Holy Smokes! eBay can be brutal!!!

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

09/26/2006 08:38:16 AM · #1

Here's a story to share. My wife buys a shirt for our teenager on eBay. There were some issues with the item rec'd, but not worth the hassle of trying to ship back, obtain refund (probably wouldnt' recover shipping expense, etc...) On the feedback to the seller my wife wrote: "Shirt color not as shown in photo. Quality and color not authentic Abercrombie."

The seller responds to the feedback with: "Never Recieved Any Complaints/Refunds $ Offered Buyer Never Contacted/Beware !"

Then the seller goes on to send her a message (PM type setup) that says: "We have also subsequently left you negative feedback. If you ever wish to do business first thing you know is to contact the seller back if you have an issue.
If you would like to fix the situation contact us. We can mutually agree to remove each others feedback.
Have fun viewing you feedback :)"

Finally, this seller goes on to leave feedback on my wife's account (as the buyer) stating: "TRIED FOR REFUND & $ BACK - BUYER IN JAIL FOR FRAUD - STAY AWAY !!!! BAD EBAYER"

My wife responded to the feedback with: "Untrue. This an effort to coerce me to remove recent negative feedback."

She's also followed up using the 'Dispute Console'...

We're not heavy into eBay. Have bought maybe a dozen items and sold a couple. Never have seen this before. Yikes!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

09/26/2006 08:59:35 AM · #2

Generally before leaving negative feedback on ebay, you should contact the seller to work out any dis-satisfaction you have, regardless of how small.

While what they did was definitely not right, you really should have tried to address the problem with the seller directly first rather than effectively shouting to the world, "This seller sucks!"

Hope you can work it out and that your wife gets out of jail soon.

09/26/2006 09:17:18 AM · #3

I feel your pain. I've been using eBay for years. I've never had negative feedback, but I am expecting some now. A few weeks ago, my 7 year old son hit "buy it now" on a $4000 Tee-Pee. Yup, 4 grand. I worked it out with the seller, it was cancelled. No harm, no foul. I've been making sure I log myself out before I let him on the computer and stressed, "NEVER use that button again!!". But Saturday morning while I'm still sleeping he fires up the computer and I have automatic login on lots of stuff including eBay. He goes searching for Yu-Gi-Oh cards on eBay (his current obsession) and because he has 3 bucks in his pocket decides it's perfectly OK for him to use that "buy it now" button. The auction was $3.50, but he didn't take into account shipping which is $4. He woke me up to tell me he bought something and it was $3.50. OK, I was mad but no big deal, right? The guy had a multi auction going with 30 for sale. My son "bought" ALL of them!!! I'm not pay $225 for trading cards! So, I sent him an email with an explanation, but in return I got an invoice with discounted shipping. Nope, still not buying!! So, I'm expecting some negative feedback soon.

09/26/2006 09:18:27 AM · #4

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

... Hope you can work it out and that your wife gets out of jail soon.

Actually, in a small way, I kind of hope that feedback comment stays there. Anyone with any common sense will see the comment for what it is as it paints a clear picture of the seller.

I went and looked at this seller's feedback, and I'm not at all surprised to see this under the feedback rec'd area "(2 ratings mutually withdrawn)". I guess extortion works?

09/26/2006 09:22:36 AM · #5

Originally posted by kdsprog:

... my 7 year old son hit "buy it now" on a $4000 Tee-Pee. Yup, 4 grand. ...

Yikes!!! Ummm. Have you considered another PC for your son with parental control software? :P

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

09/26/2006 09:27:10 AM · #6

Well, I'm usually the parental control. My PC is in the family room and normally someone is in here with him. We already have 2 PC's (my daughter has the other one in her room). What I've done is deleted my automatic login's for most sites now. Now he can only get into eBay as a guest. The only other places he goes are kids sites.

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

09/26/2006 10:51:47 AM · #7

That's kind of weird... I've never been able to get Ebay and Paypal to keep me logged in to buy something without entering the info, even on the same day on a broadband connection...

Does he know your email/password?

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/26/2006 10:59:41 AM · #8

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

No, there is a checkbox "keep me logged in". I was always logged in automatically.

edited to add: FWIW - If you want to use it, it is under preference, general preferences. I just checked the actual wording... it is "Keep me logged in on this computer".

Message edited by author 2006-09-26 11:05:46.

deapee

Kodak V803

09/26/2006 11:06:02 AM · #9

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Finally, this seller goes on to leave feedback on my wife's account (as the buyer) stating: "TRIED FOR REFUND & $ BACK - BUYER IN JAIL FOR FRAUD - STAY AWAY !!!! BAD EBAYER"

lol. How far away from you does he live? It sounds like a visit to his house might be in order.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/26/2006 11:18:03 AM · #10

Originally posted by deapee:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Finally, this seller goes on to leave feedback on my wife's account (as the buyer) stating: "TRIED FOR REFUND & $ BACK - BUYER IN JAIL FOR FRAUD - STAY AWAY !!!! BAD EBAYER"

lol. How far away from you does he live? It sounds like a visit to his house might be in order.

I'll admit that's quite a tempting thought, but this blowhard isn't worth the gas money to get there. :D

deapee

Kodak V803

09/26/2006 11:20:07 AM · #11

does he live near me?

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/26/2006 11:21:12 AM · #12

Originally posted by deapee:

does he live near me?

;^) Thanks for the offer, but let's leave the skin ON your knuckles. He-he.

deapee

Kodak V803

09/26/2006 11:24:37 AM · #13

heh...no that really is a shame though. Hopefully you can get it all squared away. It reminds me of the guy that bought my $130 motorcycle helmet for ninety-nine cents, shipping included. It cost me $13 to get rid of it, and he was upset that he waited 3 weeks before he got it..although that was definately my fault.

Message edited by author 2006-09-26 11:25:04.

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/26/2006 11:32:35 AM · #14

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by kdsprog:
... my 7 year old son hit "buy it now" on a $4000 Tee-Pee. Yup, 4 grand. ...

Yikes!!! Ummm. Have you considered another PC for your son with parental control software? :P

Seems he's not the only one...
3 year old buys pink convertible

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

09/26/2006 11:36:15 AM · #15

If you wanted to, you could sue the seller for slander/libel, get the judgement, send it to ebay and they will punish him and remove the feedback. You don't have to sue for damages and the court costs will be his responsibility, since he will lose (unless your wife really is in jail for fraud). I dunno if you can do that through small claims court or not, but it is something you might look into. Perhaps just getting the court summons or a letter from a lawyer would get him squirming enough to admit to ebay that his statement is false and getting it revoked.

Oh yeah, if he does go to court and a judgement is filed against him, it'll screw up his credit rating too.

Just a thought.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/26/2006 04:06:45 PM · #16

Originally posted by dahkota:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by kdsprog:
... my 7 year old son hit "buy it now" on a $4000 Tee-Pee. Yup, 4 grand. ...

Yikes!!! Ummm. Have you considered another PC for your son with parental control software? :P

Seems he's not the only one...
3 year old buys pink convertible

I just saw this... too funny, but not for the parents. I guess it could turn into a nightmare. The tee-pee my son tried to buy was a life size one. Luckily, they were very nice about it. I bet this happens to lots of people who just pay up and never tell anyone.

Prof_Fate

09/26/2006 04:26:44 PM · #17

Originally posted by kdsprog:

Originally posted by MadMan2k:
That's kind of weird... I've never been able to get Ebay and Paypal to keep me logged in to buy something without entering the info, even on the same day on a broadband connection...

Does he know your email/password?

No, there is a checkbox "keep me logged in". I was always logged in automatically.

edited to add: FWIW - If you want to use it, it is under preference, general preferences. I just checked the actual wording... it is "Keep me logged in on this computer".

at one point ebay did away with that - to stop issues when someone would walk away and not log out and someone else then had access to their account. I'm not logged in, but since my browser keeps that info and fills in the little boxes I suppose my kids could get on their too! But they know if they touch my computer I touch their little butts!

paddles

Pentax K10D

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

09/26/2006 04:37:53 PM · #18

Originally posted by kdsprog:

A few weeks ago, my 7 year old son hit "buy it now" on a $4000 Tee-Pee. Yup, 4 grand. ... I've been making sure I log myself out before I let him on the computer and stressed, "NEVER use that button again!!". ... I have automatic login on lots of stuff including eBay. He goes searching for Yu-Gi-Oh cards on eBay (his current obsession) and because he has 3 bucks in his pocket decides it's perfectly OK for him to use that "buy it now" button.

There is no point logging out if you have automatic login and, at risk of sounding harsh, I think this makes you responsible for your son's actions. 7 year olds don't have enough understanding of the consequences of their actions on eBay and so on, and simply can't be expected to act like mature adults.

However, you have some straightforward choices to prevent it happening again:
- Don't have automatic login on anything that your son can't be trusted to use unsupervised.
OR
- Set up different accounts on your computer, with password control. So if he fires up the computer, he can only log on to his account, not yours.
OR
- Set up parental filtering software like someone else suggested.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

09/26/2006 04:45:29 PM · #19

Originally posted by glad2badad:

He
My wife responded to the feedback with: "Untrue. This an effort to coerce me to remove recent negative feedback."

Yup...standard tactic. I really don't like ebay's system of feedback for the reason that it does not allow you to really defend yourself.

Anyone you leave negative feedback for simply does the same. And then you both wind up agreeing to recind and they look pretty.

Frankly, if I am left negative feedback I feel I should be able to leave a counter. Or at the least an explanation. And 50 characts is not enough in most cases.

I'd rather simply be able to add a note: "Retaliatory feedback for leaving negative feedback. If you have any questions message me and I'll explain."

*shrugs*

FireBird

09/27/2006 10:13:48 AM · #20

Originally posted by glad2badad:

"TRIED FOR REFUND & $ BACK - BUYER IN JAIL FOR FRAUD - STAY AWAY !!!! BAD EBAYER
She's also followed up using the 'Dispute Console'...

There are all kinds of nut cases on eBay. Now you've met one. If the person actually placed the above feedback on your account indicating you're in jail for fraud and it's untrue, you now own his account. Just have eBay liquidate it.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/27/2006 11:00:21 AM · #21

From the OP, this is the feedback rec'd on my wife's account from a seller.

"TRIED FOR REFUND & $ BACK - BUYER IN JAIL FOR FRAUD - STAY AWAY !!!! BAD EBAYER

Regarding the above feedback, this is the response from eBay administration rec'd this morning.

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to your Feedback concerns. I have
forwarded your concern about receiving a misrepresented item to the
appropriate department.

Unfortunately, your Feedback doesn't qualify for removal under eBay's
Feedback Abuse, Withdrawal, and Removal policy. Feedback is a member to
member system and the comments represent members' opinions about
transactions. Each member is responsible for the comments he or she
makes.

On occasion, members will receive Feedback that they believe is
inaccurate, untruthful, false, or just plain unfair. If you trade long
enough on eBay, you will likely come across someone who can't be pleased
or who leaves you Feedback that you believe is unjust. We understand
that this situation can be frustrating.

Although eBay can't evaluate the truthfulness of a Feedback comment,
here are a few things that you can do:

- Reach out to your trading partner and determine if you can come to an
agreement about resolvin g the issue. Then you can use the eBay Mutual
Feedback Withdrawal process to remove the Feedback rating.

- If you can't come to a resolution, consider using a third party
mediation service such as SquareTrade.

To learn more about these options and other suggestions for resolving
Feedback disputes, go to:

//pages.ebay.com/help/feedback/feedback-disputes.html

- Leave a professional, factual reply or follow-up comment. Please
refrain from using all caps (ALL CAPS) or making personal comments.

- The person who left the Feedback for you is responsible for the
comment. If you believe that the remark is damaging, you might consider
taking legal action. However, this should be used only as a last resort.

Although unfair Feedback comments may occur from time to time, keep in
mind that the way you respond provides valuable information to future
buyers and sellers about your eBay business. Feedback strengthens the
integrity of the eBay Community, enabling members to trade with
confidence.

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

09/27/2006 11:07:35 AM · #22

Welcome to the internet.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

09/27/2006 11:37:31 AM · #23

I forget which one, libel or slander, applies to malicious lies with intent to cause damage in print but "BUYER IN JAIL FOR FRAUD" is (presumably) a lie and intended to harm your future commercial activities so if you really wanted to be a dick about it you could contact a lawyer.

milo655321

Nikon D70

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

09/27/2006 12:04:10 PM · #24

Originally posted by routerguy666:

Libel is written, slander is verbal. So, libel in this case.