!#$**! Ebay purchase

Bugbyte · 03-12-2008, 10:39 PM

You know, I've grown kind of desperate to get a replacement for my 8.4" touch panel so I FINALLY went to Ebay to find a replacement. There's a 'buy now' for $7. I figure, hey, what's the deal here?

Did I mention the seller is in Hong Kong?

Basically, it was a low price listing and in the text of the listing it says the panel is $57 flat rate shipped to me in the U.S. I look at the feedback for the seller and he's had a couple of hundred transactions, only one negative and it was someone complaining about the way he listed the product for $7 and charge $57. But the guy got his touch panel.

Okay, I say....I'm only risking $57 bucks after all. I buy it and immediately send the seller the size touch panel I need. He responds in about 2 hours and sends me a paypal invoice for $57. I send him the money and figure I'll see the touch panel in a couple of weeks. Or not.

About 2 hours later I get the following from Ebay:

"Thank you for your bid on the following Fixed Price listing:

130204016775 - Touch Panel For 3.5",4",7",8", 8.4", 12.1",14.1"

Unfortunately, eBay has removed this . All bids or offers on this listing have been canceled. Because the listing was ended, you no longer have any obligation to purchase this item. If the seller chooses to relist the item, you're welcome to bid on it again.

Listings are removed for different reasons. For example:
- The way the item was listed may violate eBay policy.
- The removal may be part of a separate action taken by eBay that is unrelated to the listing itself.

We hope you understand that, due to privacy concerns, we're unable to discuss the details of why this listing was ended. However, please note that the removal of this listing should not suggest that this seller's standing in the eBay Community has been called into question.

For more information on why eBay may remove a listing, please go to:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/listing-ended.html

For information on how you can protect yourself and help ensure a positive buying experience in the future, visit:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/buyer_checklist.html

We're sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

eBay Trust & Safety"

Here's my questions:

1. Did this cancel my payment or just my obligation to buy? Either way, I already paid using PayPal.

I guess it would be pretty stupid to assume that since others have gotten their panels, that this guy would send mine. After all, who knows where that feedback came from?

I haven't bought anything dicey on fleabay for a long time. This ONE time I try it, I get screwed.

Anybody know where I can get a touch panel for an 8.4" monitor from a reputable dealer?

2k1Toaster · 03-12-2008, 10:47 PM

You can just claim through PayPal right? It may take months before they refund you, but at least you have a 1/100 change of getting your money back which is better than nothing.

You may want to hit up motorcity.

Have you contacted the guy to verify he is scamming? Like just email asking for an estimate ship date or something. If you get nothing then uh oh. If he responds then it might work out.

eBay I think removes auctions like this because of their new-ish policy against this low low price, high high shipping. So that might be his only offense.

Bugbyte · 03-12-2008, 10:55 PM

He's got an Ebay store http://stores.ebay.com/SCB-PICs_W0QQ...meZL2222QQtZkm and a bunch of other listings out there. I'll try to contact him.

Here's his profile: http://myworld.ebay.com/scb_0619/

I'm probably stupid but I think he's legit.

Edit: no dice. I can only contact him through Ebay and when I try to put in his user I.D., Ebay says "Form not available. The item has been removed."

He sent me the message through Ebay, so I don't know his email.

quantum · 03-12-2008, 11:12 PM

I just sent him a question via e-bay form. I'll let you know if I get a response. I was going to buy one too! Been watching them for a while now.

Good luck!

quantum · 03-12-2008, 11:17 PM

Got this reply in less than 5 minutes...

For 7" or 14.1" can ship in the weekend, other items on next week
It may take a few days to USA if not held by customs

- scb_0619

Maybe just a fluke on e-bay?

lxt_123 · 03-12-2008, 11:45 PM

I will try to answer you from the point of view of an ebay seller. Ebay terminates listings for various reasons. The fact that the listing was terminated doesn't necessarily means that the guy is dishonest, it is possible to be some rule that he didn't obeyed in the listing. I had a listing terminated because it had "like new" in the title, it was an item made in mid 1800's for 10 years. The reason provided was that "someone might look for a new one and my title will confuse him"
Paypal has refunded me $500 after someone has broken into my account in 24hours.
My advise is this, if you want the item contact the seller using a different listing from his store. If you do not have an answer in a couple of days ask for your money back from paypal

GizmoQ · 03-13-2008, 12:57 AM

I've had two listings canceled after I sent payment (it doesn't do you any good to pay the minute the auction closes anymore). One was a god guy who sent out the item faster than eBay or paypal could tell me what happened(ebay cancelled the auction cause he borrowed someone elses picture for his ad); the other refunded my money pretty quick when I threatened a paypal claim, It seems paypal is cracking down hard on fraud and locking folks accounts up for months. From a sellers point of view this could cost ebayers dearly to have money coming in but you can't touch it.

blazinlow · 03-13-2008, 01:06 AM

They might have cancelled it because people sell items real cheap and charge outrageous amounts on shipping because they dont have to pay any % on shipping costs, only what the item sells for.

This may be against Ebay's Rules, thus flagging the item.

The seller may have the item and ship even so.

ODYSSEY · 03-13-2008, 02:27 AM

I bet it has something to due with the fact that he is selling it on ebay for $5, but is charging more. So eBay is missing out on fees.

Bugbyte · 03-13-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ODYSSEY

I bet it has something to due with the fact that he is selling it on ebay for $5, but is charging more. So eBay is missing out on fees.

I think you got it exactly right. Plus the listing is a little misleading.

Going to try contacting him via another of his listings.

Bugbyte · 03-13-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by quantum

Got this reply in less than 5 minutes...

For 7" or 14.1" can ship in the weekend, other items on next week
It may take a few days to USA if not held by customs

- scb_0619

Maybe just a fluke on e-bay?

Thanks, Quantum!

quantum · 03-13-2008, 01:41 PM

No problem!

I think the general feelings about the shipping charge being the culprit might be true, but shouldn't that effect all his auctions? Just food for thought...

I list stuff on there once in a while, and I know the last time (2 weeks ago) I saw something new. When you enter the price for shipping, a little warning comes up just before you complete the details of your sale. It said something like "Your shipping charges are higher than other people selling similar products and may scare away buyers. Consider lowering your shipping price"

OK, maybe not in those exact words, but the message was there. I'm guessing if you ignore that and leave the shipping price alone, a little red flag pops up at the e-bay command center. Dunno for sure, but it would make sense cus they lose out on the final sale value.

Quattro · 03-13-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ODYSSEY

I bet it has something to due with the fact that he is selling it on ebay for $5, but is charging more. So eBay is missing out on fees.

I'm pretty sure he will ship the panel

FusionFanatic · 03-13-2008, 09:10 PM

it definitely looks like the listing was cancelled because it clearly violates ebay's "excessive shipping" policy. overseas shipping is expensive, but for $50 you should get in a few days, not a few weeks. charging a very low price and then jacking up the shipping charge is unfortunately a common practice on eBay. it cheats eBay out of it's seller fees, and cheats buyers out of refunds. (they will only refund the $7 item cost, not the total cost including the jacked up shipping charge

). it is a dishonest practice, and I have no problem with eBay removing these types of listings.

Quote: Originally Posted by lxt_123

The fact that the listing was terminated doesn't necessarily means that the guy is dishonest, it is possible to be some rule that he didn't obeyed in the listing. I had a listing terminated because it had "like new" in the title, it was an item made in mid 1800's for 10 years

listing a 150 year old item as "like new" sounds pretty dishonest to me

bambam · 03-15-2008, 10:57 AM

Let us know how you make out.

I am going thru a mess with ebay right now for the auction I won here.

The guy sent me a console that arrived busted up because he put it in a freakin' box without any packaging. I paid the $3 insurance but the only thing that apparently did was put an extra $3 in his pocket. Then, he goes out and leaves me negative feedback and even stumped so low as to say I was threatening him at his home! Amazing. What can you do? Well, I make a little website about the entire transaction and put the url in his feedback (here) so everyone can read our emails back and forth and look at pictures of the transaction, etc. I also filed a complaint to SafeHarbor but in all reality, Ebay won't do a damn thing about it. I had another instance where I won tires and afterwards, the guy contacted me and said he wasn't going to give them to me because he wanted more money. Ebay told me they took care of it but when I asked them what, they refused to say and then I see that not only is the guys account still active but he's reselling the tires that I won!!!! They did nothing and won't do anything.

The best way to do a purchase is to go thru PayPal and to pay thru your credit card. At least if something goes wrong, you can dispute it with your credit card company. They WILL try to do something.

Let us know how you you make out, I'm interested in hearing about your results....