[SWCollect] Fuck Ebay

[Josh Lulewicz]

Please excuse my language…   But Tom I am totally with you on your hatred for all things ebay.   Here is my story….for those that are interested.   On November 5, 2003 I won the following auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3056131090   And paid via paypal on 11/12/03.   On 12/4/03 I received an e-mail from Richard stating that he had a new baby and that shipment was delayed and he was sorry etc, etc, and that he would notify me when he shipped.   So being the nice person I am I gave him the benefit of the doubt.   Then as weeks passed and I continued not to hear from him I started to get worried.  I sent an e-mail to the guy probably every other day.  I tried to leave negative feedback but ebay NARU’d him so that was out.    By this time it was past paypal’s 30 day “protection policy” so I was screwed there.   So I just gave up…figured I was out $20+ and it was a lesson learned.   Then the other day I am crusing the ‘bay’ and I spot this curious listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3082267622&category=4315   Now clearly this is the same guy and the same item… -        Same picture -        Virtually the same Location -        Virtually the same Description -        User ID differs by 4 characters   So I immediately filed a report with ebay’s infamous “Safe-Harbor” team pffft.   First they send me a response about the first auction: “We have investigated your report. At this time, the seller you reported is no longer a registered user. This occurs when a user cancels…”   Of course this has nothing to do with what I reported so I proceeded to explain that to them.  Then today I get this response: “Thank you for providing us with the details about this situation regarding rkrd66ev and rkrd.   We are concerned about violations on the site and have thoroughly investigated your report. In accordance with our site policies, we have found that there is not enough evidence to show that a violation has taken place. We understand your concern about this situation, and can reopen the investigation if any additional information can be provided.”   Not enough evidence??  You have got to be kidding me!!!  Thoroughly my hairy ass!   It is clear that the ebay “safe-harbor” team has the competence of a 2 year old.  And it is just so frustrating trying to communicate with these people.  I have given ebay an enormous amount of money from my listing fees, final value fees, paypal fees etc and I would expect their service to be a little better than this crap.   I e-mailed rkrd66ev and today I got this response:   “I send the package out a long time ago. It was delayed - and I think I got some messages from you asking where it was. I got it returned to me, with return to sender - wrong address writen on it. Apparently from the person who recieved it and who had opened the package and resealed it. This was over a month after the deal started. I send an email to you asking for your address. I never received a reply from you. Thus, I put the item back up for bid, figuring you where one of the few people that have vanished from deals in the past. If you still want it - I will cancel the other deals and try to send it out again. If this is the case - please send me a complete name and address. Good Gaming, Richard.”   Thought I vanished?  What the heck?  So instead of refunding or trying to contact me he relists it….  Hmmmm…  And these stories about e-mailing me….complete BS.   I mailed him and told him to end the auction and send it but of course I see the auction is still on…   Anyway, I understand it was only $20 and people get taken for 100x that every day on ebay, but $20 is $20.  I worked for it and I am not just going to sit here and let this inconsiderate moron steal it.  It pisses me off that people can give fake contact information and apparently ebay goes by that only.   After requesting the users contact information from the first auction it came back as Richard Briggs.  With the current auction it came back as Drake M. Stanton.  Obviously it is Richard because he signed the f’ing e-mail Richard.   ARGH!   Anyway thanks to those that listened to my tirade.  It is clear to me that something absolutely needs to be done about ebay’s customer service.  It just sickens me how much of a hands off approach they take.  And the fact that you can scam, steal, cheat and lie get caught and all you have to do is open another account and you can do it all over again.   Josh