Wes Hall
Well-Known Member
I'm going to preface this with a friendly note that I'll remove the post if it's not appropriate, but I thought I'd share a bitter tasting experience I've just come across on eBay.
Advertised my Nikon F2 and 50 1.4 lens, got an offer which I accepted. Noticed when I came to post that the buyer's address was a photography store in UK (happy to share, honestly want to but appreciate it is my experience and others may not wish to see any public shaming).
Didn't think too hard on it, but realized they will probably look to sell it on at mark up and offer usual warranty etc.
Got a message as it arrived today basically saying it wasn't quite as advertised and trying to get a partial refund. This was the point I realized I was getting slightly scammed, but....and this is the trapping part...in a way that eBay will support.
I told them, in a polite way, I was willing to refund the postage, or if not they can return the item, less postage cost, as I sent it and after checking, I'll refund full amount.
They replied with a slightly higher than postage amount suggested for the partial refund and politeness to conclude the sale.
Now, as anyone who's sold on eBay for a while will know, the buyer has all the protection (good in most cases) the seller has none, its extremely hard to deal with negative feedback, and neutral isn't much better. So, you are essentially strong-armed to settle to the buyers favour, or risk being screwed from using the platform.
Sure enough, it's on their non-linked business account page for a considerably higher amount, and the lens is separate, for a silly price also. Effectively a 2/3rd price gouge.
Now, forgive the length of this venting, but I gave the buyer a chance to simply state they are buying to flip, honestly I'd have been less annoyed, but they simply disregarded and played on simply observed issues I know we're not present (lens clouding and failing foam seals).
Yet, I'm fairly certain they have not actually committed anything nefarious, simply they have found a way to make more money.
It leaves a bad taste as once again, life proves dishonesty is indeed profitable.
I'm one person, who probably wouldn't have purchased from the business shop, so to them- no loss, but I will certainly be eyeing eBay with far more skepticism and never purchasing anything from a certain Brixton based store ever.
Picture enclosed to reflect where it ended up leaving my mood today.
Advertised my Nikon F2 and 50 1.4 lens, got an offer which I accepted. Noticed when I came to post that the buyer's address was a photography store in UK (happy to share, honestly want to but appreciate it is my experience and others may not wish to see any public shaming).
Didn't think too hard on it, but realized they will probably look to sell it on at mark up and offer usual warranty etc.
Got a message as it arrived today basically saying it wasn't quite as advertised and trying to get a partial refund. This was the point I realized I was getting slightly scammed, but....and this is the trapping part...in a way that eBay will support.
I told them, in a polite way, I was willing to refund the postage, or if not they can return the item, less postage cost, as I sent it and after checking, I'll refund full amount.
They replied with a slightly higher than postage amount suggested for the partial refund and politeness to conclude the sale.
Now, as anyone who's sold on eBay for a while will know, the buyer has all the protection (good in most cases) the seller has none, its extremely hard to deal with negative feedback, and neutral isn't much better. So, you are essentially strong-armed to settle to the buyers favour, or risk being screwed from using the platform.
Sure enough, it's on their non-linked business account page for a considerably higher amount, and the lens is separate, for a silly price also. Effectively a 2/3rd price gouge.
Now, forgive the length of this venting, but I gave the buyer a chance to simply state they are buying to flip, honestly I'd have been less annoyed, but they simply disregarded and played on simply observed issues I know we're not present (lens clouding and failing foam seals).
Yet, I'm fairly certain they have not actually committed anything nefarious, simply they have found a way to make more money.
It leaves a bad taste as once again, life proves dishonesty is indeed profitable.
I'm one person, who probably wouldn't have purchased from the business shop, so to them- no loss, but I will certainly be eyeing eBay with far more skepticism and never purchasing anything from a certain Brixton based store ever.
Picture enclosed to reflect where it ended up leaving my mood today.
