Ripoffs abound
I would like to pose a question to EBay personnel to find out how they are getting ripped off by fake sellers and seemingly are not doing anything about it. I fell for one the other day for over $200 and had Ebay refund me for this non-existent item I bought all because of the "eBay Money Back Guarantee".
Specifically this happened with a DJI Drone but I am sure it is going on in a big way with many other items.
When I am logged into my account, I keep items I'm watching under "saved searches". I usually receive an email daily from EBay highlighting items matching my search. I responded to and bought one item at what I thought was a great price.
Shortly after making the purchase, I discover that the user is "no longer available" and my red flags started flying.
Today's email of an item I am following contains ten instances of the exact same item, all listed as in New condition and each and every one is "Buy It Now" priced at $230.
Here is a screenshot of this listing. EBay-DJI_ripoffs.jpg
Buyer beware - use scrutiny when buying anything from EBay. Especially check out the seller's info and check "the seller's other items". If this is the only item listed, ding ding ding * avoid like the plague *, unless you enjoy getting ripped off and then having to go through all the motions with Ebay in pursuit of a refund.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoSince eBay has a good Money Back Guarantee for buyers which works pretty well if followed correctly and in a timely manner, it's not easy for a buyer to be ripped off.
And some of your info about carefully checking out sellers is good. But you are saying that, if I, a seller happen to have found an especially great item and list it, if it's my only listing, then any potential buyer should beware, why?
And, even if a seller disappears, any buyer who opens a case within 30 days will be taken care of by eBay.
randy899
OP2 years agoYes, that is exactly what I am saying! If a seller has only one item listed - proceed with caution flags. If the seller has no feedback - the flags get a little bigger. If the item shows up with a 'classic' pricing - that you have seen for this particular item - as in the case of the photo link I posted in the original. Then *ding ding ding* buyer beware!
Look, I understand what you are saying. My 'take' is entirely based upon experiences I've had on eBay. And yes, eBay is very good at taking care of you when you are ripped off. In my case it was taken care of immediately and there was no waiting period for my refund, it went through right away.
Back to my original question, does eBay do anything to try and prevent these type of ripoffs from happening? It really doesn't seem to be the case as evidenced by the example photo link I provided.
That exact same price for this specific item has showed up for before many many times - and are clearly being generated by the same person or group of persons or maybe copycats.
tinsoldierunderground
·2 years agoIf you were refunded, sleep well tonight. You came out of this intact. We get horror stories on these boards all too often, because a buyer or seller handled a situation incorrectly, and are out huge $$$$$. Your assessment is pretty accurate; there's no shortage of thieves on both sides of the transaction these days.
randy899
OP2 years agoThanks for acknowledging my assessment as accurate.
My only question still remains as before though.
Does eBay do anything about these scammers or do they repeatedly and blindly just continue reimbursing anyone who was ripped off by these idiots?
I would think there should be some type of safeguard against these types of schemes.
Unless eBay simply doesn't care and will continue on 'as usual'.
The image I posted in my original question reinforces that idea - EACH and EVERY entry in eBay's daily mailing was taken up by ten EXACTLY the SAME ripoff postings. It's pretty obvious!
bonjourami
·2 years agoEnough item not received cases, and that seller will be shut down..Ebay hates unhappy customers.
randy899
OP2 years agoyou must understand, every one of the misleading ads are placed by different sellers- they abound and they 'disappear' once the sale is made. So what you say that the seller will be shut down just doesn't work here in this instance
.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoEbay applies hold of 30 days or more to new sellers. Many of these sellers never get a penny before Ebay NARUs them.
tinsoldierunderground
·2 years ago@randy899
In the vast majority of MBG cases, the refund is given at the seller's expense. As far as policing fraudulent listings, they do not have the available personnel to go hunting for scammers. As others have pointed out, it's cases filed that puts a bad seller on ebay radar. So, at least for now, yes, the MBG is the buyer's failsafe, fallback option. It is what it is.
randy899
OP2 years agoCheck that.
I would think eBay would have something in place to spot duplicated items at the same price,
such as the example photo I posted.
To me that is so blasted obvious - and honestly really **bleep** me off!!
These lowlifes are blatantly ripping off people at eBay's expense and getting away with it.
I sincerely hope they get caught and prosecuted.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoDoes eBay do anything about these scammers or do they repeatedly and blindly just continue reimbursing anyone who was ripped off by these idiots?
@randy899
As @soh.maryl pointed out, eBay has a Money Back Guarantee for buyers. The only times is does not work is if the buyer files the "wrong" kind of claim, or especially if the buyer is a victim of the typical "fake tracking scam". In those instances the guarantee can be a GIANT FAIL for the buyer. In this case eBay tries real hard NOT to reimburse the buyer at all.
You got a refund with the minimal about of trouble. Count yourself lucky, as much worse things could happen.
eBay protects eBay, and the sooner the scammer starts costing eBay money, the sooner they will do something about it.
randy899
OP2 years agoyep good points all !!
Good discussion, thanx all