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Original poster

E Bay Problem, designer item problem

21 replies

Rhiannon · 30/11/2002 11:00

Have bid on a designer item on ebay and won it last night. All very exciting and was described on ebay as this item not in the type or style of.

I emailed the woman straight after to ask her to confirm it is genuine, she said it was a gift from an ex and she couldn't.

I have now said, which I think is quite reasonable that I need some proof that it is genuine b4 I part with a reasonable sum of cash for it.

I have emailed ebay helpline about this but she has since come back about wasting her time and putting me on the ebay 'blacklist'.

Comments please!

OP posts:

jac · 30/11/2002 11:18

Oh dear Rhiannon. I think the idea is that you contact the seller with any questions before you make a bid. Perhaps explain it's your first time and you didn't know what to do.

SoupDragon · 30/11/2002 12:25

You can, of course, leave her negative feedback in return saying that she would not confirm the item was as described.

Original poster

Rhiannon · 30/11/2002 12:26

jac, didn't know this, thought if it was being offered as genuine you shouldn't have to ask if it is. See what I mean? and then be told they're not sure it's a bit scary.

Anyway have now offered to meet her at our local shopping centre and will take along another bag which I know is an original to compare.

She hasn't agreed to this yet but hopefully it will resolve the situation.

I remember someone once buying a Rolex watch over an auction sent, paying several thousands of £'s and what they actually bought was a photo of it!

OP posts:

SueW · 30/11/2002 15:52

From what I understand the key is to check the description so if it says

For Sale: photo Rolex watch

you don't assume that they made a typo. I have also heard of someone buying an empty box.

If she's said it's say a 'Gucci bag' then she has to sell you a Gucci bag. If she was unsure she should have indicated that in her ad.

Original poster

Rhiannon · 30/11/2002 23:11

SueW, thanks for that, it was advertised as a Burberry handbag, a photo too. It looks fine which is why I made a bid for it. But as soon as I started asking questions she started to get verbal with me. She hasn't returned my email about meeting up. Watch this space!

OP posts:

jac · 01/12/2002 13:55

Rhiannon, you're perfectly entitled to ask questions for what you're buying. If you asked questions after the auction had closed, then maybe that's why she's being funny with you, but if it was before then she's a stupid cow who's trying to sell something fake as a genuine.

My only experience is that I bought a Louis Vuitton handbag and as far as the seller was concerned it was genuine but I guess not 100% sure as no receipts etc with it. But if it's a fake it's a good one and I don't mind as you can't get them anymore new. Not that I'd buy a new one at that cost.

Be careful if you are going to meet though, do take someone with you.

kkgirl · 01/12/2002 18:46

IMO Ebay can be dodgy. I have been disappointed a couple of times but was also conned when I bid for one of those Barbie Cash Register things which cost £40 new.
The picture showed it and insinuated that it was complete but when it arrived it was missing some of the accessories including the tags which you need to be able to use the scanner. I paid about £16 for it and when I politely asked the seller if she had forgotten to send them, we had a bit of a problem.
Even though it was for my dds' birthday she wasn't bothered and ebay were useless no comeback unless you paid over £20 I think but I ended up giving v. negative feedback, but as all their other feedback was good, it looks like I'm just being fussy, but the item cannot be used properly with the tags.
I am very wary now needless to say.

chiarasmom · 07/12/2002 03:37

hi I do a lot of ebay shopping, primarily for smaller cheap things (less than $100). I think the problem has arisen because you are supposed to ask all questions and be satisfied with what you are bidding on before you bid on it. You shouldn't bid unless you already know what you're bidding on. The other thing is, I would imagine that this person will not want to meet with you - one of the glories of ebay is that you never really have to leave your house except to go to the post office. So I wouldn't be surprised if the woman is stalling. You should definitely leave negative feedback for her - stating that she wouldn't confirm authenticity. It's your only real recourse, I think. Good luck!

SueW · 07/12/2002 09:42

Rhiannon have you heard anything yet?

Original poster

Rhiannon · 07/12/2002 17:16

Hi yes, we had a bit of a ding dong over email so I suggested we meet at Lakeside to discuss, look it over etc. She said she wasn't coming to meet me but I could go to her house. So I suggested we call it quits.

The problem was I bid on the bag when there were only 2 minutes to go on the auction. So there was no time to ask questions. But IMO if she's selling something as Burberry she shouldn't say 'oo err don't know an ex-boyfriend bought it' when asked to confirm it's authenticity.

Haven't heard from her since and she hasn't left bad feedback for me and nor I for her so it's been left at that.

Will certainly be more careful in future and won't be touch the 'designer' section in future. R

OP posts:

chiarasmom · 07/12/2002 17:53

Sounds like the best result - to just walk away. For the future though, I do think it is best not to bid on anything you're not sure you have all the info on.

chiarasmom · 07/12/2002 19:55

By the way, in praise of ebay - and this is the most appropriate forum to say this - ebay is fabulous for new or used baby clothes. I have bought probably 15 or so lots of baby clothes and have never had a bad experience. I stick mostly to the NWT (New With Tags) category, although the few used things I have bought (all Miniman or other French designers) have all been really great quality- and good prices. Not a single bad experience. I think most of the sellers/buyers of the baby clothes are moms, so you've got a really good group of people who do not represent items and pay/deliver in a timely manner cuz we're like that

RosieT · 07/12/2002 21:55

I'm afraid I'm a bit of an eBay virgin ? I've only used it once. What I want to know is, if you bid successfully for something and send your cheque off, is there anything you can do if the cheque is cashed and the stuff simply doesn't arrive? (Not sure whether this applies to me yet ? although suspect it may do ? as It's 10 days since I sent off my cheque, I know it's been cashed, but I haven't received my goods yet). Any advice most welcome.

SoupDragon · 07/12/2002 22:01

Contact the seller and ask what's happening. I wouldn't worry yet - 10 days isn't that long and the money can leave your account before arriving in theirs.

RosieT · 07/12/2002 22:07

Cheers, SD ? I'll give that a shot. Nice to know someone else is up on line (presumably while their partner is buried in Match of the Day ? how I used to hate Saturday evenings. Should have been warned when on third date, dp suddenly announced at 10.30 "I wonder what's on telly".

jasper · 07/12/2002 22:33

Rosie I've used ebay once and had similar worries to you - it was about ten days after my cheque was cashed that I got my item. I don't think it's time to worry just yet. Did you check out the seller's feedback profile?
Have you tried emailing the seller?
If you do have problems though ebay have mechanisms in place to deal with that sort of thing, though I don't know what they are.
Good luck.

chiarasmom · 08/12/2002 01:18

agree with Jasper - email the seller - I usually do in a friendly sort of - just wondering if the item has been delivered - way. you will prob. receive soon.

Cadi · 08/12/2002 01:48

I sell a lot on eBay and have bought too. I have had one cheque bounce on me and the person sent me cash straight away when I told them. But it made me nervous I now ask buyers to expect a minimum of 10 days from receipt of cheque to receipt of their goods. Some sellers have set PO days etc.

We're mostly an honest lot Feedback will tell you a lot about Sellers - if it's high with no negs then they are a fair bet for you to buy from especially as they are going to do their best to keep everyone happy.

I agree with what others' have said, send a friendly email to put your mind at rest, I don't mind being emailed by Buyers wondering and once it transpired that I had missed their parcel out so I was relieved that she did.

chiarasmom · 08/12/2002 02:10

Hi - I have to qualify what I've said here, since I forgot to mention that I'm in the US. I don't know if ebay is as widely used (and as well) in the UK as it is in the US.

tiktok · 09/12/2002 09:38

I love ebay - I have only ever bought with it...couldn't be bothered to sell. I have bought some nice stuff - a computer printer, two fab suede jackets, a gorgeous little dress, some jewellry and I have just won the auctions for a pair of boots and a pair of shoes. I have probably bought a total of about 20 items. One item went wrong - the seller described the shoes she was selling as suede and they weren't. She returned my money but not the postage which I thought was mean, but I haven't left bad feedback....life's too short. A leather jacket turned out to be a bit small, but I am selling it on in a local dress agency and will probably recoup my money and maybe a quid or two more.

I am a second-hand fiend anyway - hate buying new - and I go for clothing that's designer or a good make, and which claims to be new or almost new. Yes, you risk being ripped off, so I would never pay a huge amount. You also risk things being different from what you expected, as pictures on the web are not very clear. But I think it all adds to the fun!!

According to the Observer yesterday, a guy in the US sold everything he had on ebay - right down to opened bags of sugar and empty boxes - as a sort of anti-consumerist project.

I like that aspect of it as well - buying from individuals, not big shops.

RosieT · 13/12/2002 11:41

Hi ? just thought you might like to know, my parcel arrived this morning ? 16 days after sending off my cheque. So I was worrying unneccesarily. Phew ? don't have to explain to dh why I sent a big cheque off to a woman I've never heard of in Bolton. Thanks for those helpful comments, though!

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