I Got Scammed on eBay
By Chris on Jun 1, 2006 in Ebay
I could have also called this entry “Always Trust Your Gut” or “Paypal’s Buyer Protection System Sucks Donkey Schlong”. I’ve already told you I love eBay - I use it all the time and I like to think I’m reasonably eBay-savvy, especially when it comes to spotting a scam. Alas, even the best of us have an off day.
Before I begin my tale of woe, let me set the scene. You may or may not have noticed the not-so-subtle hints littered around this blog; I want an Xbox 360 (quite badly I might add). I’ll also state for the record that I was surfing on a 30″ LCD screen at the time.
So onto the story. I’m hitting eBay, looking for a bargain ‘360. There are one or two which stand out so I add them to my watch list. I then come across what looks like an absolute bargain; an Xbox 360 Premium Pack on Buy It Now for £200 + postage. I went through my usual routine - check buyer feedback (a couple of blips, but most look like they were solved amicably), read the description over a few times to make sure it seems legit. It looked OK at the time (on a high-res screen where the default eBay text looks small at the best of times). I will admit there was something not sitting right with me, but I put it down to feeling guilty about making such a luxury purchase. Looking back, I should have trusted my instinct, but instead I hit the Buy It Now button and paid by Paypal. Mistake #1.
After going out to get a sandwich I come back to two emails; the first is from another ebayer telling me the listing I just bought was a scam, while the second was from another eBayer who had bought on the same listing. He had also received emails saying it was a scam and was asking if I had received any of the same emails or had heard from our seller. The first eBayer had mentioned a line in the auction which stated the listing was for info, not a product, but I couldn’t see it anywhere. Getting a mighty sick feeling in my stomach, I mail the seller asking him what the deal was.
No response, even when I got home several hours later (though he had been quick enough to send the invoice). Moving onto my laptop, I check up on the seller. His feedback has dipped a few points after negative feedback. Checking the listing the feedback was for, it turned out to be the very one I had bought from. Checking the listing again, this time on the lower-res laptop screen I was just able to make out the line in the description I’d been told about (it was seriously tiny). Bugger bugger bugger.
The panic alarm was going off now and a mix of fear (”sh*t, I might have just lost £200!”) and anger (”some f*cker’s stealing my money!”) was beginning to could my judgement. “Paypal!” I thought, “they have buyer protection! I’ll dispute the payment on the grounds the description uses deceptive tactics to get people to bid on what they think is an Xbox 360 but isn’t.” Off I toddle to Paypal and file the claim. Unfortunately I mistakenly listed it as a “Not Delivered” dispute (there are only two options, I meant to go for the other one). Mistake #2.
Filing a dispute gives you and the seller a chance to work things out before Paypal get called in to investigate (making a claim). I state my case as fairly as I can - along the lines of “The listing uses a dishonest technique to get people to bid on something the listing is not.” but a bit more wordy. I leave the door open for a amicable resolution, thinking we can sort it “like Gentlemen”. Hah!
Almost immediately, the seller responds by escalating the dispute into a claim. At this point I’m cut off. I cannot send a message to the seller via Paypal anymore (you can contact the seller direct, but Paypal can’t review that information so it’s pretty much pointless), nor is there a way for me to provide any additional information to Paypal. The seller has since provided Paypal with a postage tracking code. I have a sinking feeling that because I mis-filed my claim this will be all he needs to get off with it. I’ll find out in a couple of days I guess. Paypal won’t investigate until then so the package has time to arrive. Of course, it might actually be
The one hope left is that eBay have since suspended the seller. This may count for me in my case against him, though I don’t hold out much hope. I suppose if I’m to be pragmatic about this, it’s a learning experience and one of life’s little tests. Yes it would suck to lose £200, but keeping it in perspective, it’s not going to be the end of the world. I also fully recognise my own failings in all this. If I were to summarise:
- Always trust your gut; if something seems too good to be true, walk away.
- Make sure you file any claims to Paypal in the correct area.
- Only file if you have exhausted all communication with the seller.
Have you ever had to deal with the Paypal Buy Protection System? Ever had the misfortune of being scammed on eBay or another auction site? Share your stories in the comments.
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donna | Jun 14, 2006 | Reply
I was wondering what was the final result with your purchase. I once filed a claim with Paypal and got immediate action - so I was pleased with my outcome.
Chris | Jun 14, 2006 | Reply
I’m still waiting unfortunately. The seller has been suspended from eBay and everything, but no movement from Paypal.
Jason | Jun 17, 2006 | Reply
I got scammed buying an XBox 360 as well - sent the guy a check because he had a mountain of positive feedback. Never shipped, 7 weeks later he sent a refund check which bounced and was no longer registered on Ebay (over 600 feedback and this happened!). Suddenly a bunch of negative feedback shows up after I sent payment. I am thinking this has been an expensive lesson with 2 points:
1) Be wary of purchasing expensive items on Ebay, most notably if the item is very popular. This entices you to purchase the item and accept the risk (getting a popular item for a reasonable price)
2) Never, ever, under any circumstance, pay with anything but a credit card (even through Paypal), which you can dispute and are protected from fraudulent transactions. If the seller wont take Paypal and allow you to use a credit card, dont bother bidding. It just is not worth the hassle and risk. Even if they have 1 million positive feedback with 100 percent positive! The seller could have sold their ebay login / business to a less reputable person.
You only need to get burnt once to realize the importance of this lesson. I hope this advice helps someone out, too late for me though. I will continue to use EBay but I will defintely stick to the 2 points mentioned above.
nervous50 | Jul 5, 2006 | Reply
I got taken for $2500 usd when I bought a motorcycle I found on ebay. The listing disapeared but the seller emailed me outside of ebay. If this happens to you do not send any cash, trust me, explaining to my wife that the $6000 bike I had just bought for $2500 probably didn’t even belong to the guy I bought it from sucks. I made a report to everybody I could and now I’m just waiting on a reply from someone although I’m sure I will never see my money again.
Kevin | Jul 12, 2006 | Reply
Okay, let me get this straight: because YOU can’t read, somehow that equals to the seller scamming you? LOL, okay, whatever. I’m also guessing that Paypal scammed you too since YOU incorrectly filed your claim? Methinks something is amiss alright, but not where you think it is…..
Gavin | Feb 18, 2008 | Reply
I too have been scammed on eBay, eBay’s repose has shocked me and I certainly will tell everyone who will listen why you should NOT by via this site.
I purchased a laptop with a legal copy of Windows XP Pro. I paid and about 3 weeks later the laptop arrived (so much for the 2-7 days postage). The laptop had no COA from Microsoft but was a working copy of XP, after the fist updates from Microsoft the machine would no longer allow me to login so I call Microsoft to be told you are using an illegal copy and face fines…. I lodged a dispute with eBay and after 2 months of broken promises I sent my dispute to the Trust and Security Team. Ha what a laugh, the seller is still trading selling the same to other unsuspecting buyers and eBay lets them trade. They look after the sellers as thats where they get their fees, as long as they are getting fees they don’t give a toss.
They referred me to the police and this was the polices response. I you bought a laptop from xmart and you have a problem do you come to the police? No you take it back to xmart no mater where they got it it is their problem. eBay seems to think it can get away with allowing these scams to go on and then instead of taking care of the buyer they protect the seller (try get a sellers address from eBay) and try to get the tax payer to fit the bill by sending anyone with complaints to the police. If xmart and all the other store had to do that the police (already understaffed and resourced) would not be able to even respond to crimes.
So I lost my money but left the seller negative feedback explaining the problem (in the small space you are provided). The seller responded by leaving me negative feedback saying I sell stolen and faulty goods and my 100% positive feedback is ruined. I contacted eBay who said they would not remove feedback even if they are lies but I could apply to have my feedback to the seller removed which would also clear his feedback to me. WHAT???? I must remove my feedback warning other buyers that this seller sells illegal software to remove his feedback which is all lies??? I don’t think so, no wonder he has only good feedback, eBay ensures that by making you remove your negative feedback to the seller in order to clear your name.
3 months on and this crook is still scamming away on eBay and nothing gets done, a few others have dared to give him negative feedback but some have given in to clear their names, eBay only looks after the person paying them fees and that my friends is the seller.
P.S. The police case was closed as the police were unable to track the seller via the mobile number and wrong address supplied to them by eBay.
Someone | Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
eBay is NOT what it use to be. Times have CHANGED.
Even if your a seller, people will pay you then file a chargeback to get their money back once they receive the item!
The problem with eBay is it’s just TOO EASY to scam people. The whole idea of buying stuff from strangers who live 3000 miles away is just crazy.
eBay today is 90% scams. Even if you receive an item, it will NOT be what you expect it to be.
Let’s face it, Amazon is better. I only buy my stuff on Amazon now. I am DONE with eBay forever.
Sending Money to someone over the internet who lives in another state on the other side of the country is NOT smart.