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Fraudulant Listing, Bait and Switch tactics by seller appear to be supported by e-bay policies
A while back, I saw a listing for a Brand Name product I was interested (A pair of Strong Arm Lift Supports) in and in good faith, purchased this item. eBay item number:336257355885
When the items arrived, I found a generic brand product I have never heard of. I could have purchased generic Lift Supports for about $10.00 less so I requested a refund for the difference from the seller who was on the other side of the country from me. It would cost more to ship the Lift Supports back and I thought a partial refund would be fair to everyone involved. The seller refused and wanted me to send the items back for a full refund. I contacted e-bay and attempted to explain I did not receive the items I had purchased in good faith and wanted a partial refund instead of returning the items. E-Bay apparently does not care that the seller did not ship what was advertised, all they cared was that a delivery had been made. For all they knew, it could have been an empty box except I did provide photo's of the generic brand product I actually received.
I then started a return request and stated that I expected compensation to take the items to the shipper whose nearest location I am aware of is about an hour's drive from me. I also told them that the items were on my front porch and could be picked up by their agent....Two weeks later they still sit there untouched and e-bay has now closed my return request which means the seller has succeeded to get away with their Bait and Switch selling tactics. I am not a technology person, do not have a smart phone, wouldn't scan those square code things if I did, and don't have a printer to print out labels which left me with no real alternatives to return the generic parts I was sent......Once again it seems the individual gets the short end of things while the bottom line for both the seller and e-bay come out on top again.......For me, the money is not the issue, it is the principal and ethical issues that bother me. Doing the right thing and providing reasonable customer service appear to be things of the past and that is unacceptable.
gosimus
Mentor5 months ago@caraholic4life
< the seller who was on the other side of the country from me. It would cost more to ship the Lift Supports >
The item you received was not the same as the item in the listing; in other words, it was Not As Described or Doesn't Match Description. Forget a partial refund, the only way you'd get that is if the seller agreed and he already said no. Open a Not As Described case. The seller has to pay for the return shipping, by sending you a prepaid shipping label. If the seller doesn't send the label, or refund your every cent after receiving the item back, then after three days you click into the case and Ask eBay to Step In. They will refund you, out of the seller's account of course. https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-items-not-received-refunds-buyers/return-item-refund?id=4041
caraholic4life
OP5 months agoI tried all that but apparently my words fell on deaf and uncaring ears....I learned my lesson and simply won't buy from that seller again, or trust e-bay to actually be concerned about seller's unethical listing practices.
caraholic4life
OP5 months agoActually I was willing to simply learn my lesson here but after waiting several weeks for all this to transpire, I left negative feedback indicating the Seller advertised a Brand Name item and substituted a Generic item in it's place. I had also suggested to the seller that if Generic items might be substituted, that they should probably include that possibility in their listings. I understand now, that the seller was liquidating old stock from various sources using the same or superseded part numbers. Coming from an automotive parts background, I understand this concept but again Truth in Advertising should be implemented.
What really irritated me was that a few days later I noticed that my Negative Feedback rating had been removed. This means potential buyers could be taken advantage of as I feel I was and this Bait and Switch tactic remains in place, apparently with e-bay;s full support.
YES, I am well over retirement age and simply expect fair and reasonable treatment instead of what seems to becoming the normal" You got taken advantage of way of business, deal with it attitude"
gosimus
Mentor5 months ago@caraholic4life
< simply expect fair and reasonable treatment >
You would have got it from eBay if you had followed eBay's established process instead of trying to make your own.
caraholic4life
OP4 months agoI attempted to follow the correct process and also offered what I thought might be a reasonable alternative that would be fair to everyone involved, I was wrong in thinking that common sense would prevail. Once again, lesson learned.
myangelandmyprincess
Mentor5 months agoYou're feedback was removed because the case closed in the sellers favor since you did not return the item as needed in accordance with eBay policy.
caraholic4life
OP4 months agoActually, my feedback was removed prior to my submitting a return request, which is why I made the request .
glorybells
·5 months agoIt’s not that eBay supports bad seller behavior, but that eBay has very specific rules for returns, and you were trying to handle this outside of those rules.
First rule you had a problem with, buyers are not supposed to request a partial refund. If an item is not as described, eBay has all buyers return the item for a refund. If you bought something at Walmart, and you get home and what’s in the box wasn’t what you were expecting, they’re not going to give you a partial refund, either. They’re going to tell you to return it to the store for a refund.
Second, the buyer will always win in a Not As Described case, IF the case is handled properly. That means opening the case within 30 days of receiving the item, and if the seller is not responsive, returning to the case on day 4 and escalating it to eBay.
You didn’t follow the requirements correctly, it’s that simple. That’s not eBay’s “fault”.
caraholic4life
OP5 months agoThe biggest concern I had with all of this is that the Seller listed one thing and sent another and e-bay seems to not to be concerned with this.
I tried communicating with e-bay but it appears that actual human interaction is a thing of the past.
All I got were generic answers, and common sense was nowhere to be found.
Integrity and Ethics seem to have no place these days, it is all about the money and nothing else. I don't like it one bit.
I don't shop at Wal Mart and seriously doubt they would advertise brand name items and expect a consumer to accept generic items for the same price.