Ebay Advice

Ebay is easy.

If you like it, use it.

If you don't like it, don't use it.

Just don't whine about it.

Whining about it is like ordering a steak, eating it, and then sending back the empty plate with your complaint.

Ebay is just like life. It isn't fair. Every child should learn that by the age of five. Instead, they are taught the liberal idea of going to someone for "justice." Thus, they are primed for a society and government whom everyone can run to when they have a problem. "I just poured hot coffee in my lap, and it's McDonald's fault because it is too hot." "I just cut my finger with a kitchen knife, and there is no protective guard on the knife."

Sheesh, people. Either adjust or shut up.

Steve

I've ONLY had one problem "deal" on Ebay, and that was with a Canadian company whose item description was inaccuate, "Arbitration", through Ebay, at THEIR expense, resulted in the problem being resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

Now, I've bought quite a number of items through Ebay, from companies and individuals, overseas and domestic, and with that one exception, have been satisfied with the results...

AND, as the saying goes, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen..."

This only happens if the seller agrees to arbitration, AND agrees to a solution. An unscrupulous seller can stonewall, claiming the item is exactly as described, and eBay will do nothing. Case in point:

I bought a used commercial espresso machine which the seller advertised as "mint condition", "perfect operating condition" and "clean throughout". The seller had completed over 1,000 sales with only 2 negative comments. He provided photographs of the item and it looked good. He was also a "Square Trade" member (agrees to describe items accurately and to voluntary arbitration, in advance). The price was very good for the particular machine in the condition described.

When the item arrived it was 3 weeks late, filthy, inoperative, dented and scratched. A close look at the photos on eBay showed that the scratches and dents were barely visible if you knew where to look, but were rendered almost unnoticeable by out-of-focus photos and either retouching or the clever use of lens filters.

I took extensive photos and sent them to the seller, documenting all of the problems, and asked for a refund. He refused. I asked for a significant discount. He refused. I asked him to go to arbitration through "Square Trade". He agreed. I sent the photos to Square Trade, eBay and PayPal along with my complaint. The upshot was that the seller simply said that the item was as described when he sent it, therefore, the damage must have occurred after I received the item. He also argued that since I had disassembled the item to show how filthy it was inside, I had caused it to be inoperative.

Square Trade's response was something to the effect that this is a "he said/she said" situation, and since the seller had agreed to arbitration but can't agree on a remedy, there is nothing they can do. eBay and PayPal didn't want to get involved. Case closed.

Don't trust eBay, PayPal or Square Trade to protect you from dishonest sellers. If they want to screw you, they will. eBay, PayPal or Square Trade will act ONLY if the seller never sends the item, or if the seller sends a different item than advertised. The only protection you have against receiving an inoperative, damaged or broken item is the HONESTY OF THE SELLER.

Rick