Ebay Sellers. . . what a joke!

[eZAK]

AlanRail,

I also live near Chicago and would like to stop by for tea.

Tell Me, Just where exactly is 'French LasVegas'?
Is that a New neighborhood or suburb of Chicago?

[Anonymous]

Oh, one more thing. Ebay is not compulsory. You don't have to do it.

I love ebay sellers, I wi***here were more of them.
I hate ebay buyers, I wi***here were less of them.

Of course, that is just so I will find better deals.

[Anonymous]

If you didn't know the seller was 6 miles away, and you thought the price and the shipping were reasonable then, why are people complaining?

It's like saying, "gee I'm upset...I just bought a $2000 train for $200 but I just found out the guy selling it won it for free." Would you feel ripped off in that situation? No you just saved $1800.

The bottom line is, you made a deal, you live with it.

Caveat Emptor!!!! .........."buyer beware"

[underworld]

That's why you have to ask questions. "local pick up" is something that isn't normally offered.....so you ask.....before you bid.

underworld

[philo426]

I think that the best solution would be to meet at a neutral public place to make the exchange.The seller did seem to want the SandH fee as he was not very accomodating.While some caution is warranted(especially about one's residence),the seller should have been more helpful.

[superwarp1]

Maybe he didn't want some unknown knocking on his door. Who knows you could be a axe murderer or something.


I do agree with Ben, you did enter into a contract to purchase the item on the terms of the seller.


Gary

[GPJ68]

macaste

What happened to you has happened to me also, but some with a different ending - the seller noted that he made an error and reduced the shipping. While your seller made an extra bundle by refusing to combine the shipping, my guess is that he's also lost future sales to you (and plenty of others) for doing business that way.

It sure doesn't hurt to ask, but there's no reason to get pushy or rude. There are several sellers I've won from in the past that I won't revisit with a bid any more, due to experiences similar to yours, or less-than-accurate descriptions, or really lousy packing, etc, etc, etc..

The good deals are out there, it can just take alot longer to find them, and disappointments can come along as well.

GPJ

[Anonymous]

Honestly Alan, you are in the wrong. You agreed to the sellers conditions, and i don't think it is parinoid to not want to invite people you don not know to your front door.
And honestly, if 6.00 is such a burden to you, than you should have not bid on the item in the first place. THe seller was forced to take a lower bid due to your pigheadedness. So my sympany is with the seller who now has another ebay story of the knuckle head who could not abide by the terms of the sale.
Bill

[GPJ68]

I've picked up a few things myself as well - a heavy toolbox full of 3/4 drive sockets and drive tools once. Asked the seller beforehand if I could pay if I won and arrange pickup the next time I was in Raleigh (in a few weeks). He said no problem, worked out great for both of us. And some items like Reading pointed out have to have pickup arrangements made (don't think UPS will ship an RV-sized box....). The seller should understand this and be prepared to make the appropriate arrangments with the successful buyer for such items. For small items (especially something that only costs $6 to ship) the seller normally indicates what shipping/pickup alternatives are acceptable to HIM (it is his item, after all). If the stated terms aren't acceptable to a potential bidder, then they shouldn't bid. Finding out afterwards that the distance to the seller is small is no excuse to get rude and repeatedly insist on other methods just because the buyer wants to save a few bucks (that's the real reason here, not to save the seller from any shipping hassle). If a seller appears to be local, but doesn't specifically offer a local pickup option, then ask before bidding - can save some unintended frustration afterwards, and might even result in a higher final bid for the item if the bidder knows he won't have shipping costs tacked on at the end.

I've also bought a few items outside the US. I've always checked before bidding with the seller about shipping costs and payment methods - if the seller is reluctant (or evasive about costs), I thank them and look elsewhere. Whenever I've sold some stuff, I've always gotten a few emails from overseas wanting to know if I would ship to them (all my auctions specifically state "USA lower 48 only"). I politely tell them no, don't want to go there, thanks for looking.

Every seller on ebay determines his/her own shipping/pickup/payment policies. The reasons behind their particular policies don't matter. Just because they DON'T say they offer a particular service or option, doesn't mean they have to appease an arrogant buyer that repeatedly demands to have things his way after the auction is over. If you don't like the stated policies (or lack of stated policies), don't bid. It's that simple.

To whine about a seller that won't appease a buyer by altering his policies to suit the buyer is sour grapes on the bidder's part, or maybe a cheap way to hide buyer's remorse and get out of paying for an item.

While there are certainly a number of less-than-stellar sellers on ebay, there's at least an equal number of undesireable bidders too.

GPJ

[Anonymous]

I have had a similar experience. I bought 3 items from one seller at 10.00 a piece. The shipping was 8.00 a piece. I emailed him to see if he would give me a discount on the multiple items. He said no. I paid the 24.00 for shipping. The actual shipping cost on the box was 7.00. He made an additional 17.00 off of me. For some items the shipping is almost as much as the item cost. There are not too many good deals on Ebay.

[Anonymous]

There are Items that are mostly picled up in person if not always. Large items ex. cars, campers, RV's, motorcycles, and such. I know several people who have done this. A friend just last week drove hid Pickup 800 miles to pick up a Suzuki cycle, and the seller thought this was great, no hassle for him. Another friend went to the Chicage area to inspect and take deliverly of a small RV's. So I know in some cases picking up the item seems a must.

David

[nblum]

BigJim, I don't think we know why the seller didn't want Alan dropping by. We only know that Alan is ticked off because he couldn't have it his way. We've only heard one side of the story, the rest is mere assumption on our part.

Bottom line, this is something that might have been mildly annoying at most to the vast majority of eBay buyers that has been blown way out of proportion, IMO.

I do like the Buffalo Springfield lyrics though :). But even if this was paranoia, people who live in bigger cities, like Chicago and LA are rightfully a little more guarded than those of us living in small towns and smaller cities. One can do the math concerning the number of unbalanced or dangerous people. There are more of them in the big urban areas :). Seriously, but no offense to New Yorkers or Angelenos intended. I used to be one of the former.

[BigJim]

Boy does this thread say a lot about the state our nation is in!

Like the song says... Paranoia strikes deep...Into your life it will creep...starts when you're always afraid...

[selector]

Whew!! I would just have accepted the fellow's response, and gotten on with my original intent...get what I wanted in the first place.

I mean, what if the person had some bad experiences in the past with people who just wanted to drop by and save a whopping $6.00?

...as riverailfan says....

[riverrailfan]

Right to privicey.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Contracts that unfairly favor one party where that same party makes up the terms are voidable. This contract was unconscionable and thus unenforceable

Where do you get your info?

You my friend, are a joke.

[ben10ben]

The more I think about AlanRail's claim that he's leaving Ebay, the happier I become. That just means that people like me who enjoy buying and selling on Ebay have one less person like him to put up with.

[GPJ68]

QUOTE: ...the Seller never stated until AFTER the auction ended that he has this "no pickup service"

And I never told him I had a "drop off service"

So we had unstated conflicting services.. that's all and the guy wanted me to pay $1 a mile for shipping.. no good for me.

So if the seller doesn't specifically state that he won't accept seashells as a form of payment BEFORE the auction is over, then he is obligated to accept them if you insist?!?!?!? Geeez, what a load of nonsense!

QUOTE: no good for me.

That says it all. You don't like it, so you don't have to honor it, to !@#$@ with everyone else.

What name do you use on ebay AlanRail? Please let all of us know, 'cause you'll be the first blocked bidder on my list once I get to selling off some of my excess stuff.

GPJ

[GPJ68]

Respectfully,

You've blown this whole affair completely out of proportion and continue to ignore the basic facts, which you now want to rewrite in your favor.

If the seller had been 60 miles away would you be crying about the shipping, or would you have happily paid the agreed amount and gone merrily on your way, and probably quite happy with your purchase? But since the guy has the misfortune of living 6 miles away, you make a mountain out of a molehill over a lousy $6 because the guy doesn't want strangers coming to his house to pick up a sale (or whatever his reasons may be).

You entered into a contract with the seller to complete the transaction when you placed the bid and then won the auction. YOU agreed to whatever his terms were as stated in the auction when YOU bid. Now you find out he's close by and you start balking at paying the shipping YOU agreed to when YOU bid. So you politely make an offer to pick up the item instead after the auction has ended. A perfectly fine idea to offer considering the distance, but honestly, it has little to do with saving the seller any shipping hassle, and everything about saving you a few extra bucks. So the seller politely refuses - THAT"S THE END OF IT. You agreed to the seller's terms when you bid - if you didn't like the terms, you shouldn't have bid. The seller has no obligation to satisfy your demands if they are contrary to his stated terms which YOU agreed to when you bid. Your multiple requests to proceed contrary to the agreed terms after he refused your offer the first time were arrogant, rude, and out-of-line. And to bring it here to get "sympathy" and rag on a seller for not graciously acceeding to your repeated demands just compounds it.

"More likely the item photo'ed well, but was really crap." The only "crap" is that low blow comment against a seller not interested in meeting your repeated demands to proceed differently than agreed to when YOU bid. You want to arrange something different from the seller's terms, then ask before bidding, not afterwards. Well, maybe once afterwards, but if the seller refuses, you're SOL. Once you've bid, won, and the auction is over, it doesn't matter if the seller is 2000 miles away or 2000 feet - you agreed to the terms as stated. It doesn't matter what the seller's reasons may be for refusing your pick up offer - you agreed to the terms as stated.

It's unfortunate that the seller let you off the hook for the auction. I would have politely told you to honor the terms and pay as agreed, or I'd file a non-paying bidder report with ebay, nuke you with a negative, then post the saga on my "About me" ebay page as an example of a cheap sour grapes bidder that others ought to watch out for.

You are 100% in the wrong on this one, and no amount of legalese BS you try to pile up will cover that simple fact.

Ben Chris, Bill and others have it right, you don't.

GPJ

[Anonymous]

I sell some products I produce on Ebay, work from my house and would not provide pickup service at my home, even in the unlikely event someone wants to drive all the way up into these mountains. My friends and family are welcome at my home. Customers are welcome to abide with the terms they agreed to when bidding. So far it hasn't been a problem for any of us.

It's quite possibe the seller doesn't want to give the impression that he's running a business from his home, or worse, that he's "dealing" from his home and I don't blame him one bit.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lehigh Valley Railroad

Please read BillFromWayne's post...

Thanks.

[AlanRail]

UW

You are adding facts that were NOT in the auction; the Seller never stated until AFTER the auction ended that he has this "no pickup service"

And I never told him I had a "drop off service"

So we had unstated conflicting services.. that's all and the guy wanted me to pay $1 a mile for shipping.. no good for me.

[underworld]

I never said I would pay whatever, whenever....nor do I recommend anyone else should. $5.95 isn't a lot of money......if it were $15.95....that's another story. Even if it was $15.95.....you have to read the auction....if you don't like the terms just don't bid. You speak of the contract being unenforceable, but by bidding you agreed to the terms of the contract. The time to discuss or negotiate is before you bid.....not after the auction is closed. Like I said, I've never had a problem meeting someone for a transaction....but not everyone is willing to meet.

underworld

[Anonymous]

Please read BillFromWayne's post...

Thanks.

[AlanRail]

I feel the Seller was unfair

so some of you will pay whatever whenever , good for you. I won't. Contracts need to be fair to both parties. Contracts that unfairly favor one party where that same party makes up the terms are voidable. This contract was unconscionable and thus unenforceable.


I'm not angry or exploding; I never have to deal with the jerk and he me.

[underworld]

I've been a buying and selling on eBay since 1999. Over 200 sucessful transactions.....no real problems. Once I bid on an older Aritso passenger car, the guy wasn't far away but he had his auction listed as local pick up only, so he wasn't getting any bids. I got a bargain because I lived close by. Local pick up only was a term of the auction. I was selling a camera outfit with the specification that I take paypal only and only drawn from bank funds. A guy from Canada called me the night before the auction was over and asked if I would lift the two strike rule so he could bid. He explained how he got the two negatives and I understood so I let him bid. It turns out that when I checked his feedback the dealers also must have understood the error and didn't give him negative feedback. At the very last second of the auction a new bidder won the item and paid with a credit card within ten minutes after the auction closed. Since I was leaving town in a few days and needed the money in my account soon I was monitoring the auctions and sent out winning bidder notifications within five minutes of the end of the auction, again stating the terms of payment. I emailed her back immediately upon the notification from paypal.....no response. After three days of emails and getting her phone number and calling on the third day, leaving a message....
........still no response. So I called the guy in Canada to tell him the auction was his. That was my biggest eBay problem in six years over 200 transactions and dealing with people all over the US, also Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, China, and Mongolia. Some people had listed on their auctions that they wouldn't ship outside of their country or region. I contacted those people in advance and if they were in a country that wasn't an English speaking country I would do my best and stumble through their language and also send it in English. They all agreed to ship if I had the winning bid. If someone had not agreed I wouldn't be upset I'd just keep looking for whatever it was. You have to ask these questions before you bid. Simple.
Now, on to shipping and handling. Many sellers, stores, dealers, etc. charge higher rates for shipping. The reason that they do this??? eBay charges fees based on many things.....listing, listing price, final value and anything special like reserve price, extra photos, bold type, featured item, listing in extra categories. Since they make money off of the money you are trying to make some people have obviously higher shipping fees as eBay does not charge you based on your shipping fees. If you notice most items that have noticeably high shipping.....those items typically sell for less. Example, a friend of mine was looking to buy an extra battery for his cell phone. I told him to look on eBay. He found tons of them.....most of them with $9.99 to $12.99 shipping and handling, but the batteries sell for .99 Since the cheapest you can get that battery around here is over $20 plus tax....the .99 plus $9.99 shipping and handling is a deal. So in some cases the high shiiping fees are due to eBays fees. Some other people have flat shipping fees. If you deal in shipping lots of things on a regular basis that can make things a lot easier for you. Some people will pay a little too much......some people about right and some will get a bit of a deal. The best thing to do is to read the ad and ask questions before bidding. Myself ,I have no problem meeting people for a transaction.....but not everyone is like that.

underworld

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[BigJim]

AlanRail,
I for one agree with you.

After reading the first reply, I thought this guy has got to be from California and I was right. What I didn't expect was to find that the paranoia extends so far across the country.

[nblum]

Maybe the guy is disabled or disfigured, or pathologically shy. Have you considered those possibilities? Whatever his reasons, you might have respected his desires the way you had hoped he would respect yours. Your approach seems unduly confrontational and self-righteous. You give the appearance that you really don't care what this person's reasoning or feelings might be, but you want us to sympathize. You said it's my way or the highway, and he chose the highway. What I don't quite understand is why you are so put out about it if you think the item wasn't that important to you. The principle at stake here doesn't seem all that important, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Some disturbing responses on this thread. It's kind of sad to see the hobby so riddled with mistrust, self-interest, and a simple lack of common courtesy and comraderie. Makes me glad I no longer do eBay.

But if any folks here ever buy train items from me (I list on several buy/sell boards), you're more than welcome to drop by to pick the stuff up and save me the hassle of packing and shipping. I'll set you up with a beer, let you pet the dog (an Australian Shepherd), show you the trains, and willingly share some train talk.