2004-09-09

Burned

I'm embroiled in my very first ebay dispute! It's very exciting, really; I just love sitting here fuming over crap like this.

Here's the poop: I bought a DVD from the seller on August 3, using Paypal. It is now September 9, and still no DVD. I've emailed this guy at least once a week since August 11, to get some kind of straightforward answer as to the DVD's whereabouts.

"Straightforward" is seemingly a foreign concept to this seller. At first, I was told that I would be receiving it "next week." When said week came and went, I was told that it was actually mailed on August 17, and that I would be receiving it in that oh-so-nebulous realm known as "any day now."

Lo, many a day has now passed and I am still without my DVD. Piqued, I filed a dispute with Squaretrade, basically saying that I'd waited a month for this item, and that I would actually really kinda like my money back. I was more or less told that I won't be getting a refund, as he's going to send a "replacement" -- get this -- "free of charge." A free replacement for a DVD that was most likely never mailed to begin with. How very rather benevolent of him, really. Jackass.

A review of his feedback yields the rather unsettling revelation that this sort of thing happens way more than it ought to, with items mysteriously "getting lost in the mail" on an average of once every ten or so transactions. Say what you want about the USPS; stuff just does NOT get lost that often.

I have been more or less promised that the "replacement" will arrive this week. If I don't get by Saturday, I'm afraid I'm going to have to just chalk it up to the sad, sorry, indefatigable fact that I've been, as they say, "had." I've researched my options, and for the most part, ebay is almost always gonna side with a "power seller," even if said seller is an apparent unrepentant douchestain with no clear understanding of "customer service."

I suppose I should consider myself lucky that this is the first time in nearly two years that I've actually gotten "burned" by a seller, and that I'm only 17 dollars poorer for it. Hmmm, yeah. Nope.

Still, if any of you chickens have similar stories, and if any of you were actually able to resolve your situation in a way that was favorable, I'd love to hear about it.

lisamcc at 11:48 a.m.

6 comments so far
mudgirl
2004-09-10 01:18:53
I have a similar ebay story. ebay and squaretrade were no help but paypal was extremely helpful, sided with me and got me a refund from the seller who went from powerseller to no longer a member of ebay while I was waiting for resolution. Contact them asap. If you want more details feel free to email me. good luck. --mud
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Paula
2004-09-10 14:23:01
All right, spill it McColgan. What DVD was it? I know it ain't gonna be pretty.
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Lisa
2004-09-10 14:35:03
"Hot Baroque Pop Songstresses In Bondage." Wanna come over and watch?
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Tina
2004-09-14 10:03:24
Sadly, I have been had, as well. For a CARE BEAR costume. These people are ruthless if they are going to scam someone who is obviously buying something for their child. I won the auction on Aug 8 and paid on Aug 9th. Still nothing. I emailed them SIX times and received no response. So, I called them on August 27th and asked for Laura (the person's name in my paypal details). A man asked who I was and when I told him I was inquiring about the Care Bear costume, he said it went out and I would receive it 'in a week'. A week came and went and I called again. This time a woman answered and I swear the phone was passed around to about 3 other women. Finally, the last woman on the line said, "I never received an email confirmation from paypal that you paid for this item." I was livid and said, "I have emailed you SIX times and I called last week and was told it went out." She said she would have to go online and see what was going on and would then ship it out. I immediately got off the phone with her and filed a complaint on both Paypal and ebay. That was last week. Scums.
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Marquis
2004-09-15 15:41:51
Don't have much experience with eBay. The few times I've used them, I got lucky and dealt with actual human beings. But I DO know something about fighting huge corporate powerstructures (The Incident Known as WalMart, for one. I took an elongated trip down the Amazon once as well). The point? Please don't give up. For a few reasons. 1) You'll be vindicated in the end. 2) Fighting these fights can be fun, in a sort of hateful, anxious way. 3) We, your Loyal Following, would be much obliged to read of your ongoing battle. Absurditas Vicarium, and all that rot. xo, t.
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