer doesn't mean he is an ethical one however if he had such good feedback I can't imagine he does this as a practice. He might however sit on it and let you sweat as he felt he did in waiting for the item to arrive before he responds.

*You can get the ball rolling ahead of time with your cc or paypal, let them know you are seeking fair resolution however might need to rely on their expertise.

And in the future you should notify the buyer if you will be shipping after receiving payment, or shipping a week later due to whatever your schedule entails, or if there was a snafu in your getting to the p.o. and the item will come later than expected and then work from there. I had ordered an item off the east coast just before the hurricane hit. When I didn't get my item I emailed him because of course I didn't know his area in relation to the damage and wondered what had happened. He said that businesses were down etc in a rather annoyed textual tone, regardless, I wished him the best in recovering and told him I understood and waited on my purchase which came another week later. In general communication is the best way to ward off trouble. Doesn't always work but you would have had that correspondence at least to back up what was going on.
 
Ummm

Lawyer.....
Plays the regulations to rip off sellers
Sounds like a Lawyer who takes advantage of bad polices to his gain
Typical of people of no moral standards that have the power to take advantage of those who don't know how to "Play the Policies" to steel from others.

I would call the local Lawyers Bar and file a complaint against him/her as a thief by abusing eBay policie loop holes to rip off sellers.

NEXT TIME:.... if there is one

STATE a 7-10 day delivery time because you ship you 2 times a week.
STATE a 1-4 Day SHIP policy because you Ship 2 times a week
STATE that if I SHIP on a Friday or Saturday, this can cause a delay of a few days. Since USPS has no Sat/Sun Delivery for Residential packages.

(Never ship w/o an "Sig Required" proof of delivery, and pay for the Sig Proof to be mailed back to you).

I have seen many eBar's have LONG policy disclaimers about shipping times, delivery times, and expected "Wait" times depending on the final destination.

It is a CYA disclaimer against eBay Policies that are easily abused by those who know how. Like Lawyers !!!

Sorry to hear of your bad Buyer experience.
 
L Collins said:
If he screws you, file a bar complaint with the New York State Bar. You may do so against attorneys who are not YOUR attorney but have engaged in any conduct that is deceitful/fraudulent. The conduct does not need to be related to a civil/criminal matter of which he is a part.

At the very least, he'll be answering a bar complaint, which is a first class PITA. Take this from an attorney who has been practicing for 24 years and have had to deal with a few frivolous bar complaints in the past.
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I'll cross that bridge if I come to it, right now I'm just hoping he responds and simplifies this whole ordeal with a cure to the situation. My girlfriend happens to be taking the bar right now as we speak, she should be on Code 3 right about now.
 
Mephiloco said:
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.
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If in fact this person is as you've noted, drop him a line telling him that you WILL be in contact with the Bar Association, advising him that, in your opinion, they have a disreputable character in their group. Now, since he's a lawyer, then, by definition he's certainly not the only who would fit that description, :D. However, in your case, it might matter that you regard him as having ripped you off.

As an alternative, shortage of funds notwithstanding, advise the Buyer that you fully intend to hop a flight to NYS, rent a car, drive up to his address of residence, accompanied by Police, and "request" you get your item back or your money. If he doesn't respond within 7 days with one or the other, then do it.

One brief comment that may serve you well in the future: delays in shipping give buyers all sorts of time in which to have a) remorse; b) get pissed off; c) decide to "pay you back" for what they regard as inconsideration, and/or, d) dream up a plan by which to rip you off.

I hope this turns out well for you :)
 
I think this is the 3rd time I've been screwed on ebay. Twice as a seller, once as a buyer. I had the bad luck of being screwed as a buyer back when ebay protected buyers, now I get screwed as a seller now that they protect buyers.
 
It strikes me that he has sold 1580 items on ebay ?
That's an incredible lot of items for an individual to have sold.
I don't even own 1580 itesm !

Sounds fishy.
 
daveleo said:
It strikes me that he has sold 1580 items on ebay ?
That's an incredible lot of items for an individual to have sold.
I don't even own 1580 itesm !

Sounds fishy.
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Feedback is for purchases as well as sales. The feedback can also cover a long period of time, like several years. Nothing fishy in an individual having feedback of 1580 or whatever.
 
If you are a seller, use Paypal, and use Paypal for shipping (USPS and or UPS). Your tracking info is automatically posted into eBay and "marked as shipped." You ship ONLY to the "verified" Paypal address. Eat the additional tracking/insurance fee if you need to, as it will protect you. If more than about $100 is involved, pay for "signature required", as well. You can work all of those small costs in to your "shipping cost" or into the item pricing. If you use Paypal shipping, you print your labels at home, and the tracking is automated. Much better than standing in line somewhere, and getting a paper receipt!

If you use some other shipping method, post the shipping info into eBay when you ship. Tracking and signature are even more important if you don't use the Paypal shipping/labeling.

Always keep communication with the buyer, so they don't start to worry that they have been scammed. Sounds like that may have been a factor here. If I am a buyer, and have paid for an item, I get nervous if I don't hear from a seller within a couple of days. No response for 5 days (when they "promise to ship in 3"), I open a dispute. Use the eBay messaging for communication, so there is a record of who said what and when.

I've had only a couple of deals go bad on eBay, but I limit my potential damage by not getting strung out on how much money is involved. Never more than I can afford to lose on a transaction. I've learned from mistakes along the way!

This buyer has you over a barrel at this point, so legal channels may be your only recourse. You may be able to post "neutral" or "positive" feedback on eBay, and fill the comment with an appropriate comment, but he could probably post negative feedback in retaliation. Sometimes a "meh" or "not a great transaction" in a "neutral" comment is enough to warn others that they should be wary.

Sorry for your troubles, and I hope the guy eventually is remorseful about ripping you off, and makes things right.
 
After reading this I'm glad I send pkgs priority mail with tracking numbers and requiring a signature on delivery. I've done this for items costing less than $10 and it bites into any profit along with Ebay and PayPal fees but at least I know I have something to rely on. I recently sent two medical text that cost $300 plus to Australia and only insured it for $200, won't do that again - the guy got the pkg but they don't track overseas unless for a hefty price. File a claim with the Bar and let the local Bar the guy resides (his city) what is going on.
 
Also, everyone here should remember that eBay's business model is evolving away from the individual seller and more towards mass-market, volume sellers. They don't really want to deal with you, the occasional seller, so, the rules are written to make you go away.
 
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