Problems with the eBay policies and a fraudulant seller

[zoaria]

I am in limbo regarding a purchase from Dec 8, 2012. The seller is apparently a front in Israel for an entity in China. They sent a cell phone to me that doesn't work in Canada. I shipped it back at a cost of $70 and have been stalled ever since. It seems that they delayed me beyond the point that eBay will respond on my behalf.

This is fraudulent activity by a seller and the activity is brokered by eBay and Paypal. I have followed up with phone and emails to eBay only to be dismissed. There is no reasonable action on the part of eBay to minimize fraud and theft on the deals that it brokers. This has consequences.

I write this to let agents of eBay know that I am actively campaigning friends and associates to not buy from this online platform. It is clear that there is no real buyer protection and that supporting eBay via purchasing and selling on the platform is to support a system that condones theft and promotes fraud.

In the past 2 weeks I have avoided eBay for making 2 purchases that amounted to $180.00. I have recommended one friend to not buy an iPad from eBay and recommended a client not sell their bespoke products via eBay.

Actions and inactions have consequences in life, and due to my experience with this eBay brokered purchase and inaction to help remedy the problem, I have to be honest with my peers and advocate against using eBay as a marketplace for any of their transactions.

I believe this is one of those cases where something good gets taken advantage of and the keepers responsible for running the business choose to look the other way as long as they get their cut of the fraudulent profit.

It is a shame that eBay representatives chose to plead powerlessness and deny responsibility in small cases like mine. However, I am confident this position will anger many others like myself and eventually impact the business through a thousand tiny cuts.

After all, as a broker, thats all eBay really has: a brand name in which people trust to broker their purchases and ensure fair transactions. Without that, eBay itself becomes seen in the same cautious suspicion as one of its own sellers with a very bad negative feedback score.

[007steveb16]

I am in limbo regarding a purchase from Dec 8, 2012. The seller is apparently a front in Israel for an entity in China. They sent a cell phone to me that doesn't work in Canada. I shipped it back at a cost of $70 and have been stalled ever since. It seems that they delayed me beyond the point that eBay will respond on my behalf. 

So you failed to protect yourself with the system put in place to help you and it's everyone Else's fault?

[2011limey1]

"I am in limbo regarding a purchase from Dec 8, 2012".

Are you for real?? - we're talking 4 months ago!!   :_| In this instance your rant makes no sense whatsoever.  You ARE protected by eBay and Paypal .....but after this long?  You really should have investigated and done your homework before you decided to buy here - anyway, I guess that doesn't matter any more as you and your friends, clients, etc.  won't be buying here anymore.:^O

[pierrelebel]

"as a broker, thats all eBay really has'

Sorry, you may have misunderstood what eBay is.  It is not a broker, it is a venue where sellers advertise "stuff" they have for sale, like a newspaper, a magazine, a TV station, etc....

PayPal is not a broker.  It is a payment service facilitating exchange of money from one party to another.

Both eBay and PayPal have rules and policies in place protecting buyers and sellers.

Unless you follow the terms of these rules and policies, the protection is non-existent.

To make a long story short, you waited much too long to file a claim with PayPal.  You missed the deadline.  It is unfortunate but there is little anyone can do about it at this late stage.

"Actions and inactions have consequences in life"

You are correct.  Your inaction has created the result.  There is no need to put the blame elsewhere.

[pierrelebel]

"I am actively campaigning friends and associates to not buy from this online platform"

If you were really serious about your claim, you would have posted the appropriate negative feedback for your seller on this transaction.

This would have been a concrete step in trying to help others avoid a similar problem.Your inaction in this regard speaks volume. 

[i*m-still-here]

What you are writing about is one of the biggest problems for ebay buyers.

In general: Buying items which are Not As Described and then being forced to pay expensive return shipping.

That's a problem......... but.............

Specifically:  Being lured by the promise of cheap electronics from China, only to find out they do not work.

Then, being forced to return via expensive shipping.  

Many of those sellers know exactly how to drag the buyer along with over polite messages beyond the 45 day limit at which point you no longer have protection.

They are very good at it.

It's a problem, and all too common.

If you pass the 45 day limit you may get help from you credit card company if you backed the purchase by CC.

In any event remember never to let anything go beyond 45 days.

It's a common mistake for beginners,

Ebay didn't broker the item.  Some seller from China listed an item on ebay and you bought it.

All things considered, ebay does get very involved in most situations.

However, in relation to  clever sellers like the one you described who know how to play the system coupled with newbies who don't understand the system ........

That combo is often a big problem.

Sorry it happened to you.

[stevephinn2012]

In any event remember never to let anything go beyond 45 days.

It's a common mistake for beginners,

Just wondering?? this person has been buying on ebay since 2005 (yep 8 years) when do you stop being a "beginner" ???

[rose-dee]

Just wondering?? this person has been buying on ebay since 2005 (yep 8 years) when do you stop being a "beginner" ???

My guess: somewhere around 150 transactions, probably even more.  You have to have seen a lot to have seen it all.  It's not the number of years, but the number of lessons learned.   

Pierre and "I'm-still-here" have made valid and helpful comments if the OP chooses to listen.