Why is Ebay turning so dodgy?????

[nictry]

So the story goes!!! Last purchase I made from Ebay was with MB_Tuner which is documented in a previous thread on the grief I had in trying to get the goods I paid for.

Anyway just won an auction today for some locking wheel bolts link here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4540519285 so quite happy got them for the base price along with a couple of other bidders and get my confirmation through from Ebay for the price of £12.50 and £3.50 postage total £16.00, anyway then get the onvoice from the seller asking for cheque to be sent for £28.50 , he is charging £16.00 for his postage costs (presumably because he didn't get as much as he thought for the auction sale?) I have mailed him back saying I assume he has made a mistake with the p&p costs and the actual total price should be £16 not the p&p!!! I await his response with interest.

What gets me is you try to do everything properly and by the book when using Ebay and it seems everyone is out to try and scam you

 

[BenzComander]

I think it is just another trait of modern life. Because the majority of people using ebay to sell things think they will never have to meet you face to face they think they can do what they like and get away with it

Similarly, don’t get me started on the reasons for the rise in road rage. If the people who rant and rage behind the wheel of their car were big enough to stand in front of another human being and behave like that they would probably be spending the next few minutes looking for their teeth

Lets just all relax a little and enjoy life.

(Sorry to come over all philosophical, but have been spending the afternoon planting Sunflowers with my 2 year old )

 

[pepper&boulou]

So the story goes!!! Last purchase I made from Ebay was with MB_Tuner which is documented in a previous thread on the grief I had in trying to get the goods I paid for.

Anyway just won an auction today for some locking wheel bolts link here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4540519285 so quite happy got them for the base price along with a couple of other bidders and get my confirmation through from Ebay for the price of £12.50 and £3.50 postage total £16.00, anyway then get the onvoice from the seller asking for cheque to be sent for £28.50 , he is charging £16.00 for his postage costs (presumably because he didn't get as much as he thought for the auction sale?) I have mailed him back saying I assume he has made a mistake with the p&p costs and the actual total price should be £16 not the p&p!!! I await his response with interest.

What gets me is you try to do everything properly and by the book when using Ebay and it seems everyone is out to try and scam you

It clearly states P&P is £3.50

 

[scotth_uk]

Ebay is a load of tripe to purchase from - their protection is minimal and the place is full of losers. I happily sell on there, as I always do the right thing by people, but never purchase anything.

 

[concordepilot19]

Some purchases are OK. My most recent was a USB extension cable and I won it for £0.01 plus postage. It arrived without any problems.

 

[fatherpierre]

I've never had a problem with ebay. I've bought and sold 100s of things on there including loads of cars.

Just bought and picked this up today for a snip - she's a beaut

 

[Rumble]

Father Bling!!!

I must say all in all i've made over 100 transactions through ebay and only been let down 4 or 5 times. Its a matter of getting wise to the scammers and also taking a risk, just like real life really. As a matter of fact face to face doesnt always help and yes Ebay offers very little protection.

Deal with reputable sellers, monitor their feedback and read all their negative ones
Try cash on collection or by cheque, or atleast get a confirmed landline number and address before payment
If you're going to make a risky purchase make sure you can afford to lose the money just in case the deal goes pear shaped.

 

[fatherpierre]

Exactly.

I never buy anything of any decent value without paying cash in person.

It's all about being sensible. You wouldn't send a cheque for £10000 to someone who had their car for sale in autotrader - ebay's no different. Always work on the thinking that ebay/paypal will not do anything to help you if you get ripped off, because generally they won't!

 

[Dave Kerr]

Find out where he is and ask one of the forum members to pick it up and post it to you. I have done this a few times with E-type parts.

Another problem seems to be Nigerians sending out scam emails after putting in the highest bid then saying someone in the UK owes them £1200 they will send the whole amount to to the seller.
The seller should deposit the £1200 and take out the price of the goods plus postage then send the remainder to him via western union.

Dave

 

[andy_k]

eBay has gone downhill because they (eBay) don't give a stuff and there is little or no comeback on anybody selling dodgy stuff.

You just need to look around car boot sales to find nicked stuff, pirated CDs, stuff being sold as working when it's not to see that alot of people are basically dishonesty when it comes to earning a couple of quid and that's on a local scale with the possibility of trading standards paying the fairs a visit

Now multiply that to a global scale with every greedy little conman in the world thinking that eBay is the place to make their fortune and you can see why it's not the idyllic place it used to be when all that happened was a few "geeks" swapping Pez dispensers.

Just remember though if something seems too good to be true then it most likely isn't true.

There are still some great bargains to be had on eBay but like so many things it's become a victim of it's own success.

Andy

 

[splang]

I have had mainly a good time on E-Bay but yes, I have had my share of problems too.

I would say though that the standard purchase protection which was offered by ebay - and i claimed through when goods didn't arrive - did work for me (less the excess of £15 if I remember correctly) although it did take time and perserverance !!

Steve :bannana:

 

[peterchurch]

It depends on what categories you are buying as well I think. I have been watching stuff in the incar Entertainment arena and the number of scammers on there is amazing and its so obvious that its a scam but they must make money otherwise they would not keep going back...

I have always had good results in the past, but I choose the sort of stuff that I want with care, and I don't even bid on something if there is any doubt about the seller, again where I can I choose to collect / pay cash...

 

[andyman]

I think andy k has just about summed it up!!,
Also though I fing when I do get a problem and complain ebay send me out a computer generated email which isnt usually much help and then I have to wait 2 or 3 days for a real person to email me and they are usually unhelpful too.
It would be better if there was a 24hr 7 day a week facility where you could email or even phone up for advice anytime,
basically I find theyre advice/complaints system totally in adiquate(sp?).
Just my thoughs!!

 

[nictry]

Well, interestingly after a couple of emails to the other winners of the auction to enquire whether they have also been charged the excessive p&p (looking at his other sales the postage is £15!) I received a reply, just one line saying oops made an error and confirming the 3.50 postage! I am a known cynic (at least to people who know me!) but I have to say this seems like a classic 'see if I can get away with it' and when he gets questioned then a quick back down is in order, I may be totally wrong and it could be a genuine error but I guess my recent experiences from Ebay and a couple of other forum (not here!) purchases have taught me to be a little more sceptical than I used to be about 'genuine' errors!

Still will be interesting to see if/when my bolts turn up (see still cynical!)

 

[pepper&boulou]

Keep us posted.