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fraudulent eBay seller

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fraudulent eBay seller
Posted by altterrain on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 6:45 PM
I put a bid on one of these over a month ago -
 
 
an Aristo 46601 Railway Express Agency (REX) Wood Truss Reefer 
 
and won it for $0.99 because it was listed in "other" on eBay. I promptly paid via eBay for the item plus Priority mail shipping and waited. Emailed the seller after a couple of weeks and after 3 weeks I got a message saying the item was to be shipped. Got back from vacation and after 2 weeks nothing at my door! Emailed seller again and 2 days later the seller has canceled their eBay account! Already put my complaint into PayPal.
 
eBay seller ID was - bimmer323boy
 
Seller's name - Debra A Steele 
 
Seller PayPal ID - debsteele@optonline.net
 
-Brian
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Posted by enginear on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:03 PM

Brian, I could start ranting about some. The time I paid more than list for some switches because of description (that's ok) and then was the only bidder for the same seller and the item was removed at closing? Ebay allowed it? The time I actually sent payment and the seller said it got stolen when he went to pack it??? Well he sent back the payment. etc, etc. A lot has been good, and I stay with the reputable sellers. It's not really an auction though, is it!

Thanks for the warning, Joe

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Posted by gbbari on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:08 PM

My condolences, Brian.  I had several close calls and decided to stop using "evil bay".  Too many street-wise shrewd dealers (know how to mislead potential buyers without technically lying).  I would only shop there again if they changed their policy for sellers to require a $1,000 up-front deposit that is put into an escrow "buyer insurance" account and held until the seller cancels their account and all pending transactions have been verifiably completed to the buyers' satisfaction. 

Yes I know there will be a barrage of replies telling us how others have had 100% success and never gotten shafted.  I say - God Bless You all Real Good.

I do tend to trust dealers who regulary advertise in GR - never got shafted by any that I have patronized thus far and they have been downright pleasant to deal with.  A few had prices way too rich for me but they were honest and up front about it. 

Al

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:35 PM
Looks like that wouldda been a nice addition, too. That sucks.
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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Thursday, September 25, 2008 1:42 AM

There are ways of forcing them to be honest on the bay, been there done it, over four years of dealing on it, haven't lost over $100.00 yet.

And sometimes it's the only place you can find certain discontinued items you may be searching for a long time, for instance, the Amtrak LGB Materials Handling Cars, Nadda anywhere.

You need to file claims in a timely manner, and NOT LET WEEKS PASS BY, and you CAN get your monies back, from E-bay, if necessary. Been there, done it, more than once......File a claim, Brian......might still be time....

Byron C. 

He Wore Arrow Shirts Too
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Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Thursday, September 25, 2008 9:52 AM
These horror stories are exactly why I've tended to shy away from evil bay!
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Posted by tangerine-jack on Thursday, September 25, 2008 4:10 PM

Sorry for your luck, but it seems you weren't out a great deal of money and that's a good thing.  You will never get customer service or your money back from Paypal, chalk this up to a learning experience.  I stopped using Paypal and ebay about 2 years ago after a go-round trying to get paid for merchandise I sold.  I was out over $200 and spent 15-20 hours of my time on the phone to no avail with the Paypal call center in India.

Support your local hobby store or swap meet!

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Thursday, September 25, 2008 10:13 PM
 tangerine-jack wrote:

Support your local hobby store or swap meet!

Yeah if you got any decent ones around close by to support and if they carry what you need or want.....

Byron C.

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Posted by S&G Rute of the Silver River on Friday, September 26, 2008 12:30 AM
Evil bay     eh its alright, but I always but from sellers with a 99.8 or above rating (that have been around for a while) and say "No paypal" that is usually what screws me over.
"I'm as alive and awake as the dead without it" Patrick, Snoqualmie WA. Member of North West Railway Museum Caffinallics Anomus (Me)
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2008 1:02 AM
 EMPIRE II LINE wrote:
 tangerine-jack wrote:

Support your local hobby store or swap meet!

Yeah if you got any decent ones around close by to support and if they carry what you need or want.....

Byron C.

EIIL,

Might even want to remind people what you had stole at a show! Will leave you to say.

Toad

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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Friday, September 26, 2008 6:05 AM
 ToadFrogWhiteLightn wrote:
 EMPIRE II LINE wrote:
 tangerine-jack wrote:

Support your local hobby store or swap meet!

Yeah if you got any decent ones around close by to support and if they carry what you need or want.....

Byron C.

EIIL,

Might even want to remind people what you had stole at a show! Will leave you to say.

Toad

 

eh, people don't really care about how you got treated on a deal, really only what effects them and their own little world, so it seems. Toad

I just go where I can get the best deal for MY dollar, and to each his own.....right.

Byron C.   

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Posted by Great Western on Friday, September 26, 2008 6:09 AM
I am not sure about the extent of fraudsters on UK Ebay but what I do see is people who want far more money than things are really worth.

Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad

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If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2008 6:59 AM
 EMPIRE II LINE wrote:
 ToadFrogWhiteLightn wrote:
 EMPIRE II LINE wrote:
 tangerine-jack wrote:

Support your local hobby store or swap meet!

Yeah if you got any decent ones around close by to support and if they carry what you need or want.....

Byron C.

EIIL,

Might even want to remind people what you had stole at a show! Will leave you to say.

Toad

 

eh, people don't really care about how you got treated on a deal, really only what effects them and their own little world, so it seems. Toad

I just go where I can get the best deal for MY dollar, and to each his own.....right.

Byron C.   

No I ment you was runing your stuff at a show and some one took the Door and Another part off your Amtwack........ That is low to!

Toad

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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Friday, September 26, 2008 12:53 PM

 Great Western wrote:
I am not sure about the extent of fraudsters on UK Ebay but what I do see is people who want far more money than things are really worth.

 

 

Well G W, as you know, supply and demand, as well as GREED(free enterprise), always dictates somethings value. And some have recently gone UNDER, I don't mean DOWN either.....So it seems those items will continue to go UP UP UP ^^^^, and so on. As they get horded up.... 

Really, all depends on what it's worth to "YOU", the one Purchasing it, or looking for that particular item, that's being offered out there.....

As I've already indicated here in this thread, I am looking for an Amtrak, LGB, Materials Handling car, and no doubt, if I ever do find one, I'm quite sure the person selling it, won't let it go for the blow-out price that I had heard these were once offered for of only $40.00 USC........

Byron C.

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Posted by gbbari on Friday, September 26, 2008 4:22 PM

Try Star Hobby in Annapolis, MD. 410-349-4290 - ask for Don.  Last time I was there earlier this year he had several LGB Amtrak MH cars.

Al

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Friday, September 26, 2008 4:51 PM

http://www.tri247.com/participant_210144.html

EventAlford Short Distance Triathlon
Held On5th Aug 2007
ParticipantDebra? Steele? (Team? C)?
Position Overall50
GenderMale
CategorisationMX?
ClubDeeside? Dashers? C?
Total Time00:50:52
Stage - Swim - Time00:07:32
Stage - Bike - Time00:25:47
Stage - Run - Time00:17:33

 

So, uh, someone with an e-mail of "bimmer_boy", named "Debra", and a google shows male?

Must be Russian.

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Posted by altterrain on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:13 AM
Paypal decided the case in my favor and has already deposited all funds back into my account! Sounds like they got their act together.

-Brian
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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:42 AM

I think this is a major reason they went to the Paypal only payment system, to weed out the weenies who dont want to honor a sale because it was lower than expected or that have no intent of actually sending the item.

If a seller wants a minimum price, post a reserve or start the bid higher, closer to what you want. Its not rocket science.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 6:53 PM
Glad to hear it! At least you got your money back.
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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 5:42 PM
 vsmith wrote:

I think this is a major reason they went to the Paypal only payment system, to weed out the weenies who dont want to honor a sale because it was lower than expected or that have no intent of actually sending the item.

If a seller wants a minimum price, post a reserve or start the bid higher, closer to what you want. Its not rocket science.

 

No they haven't gone to a pay-pal only system, and also if you'd always list adds the way you are suggesting, that is just what E-bay wants, cause they make more money that way.

There are ways to set your price, and weed out the penny anntie bidders, without spending an arm and a leg using reserve pricing, or pre-set bidding levels.......it's called make me an offer.....or buy it now settings...that way right up front you let bidders know what you want, but yet leave it open for offers also....

Everyone knows really what they are looking for, and what it's worth at the RETAIL HOBBY STORES, that is, if it's even still available, but they wanna try an get it for next to nothing if they can on E-Bay.....Right....

As we all know, sometimes, or quite often, the only place too find some items, we might want, is only on the Bay....and yes once in a-while, we do stumble on a real deal there, too....but it takes learning how to know YOUR value of an item, and use the system accordingly, and bid and make offers accordingly. 

Byron C.

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Posted by Old 66 on Thursday, October 2, 2008 5:35 PM

 

 

               My dads got a ebay acount and were all straght but that was total gosse what he did to you

             maybe we should got to crags list now maybe they're better at keeping there deals :]

                     cheers  Cowboy [C):-)]

“Kustoms are for getting girls..Hot Rods are for getting rid of them!" Robert Williams

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