Hi newbie here in ebay. Am an ebay queen but something that's never happened before happened today and really do not know if should leave any feedback at all...
I won a M&P Beat buggy for my mum as she wanted a light, compact stroller when she has my ds. The reserve price was 99p - and there were no bidders so got for this price. Although it was low, no other bidders were presumably interested as it was a fair way out in the sticks (around 45 mins drive) and the buggy had cosmetic damage to one handle (which could have fixed with a bit of new foam).
Anyway emailed the vendor, called her yesterday and agreed to collect today. She said she would call me this morning to sort out times so stayed in. Got a call from her at 12.00 and we agreed collection at 5.
Sooo, have planned afternoon and leave at 3.30 with mum and 9 month old. The vendor knows we are coming from miles away - she h said 'ooh that's a long way' etc. Call and text vendor on route, eventually replies and says that she has had to go out and will be back soon.
We wait in the car for 2 hours(!) with a hungry and bored 9 month old. She keeps texting will be back soon etc, not to go anywhere. As we have spent £10 on petrol, we don't want to come back another time or just walk away.
Anyway, she eventually returns and says that she had to get a few things in town (!) but had not thought to contact us or anything.
As we walk in to collect the buggy she drops the bombshell that her dp 'accidently' sold the buggy I won to another couple today who were picking up a travel system, but went off with the stroller instead! Anyway, would we take an inferior make travel system instead. I didn't want the bulky crappy thing and said so, however we were considerably out of pocket for petrol an needed a spare buggy so took it.
She said she didn't want the 99p for it, so did not pay anything, however is it ethical to leave neg / neutral or any feedback at all as essentially I didn't get the item I won, but neither did I pay for anything.
I am however out of pocket with petrol (not the vendor's fault but willing to travel for this particular stroller) and lumbered with a quite shite elderly travel system which we will have to get rid of. We may get maybe £5 if that on ebay for it.
Oh and we wasted an entire afternoon because the vendor was sooo flaky!
Would you leave any feedback, or because I have accepted something - for free - in lieu of the original item - would you just chalk it up to experience?
Have to say that the vendor was possibly flaky but may have known exactly what she was doing, and may plan to relist the original item as the partner 'accidently' selling the wrong item is as fishy as hell.
I really would not want any other buyer to go through a crappy experience like this but don't want to ruin my feedback score either.
WWYD?