Here is a very sad story about a transaction that went well, and still makes me feel very sad.
Recently I purchased some radio equipment. Turns out the radio was sold by a son, Dad didn't use the radio much anymore and had asked his son to sell it. So up on Ebay auction it went.
I bid on the offer, and I won the auction. I paid Ebay for it. I received the item, it was all good, I am really enjoying the radio. The transaction was flawless.
But not for the seller. Ebay didn't want to pay the seller. Didn't say why. The seller spent several days contacting Ebay (Ebay is not easy to access by phone in France!), and me, the buyer, also spent several days contacting Ebay (Ebay is not accessible by phone in the Netherlands either).
We received stock answers, Ebay said they'd "look in to this" and promises were not kept: the seller would only get his money one month later.
Ebay made comments about address labels, which turned out to be not true.
At one time, Ebay said "to protect the buyer". But, as buyer, I am happy (very happy!), I gave the seller five stars, even sent email messages in Engish AND French that all was OK and I would explicitly not use any of the Ebay buyers protection because all was well.
Ebay now says: "for new sellers, items over EUR 500, one month delay payment". But that is only after multiple days, talking to half a dozen agents.
As a buyer, I am very happy with what the seller sold me. But I am angry about Ebay, because Ebay makes me look bad as a buyer. What Ebay SHOULD have done is, when the item was put up for sale, tell about this "policy" upfront, that is, before the item was put on auction. The seller probably would have used a different platform, and I certainly would have bought from the seller without Ebay.
So, if you are a new seller at Ebay, be aware. You may not want to put your items on sale via Ebay if you want to have access to your money. And while every Ebay complimented me "you have been with us for eleven years", I probably will cut down on buys via Ebay. I don't want Ebay to make me look bad on a transaction that otherwise was perfectly fine.
I am sorry to have spoilt your morning coffee.
Geert Jan
