EBAY loser question...

[jsta6]

I won an auction for some GTA rims.

Since this was the sellers first sale, I offered to buy them COD. The seller declined.

I offered to send 1/2 the money. After receipt of the money, the buyer could ship me two rims. After I got the two rims, I would send the other 1/2 of the money, and the seller could send the other 1/2 of the rims.

I tried everything to resolve the problem, but the seller was a real jerk. He just kept threatening to end the sale. Finally threatening to ruin my perfect rating and cancelling the auction if I did not pay 100% up front. Judging by his emails, he is probably a young kid.

Am I on crack, or is this person a loser?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2415085288&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOAB:MT:6

 

[jsta6]

BTW, be careful of buying on ebay.

One thing I learned from this is that it is impossible to get information on help from ebay. They won't give you their email address and they want you to pay $20 for a mediator to look at your problem.

 

[b4black]

1. If you were worried about his feedback, don't bid.
2. All auctions are pay 100% before shipping. I wouldn't want to make two runs to UPS (or whatever). Or worry you only want 2 rims.
3. If you needed special arrangements, you should have worked that out BEFORE bidding.

JMO.

 

[Renthorin]

Ebay is always a gamble......but that is part of the fun

Perhaps you could pay someone on this board the $$ and if they live near Fairfield, Connecticut they could go pick up the rims for you.......then ship them to you.

Just a thought.

 

[UNGN]

I'd pay the $152 and get all the rims. If they are crap or were misrepresented you can slam the guy for selling junk.

Now, if the rims are bad and you say something, he'll put "extremely slow payer, blah blah blah".

Live and learn.

 

[mark b]

As mentioned, really check and ask before you buy, but here's 2 other ideas:

1) sellers of big ticket items will often agree to an escrow account. Not really applicable here

2) If you pay via PayPal, use your charge card. I have recovered charges from non-shipment in this scenario.

IS this seller really in Fairfield, CT?

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by mark b
As mentioned, really check and ask before you buy, but here's 2 other ideas:

1) sellers of big ticket items will often agree to an escrow account. Not really applicable here

2) If you pay via PayPal, use your charge card. I have recovered charges from non-shipment in this scenario.

All good points. *I* wouldn't have bid on an item if someone has such low feedback, and if you do, use Paypal with a credit card, and pay a bit more for the buyer protection.

If the guy won't take any form of credit card payment and it's cash only, beware.

 

[arista5]

justa e-mail me, if you want cover the gas/tolls for me to go to CT and obviously the cost of the rims and i will pick them up for ya then UPS them to you

 

[jsta6]

Good responses b4black!

I usually don't bid on sellers with no feedback, but I really needed the Riken fronts, and it wasn't that much $.

I would do 1/2 and 1/2 if I was the seller and this was my first sale. You have to do what you have to do to prove yourself. This is the only time I asked someone to do that. I always paid 100% up front.

I told the seller that I was ready to buy before the auction ended. I asked him to end the auction early and I would pay with paypal.

I know it is not a lot of money. I pay twice that for my sons school tuition. I paid almost that for just one drag radial. It is just that what proof did I have that this person was for real? I don't mind getting rims that need to be painted and cleaned up. I just wanted to be sure I would get SOMETHING.

In all my emails I was really nice and I explained to him that I REALLY needed them. I told him that I would send him $100 and AFTER he got it, he could send me two rims. Any rims, front, rear, front and rear, whatever he wanted, so that he knew I would send the rest of the money for the other rims.

I just did not feel comfortable after reading his emails. He just seemed like a young kid. He kept threatening to cancel my bid, which really turned me off. I have 42 positive feedbacks and he has none.

 

[jsta6]

lol @ arista5

Thanks man. I would do the same for one of my Buick Bro's!

 

[mark b]

Ask the guy for his address. I'm just a few towns away from Fairfield.

 

[jsta6]

Thanks, but I don't want them now.

After he threatened me for the last time, I feel he might do something to screw them up just to p#$%s me off or something.

I wouldn't do business with this guy now. To bad, becuase I really needed those Rikens.

I think I am just going to sell my Rikens and get some OEM GTA's. They are much more common.

 

[mark b]

If you want, and the seller (loser) is willing, I can stop by and check them out. I can't believe he wouldn't agree to that. Well, ok, maybe I could - there are dishonest sellers. But, I also respect people not wanting to disclose where they live. You never know what can happen these days.

Did he post pictures when he sold them?

 

[mark b]

DUH - sorry about the last line.... meant to say were those "recent" pictures that were posted.....

 

[Lee_Burough]

Trust your gut....

Every time I go against my gut feelings, I end up sorry. If your gut is telling you to stop, then, stop.

I asked for the same consideration from a seller in Montana for my first purchase here on this board. I sent the first half and he sent both Lear-Siegler seats (all of it)....A lesson learned about this board's members and buying from this board in general.

Myself, I don't see the draw of eBay....Too many risks and variables involved when you are dealing with an individual and not an established company who sells there regularly.

Is your "perfect" eBay rating worth $20? If HE cancels the sale, does that count against your rating?

Life is too short

 

[jsta6]

Thanks Lee.

I don't care if he replies with negative feedback. It won't bother me or my rating. You can reply to feedback anyway. He can say whatever he wants and I will just reply that it is unfounded.

TRUST ME, ebay is cool. I have found some VERY cool stuff on there. Cheap too (like I am!)

 

[mark b]

> Every time I go against my gut feelings, I end up sorry

Amen to that!

Don't worry about the Ebay rating. Anyone can say anything. I bought a CD from a guy in Canada. Paid via Paypal, then he tells me he's not taking paypal. Paid again via Bidpay. Waited a month+, finally got the stuff. One month later he asks me if I "ever did pay for that cd he sent".

I guess I was supposed to pay a 3rd time and still take a bad feedback!

But... there are plenty of honest, good people on Ebay that are a pleasure to deal with.

 

[b4black]

I agree, if it doesn't feel right, get out.

I was uneasy about a OTC scan tool I won for ~$100. The seller wanted $15 "actual" shipping (twice what I tought it would be). I did some checking and found the seller was scamming under several UserID's.

One negative puts you to 41, one negative puts him to -1. He's got much more to lose. Let him leave feedback first. If you don't, maybe he won't. Then you're back to square one.

 

[G-boz]

Originally posted by jsta6
BTW, be careful of buying on ebay.

I agree, to me, ebay is always my last alternative for parts and such. I'll try the message boards first. I usually find the parts I need at a lower price. (you can always haggle with them). You can browse the f-body boards for rims or place a wanted ad. BTW, Im only 10 minutes from Fairfield, If I can help let me know

 

[chris]

They look like all rears to me.