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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

eBay fuckwits

82 replies

MarmaladeTwatkins · 14/07/2013 22:15

Agggghhhhhh! There needs to be a test to make sure that you have basic manners/intelligence/common sense before being given an eBay account.

I listed an Ikea Expedit bookcase that the auction ended for on 4th July. I stipulated in my listing that I would like the seller to contact me immediately after auction end to arrange a time/date for collection as I had new furniture coming. If they couldn't collect within a couple of days, my dad was going to store it in his summerhouse. Also specified that I would like payment within 24 hours of auction end or if not possible, please let me know.

So, someone won it. I messaged her 24 hours after auction ended to say "Hi, what would you like to do about collecting the bookcase? Look forward to hearing from you soon!" No reply by 24 hours after that, so I sent another message saying "Sorry to pester but I must arrange a collection date for the bookcase as my new furniture arrives on Monday and I need to know whether to keep it here for you or put into storage. If I get no reply by this time tomorrow, I shall take it that you no longer want the item. Look forward to hearing from you."

Nothing.

So I sent a second chance offer to the next highest bidder. She accepted immediately, paid and collected the next day.

Then....TODAY the original winner blithely messages me on eBay and says "Hi, can I collect on Tuesday?" I explain that it has gone, as I had heard nothing and I didn't think that a ten day wait was acceptable in waiting for contact. She has gone mad saying that I am in the wrong and how dare I sell it to another blah blah blah...

AIBU? Honestly, I'm not sure. Whenever I have thought about bidding on large items on eBay, if I knew I couldn't collect pretty much straight away, I have messaged the seller saying as much and if it's been a problem, not bid. And if I win, I always message as soon as possible saying "I can collect on this day, is this ok for you?" It's basic eBay etiquette, isn't it?! Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
MarmaladeTwatkins · 14/07/2013 22:49

I remember listing something once and stipulating cash on collection and eBay managed to block the listing, because I mentioned cash on collection!

How do I get around that for next time? When you choose payment options, I never see cash on collection listed.

OP posts:
pigletmania · 14/07/2013 22:49

I contacted e bay, and they said if buyer doesnot pay they cannot leave negative feedback

LilyBossom · 14/07/2013 22:51

yes, but you have to file a non paying bidder report, and close it, first. It is not automatic.

Original poster
MarmaladeTwatkins · 14/07/2013 22:52

"Marmalade - you did have time as you waited 10 days,"

Waited 10 days for what? Confused

OP posts:
LilyBossom · 14/07/2013 22:54

to do the 2nd chance offer? you said the auction ended on the 4th July, which is 10 days ago. you could have filed a non paying bidder report on the 6th and closed it on the 10th and got your fees back. Then you could have relisted or offered to the underbidder.

Original poster
MarmaladeTwatkins · 14/07/2013 22:56

No, I did the second chance offer 3 days after the auction ended.

OP posts:
HenWithAttitude · 14/07/2013 22:57

I've had this on my first eBay sale. First buyer has failed to make any contact whatsoever. I opened a dispute over non payment after 48 hrs and after 7 days closed the dispute. I left feedback regarding this (you have to give a 'positive' category but can then say what want). Previous seller had done just this which is why I opened a case so quickly

Did 2nd chance offer who accepted and then didn't contact me.... Pissed off now so contacted them and still no response. Didn't feel I could open a 2nd case on same item before 1st case closed.... Anyway about 10 days after the sale they contacted me to tell me to wait in the next afternoon from 1pm for collection. Hmm

I work so replied that an exact time was needed and I'd suit them on time. (They live 20 mins distance from me) We agreed 2pm.

No sign at 2:50 so I went back to work and messaged them to say they could ring me but if I didn't hear I'd assume they didn't want it.. No response and another case opened.

I don't see me using eBay again. Frankly not worth the agro. I think eBay need to sort this out.

LilyBossom · 14/07/2013 22:59

you aren't allowed to leave a neg statement for a buyer on a positive rating.

Tortoise · 14/07/2013 22:59

A buyer can leave neg feedback without paying. I did so recently! I paid, seller so called had a problem with paypal account so I cancelled payment and waited for them to invoice me with correct paypal email. They never did despite many messages from me. Then they decided to relist the item so I left neg feedback!

HenWithAttitude · 14/07/2013 23:00

Well I did! As did a previous seller, which was very helpful to me. I suspect since eBay don't seem to act on buyers not paying they won't imprison me for my crime either

Original poster
MarmaladeTwatkins · 14/07/2013 23:05

Oh God, I have left bad feedback under a positive rating!

It pisses me off that eBay are so biased in favour of the buyer when buyers can be dicks as much as sellers. Totally unfair.

OP posts:
thismousebites · 14/07/2013 23:23

If someone leaves negative feedback you can also leave a comment for everyone to see. I did after someone bought a dress off me and complained it was too small. I replied that it was the buyers responsibilty to buy the size that actually fit, not the size she wished she was.

Original poster
MarmaladeTwatkins · 14/07/2013 23:29

Grin ThisMouse.

Meow! Grin Grin

OP posts:
threefeethighandrising · 15/07/2013 08:31

I'm happy to offer Paypal and cash on collection for large items. I've always got DP here when people come to collect (so a witness).

If they're going to pretend they didn't come to get it then that's a crime and I'd happily get the police involved. We will have been communicating through ebay so there will be a trail of evidence leading to them.

If they're up to stuff as dodgy as deliberately ripping people off for cash on collection items on ebay it's a good chance they're known to the police already.

threefeethighandrising · 15/07/2013 08:31

And does it happen that often, really?

Ilovefluffysheep · 15/07/2013 09:01

Yes it does happen often. No, the police won't be interested, they have enough to do (and I speak as a police officer working in the fraud department!). eBay won't care about the trail of correspondence, they will find in favour of the buyer.

LilyBossom · 15/07/2013 09:02

a witness means nothing, no online proof of delivery and you will not win a not received case doesn't matter how many people saw the buyer taking the item away.

A mumsnetter last year sold a £400 phone and buyer paid by paypal and immediately filed a not received case, police could do nothing due to false contact details. Any seller who accepts paypal for a collected item is foolish and leaving themselves wide open to be scammed.

AmyFarrahFowlerCooper · 15/07/2013 10:04

All someone scamming you in that way would have to do after collecting the item is message you saying something along the lines of you have them a false address and why weren't you there. Then it becomes their word against yours. You'd have no proof of delivery at all and off they trot with your money and item.

NicholasTeakozy · 15/07/2013 10:18

A way round that scam is to print out a collection note and get them to sign it. Then you have proof they got the item.

AmyFarrahFowlerCooper · 15/07/2013 10:26

And they sign it with a signature that doesn't look like their own and claim you forged it.

AmyFarrahFowlerCooper · 15/07/2013 10:27

Plus would ebay even accept an unofficial collection note?

LilyBossom · 15/07/2013 10:34

no of course they wouldn't - a signed collection note is utterly worthless - a seller could easily make that up couldn't they? You need online trackable proof of delivery - nothing else will suffice.

BillyGoatintheBuff · 15/07/2013 10:38

can you take a photo of someone collecting the item? would that be proof?

VacantExpression · 15/07/2013 10:49

I have accepted paypal for a colletion only item before and preferred as it made sure they were going to turn up to collect it- feel Blush now I never thought about this scamming Sad

AmyFarrahFowlerCooper · 15/07/2013 10:49

I suppose then you'd have to prove the person in the picture was the buyer and I'm not sure how that would work.