Any Ebay experts? I've been conned!

[romantico]

Okay, I'll try to be brief here. A few months ago I bought a bunch of collectables from a seller on ebay. The prices were very good/reasonable so I bought alot of items all at once. I should have checked his feedback before bidding. Even though he had alot of negative feedback he had alot of positive feedback (more than negative)but I wish I had checked before bidding. Anyway, his membership was suspended and he sent me and others an email about how he is out of business but to be patient with him he was going to reimburse EVERYONE but it was going to take some time. I waited. I emailed him about a month ago and he sent me a freindly email back saying he was finishing up and I'd have my money back soon. Well, last week I emailed him again and got no answer. I emailed him a few days ago, again no response. I filed a dispute with ebay but they ahve told me I have waited too long (transaction took place from january 23rd-Feb 1st)

I thought PAYPAL protected me from this sort of thing. I've never been ripped off like this and have never needed ebay or Paypal to step in. I have tried calling information and am having no luck. Ebay can;t give me contact info because he's no longer a registered user (the number he gave when siging up was a cel phone I think)My question is, should I just give up? We're talking about $300 here and I hate to think I'm out that. I thought ebay and Paypal protected me from crooks like this.I wish i could get a direct email or better yet a phone number to call and report my problem. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it! Thanks!!!

[grasswire]

1. can't you have the paypal payment(s) reversed?

I thought that was standard procedure and simple. And I would never, ever buy from someone with less than 98 percent positive feedback. And that's pushing it.

[romantico]

3. Its been so long according to them

He already has his money. If theres a way for me to reverse payment still, I am interested to know more.

[Maddy McCall]

4. There's a deadline.

She's outside of the specified deadline. :(

[Maddy McCall]

2. I hate to say this...

Unless you can handle it with your credit card company (have you called them yet?), then you're probably going to have to write it off.

The only leverage that ebay has to make sellers "behave" is the threat that they can lose their membership if they don't behave.

Paypal has very strict rules on filing complaints against sellers. If you're outside those time limits, I don't think that you have much hope to get your money refunded.

I know this sounds callous, but NEVER TRUST A SELLER if your item doesn't arrive within the specified time. File a complaint at the first sign that there's trouble. I almost learned the hard way, too. $100 pair of boots never arrived--I tried to work with the seller. He tried to delay and delay through emails with every excuse he could think of--evidently to make the clock tick down on the paypal complaint process. I got my complaint in to paypal in time. I got refunded.

Watch sellers on ebay. Lots of them are shady characters. I don't buy from anyone with negative feedback, if that feedback involves slow shipment, unanswered email, items arriving damaged, or items not arriving at all.

[romantico]

5. Thanks

It was a pre-sell which means they take orders about 2 or 3 months before items ship.I've done this before and all has worked out well.That and the fact they seller was communicating with me is why there was a delay.Also, it was a debit card.Thanks.

[Maddy McCall]

7. One thing I hate...

is that there is no way to talk to a living person when a paypal/ebay transaction goes south. :grr:

I'm sorry you lost so much money. :( Seriously, call your credit card company. Sounds like fraud to me.

[Deja Q]

6. Ebay will NOT police the sellers.

I know; I filed a fraud claim (computer software), complete with proof, and they rejected it.

That was 6 years ago, but I sure as ***l wouldn't trust them now.

[Maddy McCall]

8. They banned the seller who tried to scam me.

I was not the only complaint that they had received.

The dumbass reregistered on ebay after he was banned for not shipping items that people had paid for...he RELISTED the boots I had bought, with identical photos of them, under a new seller ID.

I got him banned again. Evidently, he was listing items that he didn't even own. :eyes:

I've been a member of ebay since it originated....in the beginning, it was mostly honest people offering GREAT deals on merchandise. These days, it's not so great...you take a much greater chance in dealing with scammers.

On the other hand, I bid on some accessories for my cell phone, and the user was banned while the auction was open, so I didn't pay. I emailed "safeharbor" or whatever the buyer concern email was at the time, but no one responded. And I got a strike against my account for it. :wtf: That's my only strike.

Ebay is usually geared to accomodate the sellers more than the buyers. At least it is these days...wasn't always that way.

[salin]

9. those sellers you describe, must be the one's Cheney said

demonstrated such great "job growth" in the Bush economy...

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

10. Hi!

:rofl:

:hi: