The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This is just a note to those of you who might occasionally sell items on Ebay. I hope the same doesn't happen to you. Ebay ID "zmah0321" is a relative newcomer to Ebay with low double digit feedback. Her name is ZORA MAHDAVI and I note she does buy occasional items of mechanical music.

On 7th July I sold a Mikiphone to her, Ebay bidder: zmah0321. I very politely fended off many irrelevant emails from her between 7th and 11th July when I did eventually receive a Paypal payment. The questions she asked were related to other vendors' items over which I have no control. My suspicion was that she had changed her mind about buying my Mikiphone and regretted bidding so much when cheaper alternatives were available. Anyway I had triple boxed the Mikiphone awaiting payment so it was ready to go on the SAME DAY I received Paypal payment.

I duly purchased Air Mail service for shipping with additional insurance. The item was fully trackable and relied upon a signature at the other end.

On the 20th July the buyer contacted me for information on delivery. I responded with the tracking information which according to the postal website stated that delivery had been attempted that very day. The buyer complained to me that this was not possible and instantly filed a dispute with Ebay! In her claim she also falsely stated that I had "cut off communication" with her. I replied to each email as I got them allowing for time differences in our respective countries. On Friday last week I checked again the website to see if another delivery attempt had been made. Much to my relief it stated that the item had been delivered the day before. It said the delivery was completed and thank you for using the service etc.

I had just notified the buyer of this when I saw that she had inappropriately raised the Dispute to a full blown claim. I had confirmed the delivery and tracking information to Ebay whilst it was still in 'Dispute' status. Even though we had a firm delivery confirmation and the tracking number relates to her address as on my postal receipt, I still had doubts about Ebay coming through on the side of the seller. My worst fears would shortly be confirmed.

I contacted Ebay (very difficult when you're not a buyer ) and had a recorded chat with an online assistant who assured me that it would be a formality that her claim would be dismissed if I had tracking information (which I had). Nevertheless I was told to wait 3 days for a decision. After 3 days it stated that Ebay needed "more time to decide". Ebay refuses to accept proof or paperwork when the item has already been escalated by the buyer. Today they ruled in favor of the buyer somewhat incongruously and without any plausible explanation!

The buyer has even now admitted in a message to me that she DOES have the item! I have attempted to appeal the process but Ebay has already refunded her the item cost plus international shipping. Why is Ebay acting so wrecklessly and unprofessionally, not to mention permitting potential frauds to take place?

Needless to add that the buyer who now owns the Mikiphone and also has all my money, has left me negative feedback. So it's a win win situation for her and lose lose for me which is GROSSLY unfair.

Can anyone suggest anything I can do to address the injustice of this? Is this common?

Ebay stinks!

It is very important that all communication, especially on high dollar items, is done through the eBay system (instead of through direct email), so there is a record of it for them to review. If you have a confirmation of delivery, then you need to re-present that to eBay.

Call and push enough menu buttons on your phone, and you will eventually talk to a human.

Indeed!

I did provide both the tracking numbers AND URL of website into which the no. can be inputed to get the delivery confirmation. I would like to believe that Ebay WOULD look at all correspondence but they haven't even read my defence once, it appears! Very very poor indeed.

All communication between myself and the buyer was through the Ebay system including the last message stating that the item had arrived.

Thank you, Steve, for this enlightening and frustrating tale. I can only hope that your honesty and dogged persistence will pay off for you in the long run. This will be one more tale that reinforces my decision to stop selling on eBay until "some other venue" becomes available, hopefully one that is less antagonistic to the sellers. Do we know if it is still possible to block a purchaser from bidding on one's auctions? I had to do that with several bidders a few years ago, including one a USA collector that took weeks upon weeks to pay up, and was less than pleasant to deal with. Given your most recent episode, it would seem that I fared rather well by comparison!

Sorry for your bad sale. Unfortunately ebay is geared to protect the buyer and usually ignores the sellers side of any issue. I have had several cases where this proved to be the case. Selling is a crap shoot. You sell lots of items to reliable purchasers, and once in a great while you get the shaft from another. I tend to look at lit like I did when I worked in retail. Part of doing business is a realization that there will be some fraud and shoplifting that will cut in to your profits. It happens every day at every retail outlet. Its not something talked about a lot but it is a fact of life. With the kind of economy and people in the world today it seems the problems are increasing which is very sad. Generally I find that people in the collecting fields are honest and pay quickly and are a joy to work with. I guess your going to get a few bad apples in any bunch. Its just too bad that ebay has tilted so far towards the buyer that some sellers are not being given a fair shake.

Kirkwood wrote:Thank you, Steve, for this enlightening and frustrating tale. I can only hope that your honesty and dogged persistence will pay off for you in the long run. This will be one more tale that reinforces my decision to stop selling on eBay until "some other venue" becomes available, hopefully one that is less antagonistic to the sellers. Do we know if it is still possible to block a purchaser from bidding on one's auctions? I had to do that with several bidders a few years ago, including one a USA collector that took weeks upon weeks to pay up, and was less than pleasant to deal with. Given your most recent episode, it would seem that I fared rather well by comparison!

Yes you can block bidders, at least the last time I looked you could.

Larry

Yes,,, it happened to me last year. A buyer from the uk totally burned me even though all my communications were documented through EBay not my private email, and I also had UPS International proof of the buyer receiving the package. EBay held up my money for weeks and finally decided with the buyer even after all the proof I provided EBay and Paypal. I was out $250.00 plus shipping and insurance. EBay only sides with the buyer so it is very easy for the seller to get burned. Think about this - the seller cannot leave negative feedback any more. So I no longer sell on EBay. I buy sometimes but selling has turned me off thanks to some dishonest buyers and brain-dead EBay
consultants which offer little or no help at all to the seller! Brian

I would send a certified, return receipt required, letter to ebay and the buyer stating the relevant facts and that if you are not paid within some time frame (say 21 days) that you will file suit against both the buyer and ebay for damages.

In today's electronic world, all the legal stuff is still done on paper.

Had the same happen to me , was the last time I sold or bought from eBay after a ten year of excellent selling and buying .

They changed policy's for the worst , only protecting the thugs ..

I See them the same as the Las Vegas Casinos giving you a little to such you in and then take back more in fees ETC . No way of wining this , especially when you run into a thug like themselves .

My advice is to stay away from eBay and pay pall , try to sell and buy locally
or to another collector that you trust.

Good Luck and sorry to hear this happening to a fellow member.

Nipper

Here is another one to avoid at all costs: magyar50

This one simply does not pay at all and does not communicate at all. Very frustrating.