There's no easy way to report fraudulent sellers like this (and how do they do it anyway?!)

[ashleedawg]

My son and I buy a lot of super-cheap "stuff" on eBay, mostly since he has so much fun getting packages in the mail all the time, sometimes lame, sometimes cool.  We both know "you get what you pay for", as in, sometimes the 5¢ thing takes 6 months, or doesn't show up at all or is broken.  We don't make a fuss about it and in fact we give perfect feedback anyway.

However when I come across sellers who are blatantly trying to deceive buyers, blatantly breaking multiple policies, I figure it's my duty to take the time to click "Report", to "give back" and help "protect the community".

But then there's the cases like shown in the attached image (hopefully the image is legible, 'cuz it's frikkin' huge!)

I've seen this multiple times, and I'm kind of perplexed...  Today as an example:

- We checked the Arts & Crafts category, sorted by "ending first" with "free shipping only".  Oh look, a bracelet-thing, 1¢, Free Shipping, Ending in 15 seconds, with zero bids.  Click - Click - and we just spent ~$4.

- We clicked back to the listing, and shipping's listed as almost $4. Clicked back to the search results, and it says Free Shipping.

- Maybe it's an anomaly, no biggie... then I look at the next 38 Listings, multiple sellers but identical items,and all say "Free Shipping" in the search results but $4-ish (CAD) in the listing.

Question #1 : HOW do they do this?  Some of the ads appear to have been "updated" 15 minutes before the auction closes, but others have been like that for hours. Surely the website has measures in place to prevent stuff like this.  Is there hacking going on?

I did notice that the time zones are a little weird on some of the ads (ie., Auction Ending in PST but updated in EST)

Reporting this is practically impossible unless I had the patience to go through that Report form 38+ times, try to keep them organized, etc. 

Question #2 : How come the absolute only, no-matter-what, method of contacting eBay for anything is by phone? I understand how it improves customer service in most ways, but there is the occasional time that it would be helpful to send them an email...  like the attached image, so they can do whatever they decide to do, but they have the facts in front of them. 

I did call in once previously about a similar issue, and it ended up being almost an hour-long call with the agent because I basically had to read and re-read dozens of item numbers, dates, prices, etc.  Even the poor agent said it would save everybody time & effort if there was an email address for certain situations (perhaps with an email-auth-code like when calling in)

Anyhow, I'm just a little frustrated, so in lieu of emailing that image to eBay I posted it here,

(Sorry it's one giant image, but it will only let me attach one file.)

free shipping But Not.jpg ‏499 KB

[reallynicestamps]

The listing is in US dollars, so it must be on dotCOM.

You are posting to the dotCA, which is the Canadian site.

While I recognize that the seller is in China and it shouldn't make any difference in his costs to ship to Canada rather than the USA, I do wonder if you looked at the Shipping tab before hitting Buy.

Because that could be the difference right there.

The shipping on both of those is showing as $2.99USD (~$3.58 Cdn) about 15 minutes before the end of the auction. Not Free.

Right there under the price.

So actually I don't see what you are on about.

ALWAYS look at the shipping page, rather than the description page, especially with auctions.

The cost will often vary with your location.

multiple sellers but identical items

Well,actually, you have found a gaggle of dropshipping IDs. They may be 38 different sellers , or just one with multiple IDs, but they all have the same supplier who provides them with identical pictures and information.

So, in effect, you are seeing one seller.

(ie., Auction Ending in PST but updated in EST)

The US site uses Pacific Time, because that's where their home office is.

If you look at the same listing on dotCA it will be in Eastern Time because eBayCanada is based in Toronto.

but there is the occasional time that it would be helpful to send them an email... 

I absolutely agree. Or at least an email chat.

We have one member here who is deaf and non-verbal. He is able to get a special service, but it is very very limited and ONLY for use of those working with disabilities.

Most problems are most quickly solved by ignoring Customer Service and going straight for the Resolution Centre at the bottom of this page.

It is completely robotic and much more efficient than any customer rep.

And of course, if you notice an unexpected change in the cost of your purchase, do NOT complete the sale.

Scammers are not likely to follow up on an incomplete sale.