What Is Being Sold Here?
I'm looking at a Lego Star Wars kit for my Grandson. I received a 'request for offers' from eBay for this kit, but before I made an offer, I went back to check the listing. The 'condition' describes the item as 'new', yet the 'description' states that the item includes some bags of parts, maybe for the item shown, or maybe not ... seller appears unsure of what is being listed.
Here's the problem: When I tried to contact the seller for clarification through the eBay message system, I was not given any way to contact the seller. The messaging system would only allow me to make an offer. I won't make an offer for something when I don't know what it is!
Is there something weird going on here, or is there a special procedure to follow if I want to ask the seller what s/he is selling?
Thanks all.
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@grann-4629 ,
"So, off to the local Lego store to look at new stuff. eBay seems to be the wrong place to buy 'previously owned".
I think the problem is the used Lego kits are being sold by Moms and maybe Dads trying to clear out the house. They have no idea of what's supposed to come with the kits many of the used listings do not even say if they come with instructions. There are some reasonably priced new Star Wars kits available If you do an Advanced search Example: Lego Star Wars X-wing fighter, scroll down the page click on New in the left column, Title & Description > Toys & Hobbies then Search. Depending on your grand son's age there are kits that are age rated 6-12, 9+ ...
grann-4629
OP11 months agoThanks. The two I have looked at are being listed by sellers who sell only used Lego kits, so I doubt if they are folks just cleaning out their kid's toys.
I wish I could trust at least one seller as these kits new are extremely expensive.
kibble-net
·11 months agoStock photos are often a red flag.
As someone who sells construction sets regularly, I always verify that all of the pieces match what's supposed to be in the box and make sure it's clearly stated in the listing. Seems like a no brainer. But then again, not everyone has a brain.
Hopefully the seller can clarify what's included now that you've located the message button 🙂
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@grann-4629 ,
Glad I could help. The info about the model I looked up by searching for it's name and Mfr. part number and looking for results posted by the Lego site.
The suggestion to adjust your pad's screen image size so you could see the Send message button, only occurred to me when you posted the item number, mentioned using an ipad, and I opened the listing and clicked on the contact seller button. I had to downsize my screen to see the send message box.
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@grann-4629 ,
Since you posted the item number, it is easier to see why you would want to ask questions. The seller's first photo is a "stock photo" copied from the Lego site. The second one is of the bags of parts they have at home.
I did check some of the seller's other items for sale, and previously sold listings. The seller is relatively new to selling on ebay. Nineteen of their 29 feedback are for selling and all but 2 sales where made in the last 90 days, they are all positive feedback.
To me it looks like this may have been one of their earlier listings that has gone through three or four - 30 day selling cycles. Most of their other listings do not use stock photos, so they are learning.
I did an online search for the kit # and it appears that Bag#1 is missing, It contains the Luke and R2D2 figures. The rest of the parts for the fighter are there but no instruction sheet is shown. It should not have been listed as New because of the missing box, bag and instructions. It is a common mistake new sellers make They list items as new that do not have the box, but sealed parts bags. I think passing on the listing was a good decision.
I did click on the contact seller button, the popup offer box did appear and there is a message seller option in it. Maybe you were not seeing it because your I pad's screen size was cutting it off at the bottom.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoAmazing piece of research! Thank you VERY much for this, and for sharing your knowledge.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoListing Number: 376515708794
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@grann-4629 ,
"... I received a 'request for offers' from eBay for this kit, but before I made an offer..."
I think your inexperience using ebay may be causing some misinterpretation of the message you received. If it said for example "You received an offer of US $13.99 (6.67% off) from the seller"
That is not a request for offers, though when reviewing the offer you will be able to send a counter offer. Those offers are sent because you opened a sponsored listing.
You can click on the item's title in the message to see the original listing and in the upper right of the listing you will see seller's username under it is:
You can click on the Contact seller button to ask them questions about the listing. When you do that a page opens with prefilled suggestions that are posted in the listing Then, Still have questions and next to it (Contact seller) The new message system is a bit confusing in the way it is set up. First a popup box will open. In it will be the item title, under it;
Put your cursor over Send message and start to type your question. Once you start typing, to the right of the add image square a stylized paper airplane will appear. When you are done writing your question, click on that to send your message. When the seller replies, on your My ebay pages in the upper right a red number will appear in the bell symbol. click on it to read the seller's reply.
"I went back to check the listing. The 'condition' describes the item as 'new', yet the 'description' states that the item includes some bags of parts, maybe for the item shown, or maybe not ... seller appears unsure of what is being listed".
If the item is listed as New it should still be sealed in its box, and the photos should show that. If the kit is still sealed (no photos of what is inside the box), but there are photos of other parts in bags, I would take that to mean the seller found some additional bags of parts, they do not know what they go to. When it comes to Legos additional parts are always a plus for builders.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoThanks!
wrt contacting the seller, I have done this on several occasions with success on other listings.. On this particular auction, I do all the same things, exactly as before and exactly as you described, but the option to type a question does NOT appear. If you can tell me how to post a pic here, I will show you what I do get. I doubt if I have been 'blocked' by this seller as this was an attempt at first contact.
wrt the photos, the listing page shows a complete, assembled kit as the main picture. That's what attracted me to the auction. The pic in the body of the listing shows a few bags of parts. Misleading, right? It's the main picture that attracts potential buyers to an item, I believe. It would be like showing a picture of a new car, but all you get are the wheels.
I am sort of confirming what others have said here - always check the entire listing (words and pics) before bidding..
Thanks again for your detailed response.
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@grann-4629 ,
How you post a screen shot can depend on if you use a phone and the app or if you use a computer, how your browser works.
I use a computer and have Firefox as my browser. On a page that I have open in I right click and a box opens with Take a screen shot. Clicking on that the page grays out and a ----- box appears clicking on the box will allow you to reshape it to fit just the info you want to display or the whole page once you have what you want in the box, you click on copy, then go back to the page you want to enter it on right click and hit paste.
You can search on line for How do I take a screen shot using FireFox, Windows 11, IOS or an Android device.
You could also just post the item number for the listing then we could look at it and try to use the message seller button to see what happens.
The photo showing a completed model and another showing bagged parts is questionable. It's hard to build one of those models and have bags of parts left over, unless it is a model of a space ship that has an interior, and the person who built it only built the the outer hull of the craft. FYI. pre-built Lego models often do not survive shipping intact unless very carefully wrapped. They aren't glued together after all and the parts do not all lock into place. Hopefully, the assembly instructions are included.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoI know how to do the screenshot. I am using an iPad, and it's easy. It's when I try to post a pic here, I am not 'authorized' to do it!
grann-4629
OP11 months agoJust to add, I passed on this one - too many oddities, misleading pics, and unreachable seller. Thanks for your help.
simba6
·11 months agoSellers don't always know about everything they sell. Items like that, lots of small parts, can be an issue unless purchased in a factory sealed box. If your looking for a complete new set, then I would keep looking for a sealed box.
Unavailable member
·11 months agoI would pass on that listing and find another seller.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoYeah, I will thanks. btw, the 'seller' has several positive feedbacks for other 'new, incomplete' Lego kits, so I wonder ...
Unavailable member
·11 months agoYou have MBG if you decide to purchase. But my thoughts are if you needed to ask here you have doubts.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoI thought of that, but don't want the hassle of returning something, especially when the condition and description don't match. eBay would probably decide in the seller's favour and I would be stuck with whatever is being sold. I will keep looking - there's lots of Star Wars Lego stuff on eBay cheaper than local, especially 'used, retired' kits, and strike permitting, I may be able to get him something before Christmas.
Tks again.
Unavailable member
·11 months agoActually when buyers file a not as described return buyers win those. Sellers never win not as described cases.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoSo even if the 'condition' doesn't match the 'description' (in this case, 100% difference) eBay will ignore what the seller stated under 'condition'? Why even have a 'condition' requirement in listings if it's meaningless?
house*of*paws
·11 months agoHi. @grann-4629
I think you may have misunderstood @ebooksdiva post.
eBay buyers win ‘item not as described’ return requests just about 100% of the time. [The decision usually is made automatically by a bot.]
That said, the seller in question likely made an error in the listing. IF the Item Condition is listed as ‘New’ … then it must contain ALL the parts/pieces of a new item.
With regard to the disagreement between the Condition and the Description … any and all contradictions in a listing are resolved in the buyer’s favor.
It is EXTREMELY difficult for a buyer to lose a return request when they claim the item isn’t ‘as described’ in some way. I haven’t known it to happen.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoUpdate: I took your advice and found another one. This listing showed a picture of the model, including the figures, and stated complete but with no box. So i contacted the seller (you were right about the reduced screen on my iPad - everything is good now here), and asked if all parts were included and if the model was disassembled for my little guy to put together.
Rather than respond, I see that listing has been taken down as apparently the seller found a problem with the description!
So, off to the local Lego store to look at new stuff. eBay seems to be the wrong place to buy 'previously owned' Lego kits as their sellers seem to be just a bit shady.
grann-4629
OP11 months agoMore interesting news about this Lego stuff. I asked the seller of the 2nd one I looked at to confirm that it included everything as described in the listing (complete). My question was just answered by the seller. The seller stated sorry, it already sold.
Yet the listing said yesterday that it was cancelled by the seller due to an error in the description!
So, perhaps a liar?
Guess I will have to start buying stuff locally again, instead of trusting individual on-line sellers. So far, the most fun I have had is learning from you folks how eBay works and feel that I have just lucked out on the three items I have already purchased 😎
At least, these shady sellers haven't cost me anything, and I haven't had to go thru the hassle of returning something.