I am calling this a technical issue for lack of a better category. The issue here is that if you select "awaiting payment" item from your notification "alarm bell", you better be ready that if you pick the button "Continue to payment" that you are actually committing WITHOUT CONFIRMATION payment to the seller. I had this happen today, and I have absolutely no recourse to change payment. This put me in a serious financial bind, and the only recourse is for me to put the burden on the seller. My contact with ebay customer service yeilded absolutely no help either. All they can do (and the three 'escalations') were to cancel the order, and ask the SELLER to relist it out of the goodness of their heart for the price I purchased it for, and re-buy it. This is a big hassle for the seller, and completely unnecessary. It is VERY POOR policy to have any condition that commits you to a purchase and payment method without a summary screen for one, but then... to offer no ability to make an edit to this to charge another method is two levels unacceptable.
Amazon has made it too easy to commit to a sale too, but at least you can go in after, and change the payment method without disturbing the actual transaction. Nor does it give any burden to any the seller nor the customer service agent. It is quick and simple.
So, my issue here is two levels deep. First, I contacted ebay customer service during the period where the payment still showed "pending". Even then, it was not possible (so they say) to do anything to help me. NOTHING. Only to tell me to contact the seller. Which, actually, they have no obligation to cancel the order at all. It was a full and legal transaction from their perspective... I mean, "why should I help this fickle buyer that wants to cancel immediately after winning the bid!?" I actually cant blame them. I mean, ebay charged extortionary fees, and it was a good sale. So meh... why should the seller help?
Well, that takes me to ebay customer service. I have been on ebay for over 25 years now. There have been a very few times that I have needed help from them. I am not a complainer, so when I do contact customer service, it is fro a very good and valid reason. Well, not once have I gotten help that was more than just them reiterating policy, or menu picks. They have absolutely no authorities to help at all. I am not sure what they are doing with all of these extortionary fees, but it sure isnt to help buyers and sellers with their problems.
I'm not asking ebay or the seller for any money, discounts etc. But, really... one pick and your account is down $800, and you just sit there and wonder wth just happened? I consider this a problem with the interface. Using the alarm bell notification to "Awaiting Payment" is one pick away from a destructive mistake. And you are at the mercy of the seller. Even then, you realize, the seller has THREE DAYS to respond to your cancelation request! Then, if they do accept it, its another THREE DAYS for the funds to show back up in your account. Otherwise, you are just screwed.
To add to this, I was all ready to use the 20% SAVE4JULY4TH with this purchase, which I was never given the opportunity to enter.
I'm sure I'll get all kinds of "oh, well, you have to be more careful" messages on this, but no. Its simple horrendous policy to have any one-pick-to-purchase situations that you dont provide some sort of bail-out for after the fact. Its dangerous! I implore ebay to fix this. It has put me in a financial hardship, and they have absolutely no interest in helping. Again... I NOT trying to get out of this auction, I just want to pay with paypal credit, and use my coupon. I was not given this opportunity, and I have no recourse.
