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Topic: When an Ebay PSG deal is too good to be true... |
Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 30 May 2007 7:52 am |
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This deal was too good to be true. I should have known!
I hit the BIN on this MSA S12 Uni last Wednesday. My timing was perfect as it had only been up a couple minutes. The deal had immediate paypal required. The seller had only 14 points but 100% positive.
Here's the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190116153895
Beautiful steel, unbelievable price.
I believe that the seller realized the value of this steel after the auction had ended. Instead of coming clean which I would have understood and worked with him, he strung me along, held my money for almost a week, promised a ship date, and after the ship date had passed, contacted me with a lie (in my opinion) about the steel. He did send me back my money via paypal after holding it for a week, and after paypal fees it came up short. So this guy got my money for a week and I take a loss. I have contacted him regarding reimbursement for the paypal fees and I'll drop the whole thing but I have the feeling I won't hear back from him. Through some research I have his name, email address, and the address and phone number of the business that he owns in North Dakota.
I do not consider my self vindictive but I am very tempted to post a "buyer beware" sort of post with all his info and report this to the Better Business Bureau as it looks like he has done other Ebay transactions for his business.
Or should I just drop it as it isn't much money (but it IS the principle). |
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Charles Dempsey
From:
Shongaloo, LA
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Posted 30 May 2007 8:08 am
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The seller screwed up. If he had refunded your payment there would have been no fees.
Charlie |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 30 May 2007 8:10 am
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| Quote: |
| ...it isn't much money (but it IS the principle). |
I don't know, I have mixed feelings about this. A "bid" is a contract, but maybe they don't view buy-it-nows like they do a bid? That aside, and speaking only for myself, I'd feel kinda guilty paying someone less than half of what an item was really worth. Maybe he just made a mistake, and maybe you expected too much.
At any rate, "principles" should work in both directions, don't you think? 
And yes, I'd hope he'd reimburse your the paypal fee. |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 30 May 2007 8:18 am
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Donny- I agree that is was way under priced yes and I was pretty jazzed about a big PSG score (wouldn't most of us?). But I had also planned that I if I didn't like the steel I would pass the savings onto the forum plus a much bigger donation to Bob. As anyone who has done business with me on the forum can attest the my principles are very sound. Thanks for putting them under question though, Bro. Jeez.
But the main point of my post is this guy strung me along for week with a promised ship date etc. As I said in my previous post if he contacted me quickly after the auction and said he made a mistake, I would have completely understood and not sweated the paypal fees.
Last edited by Grant Johnson on 30 May 2007 9:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 30 May 2007 8:28 am
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| From what you say, it seems to me he owes you the guitar. He took your money and gave you a promised ship date - which I think makes a contract - and then didn't perform his end. Perhaps it's not worth it to make a federal case out of it, but I think he's flat out wrong here. |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 30 May 2007 8:29 am
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| Charles Dempsey wrote: |
The seller screwed up. If he had refunded your payment there would have been no fees.
Charlie |
Well there were, the standard 3%. |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 8:49 am
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FYI...EBay does regard Buy-It-Now as a contract to purchase, just like the normal bid process. Regardless of the seller's change of heart, HE put it up for sale for what HE wanted to sell it for. IF he was an honorable person, he would have honored the sale and shipped the guitar. A deal is a deal.
Having realized the true value after the fact, he should have requested for the buyer to agree to cancel the auction. EBay has a procedure for that. The seller handled it in a dishonorable way...shame on him. 
His refunding the money does not cancel the sale. This could be pursued if you wanted to report it to EBay.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
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Mark Vinbury
From:
N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 10:24 am
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This guy should have sent you the guitar.
If he's foolish enough to not research the value of an instrument before putting it up for sale he deserves what he gets. Anyone who is intelligent enough to be able to list somthing on eBay can be expected to be able to research it's value.
If he goofed up his eBay listing ( maybe he put the starting bid in the buy it now spot)he needed to fall on the sword, say I goofed up and ask for a break. The weasel routine of stalling, etc. doesn't fly.
What excuse did he give you?
You certainly shouldn't have lost any money.
He should have given you $50 for your time and trouble.
I'd take whatever steps are available.
eBay needs to have a penalty system for transactions that go this way. |
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Jon Hyde
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 7:52 pm
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Grant, what a disappointment! I was really looking forward to hearing about this guitar when it arrived. It may not have been the seller's best call to list it at that price but I think they should have to stand by it when the buyer accepts the deal that they offer. Again, real sorry to see this news posted today.
Jon |
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Marco Schouten
From:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Posted 30 May 2007 11:22 pm
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I would leave him a negative feedback
_________________
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 11:29 pm Feedback grenade
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| Not only report him to eBay, but slam him with negative feedback in as eloquent terms as the 80-character limit will allow...unless he shoots you a very considerable cut of his more lucrative subsequent transaction to compensate for your pain, suffering and disappointment. Regardless, the principle of a weaseled sale still qualifies him for the dreaded negative. And at only (14), a negative will put a good size dent in the score--(13) and about 94%. The downside is: be prepared for retaliation and a Taz-worthy fit of affronted self-righteousness. |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 31 May 2007 2:31 am
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Yeah, you can slam him with negative feedback, then he just returns the favor. That's why the whole feedback system is kind of a joke-turns into "he said-she said". Who do you believe when you don't know either party? It's why I never am the first one to leave feedback.
In this case the seller #&*@!ed up and didn't do his homework. He probably paid two hundred bucks for it and went for the quick flip then found out the real value of the item. He's the weasel here, there's no way that you can turn him into a victim. Grant loses out, oh well. On deals like this you always have to expect something to go sour. Nothing ventured (just a few sleepless nights and some Alka-Selzer), nothing gained. You shouldn't be out the 3% either, when the seller refunded your money he must've done it as a payment. A simple refund wouldn't incur the charge-maybe he withdrew the funds before he sent them back to you and it had to be a new transaction? |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 31 May 2007 2:54 am
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| Cartwright Thompson wrote: |
Yeah, you can slam him with negative feedback, then he just returns the favor. That's why the whole feedback system is kind of a joke-turns into "he said-she said". Who do you believe when you don't know either party? It's why I never am the first one to leave feedback.
In this case the seller #&*@!ed up and didn't do his homework. He probably paid two hundred bucks for it and went for the quick flip then found out the real value of the item. He's the weasel here, there's no way that you can turn him into a victim. Grant loses out, oh well. On deals like this you always have to expect something to go sour. Nothing ventured (just a few sleepless nights and some Alka-Selzer), nothing gained. You shouldn't be out the 3% either, when the seller refunded your money he must've done it as a payment. A simple refund wouldn't incur the charge-maybe he withdrew the funds before he sent them back to you and it had to be a new transaction? |
That is exactly how he returned the money, by payment. I am guessing that he did withdraw it. I am going to leave negative feedback but not full of superlatives. Just the facts. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 31 May 2007 3:15 am
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If you ever have to actually try to deal with a real person at Ebay you will find out that Ebay is a money making machine that only cares about one thing----making money. The customer service is about non existing and for disputes like this, they make it so miserable that you just want to forget about it.
Same thing with another Ebay company Paypal. You better hope that you never get into a arbitration situation with Paypal. I never had to jump through so many useless hoops not even with the IRS!!
Ebay is only interested in the easy auction money they make. Any problems with auctions and you will get the corp. song and dance. Feedback is a joke as long as it can be used as a weapon. Nearly impossible to get a negative feedback taken off your record even if someone slams you for spite.
Just do your homework before sending money to people. If it is small amounts...be prepared to just let it go if the deal is sour.
In regards to this deal, all the seller has to do is tell Ebay that he accidently put the wrong price on the item and he is in the clear. That easy. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 31 May 2007 4:21 am
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Life is too short to worry about the hassle in retrieving a few bucks. Blow it off to experience in dealing with unethical people.
You're a principled person, and that's the only "principle" that ultimately matters.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Jerry L Miller
From:
Sublette, Kansas, USA
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Posted 31 May 2007 4:35 am
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Post his name and add, on the forum so the rest of us will know not to do busniss with him or at least be very careful if we do.
jerry  |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 31 May 2007 5:22 am
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| Herb Steiner wrote: |
Life is too short to worry about the hassle in retrieving a few bucks. Blow it off to experience in dealing with unethical people.
You're a principled person, and that's the only "principle" that ultimately matters. |
Herb- You are correct. I am already letting it go.
At this point the only thing I am planning to do is post his name and town. (I wanted to post his address and phone as well but I won't.)
Fellow forumites beware of this seller on ebay:
Frank Schumacher of Jamestown, ND. Ebay handle: preferred701 |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 31 May 2007 7:01 am
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I disagree. Your blowing it off is his victory and his momentum to repeat this crap to the next victim. Guys like this need to realise there is repercussions to their actions, or it just escalates. Who is going to ever stand up to these wrongs? When is "bad enough" going to make it "time to do something about it"??
The bad thing about it, is ebay buyers have hardly any rights, and ebay sellers can get away with bloody screaming murder. Be a buyer and try to get some help---it's unbelievable the grief you have to go through just to find someone to talk to.
I would bet if you new the half of it, that guitar was probaly hot, and the law might have closed in on him before he could ship it and get it out of sight. Messy deal. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 31 May 2007 9:17 am
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Al Capone and "cement shoes" comes to mind...  |
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Mark Vinbury
From:
N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 31 May 2007 10:01 am
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Ebay needs to have a "performance bond" arrangement whereby in order to list somthing you have to put up "insurance" (with a credit card) that you are serious about selling the item and you will deliver.
If the seller backs out the winner gets some monetary restitution.
eBay needs to take some of the responsibility for weasel sellers since it is their glossy system that attracts buyers and entices them to bid. I see it like a contractor being responsible for their sub-contractors work. |
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Brian LeBlanc
From:
Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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Posted 31 May 2007 10:33 am Professional...
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Well...at least you got $ back
I just filed in Rhode Island small claimes against Skip Keane on the totalled Professional I got taken on !
_________________
'Frenchy' LeBlanc...
ShoBud & Twins |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 31 May 2007 10:37 am
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negative feedback and report to ebay for sure...anything else is encouragement to do it again..and again...and again.
feedback might not be perect but I know when im buying I read all the negatives and their responses |
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Joe Alterio
From:
Irvington, Indiana
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Posted 31 May 2007 11:30 am
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| Grant Johnson wrote: |
| Charles Dempsey wrote: |
The seller screwed up. If he had refunded your payment there would have been no fees.
Charlie |
Well there were, the standard 3%. |
Then he did it wrong. He probably sent you money via PayPal as though he was paying you for some goods or services, thus PayPal hitting you with 3%. He should have chose the option to refund your money....you wouldn't have been charged a dime. |
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Dennis Schell
From:
Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia
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Posted 31 May 2007 11:36 am That ain't right !!!
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I'd go after the guitar. A deal's a deal and the seller didn't hold up his end. HE decided what he wanted as a BIN figure so to hell with his "20/20 hindsight" IMO! I'd also tell the "head honchos" at Ebutt what happened....
JMO,
Dennis
Besides, imagine how little he probably paid at the estate sale for that beautiful axe! Probably peanuts...  What a snake!
_________________
"Bucks Owin"
Last edited by Dennis Schell on 31 May 2007 12:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Charles Dempsey
From:
Shongaloo, LA
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Posted 31 May 2007 12:43 pm
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| Grant Johnson wrote: |
| Charles Dempsey wrote: |
The seller screwed up. If he had refunded your payment there would have been no fees.
Charlie |
Well there were, the standard 3%. |
PayPal has a feature that allows the seller to refund the payment. When he does that, as opposed to just sending you money through PayPal, the fees are negated.
C |
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