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Ebay Douche bags and your rights as a consumer!

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Damo
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Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:46 pm
Location: Canberra

Ebay Douche bags and your rights as a consumer!

Post by Damo »

A week or so ago I placed a small bid on a set of injectors which I noticed when looking for random parts through Ebay. The injectors had no reserve, a few days to run and only 1 bid at $0.99. So me being the opportunist I am, I placed a $2 bid on them expecting either the biding to take off once an initial 'outsiders' bid was place, or the item to be removed before the 24hrs ending time curfew. (As far as I'm aware, sellers are legally allowed to cancel the item on the previso that the item has been sold externally to Ebay. This is regardless of bids to that point, and only IF that condition is nominated in the posted add during the sale.)
Time counted down and went into the sub 24hrs to go!, I was still the highest bidder at $1.25. The auction was booked to finish around 6:30pm on Thursday. As the end time approached I opened a 'increase max bid' page and second to keep an eye on the exact time to run. I was expecting the bid to go into the triple figures with minutes left, or at least being pipped by a slightly larger bid, but nothing changed. With 10secs to go, I increase my max bid to $20 to cover snypers. Because I have dial up speed at the moment, I went back to eating dinner with the fam not knowing exactly what had happened yet.
An hour or so later, I sat back in front of the PC, the open ebay page didn't show that I had won the bid, only that the auction was over. I figured that someone had placed a more representative bid in the final seconds. I also noticed that I had received a message from the seller:
Dear damlowet,

Hi mate, I ended the auction as I am not going to let these go for $1.25.

I plan to relist unless you want to make a reasonable offer.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

WTF! I knew straight away that as per Ebay guidelines you aren't allowed to cancel an item because you think the high bid is too low!
Also, in the wording of his message to me, apparently I had won the auction! I went into my email and found that I had received an email from Ebay saying that I had indeed won the auction. A little confused, I went back into my messages and found that the item was cancelled after the end of the auction and his message was sent post end auction time.
What Fucking shit is this!

I sent a message back to him:
Dear eXXXXXXXe,

Mate, that is not how an auction works! If you wanted to pull the item, you should have done it 24hrs before the ending time as stated by Ebay. If you do not honor the action, you will be hearing from them. You committed to a no reserve auction, so that as far as I'm concerned, is your loss.


- damlowet

His reply to that was:
Dear damlowet,

Hi mate, I am sorry you feel that way. I am happy for you to make a sensible offer on them and we can call it finished. But as far as I am concerned they are not going anywhere for $1.25.

In the meantime I had also received a message from ebay regarding the injectors, the message was requesting that the seller was trying to cancel the auction:
Hi damlowet,
eXXXXXe recently opened a cancel transaction case for an item you recently purchased: Seimens DEKA Injectors 840cc Set Of 4.
Reason for cancel transaction request: The seller sold the item to another buyer.

Click the "Respond now" button to accept or decline this cancellation.

If you don't take action by 15-Nov-2012, the seller will be able to cancel the purchase without your consent.

FUCK OFF!!!! Now the seller was lying to ebay to try and cancel the sale for a reason that didn't exist, and in a time period which he wasn't allowed to based on the T+C's of Ebay.
Knowing a bit of the legalities which are enforced between a buyer and seller of goods at any level, I knew damn well that by winning the auction I had entered into a "Contract of sale" with dipstick regardless of whether he acknowledged it or not. He had no right to cancel the item and would be responsible financially for ALL actions following, in me pursuing the items I had legally won if I chose to pursue it through a small claims court!

I rejected the request to cancel the auction and sent Ebay a message:

Message: The seller will not honour the winning bid I placed, and is suggesting that I offer 'reasonable' amount as he feels that he didn't get the amount he was after. Apparently he is going to re list the item, even though the reason he gave Ebay for the sale cancellation (after the end of the auction) was due to selling the item to someone else. I told him that on my winning bid we had entered into a legally binding contract which is in his best interest to honour. Also, that a mistake on his part as the seller is not my responsibility as a buyer to fix.
In his second message, he states to me that he will not let the item go for the winning bid price.

Now he was starting to piss me off so I wrote:

Whether you are sorry I feel a particular way or not is irrelevant, as the person who cast the winning bid on your item, I have entered into a "contract of sale" with you. If you like, do a search and find what that means as a retailer of goods. As far as Ebay is concerned:

(eBay expects sellers to consistently provide service that results in a high level of buyer satisfaction.
When a buyer wins an item on eBay, the seller and buyer have entered a contract that both members are expected to honour. A seller's obligations are formal – such as sending the item that was described in the listing – as well as informal – such as providing good service.
Sellers who don't fulfil their obligations may be in breach of their contract and can create an unsatisfactory buyer experience. Buyer experience is reflected in a seller's Feedback (including overall scores and detailed seller ratings), as well as Item Not Received and Item Significantly Not as Described disputes.)

I am not interested in making a 'sensible offer', as the bid I made was sufficient to win the item. If you had a problem with the item not getting the amount you were after, you should have set a minimum bid, that is your issue not mine. I am not responsible for your mistakes, you are. And as 'your' mistake, it will either cost you the difference between what I have bid for the item and what you think it was worth, or negative feedback with the possibility of you account being suspended.
I am also quite sure that Ebay will be interested that you falsified reasoning behind canceling the transaction also which may influence a ruling on your account.

Your move.


- damlowet

As I had indeed won the auction, I was able to leave feedback which was not in the positive for him!

I have received back a message from Ebay that they had been in contact with him and pursued the issue, but were not allowed to tell me what transpired as it would involve disclosure of confidential information.

Now that all the cards were on the table, I'd sit back and wait to see what happens.

Late yesterday I received another message from the dude:
Dear damlowet,

Disregarding your last charming message. I have just had another item sell for more than expected so I will let these injectors go for the winning price as a learning experience.

I will send them once I have received payment.

Doing a little searching, I found that the injectors I had won was the first and only item that he has sold, which means he is lying in his message to me again. What a dick!
So to summarize, he has disregarded Terms and Conditions, lied to Ebay, showed he was willing to take advantage of someone whom he though he knew more than, and is now lying to me about selling another item for a profit and doing me a fucking favor.
There is a 95% chance based on his behavior, he will damage the injectors so they can't be used anyway, so do I risk the purchase and postage, or call it a lost chance?
I will send him back another message and see what his response is.

Note to all, understand what a Contract of Sale means for you. You have rights which favor you as a consumer!!!!!!



Damo
Do humanity a favor, use your brain and fight the forces of WOO WOO!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1mrbxhWU5Y
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poeticjustice88
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Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:24 am
Location: gold coast, queensland

Post by poeticjustice88 »

Take them for the purchase and postage price.

Use your phone or a camcorder when opening the injectors, and testing them.

In his ad, he would have stated the condition of the items, whether they be brand new, used and working, or faulty-only to be used for parts.

With the video evidence of you receiving, opening, and testing the items, if he has fucked with them, you can now prove that it was his fault, and get all your money back, including postage.

Alternatively, he has not fucked with them, you get a good set of 840cc injectors to flood your poor little 1.5L with, and u can post the vid on youtube to show off your E-Peen

Michael
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Damo
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Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:46 pm
Location: Canberra

Post by Damo »

So, I have an outcome. I prevented posting any more of the conversation as I wasn't sure what the situation was going hold based on what I had written here, but the situation is that I now have a set of 4 Siemens Deka 3105 injectors which look almost new. They are 850cc injectors with o ring style, body shape is similar to the generic bosch.

Here is how the remaining messages went:


Dear damlowet,

Disregarding your last charming message. I have just had another item sell for more than expected so I will let these injectors go for the winning price as a learning experience.

I will send them once I have received payment.


Dear enm11e,

I am not sure what you are trying to imply, and still unsure if you know what is required of you legally as a seller of goods on Ebay. I understand that Ebay has contacted you and advised you on your responsibilities which has forced your hand. My "Last charming message" stated facts of the sale and the obligation you have to me as the seller. You have no choice but to accept the winning bid regardless of what other items you have, or indeed have not sold. You are right though, this will definitely be a learning experience for both of us, where you will become aware that this is not some car forum classified in which you can dictate terms!
Just incase you think you have me fooled into thinking you are doing me a favor by 'letting these injectors go, let me assure you I am well versed when it comes fraudulent claims and deception:

You have breached the Terms and Conditions of Ebay policy as a seller

You insisted that I make another offer on an item I technically already own

You lied to Ebay about the reasoning behind your auction item cancellation

You then threatened to keep the goods I had already legal entitlement to

(The above are in written form by your hand)

Then, you claim to be doing me a favor as your other 'sale' items went for a profit, which is strange as this is your action as a seller through Ebay, making this yet another lie.

I have little faith that you will indeed keep you end of the Contract of sale based on you previous actions and messages, but am still going to finalize the purchase as you have far more to lose than I. I will be inspecting the injectors thoroughly on delivery to determine whether they indeed match you posted listing description and perform as described and whether they have sustained recent damage, otherwise you will again be hearing from Ebay and possibly my associates.



Dear damlowet,

Payment received, goods will be sent monday.


Dear enm11e,

Thankyou for your quick response.



So, stick to your guns and things may just go your way.


:wink:

Damo
Do humanity a favor, use your brain and fight the forces of WOO WOO!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1mrbxhWU5Y
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shanec86
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Post by shanec86 »

posting cause i read your story

:)
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Damo
Posts: 1482
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:46 pm
Location: Canberra

Post by Damo »

hahhhaaa I got one! Thanks Shane.



Damo
Do humanity a favor, use your brain and fight the forces of WOO WOO!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1mrbxhWU5Y
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dexi_styles
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Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:49 pm
Location: South Brisbane

Post by dexi_styles »

This lesson is not just for eBay

You can apply the same tactics to anything. Know your rights as a buyer/ customer and you will soon realise that you can get what you are entitled to.

Hopefully it goes right for you.

Dex
http://forum.n12turbo.com/viewtopic.php?t=446 Benny's Old Dog....
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Damo
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Location: Canberra

Post by Damo »

Outcome was good, I have the injectors for the winning price so I'm a happy soldier in the end. :D
Just could have done without the grief in the middle.

Damo
Do humanity a favor, use your brain and fight the forces of WOO WOO!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1mrbxhWU5Y
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