eBay Supported Fraud

[da_iamb_ju8rcss0b]

It seems that eBay now supports fraudulent Sellers. I left feedback for a seller who sold fake memory, (256GB Micro SD sticks but were 64GB), and, it seems, that the seller might have complained about it and it was removed. I did not use profanity, nor did I misrepresent the truth at all, but they removed the comment and the rating. I also tried to report them to eBay as selling brand clones and fake memory, but they were unconcerned, just kept telling me their policy for returning the items. I've had an account with eBay for over 4 years, generally just keep to myself, but when a new seller, who lies about being a U.S. based company, scams the eBay community with fake and cloned brands, who has been around for less than 3 months... when these people come along, eBay jumps right into bed with them.

I stopped using Amazon years ago for all their bizarre exploits, but I am considering opening another account and telling eBay to go pound sand.

[mtgraves7984]

Sorry you had a bad experience. Instead of going with bad feedback, I'd have made myself whole through the MBG.

[soh.maryl]

The appropriate action for you to have taken in this case would have been to open an ITEM NOT AS DESCRIBED CASE.  You had 30 days after delivery to do that with eBay.  

[da_iamb_ju8rcss0b]

Proof of United States location scam, where you can clearly see the origins is China:

[da_iamb_ju8rcss0b]

Not sure what MBG is, unless that's Message Board "something". I started action with FTC, but that felt way too much like those crosswalk buttons that do nothing.

[bonjourami]

If enough buyers file an item not as described case, Ebay will shut the seller down. They certainly wont do it with your one complaint. Could have been any number of reasons why your fb was removed. If the seller canceled the transaction to refund you, its as if it never happened.All buyers are protected with Ebays MBG, its not up to you to warn other buyers.

[mtgraves7984]

"Not sure what MBG is..."

@da_iamb_ju8rcss0b 

It's the buyer's Money Back Guarantee. >> eBay Money Back Guarantee policy

[da_iamb_ju8rcss0b]

It's not up to me to inform other buyers? Really, then what is Feedback for? To look pretty? That's exactly what Feedback is for, to let other buyers know whether they are dealing with someone who is going to scam them or who is a good seller. If it wasn't our responsibility, why have a community? You must be a seller, huh?

[house*of*paws]

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@da_iamb_ju8rcss0b wrote:

Not sure what MBG is, unless that's Message Board "something". I started action with FTC, but that felt way too much like those crosswalk buttons that do nothing.

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Hi @da_iamb_ju8rcss0b 

MBG = Money Back Guarantee. 

It is what eBay offers every customer who receives a 'not as described' item.  It is in effect for 30 days from the date you receive the item.  

You file a 'return request' from your Purchase History ... choosing 'Item doesn't match description or photos' as the reason for the request.

If the seller doesn't respond within 3 business days by providing either a full refund ... OR a prepaid shipping label ... OR the money to return the item ... you can go back to your open request and ask eBay to step in.  eBay will handle the rest for you.

Regarding your feedback being removed:  

Sellers who have shown consistently high performance level ... AND allow 30-day returns ... may have their bad feedback removed under certain circumstances.  [I don't know if this is what happened in your situation]

Another factor may be the high number of negative and neutral feedbacks you leave in general.  That could suggest an inherent unfairness in how you evaluate a seller's performance.

[da_iamb_ju8rcss0b]

Yeah, I figured that out afterward. I got my money back, but there is more to life than money. I almost kept them so that they would not have them to sell to someone else. We are all in this together, right?

[bonjourami]

"It's not up to me to inform other buyers? Really, then what is Feedback for? To look pretty? That's exactly what Feedback is for, to let other buyers know whether they are dealing with someone who is going to scam them or who is a good seller. If it wasn't our responsibility, why have a community? You must be a seller, huh?"

Ive been both a buyer and a seller here for twenty four years. I wish I had more faith that your negative feedback would deter a prospective buyer, but I dont.Again, its not your responsibility to protect other buyers.But if it makes you feel better, continue your mission.Contacting the FTC, and keeping the items so they cant resell them is pretty strong stuff.

[da_iamb_ju8rcss0b]

I agree, too much money to be lost by eBay to drop a bunch of Sellers for shady or outright illegal practices. But, even if you're only 5 foot 3, you gotta keep shooting for the hoops, if only to help out the next guy. Thanks for your help.

[bonjourami]

Most welcome, happy trails.

[soh.maryl]

eBay's MONEY BACK GUARANTEE FOR BUYERS offers very good protection when/if a transaction goes wrong.

The catch is that buyers need to read it, understand it and use it when appropriate and in a timely fashion.  

[reallynicestamps]

but they ... just kept telling me their policy for returning the items.

So eBay told you how to get your money back and give the seller a Defect, but you ignored that and instead left a feedback that eBay does not use in assessing seller accounts but will remove if certain criteria are met?

Interesting .