eBay...would you?

ThomasN

symbolofmylife wrote Hey guys,

I was looking for a specific guitar for some time and finally found one on eBay. I also checked with the local distributor and they wont be bringing that specific model over it appears.

So, my question: would you buy a guitar on eBay and have it shipped here?

Also, who's done it and did it arrive in good nic?

My response would be no. Never again.

symbolofmylife

ThomasN wrote
symbolofmylife wrote Hey guys,

I was looking for a specific guitar for some time and finally found one on eBay. I also checked with the local distributor and they wont be bringing that specific model over it appears.

So, my question: would you buy a guitar on eBay and have it shipped here?

Also, who's done it and did it arrive in good nic?
My response would be no. Never again.

I ended up buying the guitar but not through eBay. Bought from a store. When it arrives I will post details of everything as I see a lot of people here ask about it.

epictring

Bought an Vox VT100 back in the day as well as a Takamine Acoustic, saved some money, delivered by UPS (very good). Very good experience. Make sure you buy from a "Gold rated" seller and you'll be fine - they guard their 100% positive feedback ratings, so they won't let you down.

ThomasN

A lot of the eBay stores will only use USPS for international shipping because they (eBay) have partnered with them.

eg.http://ebaysupplies.usps.com/usps

I have heard that eBay also takes less of a cut from the selling amount if they use them.
I have approached stores offering to pay the difference in shipping, just to use UPS or FedEx. Their response to me was no. Accept that USPS will deliver or go somewhere else.
As Ive already mentioned in another thread, USPS mysteriously "lost" my LP I had paid 17k for (purchased from a Gold rated seller). And I got this mailed to me after about 10 calls to US customs, USPS as well as the store that sold it, EMS, JIMC EMS, and a contact inside the SAPO:

Date: June 28, 2013 Thomas Nolan:
In response to your request dated June 24, 2013, we regret to inform you that we were unable to locate any delivery information in our records regarding your item number EC*************US.
If you would like additional assistance with this inquiry, please take this receipt to your local Post Office or postal representative.
Sincerely,
United States Postal Service

This after their tracking site held record of its movements up until the JFK airport hanger. And having paid for an expedited delivery fee of 2.7k, and about 8 weeks of waiting. I have it on record from our side that this parcel never landed here, and mysteriously no one at USPS on the phone could even tell us on what plane, going to where it was supposedly loaded. Then after I bitch to them about it, I get a letter saying they have no record of it, even though they told me on the phone a few days earlier it was on its way to me.
I have in the past bought items and had them shipped with UPS and FedEx, and all those times it was an absolute pleasure, but with the current, "we only use USPS" agenda, I will never buy from eBay again from a vendor that insists on using them.

Here's some proof of the goings on at JFK airport (read the comments below the article):

http://www.pissedconsumer.com/reviews-by-company/usps/content-of-the-package-stolen-replaced-in-isc-new-york-20110331229862.html

slyd

ThomasN wrote Here's some proof of the goings on at JFK airport (read the comments below the article):
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/reviews-by-company/usps/content-of-the-package-stolen-replaced-in-isc-new-york-20110331229862.html

Wow, . . . scary sh*t ? ☹ ? ???

Skylark

ThomasN wrote A lot of the eBay stores will only use USPS for international shipping because they (eBay) have partnered with them.

eg.http://ebaysupplies.usps.com/usps

I have heard that eBay also takes less of a cut from the selling amount if they use them.
I have approached stores offering to pay the difference in shipping, just to use UPS or FedEx. Their response to me was no. Accept that USPS will deliver or go somewhere else.
As Ive already mentioned in another thread, USPS mysteriously "lost" my LP I had paid 17k for (purchased from a Gold rated seller). And I got this mailed to me after about 10 calls to US customs, USPS as well as the store that sold it, EMS, JIMC EMS, and a contact inside the SAPO:

Date: June 28, 2013 Thomas Nolan:
In response to your request dated June 24, 2013, we regret to inform you that we were unable to locate any delivery information in our records regarding your item number EC*************US.
If you would like additional assistance with this inquiry, please take this receipt to your local Post Office or postal representative.
Sincerely,
United States Postal Service
This after their tracking site held record of its movements up until the JFK airport hanger. And having paid for an expedited delivery fee of 2.7k, and about 8 weeks of waiting. I have it on record from our side that this parcel never landed here, and mysteriously no one at USPS on the phone could even tell us on what plane, going to where it was supposedly loaded. Then after I bitch to them about it, I get a letter saying they have no record of it, even though they told me on the phone a few days earlier it was on its way to me.
I have in the past bought items and had them shipped with UPS and FedEx, and all those times it was an absolute pleasure, but with the current, "we only use USPS" agenda, I will never buy from eBay again from a vendor that insists on using them.

Here's some proof of the goings on at JFK airport (read the comments below the article):

http://www.pissedconsumer.com/reviews-by-company/usps/content-of-the-package-stolen-replaced-in-isc-new-york-20110331229862.html

I feel your pain man!
Did you open a Paypal dispute within 45 days?
PayPal doesn't muck around if goods aren't delivered, you get your money back incl shipping.

Skylark

Tokai SA wrote I've been buying on eBay for 14 years, never a problem, never a bad deal.

Until...I registered as a 'Seller' a few months ago.
I shipped 19 Strats and Teles direct from Japan to the US.
I thought after registering as a seller I'd be able to list them all at once and go from there.
No ways, my selling limit only allowed me to list one at a time...useless. :?

The problem is when you need to contact eBay...if you live in the US then no problem, phone them, if you live here then phoning them is a problem.
It's complicated, I used my buddies US bank account to register as a 'Seller'...trust me, phoning them from South Africa under those circumstances is very complicated...you will not get very far.

Anyway, I list the one guitar, a moron from Australia with zero feedback presses "Buy it Now", but never pays.
I message him over and over but he doesn't reply, and never pays...zero feedback and disappeared.
eBay charges me $75 for the sale.
Next step, log a dispute.
Here's where the frustration begins.
I log the dispute, reason, "Customer didn't pay", but the dispute never seems to get resolved...it's not like you're dealing with Edgars or Woolworths where on phone call sorts out the problem.

As far as eBay is concerned I owe them $75, but I don't.
Ended up selling the guitars on a few of the big forums and didn't have to pay any commission.

They initially limit your account to prevent potential fraudsters going apesh1te selling high value items and running with the money , after selling a few items you can sell pretty much as much as you want.
I've phone eBay customer support a few times, fire up Skype, think its ZAR 35c to US landlines.

You probably logged the wrong dispute type with eBay, once you do that you are screwed! It is a minefield negotiating all the rules, really difficult.

ThomasN

Skylark wrote
I feel your pain man!
Did you open a Paypal dispute within 45 days?
PayPal doesn't muck around if goods aren't delivered, you get your money back incl shipping.

The Gold rated seller kept giving me the run around, saying things like "just wait it will arrive eventually..." But I did notice a few discrepancies with the deal. Firstly I paid for standard shipping, and was then invoiced separately for the expedited service. They were trying to drag out the 45 day quota for a complaint. and a few other sly things they were trying to slide by. The extra I paid for the expedited delivery was never mentioned in the case.

Here is my final correspondence to the dealer before I started the claim with PayPal.

Dear ***********,

I am also aware that you guys didnt change the delivery date of the standard shipping even after I had paid for the additional express delivery.
I am also aware that this bought time in case USPS delivered late or not at all, as it has already happened. Im also aware that this delay of refund has still enabled you guys to also make R1700.00 profit out of this bad deal. However I do expect to be paid out the dollar equivalent to exactly what I paid you regardless.

I asked them four times via eBay messaging system to follow up and come up with a solid response, and their reply was to try placate me with mundane promises. I eventually lost the plot, and took it straight to PayPal. It took a further few weeks for them to settle the issue, at which stage the value of the Rand had dropped and I lost out on R600.00 in the compensated refund, as well as the R1700 additional shipping amount.

I must however give PayPal a great reference for their businesslike way of dealing with things, insofar as compensation and dealing with the issue fairly. However eBay will be the last place I look for anything anymore.

I reckon Id have more joy out of making a donation to the Avril Elisabeth Home than giving these asshats money for nothing.

Skylark

Ja you gotta play 100% by the book with Paypal, all costs and shipment arrangements sorted and included in the final amount of the order as per the eBay invoice.

Sellers sometimes do try play the system a bit and put the loss on the buyer as in this case, it sux as you paid fairly, fortunately not a total loss as Paypal put the seller in his place.

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