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eBay

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

Original poster

Buying an item after auction has ended- advice please

18 replies

amandine07 · 02/12/2013 08:48

Hello
I'm looking to buy an item (less than £100)- the seller has listed it a couple of times but there have been no bids.

I have offered the starting bid price & seller has accepted. How do we compete the transaction? Should the seller re-list it then I pay?

Am not keen on doing bank transfer for an item that is not currently listed on ebay, obviously want protection from the site.

Will the seller likely agree? What costs will they incur for selling...?
Thank you

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 09:02

yes - get them to relist and pay by paypal - bank transfer is great for the seller but no protection whatsoever as a buyer so do avoid that.

They will have final value fee to pay which is 10%, plus paypal fees, but they would have had those to pay had you purchased on the previous auction.

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 10:10

Thank you for this.
Ok I haven't asked the seller yet to re-list but this obviously strengthens my feeling that they should.

Re bank transfer do you mean in general for buying listed items on ebay? I had a seller who just refunded my paypal payment & insisted I pay by bank transfer after I won the item.
I pointed out that the advert said ok to PayPal but they said this wasn't the case, it was automatic or something as ebay are linked with paypal.

It was frustrating as it was a few £££ and I wanted to pay on credit card via PayPal!

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 10:22

no you must never pay by bank transfer - the only exception to paypal is when you collect an item and the seller would expect cash, but you have the chance to inspect before purchase then.

The seller demanding bank transfer is breaking ebay rules and can be reported for that - what is their reasoning for not wanting paypal, sounds like fee avoidance and a scam, you have absolutely no buyer protection with bank transfer. I would just pay again via paypal, and if they refund leave neg and low stars stating refused paypal demanded bank transfer. And if they send a cancellation request, refuse it.

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 10:40

Ooops the way I've I should've been totally scammed over by now! Blush

The seller was v insistent that they wanted a bank transfer & wouldn't accept paypal but didn't say why...also their advert said PayPal was accepted. Hmmm interesting...

I really wanted the item so I just did a bank transfer, I presumed that because the transaction was via ebay I was afforded protection. It wasn't collection, they sent the item- I've not left feedback yet as there seem to be parts missing.

Oh god, do I have any comeback on this?!

It looks like I have to purchase some extra parts...what's the best way to deal with it? Get them to refund the postage?
It's a pain in the ass, wasn't expecting to have to go out & but extra parts that were missing! Angry

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 11:14

no you have absolutely no comeback as you didn't use paypal - no buyer protection via ebay nothing. You will have to ask the seller to send the parts, and if they don't your only recourse is small claims court. How much was the item? Is their feedback good?

Leave a neg and low stars if they don't resolve - they have to accept paypal, that is the rules of ebay - no exceptions. A seller can ask for cash for collected items but if the buyer refuses that they have no choice but to cancel the transaction.

lljkk · 02/12/2013 11:35

2 situations here.

the seller who sent the item with missing parts has messed you about; but I don't think that's correct that you have NO RIGHTS just because you didn't use paypal. I think you could look into an INAD or reporting a seller for nonperformance (or both). Ebay may not be able to force a refund but they could hurt the seller in other ways on back of your complaint. So seller should be motivated to work a deal out with you for the missing parts.

The current seller asking for bank transfer: it saves them fees is why they want to. They could sell it to you off Ebay but you could still pay using paypal which gives you nearly as much buyer protection as Ebay sale would, although it breaks Ebay rules because they don't get 10% of the transaction amount. You have more protection if it's all done above board on Ebay.

SD is right that buyer always has the right to insist on paying by Paypal, and that includes on collection items. Seller risks being reported as non performer and other penalties if they refuse paypal.

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 11:55

Ok thank you for your messages- I didn't realise that about PayPal. Right so they were avoiding fees.

They've got excellent feedback overall- over 200 positive in last year, plus a couple of negative ones.
I've purposely not left feedback yet.

The item was over £300, postage was £50 as it's heavy etc. is it reasonable to ask for postage refund to compensate for all the hassle it's causing?

I don't even think I can get the parts I need as it's an old version. Not prepared to wait around for ages til the parts get sourced somewhere.

Am considering approaching ebay now & asking for advice, or at learnt highlighting what has occurred.
I was in no way colluding with the seller- I was just being a naive muppet!

OP posts:
lljkk · 02/12/2013 12:04

Paypal take 3.4% of the total transaction amount, +20p. On £300 that's £10+.

I would start by contacting the seller to say what's missing & ask if they can source the missing bits or compensate you for bits you'll have to buy elsewhere. Always give them a chance to sort it out.

If seller is unhelpful I would contact Ebay on live chat & ask them about your options. If LiveChat are unhelpful (notoriously ignorant staff) I would try opening an item-not-as-described case (go to Ebay resolution centre). Seller must have a paypal account and it's possible the funds would be frozen on your behalf after all. Worth a try.

And if all that no good, you can try reporting them for nonperformance, and leaving them terrible feedback. Still loads of options up your sleeves.

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 12:07

Just to clarify- I've already paid the seller via bank transfer, really wanted the item & didn't really think/check the implications.

Naively thought that because I was buying on ebay I was automatically protected!!

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 12:21

if you pay by bank transfer and the transaction goes wrong ebay cannot give you a refund - if the seller doesn't refund or replace missing parts your only recourse is small claims court. No automatic protection unless you pay by paypal.

What has the seller said, are they getting you the missing parts? You will need to return for a refund, or are you saying you want a postage refund only and to keep the item with missing parts? If you want a partial refund the seller has to instigate that, again ebay cannot make him pay you that amount.

I think the seller knows exactly what they are doing and refusing paypal for an item of that value seems to me a clear attempt to defraud.

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 14:33

Ok- the seller has tried to get the spare parts but don't think it's available as there's an updated version.

Do not want to return the goods but the missing parts limit how the item functions ie not as advertised in the listing.

I accept I've been an idiot & took a massive risk by doing a bank transfer. Refunding the postage would be more of a goodwill gesture (honestly don't believe the postage cost that much in the first place) & I'm not wanting a refund on the item, will keep it whatever happens.

All I've got left really is to give negative feedback, I won't do this if they refund postage/locate the parts ( is v unlikely).
Ebay is such a mindfield but I have definitely learned a big lesson.

If I approached ebay to tell them the seller insisted on not using paypal is there any point in doing that?
Thank you for all the advice so far

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 14:59

you can also leave low stars - that can be just as damaging. Have you asked for a partial refund?

You can report for unsafe payment method - listing practices, banned or inappropriate and then payment methods

here

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 15:17

I haven't asked for a partial refund yet, wanted to work out where I stand with regards to everything.

The seller says that the missing parts never came with the item when they purchased it brand new, but we have friends with the same item bought brand new & they do have these parts. (Sorry I don't want to indentify what exactly I bought).

Also, internet photos of the item on manufacturers website clearly show these 'missing parts' that come as standard with the item.

I don't know whether the seller lost the parts/gave them away/sold them...they have said they've tried to locate it, as have I too with no luck. They've offered to reimburse the cost of parts when I locate them, while this is nice of them, it looks unlikely that the parts are available anywhere.

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I'm getting. We paid a lot of money for an item that should function in a specific way but now it's down to us to sort out the missing parts etc.
Rant over!

OP posts:
Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 15:24

I must add that the seller has been v good overall, with fast communication and the item arriving fairly fast.
Can't fault them in that respect.

Don't really want to give negative feedback but definitely will have to lose stars over this!

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 15:33

but why wouldn't you neg - he has sold you an item for £300 with fundamental parts missing, plus ripped you off over the postage?

lljkk · 02/12/2013 15:39

It's definitely worth a chat with Ebay Customer Service.

Original poster
amandine07 · 02/12/2013 15:54

I know, I know- just working out what is reasonable in the circumstances. Ebay seems like a total mindfield.

Now of the opinion that, seeing as I've saved them sellers fee as I paid via bank transfer (when I would have much preferred to pay on credit card via PayPal, the least they can do is refund the postage!!

Yes I'm going to contact customer service, thanks for all your input.
After all this hassle, it might just be easier to buy things full price on the high street!

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 02/12/2013 16:26

you saved paypal fee but not fvf - so 3.4% plus 20p - so £12.10 if you paid them £350.

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