GUITAR BOARD

On the 11th of June, Sunday, I purchased a DVD from an eBay seller. Paid
immediately by Nochex.

The seller advertised same day delivery. By Thursday I hadnt heard a pip,
so I wrote a friendly email to the seller just enquiring if he could tell me
roughly when hed be sending the DVD.

No reply.

Next week I emailed several more times with the same result.

Meanwhile I noticed something worrying. Well, the amount of time I spend
checking somebodys feedback is inversely proportional to the cost of the
item I want. In this case I was spending Ł4.60 inc postage, and the seller
had 98.x% positives out of about 300 transactions, so I thought itd be
okay. So when I look closely, I realise that all these transactions had
happened in a short period of time... and all the negatives (and tons of
neutrals were very recent). A day after I checked, his feedback turned to
private...

So I thought I was done. For such a small amount of money, I cant really go
anywhere. Nochex doesnt do anything about your wanting a refund, its there
purely to transfer money and doesnt ask if its legit or not. I used Nochex
at the sellers request. He said no cheques either, as it was too much
hassle for him (despite being an accepted form of payment on his eBay ad).
Heres a seller that accumulates positives, then appears to start to
misbehave. A seller who will only take Nochex or postal orders, none of
which you can stop or reverse... and dealing with lots of transactions whose
individual value is low, thus making any attempt to get the money back not
worthwhile.

Sure, maybe the guy just had a bad period... it can happen... but... I was
suspicious.

Eventually, last night I decided to try something, inspired by posts I read
here in this group.
I emailed him. I wrote him that as it turns out, I was going to go to Poole
(the seller is in Bournemouth, if the address I got was correct) because of
work matters, and Id be there between the 2nd and the 14th of July.
Therefore I would go personally to collect my DVD. I made sure I sounded
firm, but not threatening. I added that Id rather call him up in advance,
but I didnt have his phone number... so he can send it to me, or Ill just
try my luck and show up. Please, do let me know if this is inconvenient for
you I added ;-)

Well, what do you know?
Today I have an email from Nochex, with my refund, and an email from the guy
saying hes been having some trouble so he issued me a refund.
Coincidence?
It could be. Maybe the guy really had some problems that made him not care
about his eBay stuff... but... I dont think so.

So Im okay. I got my money, and amusement, imagining the guy thinking oh
shit when he read my email (and that was without resorting to use the
pictures Steve donated here ;-) Perhaps he googled up my name and came
across my posts in alt.psychopaths.murder

But this wasnt about the Ł4.60. I dont care about Ł4.60. I care about some
guy thinking himself clever enough and trying to get away with receiving
peoples money for nothing.

So, what to do now? Is there anything that can be done? Of course I
contacted eBay about my concerns, but I somehow doubt theyll do anything.

Jose
--
Musha ring dum a doo dum a dah - www.mcnach.com

Jose de las Heras wrote:


Yes - I was thinking they would be good in case of trouble.


Some kind of police or trading standards people? I know 4.60 isnt a
lot, but magnified by many people it indicates a fraud that is probably
not a one off. If he gets away with this I dont see what there is to
stop him doing it more often.

--
Woody

www.alienrat.com

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:23:36 +0100, usenet@alienrat.co.uk (Woody)
wrote:


It also raises the question of eBays seemingly cavalier attitude
towards what seem to be clear examples of fraudulent conduct.

Steve - who anticipates that the eBay bubble will eventually burst.

On Thu, 2006-06-29 at 07:15 +0100, Steve Cobham wrote:


Speaking as a sometime Ebay-addict, id say its straining already. The
flood of dodgy Chinese listings makes the guitar section (amongst
others) practically useless, and is putting me off selling there -
whats the point if other people feel the same as I do about it?


Ebay have demonstrated for a long time that they dont give a shit -
they dont need to, genuine or fraudulent, they get their listing fees
and completion fees just the same. I remember reading an article
somewhere accusing Ebay of being a far bigger supporter of piracy than
peer-to-peer, as they actually take a cut of the money generated.

These days I mostly use it to check out the stuffed ferrets.



jk
www.5x5.org.uk

Steve Cobham wrote:


Indeed. I dont know why they ask for a credit card when you sign up -
they dont seem to protect anything.


Maybe if something else comes along. There were other auction things,
and they have now mostly gone. I think *something* is needed.


--
Woody

www.alienrat.com

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:29:15 +0100, [5x5] wrote:


Like item number170000679789?

Although this auction is yet another example of poor eBay vigilance.

Describing the item as:

A FINE LOOKING CREATURE WITH BEADY LITTLE RED EYES AND A VICIOUS BITE
IN HIS DAY

is sure to get Peter Mandelsons lawyers twitching.

Steve.

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:29:15 +0100, [5x5] wrote:


I can see eBay as being home to all manner of undesirables.

As well as the obvious - touts, petty conmen, bootleggers and
counterfeiters - eBay could also be a refuge for:

Money launderers - what a perfect way to shift small amounts of goods
paid for with funny money without attracting attention.

Receivers - the perfect way to get rid of fenced goods.

Seconds being pitched as perfect - buy a load of substandard goods at
rock bottom prices then sell at a profit as perfect.

Lets face it, you dont really know what youre buying and who from.

Im sure this list could be added to..............

Maybe some sort of surety bond procedure could be implemented in which
only credit and debit card holders would be entitled to bid, sell or
buy and who would have to give card details to eBay so that a nominal
but fairly significant sum could be debited from them in the event of
dispute - say Ł100. This amount wouldnt be taken until that
eventuality occurred and would be returned immediately the matter was
reconciled.

OK, not faultless and Im sure that there are wrinkles in all of this,
but it is a system adopted when booking a hotel room for example and
it works for the majority of transactions, Im sure.

It would also mean more work for eBay, but I reckon that they could
stand the extra cost - theyve had their cake and eaten it too for
long enough.

Steve.

[5x5] wrote in message
news:1151562554.5658.3.camel@localhost.localdomain...

Ive always been wary of Ebay and deliberately wont start an account in my
name, for fear Ill be done over.
Son James of this parish, however, uses it a lot and has developed an eagle
eye for fraudsters and potential neer-do-wells. He also has good bidding
and last-minute sniping skills.
I get him to buy stuff for me, or as happens all too often, tell me not to
bother with a particular item/seller.
George