ARGH! Ebay frustration!

bindi · 28-09-2005, 03:48 PM

Hi all,

Just here to vent. I bought a Nokia for my son off ebay. We knew it was 2nd hand but it stated on the ad that it was in excellent condition, and that it was unlocked so we could put any sim card in it.

I bought it and paid for it straight away. It took 14 days to arrive (he reckoned his netbanking was down - for a week!).

Finally we got the phone today and not only is the screen all scuffed and scratched, and the earpiece cover broken, IT IS LOCKED. It has call barring activated and it appears it may be a stolen phone.

FFS, I am so angry. I contacted him straight away and told him how his ad was misleading and his claim of "no money back guarantee" is null and void if he isn't going to be honest, imho. I have demanded a full refund plus $5.00 to send it back to him.

How far can ebay take this? I know it was only $62, but it's the hide of some people that really annoys me.

I have found ebay to be pretty good, and nearly everyone to be honest and kind with good communication. I have only had one other issue with someone, and I ended up giving up cos ebay didn't do much of anything about it (the phone I bought said it was a colour screen but it wasn't).

EA2BA · 28-09-2005, 03:54 PM

Report him to ebay as well, you may not be the first or the last this guys does this too, but if he doesnt get reported no-one will stop him.

If buying a phone, do a web search on it first to confirm if it as stated in the add, or get a model number if they dont list it.

bindi · 28-09-2005, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

Report him to ebay as well, you may not be the first or the last this guys does this too, but if he doesnt get reported no-one will stop him.

If buying a phone, do a web search on it first to confirm if it as stated in the add, or get a model number if they dont list it.

Yeah well I learned from that first experience and so I did a search on THIS phone to see what it was like and what options it came with.

I reported the other guy to ebay too, but they did nothing about it (although this guy disappeared soon after).

4.9 EF Futura · 28-09-2005, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bindi

How far can ebay take this? I know it was only $62, but it's the hide of some people that really annoys me.

Agreed. Magnitiude of $$$ is not the issue, its the principle of the matter.

I guess you could start by leaving some sh!ithouse feedback (people take this VERY seriously) and also lodge a complaint with ebay customer service people.

The fact that representations were made SPECIFICALLY stating the phone was unlocked suggests that he did not provide a ture decription of what he was selling. Im pretty sure that's in violation of ebay's terms.

Issues like scratches/condition of the phone are subjective and not worth pursuing IMO. But if he said it was unlocked, well that's a blatant lie isnt it?

EA2BA · 28-09-2005, 03:59 PM

Bindi, might I suggest although might cost a touch more, goto cash convertors and look for a phone.

4.9 EF Futura · 28-09-2005, 04:02 PM

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/tp/inr-snad-process.html

"Item not received or Significantly not as described process"

bindi · 28-09-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/tp/inr-snad-process.html

"Item not received or Significantly not as described process"

Thanks mate, I will do that if he doesn't reply to my email within the next day or two.

And yes Dellboy, I may do that - or I might not go 2nd hand. I might buy brand new (we got our daughter's phone for just over $100, brand new thing she loves).

gozza · 28-09-2005, 04:11 PM

i don't think ebay can do much really...just give him a bad rating
i did the same thing but i didn't even get the damn phone
tried callin his mobes.....fake.......fake address and etc etc
basically had to take it up the *** and grin about it

Sourbastard · 28-09-2005, 04:14 PM

you have his bank account details, you have a stolen phone in your hands, go see the cops.

eb_5litre · 28-09-2005, 04:45 PM

I had a similar problem with an RC engine that was a dud.... I started a Dispute on Ebay and it was resolved by the other party in the form of a refund. If its not resolved I think Ebay can refund the money under certain circumstances.

XLS99 Ute man · 28-09-2005, 04:50 PM

yeah there are some bodgy ers out there...
luckly i havent had to deal with any of them yet

neb · 28-09-2005, 04:55 PM

go through the official ebay complaints system that way at least its all recorded and the person will take it more seriously, worked when someone sent me an item which was not as it was described in the description

28-09-2005, 04:58 PM

What phone is it?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 28-09-2005, 05:42 PM

Good luck, I've found eBay to be less then useless if anything doesn't go smoothly. I'm still waiting for something to be done about a non-paying bidder that hasn't responded to any communication, I reported them to eBay over a week ago and still nothing has been done - I just want my listing fees for that item refunded, but they have yet to even do that.

Nokias are easy to unlock, but yes, I'd be worried that it wasn't theirs to sell.

Hope it all gets sorted out quickly and to your satisfaction.

honer · 28-09-2005, 06:14 PM

Slaughter their feedback !

Word it in such a a way nobody will want to buy from them again !

Paxton · 28-09-2005, 06:43 PM

Bindi, have you left feedback yet? If not, leave negative feedback, with the worst possible message you can think of, and tell ebayers to stay away. It is the only way you are going to get the message across to him the you are not happy.

As SourBastard said, go to the cops, and report the guy of being selling stolen goods. You should then contact the phone company that the phone is from (presuming you know that) and tell them the IMEI number, which is obtained by pressing *#06#. The phone company can then work out a solution.

Hope that helps.

Black XR6 · 28-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Hammer their feedback, but they will just open a new account.

Contact the cops and see what they can do. Isnt this fraud?

Contact ebay through their methods, but ive found ebay to be very lax on actually acting against people as it is their bread and butter. I reported someone on ebay for selling obviously copyrghted pics and ebay cancelled that auction but left the other auctions from him for the same item. They just care about their auction fees in the end.

28-09-2005, 07:03 PM

bindi...dont know how often you buy stuff from Ebay, but always make sure its someone who has been around longer than a month or so, and that you arent their first transaction. Its not perfect, but knowing that they have been around for a while, and have made other satisfactory sales always helps.

Finally like many others have said, u can pick up a prepaid phone brand new unlocked for around $100 these days. And if u drop in to vodafone, they dont lock any of their phones, not even pre paid, so ur son can put in a optus SIM, if all his mates are using that or whatever

The MaDDeSTMaN · 28-09-2005, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black XR6

They just care about their auction fees in the end.

That's the impression I get from them too :(

bindi · 28-09-2005, 07:34 PM

Yeah it was an older Nokia 3530. I didn't want to spend too much as he lost his last phone!

We are all with Vodafone within the extended family so that's who we go with. Also I really appreciate them not locking phones... I don't know if anyone remembers but my son found one, and we handed it in to the cops. 3 months later it was ours to claim. But it was locked. I found out it was an Optus phone. I rang them and asked them to unlock it, they refused naturally (even though the COPS said it was mine). I said well can't we give it back to the original owner? And they said they couldn't do it under Privacy Laws!

So it is now defunct (and somewhere in Melbourne, in pieces - Santoitaliano tried to unlock it for me).

I will certainly leave negative feedback if he doesn't return my emails and if ebay do nothing.

He wasn't a newbie either, he's been around and had one neutral feedback of Just Ok. Everyone else raved about him. If he doesn't do something soon, I shall post his trading name on here too, so you will be warned.

Duffman · 28-09-2005, 09:08 PM

Im in a simliar situation. I purchased some tail lights of automotive company in melbourne. Anyway they leaked so I sent them back which wasn't an issue. They said they would get in contact with me shortly. Two weeks later no reply so I send an email on Sunday...no reply. I sent another yesterday asking wtf is going on im getting annoyed... today no reply. I tell ya some comapnies have no customer service.

I beleive they are probably doing something to sort it out... I hope. Though how hard is it just to let the customer know what is going on and reply to emails.

edit; thought id remove their name for the time been.

VertexZ · 28-09-2005, 11:08 PM

ebay have a buyer protection scheme where if you dont get the item or its significantly not as described, so can claim back the cost of the purchase (up to 400) less $25 admin fee. not too sure how hard it is to claim as Ive never done it.

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/tp/esp...igibility.html

bindi · 29-09-2005, 08:04 AM

Got an email last night... he says it was a misunderstanding, he was busy with work and left his "other half to pack the phones. She grabbed the one that is locked and useless".

Now he wants me to send it back to him and he'll send the right phone: "so if u send me back the phone ill either refund you the funds back or send you the correct phone".

Do I trust him and send it back?!

Also he wants the imei number? Why?

He assures me that this was a misunderstanding that he'll have it sorted asap.

I am a trusting person and don't know what to do. Suggestions please? I am thinking a refund would be best.

eb_5litre · 29-09-2005, 08:35 AM

Sounds like he wants the number so he can unlock it and send it back to you.

Ask him to refund the money before you send it back.. that way he doesnt hold all the cards and you dont lose your "evidence". Or you could COD at his expense.

bindi · 29-09-2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb_5litre

Sounds like he wants the number so he can unlock it and send it back to you.

Ask him to refund the money before you send it back.. that way he doesnt hold all the cards and you dont lose your "evidence". Or you could COD at his expense.

Gawd... what a shame it comes to this hey? I think I may lay off ebay for a while except to sell. Cos I am a damn good seller (if something's got a blemish or issue, I tell it like it is straight out - honesty is the best policy).

I told him I'd like a refund.

4.9 EF Futura · 29-09-2005, 11:25 AM

For anyone interested

http://www.peters1.dk/webtools/nokia...e.php?sprog=en

The Mighty Red · 29-09-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bindi

Gawd... what a shame it comes to this hey? I think I may lay off ebay for a while except to sell. Cos I am a damn good seller (if something's got a blemish or issue, I tell it like it is straight out - honesty is the best policy).

I told him I'd like a refund.

Its up to you bindi but if he has said its an honest mistake and he has returned your email in good time and his feedback is good then i would probably give him the benifit of the doubt and return the phone and wait for the right one .
I buy and sell on Ebay fairly often and as yet I have not had any probs but i guess the day will come.

JC · 29-09-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.F.C

Its up to you bindi but if he has said its an honest mistake and he has returned your email in good time and his feedback is good then i would probably give him the benifit of the doubt and return the phone and wait for the right one .
I buy and sell on Ebay fairly often and as yet I have not had any probs but i guess the day will come.

Yep, I agree with this. Give him a chance - but make sure you write down the serial number or IEMI number so that when he sends a phone back, you can make sure it is not the same one you sent back to him.

bindi · 29-09-2005, 07:58 PM

Wow, he's gone all scared and worried! He said he would refund the money asap and was really concerned about the feedback I'd leave.

Well it's all good, he's refunding me the money and I will be sending him the phone back.

29-09-2005, 08:43 PM

i must say that ive been very lucky ,ive been a member from way back in early 2000
and purchased many times from overseas and in OZ,the worst thing is a long delv service ,and that was from an Australian company ,and lack of feedback is the other issue