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If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

eBay

Have I unwittingly done something wrong or is this seller just a knob?

16 replies

AlrightOrWhat · 19/04/2016 18:24

I bought a plant recently. I still hadn't received it a week after the expected delivery date, so I did what I've previously done when I haven't received an item (and what I thought I was supposed to do) - messaged the seller by clicking "I didn't receive the item" in "my ebay".

I then had this message: "Hi. Sorry to here you have not received your plant. All you had to do was contact me. Now you have opened a case, it will show on my eBay record for something that is beyond my control. You plant was sent on the 6th April so obviously has gone awol. Will send another plant tomorrow. Contact me if there's a problem!"

So I said: "Hi. I only opened a request - which is what the ebay help pages tell you to do as a first step when you haven't received your item. I had no idea that messaging you in this way would adversely affect your record. I've never heard of that, either as a buyer or a seller. I didn't mean to upset you anyway. Thanks for re-sending."

Now he's sent me: "Your plant has been sent today. Now will you close the case?"

Is it just me being over-sensitive? Or is he being a bit of an arse to me? I genuinely didn't intend to do anything to harm his ebay record. I wouldn't! I'm really a very uncomplaining person. I've never left negative (or neutral) feedback for anyone, for example.

I am a bit emotional for other reasons, so I accept that I shouldn't even be giving this headspace!

OP posts:

Report

zzzzz · 19/04/2016 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PoochiePoo · 19/04/2016 18:27

I wouldn't close the case until you've received the replacement!

DurhamDurham · 19/04/2016 18:28

I wouldn't let it upset you but as a seller I would hope that buyers contacted me before opening a case, I thought there was something on EBay about contacting seller first but perhaps I'm mistaken.

When a case is opened it can take a few weeks for the funds to be available to the seller, I've had to wait over two weeks after an item has been delivered to the seller because although she had let me know she didn't bother/remember to close the case.

As I said though don't worry about it and hope you're not still upset

lynniep · 19/04/2016 18:29

He is being an arse. Try to ignore it. You have done exactly what you were supposed to do. A case will not harm his ebay record.

Newes · 19/04/2016 18:30

I would have accepted your apology. He is being a dickhead. Only close the case when the plant arrives and don't leave him any good feedback.

lateforeverything · 19/04/2016 18:30

PoochiePoo is spot on. Do NOT close it yet- it's not resolved! I would also leave less-than- positive feedback when it does arrive.

Muskey · 19/04/2016 18:34

OTT in mho. Leave the case open and say in your feedback he was a dick or words to that effect

AlrightOrWhat · 19/04/2016 19:09

Thanks everyone. It makes me feel better that other people think he's a dick too haha.

Durham this is what it says on ebay once you click "I haven't received my item yet": "We always encourage our members to communicate with each other when there's a problem with a transaction. The first step is to contact the member through the Resolution Centre and try to resolve the problem." That's exactly what I did. But sending them a message through the Resolution Centre apparently opens up a "request", which is then listed under "open requests/cases" in "my ebay". (Not sure if there is a difference between requests and cases). If the seller doesn't reply after 8 days you can ask ebay to step in, but unless you do that they have no involvement. I didn't realise it makes a difference to funds being available to the seller. It seems a bit harsh of them to put a hold on the money just because someone has sent the seller a message!

I'm not planning on closing the case until the plant arrives. Mostly because he didn't say "please" . I'm not sure I even want the plant any more tbh, it might remind me of him!

OP posts:

nibbl3s · 19/04/2016 19:15

As someone who used to sell on eBay, it's very irritating when a buyer opens a case before contacting you first as it has a big impact on the sellers account.

AlrightOrWhat · 19/04/2016 19:22

Please could you tell me more about what impact it has nibble3s? Does anything else happen other than the funds being unavailable? I sometimes sell on ebay myself but I haven't come across this yet.

OP posts:

lateforeverything · 19/04/2016 19:27

Arguably being rude to buyers can also have a big impact on a seller's account

BrucieTheShark · 19/04/2016 19:33

Oh God i had this with a relatively new seller and a pair of boots. No boots and no replies to emails for a couple of weeks and then she hit the roof when I opened a case. She said it both affected her ratings and prevented her from receiving payment, so she wouldn't send them.

She then failed to respond to several more messages so ebay found in my favour and refunded me.

Then a fortnight later the boots arrived . I had to dig out her email address to re-send payment directly through Paypal. She was barking and lucky to get the money in the end. Just ignore him!

Totally agree that eBay seem to hide the fact that you're opening a case - it seems like you are just dropping them a line. Very weird.

glammanana · 20/04/2016 20:47

If I have a problem with an item or am waiting delivery I always go to drop down menu against item details and click "contact seller" it doesn't open a case against the seller and you can then work things out between you,I agree ebays res centre is confusing.

nauticant · 21/04/2016 10:59

There are two problems here OP, neither of your making.

The first is that the default way of a buyer contacting a seller automatically opens a case. There is a "safe" way of contacting but it's slightly hidden. Most buyers don't know this and can accidentally open cases without meaning to. This is ebay's fault but they're not interested in sorting it out (because it probably suits them in some way).

The second is that the seller was unnecessarily rude. That's always a bad idea.

19lottie82 · 21/04/2016 12:28

Opening a case no longer has a negative effect on the seller. They only recieve a black mark if they fail to resolve it.

EveryoneElsie · 23/04/2016 13:28

Only close the case when your plant arrives. Then when you do, as Lottie said, it has no negative effect.
If it doesnt arrive then he deserves a case for being an arse. He cant tell you not to use the Ebay system, or to close a case before resolution.

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