Locked
Discussion interactions are currently paused.
Seller Fraud and eBay Complicity
I am a professional photographer, and use Hasselblad gear. I bought a camera (https://www.ebay.com/str/tohocamerajapan) that was listed as TOP MINT. When I got the camera I put it through the standard Hasselblad inspection process and found and diagnosed major damage to the mirror frame within 30 seconds of opening the package. Immediately I repackaged the camera, and submitted a return authorization.
When the seller got the camera they claimed that I:
- damaged the camera mirror by scratching the mirror (which I did not touch)
- damaged the camera waist level finder by scratching the inside (again, I didn't even touch the surface)
The actual text from the scum bag:
"I have consulted with a specialized shop that overhauled this camera. The tilting of the mirror in a non-charged state without shutter charge is not a malfunction but a specification. No light leaks were observed. Therefore, there is no issue with this camera. Please refer to the photos comparing it with another camera. Additionally, some scratches that were not present at the time of listing have been identified. It is not in the condition it was sent. Consequently, I will refund an appropriate amount."
First of all, a bent/twisted mirror frame 5 degrees off axis is NOT a specification. Second of all, he was trying to pass off other issues that I didn't identify as caused by me; were they caused by him, were they caused by his shop? Not by me certainly.
I escalated this eBay support, and Rajeshwari P. (eBay Customer Service) responded:
"It is clear from the lack of communication from the seller on site that they have not facilitated this request."
Here's the rub, I identified significant mirror frame damage (mirror frame was tilting (warped) at a 5 degree angle. The seller claims I caused damage to the camera in two places (which I did not), so he identified two additional issues.
Now he has re-listed the very same camera for the same amount, and is NOT listing the major issue I diagnosed, AND he is not listing the other two issues he tried to pass off as caused by me.
eBay got my money back, but eBay is NOT permitting me to file an honest review of this seller.
So my goal is two here:
- to warn others of this seller that he will attempt to commit fraud and pass bad gear off to you, and if you try to return it, back charge you $670
- to complain to eBay about it's policy to hide or prevent honest seller feedback
- to call out eBay on its complicity to defraud buyers when it refuses to permit honest and clear feedback, which allows **bleep** sellers to continue to defraud other buyers
kh_nipun
·1 year agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
koitenshin
·1 year agoeBay is complicit in a lot more than seller fraud. I reported a completely brand new fully sealed mobile phone that was listed as stolen by Cricket's BYOD IMEI Checker. Ebay "investigated" and found the item did not violate any of their policies.
I've reported numerous sellers for using alternate accounts to jack up their prices.
Ebay does nothing and will never do anything just because they have their finger in the pie, so to speak.
megafo_8472
·2 years agoSad to say, You're not the first and won't be the last. Such things have been going on for a long time.
Back around 2004 a (now gone) seller called "stop4bargains" started cheating everyone - never sending items won/purchased. A lot of buyers were contacting fleabay about it, and you know what they did? They disabled buyers being able to contact each other to warn them, made the seller's FB private without him asking, then allowed him to continue selling for another 2 1/2 months before he finally closed up shop on his own after cheating over 150 people out of a total of nearly 5 thousand dollars!
soh.maryl
·2 years agoWhen you receive an item that's not as described, all you need to do is open an NAD case. But I am sure that you know that.
There is never any need for back-and-forth communication. Hope you don't have any more issues, but keep that in mind just in case.
What is "a backcharge of $670"? If/when a buyer opens an item not as described case, he should be made whole, that is, should be refunded all of his payment.
robbu-6254
OP2 years agoAll of which seems to communicate that eBay management knows of this, and does not care. They are complicit with committing fraud, but unless the department of justice or an ambitious DA wants to take on eBay, the fraud will continue. Unfortunately, people don't care about fraud or theft these days, and those committing it will whine if you were to take away such privileges. I'm sure thieves will cite it's their right to practice this way, and eBay seems to side with liars and thieves.
mudshark61369
·2 years ago@robbu-6254,
Your feedback was removed because you had received a refund. Why eBay thinks a buyer getting a refund nullifies the seller getting a negative feedback is only known to them. You are not the only person who has complained about that happening and unfortunately will not be the last, until upper management starts paying attention to the issues commonly posted on these boards. If the seller disputed the return and you had to ask ebay to step in they did get a defect on their account, which was not removed.
When you buy items from foreign sellers, They cannot purchase return shipping labels from the U.S.. In some cases eBay will supply a label for the seller, in others the buyer has to get the return cost from a shipper with international tracking and post it in the dispute console. The seller then has to send the funds for the return shipping.
As for reporting the re-listing of the camera, I can only think of one option and that would have to be through their social media sites on Facebook or Instagram, (links below) The Report item button on the listing page will not work.
https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/ — Message button in upper right on landing page.
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
If one of those reps who are ebay employees unlike the phone or chat reps who work for a 3rd party contracted call/chat center. YOu will need to provide the seller's username, ebay item numbers for the original listing and the relisted item. Then ask the rep to check messages between you and the seller and if possible messages through the Help chat.
The problem with making the report and getting the listing pulled is you would have to prove it is the exact same 500CM body, you bought and had to return, and I can't think of anyway you can prove it. Even if you had the body's serial number the seller could pull one off of one of the other cameras they have to dispute your allegation, though if the relisted one's serial number is the same one the listing you bought from, you may prevail, and get the listing pulled. Even then months from now it could be posted again.
If that does not work, you can try going to your feedback profile page scroll to the bottom and use the Reply to received feedback button to leave a comment on the feedback they gave you. Do not call the seller names, mention a dispute or refund, just post a general statement Ex: "The camera body arrived with undisclosed damage and was not in Top Mint condition" That is all. Replies/ follow ups to feedback do not get removed.
I wish I could afford the digital adapter for my Blad. She looks so forlorn when I open her case to exercise her movements, or to take a few photos.