Updated Listing

[roomabuzzy]

Hi everyone,

I just recently purchased an electronics that I thought was new. I got it today and it said Refurbished, so I check the eBay page for information about the condition and found nothing at all. So I decide to contact the seller to see what's up. He replies that it's clearly written Refurbished on the page and he sends me a screenshot (very small, but I could just make out Refurbished on there). So I recheck my page, and all of a sudden there's a notification that the seller has updated the listing (I'm 95% sure it didn't say that before) and now there's Item Condition right at the top, but it just shows 2 dashes "--" (I'm 100% sure this wasn't there before). The page also gives me the option of seeing the listing as it was when I bought it and it shows the same 2 dashes.

So I'm starting to think the seller realized his mistake and doesn't want to admit it (he quickly denied it when I contacted him about this and send him a screenshot of everything, saying it must be a glitch on eBay's end), but how do I look into this? I'm sure eBay must keep track of changes and they could probably tell me exactly when the listing was updated and maybe even what was modified.

I tried contacting eBay, but after turning in circles for about a half hour (and after reading on some forums), it looks like it's pretty much impossible to actually contact eBay. The only option I'm offered is to request a return and then ask eBay to step in after a few days if the seller doesn't help me out. The issue with this is that I don't actually want to return the item. I'm OK having a refurbished item, but I wouldn't have paid that price if I knew it was refurbished. The seller quickly dismissed my request to have a partial refund, so I'm hoping to find out for sure if it was my goof or the seller that's dishonest about the listing. If I can prove that the seller lied about changing the listing, then I can ask again for a partial refund or give a review warning others about this. But if it's my goof, then it'll just be a lesson learned to check more carefully.

Hoping someone here might be able to help me find a way to contact eBay (without returning the item) or help me find a way to prove when the listing was changed and what was changed about it.

Thanks!

[roomabuzzy]

UPDATE: Just noticed something. On eBay Canada, the item condition shows dashes, but on eBay.com it shows Refurbished. So this is looking more like an eBay goof more than anything. Anyone know how to proceed with something like this? Any chance eBay might be willing to refund me a part of the cost since it's their mistake (if I can somehow figure out a way to contact them...)?

[tarpedge]

Go back to look at the listing you purchased.

And not the updated listing now.

[missjen831]

Ebay won't refund you, refunds come from the seller and whether or not you are entitled to one is unknown. What you need to do is, pull up the listing via your purchase history and click "see original listing" (just like the screenshot on the other response). IF the listing was revised, any revisions will be noted just above the item description and it will include the date and time. IF the listing ended when you bought the item then the seller did NOT revise the listing--its not possible. IF you are comfortable sharing it, you can give us the item number and we can look at the listing for you and determine IF and when the listing was revised and what the revisions are.

[roomabuzzy]

Here's a screenshot of the listing as I see it now. I don't have the option of seeing the "original" listing, but I can see the listing when I purchased it and as I mentioned in my original post, still only the 2 dashes. And it doesn't seem to tell me when/what was updated.

The eBay item number is 182481243311

[missjen831]

Thank you for the item number.

The seller didn't revise the listing. The item condition field shows "manufacturer refurbished". The item description also says manufacturer refurbished. The description was last revised 7/3. Here are the revisions from June to August--

[missjen831]

The seller had a 30 day return policy. You can return the item at your expense if you are unhappy with it. I don't see where there was any deception on the part of the seller, or an ebay glitch. 

[roomabuzzy]

Thanks for the reply. So obviously the seller has done nothing wrong, but this still begs the question as to why on eBay.ca the Item Condition is blank. I'm shopping from Canada, so naturally I looked at the listing from .ca instead of .com and considering there was no mention of Used or Refurbished, I was lead to believe it was new.

I have no interest in returning the item, but I'd like to find some way to bring this to the attention of eBay since it's obviously an error on their Canadian website which should be corrected ASAP. Any idea how to contact eBay about something like that?

[missjen831]

That's a valid concern and definitely something eBay should be aware of. I will tag @Anonymous and @Anonymous they are eBay reps that post here on the boards and they pass on this kind of feedback to the appropriate people and they may be able to provide some insight on why eBay.ca is not showing the item condition field 🙂

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks so much for the mention, @missjen831.

This is definitely strange and something we want addressed immediately. It appears that the Manufacturer Refurbished condition isn't an option when creating a listing on eBay.ca which is why the "--" is showing instead. I'm submitting this to be updated right away. 

Also, @roomabuzzy, since an oversight on our part caused this, please let us know if you change your mind and would like to return this. I want to make sure you aren't out-of-pocket.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

@Anonymous

The OP clearly stated that the product was not represented as "refurbished" on ebay.ca.  He paid for "new" -- and would not have paid so much for "refurbished."  He requested a partial refund on that basis.

I think eBay should provide a courtesy refund -- 10%?, 15%?, more? -- to compensate for eBay's "oversight."  The OP is out of pocket because eBay misled the consumer about the product's condition.

~~C~~

[roomabuzzy]

Hi Heidi,

Thanks for getting back to me and resolving this issue so it doesn't happen in the future. However, as duchess mentioned above and I mentioned in my original post, I was led to believe the item was new and would not have paid that much for a Refurbished item. I know eBay offers the option of returning the item and getting a refund, but I'm OK with keeping this one (I've already started mounting it on the boat actually).

I originally thought that it was the seller that had mislabelled the item, so I asked them if they could refund a part of the price, but I realize now that the seller wasn't at fault. I'm hoping eBay might be willing to refund me a percentage of the cost (nothing big, 5-10% maybe), or even credit it to my eBay account (like a store credit if something like that exists on eBay).

I'm happy with my purchase, I really don't mind having a refurbished unit. I just really wish I would have known in advance since that may have changed my decision to buy at that price.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

---

@roomabuzzy wrote:
Hi Heidi,

Thanks for getting back to me and resolving this issue so it doesn't happen in the future. However, as duchess mentioned above and I mentioned in my original post, I was led to believe the item was new and would not have paid that much for a Refurbished item. I know eBay offers the option of returning the item and getting a refund, but I'm OK with keeping this one (I've already started mounting it on the boat actually).

I originally thought that it was the seller that had mislabelled the item, so I asked them if they could refund a part of the price, but I realize now that the seller wasn't at fault. I'm hoping eBay might be willing to refund me a percentage of the cost (nothing big, 5-10% maybe), or even credit it to my eBay account (like a store credit if something like that exists on eBay).

I'm happy with my purchase, I really don't mind having a refurbished unit. I just really wish I would have known in advance since that may have changed my decision to buy at that price.

Thanks!

---

Definitely understandable, @roomabuzzy, and thank you for following up with me. I can't make any guarantees but I'd love to review our options for you. I'll be reaching out via email to the email address you have on file with your account here shortly. Be on the lookout for that and reply when you get the chance. Thanks again for bringing this up; it's absolutely something we need to have addressed. 

[roomabuzzy]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Heidi has gotten in contact with me and we've worked something out that I think both eBay and myself will be happy with.

Cheers!