Complaint Review: Ebay - Jennifer R. Pelloat

in the future if something like this happens..

File a complaint with Paypal. Explain that the item was "never recieved. You're still waiting for it.. "

PAYPAL standards are higher then Ebay. Sellers must *PROVE* an item was delivered to the buyer. NOT proof of mailing to your address. NOT delivery confirmation to your address but SIGNATURE Confirmation. Since the seller paid a 39cent stamp, buyer wins for non-delivery report. (which you didn't file under that) as A seller I have been burned by this. Now customers sign for everything.

If it's worth the time for you to recover the $50, I would actually call Paypal (phone# on there website) talk to dispute resolutions. My experience as a powerseller on ebay of 5yrs is that "it's the responsibility of the seller to ensure the item arrives safe to the buyer. That's why the seller buys the insurance.

Even if a seller says "not responsible for item damage unless insurance is purchased" Paypal does NOT care. They control the $$$ and will freeze the funds in the seller acct. The buyer emails photos of the damage and buyer wins.

Now for whatever reason after calling them and having them re-open the case and explaining you'd like to work with them on this issue rather then filing a chargeback on your credit card. (showing the photos as proof) They will probably work with you. If not do the chargeback with your bank when the bank shows the photos to paypal. They will take the $$ out of the sellers acct and back to you. (do you have a paypal verified shipping address??)

Aagain it depends how much time $50 is worth or if it's the principal of the issue with you.

Sorry that you did not get your memory card due to poor packaging; this is an ongoing problem with inflated shipping charges to reap huge profits. I would think someone should have used a padded envelope which would have been fine.

If your merchandise did not arrive in the package, you can file a complaint with your bank or credit card company; refer to the editors description of how to get your money back.

I buy and sell on eBay, and I can say that there is a few bad apples out there who will take advantage of you. During the past two years with hundreds of transactions I only recal five or six items which I was not happy with.

My experience shopping on eBay has been pleasant, there is a lot of good people who follow the rules. Do not take one bad transaction as a sign that CONSUMER FRAUD is the only business on eBay.

I wish you well in the future, and just remember -Buyer Beware- when it comes to shopping at auction sites.

Sorry that you did not get your memory card due to poor packaging; this is an ongoing problem with inflated shipping charges to reap huge profits. I would think someone should have used a padded envelope which would have been fine.

If your merchandise did not arrive in the package, you can file a complaint with your bank or credit card company; refer to the editors description of how to get your money back.

I buy and sell on eBay, and I can say that there is a few bad apples out there who will take advantage of you. During the past two years with hundreds of transactions I only recal five or six items which I was not happy with.

My experience shopping on eBay has been pleasant, there is a lot of good people who follow the rules. Do not take one bad transaction as a sign that CONSUMER FRAUD is the only business on eBay.

I wish you well in the future, and just remember -Buyer Beware- when it comes to shopping at auction sites.

Sorry that you did not get your memory card due to poor packaging; this is an ongoing problem with inflated shipping charges to reap huge profits. I would think someone should have used a padded envelope which would have been fine.

If your merchandise did not arrive in the package, you can file a complaint with your bank or credit card company; refer to the editors description of how to get your money back.

I buy and sell on eBay, and I can say that there is a few bad apples out there who will take advantage of you. During the past two years with hundreds of transactions I only recal five or six items which I was not happy with.

My experience shopping on eBay has been pleasant, there is a lot of good people who follow the rules. Do not take one bad transaction as a sign that CONSUMER FRAUD is the only business on eBay.

I wish you well in the future, and just remember -Buyer Beware- when it comes to shopping at auction sites.

My husband has purchased many items on ebay. He has also sold many items on ebay. When he sells an item, he packs it very well. We buy a tracker confirmation sticker so we can track the package to make sure it gets to where it is going.

Then we insure the package if we feel it is sensitive material being shipped. We don't have to do this but as sellers we feel it is our responsibity to get the product to the buyer in good condition.

I think that your seller didn't take the time to package the product correctly and make sure it got to you in good shape. I think the seller has some responsibilty to you as the buyer.

I know alot of folks have responded it is what is in the agreement of the auction at the time you bid on it. Yes, but that should come with common since.

Your really in a catch 22 situation here. It is not ebays fault that you didn't get your product. It is not the post office's fault you didn't get your product.

I think it is clearly the sellers responsibility here to make things right with you. She should have packaged it better. If she doesn't have anymore chips, then she should of least let you know if she had any other items you would be interested in and offer you one of them to make you happy. This way you would be happy and she would be in good standing again with ebay and other potential buyers.

It always a good idea to check the rating of the sellers before you place your bid. There are really good sellers and then there are not so good sellers. So, please read the terms of the auction before you place your bid. This will help out in the long run.

I don't agree that you as the buyer should have to buy insurance on a product the seller has. I think it is their responsiblity as the seller to provide this servie depending on what they are selling.

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

Just my opinion in Indianapolis, Indiana
Rhonda

I'm both a buyer and seller on Ebay, and VERY careful to read the shipping terms before I place my bid. There are many sellers out there that charge you an OUTRAGEOUS amount of shipping, because they sell their item for 99 cents. With every auction that you bid on, you need to check the shipping terms prior to placing your bid. As a seller, you are given the option to 'adjust' your shipping costs with a handling charge, which is at your discretion. Some sellers get carried away with this option, although most of us are quite reasonable. I add $1.50 to $2.00 per auction for a handling charge, which includes the cost of boxes and packing material. If the system has overestimated the shipping cost, I stick an envelope into the package with cash that accounts for the overage, as well as a note as to what the refund is for.

Ebay itself is not responsible for the shipping, but neither is the seller. If the seller can prove that the package left their hands going to your address, this ends their responsibility to the buyer (I always use confirmation, tracking or return receipt requested on those items that I sell). Even in the case of the buyer purchasing insurance, the seller has NO CONTROL over what happens once the item leaves their hands. While I would never send anything such as a memory card in an ordinary envelope, I have rec'd gameboy games in this manner. My solution was to contact the seller and advise that a padded envelope was much more secure and protective. In the case that an item fell out of the envelope (such as yours), your options are limited. The probabilty of the post office ever finding such a small item is extremely small, and without insurance, you're kinda out of luck. By the same token, although the seller used very poor judgment in her packing choice, what are the chances that she can afford to replace something that she didn't lose?

Chalk this one up to experience, and next time, check in with the seller before making the bid about shipping cost and packaging.

Johnna,

I have done some buying and selling on eBay as well. I do not think, however, that eBay lured you into some kind of false professionalism. They provide a place to auction items. They do not take responsibility for the items or the shipping because they really have no reasonable way to do so. When you bid, you enter into a contract with the seller, not with eBay. As a buyer, you are not paying eBay. So only the seller is paying for the space and the means to do business there. eBay is a service TO SELLERS. To be harsh, it makes sense that they were not much help to you. The protection they provide is the feedback areas. eBay does not treat kindly those who routinely do poor business.

Likewise, PayPal only provides the means to pay for your purchase. They do what they can, but that is very limited when an item is lost during shipping.

Also, Ms. Pelloat was correct in saying that you would need to take it up with the Post Office. Since the item was lost while they had the package, then it is reasonable to assume that they have it, or they lost it. The Postal Service (or any other shipping company) gets thousands of call for lost or damaged packages every week. They may not like your call, but they are prepared for it.

Now, before I make you angry, let me also say this. That kind of ill-conceived, insufficient packaging is not acceptable. I used to work for a shipping company (not the Post Office) and we wouldn't even accept an item like that packaged in a simple envelope.

Besides that, as an eBay seller, I make sure my packages are secure, cushioned and sealed. Ms. Pelloat was either intentionally uncaring, or inexcusably stupid.

Also, how dare the Post Office deliver a ripped-open, empty envelope to your house with no explanation or apology? I completely agree with your frustration, but again, I would not blame eBay. This was the poor practice of the seller and the very poor courtesy of the Post Office.

Insurance, Insurance, Insurance. It is a terrible reality that we must spend extra money to see that others take responsibility. Nevertheless it is the best way to see that we recover our losses. Otherwise, as you say, "you, the buyer, take the hit."

Thanks for your attention and good luck in your future eBay ventures.

By the way, my eBay record is:
19 transactions
(plus a few where the seller left no feedback)
100% positive feedback

I have purchased ten items from Ebay over the past two weeks and haven't had a problem with any of them other than two of them taking forever to get here. Just because it took forever doesn't mean that it was the sellers fault - I blame the post office.

I agree that you could have purchased insurance for the item if it was that expensive. It doesn't matter how it was shipped - things get damaged all the time in shipping. You take a chance when you buy things online from Ebay or anywhere else for that matter that you are getting what you paid for and that it comes the way it is supposed to. If you were that concerned about it, you should have bought it at the store and paid full price.

I sold something one time on Ebay and the buyer insisted it was damaged. I shipped it out FedEx and received a delivery confirmation that said it was delivered in good condition. As a gesture of good faith I refunded her money and asked for the product back. I never got it back which makes me wonder if she just didn't claim it was damaged...you take a chance either way.

You cannot overcharge for shipping. Furthermore, the seller is responsible for making sure the product gets to the buyer. Please post your ebay user ID so I can put you on my blocked list. Youre obviously an idiot.

Johnna, how did the buyer say she would ship? She certainly ripped you off. I would go back to Ebay and Paypal and demand they investigate her again.

In the mean time, I certainly hope you gave her a negative feedback.. Please post her user ID so the rest of us can put her on our blocked list.

HELLO
AS I AM ALSO AN EBAY SELLER. AS A SELLER WE OR ALLOWED TO SET FIXED SHIPPING PRICES NO MATTER WHAT WAY WE SHIP THE ITEM. WHEN A USER CHECKS OUT THROUGH PAYPAL. PAYPAL OFFERS YOU THE OPTION TO BY INSURANCE THROUGH THEM. NOW I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE DID YOU SPEND THE FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR INSURANCE. SELLERS OR NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE ARRIVAL OF THE ITEM UNLESS THEY STATE IT IN THE AUCTION.

MY I SUGGEST TO YOU TO PLEASE BY INSURANCE NEXT TIME. YOU CAN ALSO SIMPLY GO THROUGH YOUR LOCAL ELECTRONICS STORE. WHEN YOU MAKE A PURCHASE ON EBAY YOU OR PUT INTO A BINDING CONTRACT TO BUY WHAT EVER THE AUCTION STATES. THE ITEM MUST BE SHIPPED WITH IN THE STATED TIME. THERE IS NO EBAY POLICY STATING HOW A SELLER MUST PACK AND SHIP ITEMS.

FURTHER MORE IT IS ONLY LEFT AT YOUR FAULT THAT YOU DID NOT PURCHASE INSURANCE. SO PLEASE BEFORE SLANDERING AGIANST MULTI BILLION DOLLAR COMPANYS AND BRINGING LEGITE SELLERS NAMES DOWN. YOU SHOULD REALLY LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKE AND PAY FOR INSURANCE. AS EVERY OTHER EBAY USER DOES