luizmareze
Hello.
I am writing to share my experience, and ask for help concerning eBay, PayPal and Pat’s Guitars. If the post seems a bit too long for you, bear in mind I'm just trying to predict some of the questions I may be asked after posting, so thanks for the patience in reading this.
I have won an auction for one of his guitars on July 5th/2009. As soon as the auction had ended, I wrote him to describe how I wanted it.
Because I mentioned I wanted the guitar mainly for playing slide, which basically consisted in a higher action and thicker strings than factory standard, he then suggested a hand-cut bone nut. He explained it would cost me some extra money, and could take up to an extra week to finish the instrument.
Since I accepted the upgrade, his deadline from confirmation that payment was made was of 37 days.
His suggested method of payment was PayPal, which I tried. PayPal let me down though, refusing to take my card. It was my initiative then to ask him if we could process payment directly. He accepted and even suggested, for my own security, that I sent different bits of the information necessary through phone, fax and email.
For these reasons payment was only confirmed 2 days after the end of the auction.
Adding all up, he had 39 days from the end of the auction to ship my guitar, still within deadline.
The problem is... he didn't! And eBay only allows you to 'open a case' in their resolution centre up to 45 days after the auction finishes, which in my case meant less than a week after deadline! Now eBay refuses to help after a week's delay! I cannot even leave feedback on the guitar, because eBay says the item does not exist!
Now, after countless messages both through eBay and his email, endless calls that all ended up in a voicemail where I also left messages, I haven't heard from 'Pat' for a month!
Meanwhile, as anyone can check on his feedback history, listings kept on coming and going, which shows business is full-on.
I try to be as comprehensive as possible with problems he might have had, which would have caused such delay. But if he is indeed unable to finish my guitar, and even contact me at all, why are all this auctions up and running?
I have no intention of blemishing anyone's business or harming people's reputation, just to solve a problem. This is only a desperate measure after trying to resolve this in a more friendly manner, but still trying not to be as extreme as taking legal action.
Also, I obviously feel it is my responsibility to share this with other possible buyers, something eBay should provide on the feedback feature, but has failed to do so in my case.
I don't want no trouble with anyone, and either my guitar or my money back will do. Is that too much to ask?
I am looking forward for your comments and suggestions, thanks again for reading, guys.
Luiz Mareze
aubs1
Hi Luiz, I found this reply on another forum where you also posted the same problem.......makes lot of sense, try it......
"Luiz: you mentioned in your post that you paid by credit card.
Problem solved - contact your credit card company. You don't need to give them a big long story like you did in here in the forum. Your statement should be brief, simply tell the credit card company you ordered product and have not received it and cannot reach the vender, and you are concerned about fraud. The card company will immediately launch an investigation and may suspend Pat's vender agreement until a resolution is met. I had to do this with an eBay vendor after getting the run-around from Paypal. Visa immediately refunded my money and the vendor was bitter (I had his immediate attention)
Don't waste any more time calling Pat. Call your credit card company and I bet you will hear from Pat quickly."
Riaan
I'm also rapidly losing my enthusiasm for EBay guitars. I've had two experiences where I won, I paid and a few days later the seller says he's really sorry, he can't ship the guitar to SA for the shipping costs advertised. They "didn't know" shipping costs to SA were that expensive, and they can't ship for the $120 USD like they advertised. Luckily in both instances I was refunded in full, but in the last case I had to file a dispute with PayPal. My impression was the guy had already spend the money I paid him. In the end though, I got my money back.
It's probably OK to buy from established guitar shops with thousands of positive feedbacks and a proven and good international reputation, but beware of the small time dudes in small rural US towns. Definitely look at what else he's selling. If it's just one guitar and a collection of odds and ends like computer fans, hard disks and a few paintings, it's probably a guy who's up sh... creek financially, or some kid. Beware! Odds are he can't even point out Africa on a world map, let alone South Africa.
kcassell
Hi Luiz,
My name is Kevin Cassells and I am also having problems with Pats Guitars,
Please check out what we are doing about it here www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=334628746453
Its a facebook group called "scammed by pats guitars" there are many of us in the same situation as you.
Cheers
Kevin Cassells.
