Topic: My first dodgy ebay item

[Retro Rocket]

Hi all, i recently bought a head that has big valves with Heavy springs retainers and really nice looking port work, its a K2 head {thanks Frank} and was supposed to be a "bolt on item", the problem is that this head has been sat in someones workshop for a while and the underside of the head, the gasket surface, is full of what look like, thread marks, scratches and even gouges that will have to be fixed before it can be used, it also has a semi stripped exhaust stud and a bent stud in the cam area from the poor packing that was done. The seller put the sale documents on the bottom of the box and the head looks like it traveled the distance from Cali to Aus upside down, causing the studs to wear through the flimsy packing and box and bend. Now the problem is, i can't send pictures through ebay because they {ebay} keep bouncing the email back saying that it is too big {because of the pictures i have included}, and the seller is trying to tell me that ebay won't alloy him to send me his other email address so i can send pics, i think this is bullsh1t because all he has to do is copy and paste my email from our ebay correspondence into his private email address and i can then send pics....
Being my first problems with an ebay seller, some advice would be warmly welcomed..... I haven't left feedback yet because i am trying to avoid problems....  What do you guys think...?

[trueblue]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=22802.0

^^^Send him a link to this thread ^^^

[Gordon]

Definitely conduct all communications through the eBay servers.  That's the only way you have any proof of what has been said and shown, as far as eBay/Paypal is concerned.  You'll probably have to reduce the size of your pictures to send them.  Save the feedback for the absolute end.  It's your last resort, and if you use it too soon the seller will no longer have any need to try to make good.  If he won't work with you on compensation or refund, go through the "item not as described" complaint procedure.  I'm not a big fan of ebay anymore, but if you want to get any kind of results you have to follow their book to the letter.  If you don't, you're SOL as far as help from them. 

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks Gordon, So far everything has been done through ebay and i have kept records of all communications, they were quite willing to fix the problem in the first instant, blaming shipping for the damage, the stud was damaged through shipping but clearly, all the other problems were their's and not disclosed in the auction. Could i possibly put all the pics in photobucket and link it instead of sending the pics.? Unfortunately, if you shrink the pics it makes the scratches look minimal, they need to be "actual size" to see the damage as it really is...?  I told them i would apply feedback till the problem is resolved but now communication is getting sparse...

[Greggo]

Retro, the best advice I can offer is to consider how much you may have to spend to make the head usable.  If it's a third of the original cost, or less, in the worst case scenario I think you're better off keeping it.  That's only if the seller really gives you no choice but to force a refund.  I once purchased something from a fraudulent seller on ebay, and it took weeks, and 25% of the cost to get my money back through paypal.  If they have to pull the funds out of the seller's account, they will take a big chunk of it...This is all worst case scenario stuff, and I hope it works out better for you.  I simply never got my item, and I imagine you may end up having to foot the shipping bill if you're forced to send it back.

[Gordon]

You should also decide right off if you want to return for refund (you'll probably end up eating the return shipping cost unless the seller volunteers to pay), or if you just want a partial refund, and then stick to that decision.  If the part is still usable, you don't mind doing the extra work, and you have a stand-up seller, the partial refund is the easiest way to go.  The two of you can work out a compromise and the seller refunds the agreed-upon difference. 

As a former eBay seller, I will tell you to keep any mention of negative feedback out of the communication entirely.  Every seller, good or bad, knows it's always a possibility, and bringing that fact up will only put them on the defensive. 

Does your seller seem like he's willing to work with you on this? 

[Retro Rocket]

Retro, the best advice I can offer is to consider how much you may have to spend to make the head usable.  If it's a third of the original cost, or less, in the worst case scenario I think you're better off keeping it.  That's only if the seller really gives you no choice but to force a refund.  I once purchased something from a fraudulent seller on ebay, and it took weeks, and 25% of the cost to get my money back through paypal.  If they have to pull the funds out of the seller's account, they will take a big chunk of it...This is all worst case scenario stuff, and I hope it works out better for you.  I simply never got my item, and I imagine you may end up having to foot the shipping bill if you're forced to send it back.

Thanks Greggo, i want to keep it , i just want some money back, i also asked them to ship it with USPS because my experience with their shipper, UPS,  has been less than savory, and they are expensive, they charged me $229 for shipping and the ACTUAL cost was on the label on the poorly packed box {it was a meat box and flimsy as hell} was $135 USD, they over charged me 90 odd dollars, considering that the head could have eventually fallen out of the box {it was that bad} i don't consider this overpayment "handling charges" bottom line is that i want a couple of hundred dollars back {to repair the damage not mentioned} but so far we haven't got to the discussion stage yet as i am having trouble getting detailed pictures to the seller and now he's taking his time getting back to me......

[Retro Rocket]

the partial refund is the easiest way to go.  The two of you can work out a compromise and the seller refunds the agreed-upon difference. 

As a former eBay seller, I will tell you to keep any mention of negative feedback out of the communication entirely.  Every seller, good or bad, knows it's always a possibility, and bringing that fact up will only put them on the defensive. 

Does your seller seem like he's willing to work with you on this?

He seemed ok at first but blamed postal service for the damage, i politely pointed out that it was impossible for thread marks to be imprinted into the mating surface of the head during transit and shipping definitely didn't make the stud thread damage , he started getting vague and doesn't seem helpful at all..... I am loading all the detailed pics onto photobucket now but the detail isn't as good with the reduced sizes, i may have to send the original pictures one at a time....   I haven't threatened him with anything but i have been straight to the point about my disappointment in his less than open description of the head.... He seems a bit volatile after reading his 2 negative feedbacks for the year, he straight out calls one guy a d1psh1t in the feed back, so i know i need to deal with this guy with a degree of finesse.... 

[Gordon]

Mick,

At this point, if it were me and I felt the seller was not responding quickly enough through email, I'd get his contact info through ebay and call him on the phone.  It's amazing how much more helpful people tend to get when speaking directly to a dissatisfied customer.  You should still try to get any commitments made over the phone corroborated in email, but a personal call never hurts. 

[Retro Rocket]

I'll see if i can get a number....

[Gordon]

Any shipping damage is the seller's responsibility, so even if it was damaged in shipping, it's still up to the seller to make it right to you.  If he's worried about losing money due to damage in transit he should protect himself with insurance.  Shipping insurance is there to protect the seller, not the buyer, even if they have the option of asking the buyer to pay for it up front.  I'd tell him that any damage he perceives to have been done in shipping is not your problem.  You paid for a part in a specified condition and that's not what you received, and as long as you follow the ebay book you'll at least get the purchase price plus initial shipping back from his account whether he likes it or not.  All you have to provide to Paypal to get your refund is proof that you shipped a box of similar weight back to him.     

[Retro Rocket]

Another interesting turn, Yesterday he had around 10 items for sale, today they are all gone, he has nothing on ebay for sale....!!
I'll see if i can get a number and give him a call...Anyone know the international codes for California...?

[Rocking-M]

hey RR, can you take closeups of the scratches but a smaller over all frame picture so that perhaps the overall size in
your correspondence is small enough to make it through to the seller? Ebay also has a filter on now that won't let a direct
link to you tube work but I figured out a work around last time. Maybe a photobucket link would work in you emails. Good luck with this!

[Greggo]

Another interesting turn, Yesterday he had around 10 items for sale, today they are all gone, he has nothing on ebay for sale....!!
I'll see if i can get a number and give him a call...Anyone know the international codes for California...?

RR, the code for America is '1' So, dial whatever code you need to dial out of Australia + 1 + the seven digit number ebay would give you..the first three digits of those seven are the area code.

[Gordon]

hey RR, can you take closeups of the scratches but a smaller over all frame picture so that perhaps the overall size in
your correspondence is small enough to make it through to the seller?

That's a good point.  You can crop the picture to show the specific section of damage while retaining the clarity of the full size image.

[754]

Fill the gouges with JB, drawfile or lightly blocksand, probably usable.. Resurfacing and removing more..last resort..

[Damfino]

Another interesting turn, Yesterday he had around 10 items for sale, today they are all gone, he has nothing on ebay for sale....!!
I'll see if i can get a number and give him a call...Anyone know the international codes for California...?

RR, the code for America is '1' So, dial whatever code you need to dial out of Australia + 1 + the seven ten digit number ebay would give you..the first three digits of those seven are the area code.

Actually Greggo, wouldn't it be Australia + 1 + area code + 7 digit number?

[Greggo]

Another interesting turn, Yesterday he had around 10 items for sale, today they are all gone, he has nothing on ebay for sale....!!
I'll see if i can get a number and give him a call...Anyone know the international codes for California...?

RR, the code for America is '1' So, dial whatever code you need to dial out of Australia + 1 + the seven ten digit number ebay would give you..the first three digits of those seven are the area code.

Actually Greggo, wouldn't it be Australia + 1 + area code + 7 digit number?

Yes!  Good catch

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys..... I now know why so many people dislike E-gay....

I was able to finally send pictures through ebay's picture sending set up but they resize them even smaller, this whole process is a {add expletives} pain in the arse.. I have to send 4 different emails as they only allow 5 pics per email and after sending one to my own email address i discovered that they are now so small they are almost stupid..... I really feel like strangling some a-hole at ebay....


This whole process makes it very hard to make your point and give good reliable information to the seller, ebay seem to be their own worst enemy, or ours which ever floats your boat...

[Stev-o]

Do you know where in Cali he is?

[Retro Rocket]

I was a bit slow, there was another email address and business name in the listing but its now gone, i have the email address but am getting no response through it. I just sent off a load of pictures and suggested that if he needs the original large versions that he either send me a phone number to discuss this or an email that i can send them through with , seeings though i have already sent copies i don't think sending larger versions off the ebay site will hurt....

[Retro Rocket]

Now i'm getting REALLY pissed off, i haven't yet blown my cool, but after sending 4 friggin emails through ebay this afternoon with 20 detailed photos this is the reply i got..!!!

where are the pictures my supervisior is leaving tomorrow he thinks im play some type of joke this is the 2nd time problems from austraila on my tab. i need solid evidence to resolve this issue

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Retro Rocket]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/yoshimura-rc-cb-cr750-honda-mtc-fbg-cafe-dragbike-bobber-performance-dyna-bore-/320749503331?ru=http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=320749503331&_rdc=1&nma=true&si=XX2fPeK7XFl2hDjHdVKzxu95wJs%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This was the auction, i'm not sure if anyone close or in Cali on the forum can contact this guy, i have a pile of photo's that i need to get to this guy ,apart from the ones i sent and he says never turned up, that i actually sent copies of through ebay to my account as well, the emails he says never turned up came to my in box, so i don't know if this guy is trying something on or he's for real....

Getting more pissed off by the minute....

[Gordon]

It's been a few years since I've dealt with ebay, but last I remember Paypal wouldn't verify shipping addresses outside of the U.S., and ebay sellers had no protection through Paypal when shipping to non-verified addresses.  That's why you would often find auctions where the seller wouldn't accept bids from outside of the states.  If that's still the case today then the seller doesn't have a leg to stand on.  If he can't prove to ebay's satisfaction that he sent the part to you, then you'll get your money back as long as you jump through their hoops, and the seller will be left with no part and no money.  It might be time to educate your seller on how things actually work.  He's dealing with ebay, he should know the risks. 

As far as getting his contact info, you shouldn't have to dig too deep.  Ebay makes that info available to all trading partners.  Once an auction closes with a winning bidder, both the seller and buyer can request the contact info of each other and get it.  Often just the email notification that a buyer has requested a seller's info is enough to light a fire under his ass.

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks Gordon, being my first time doing this, where do i find the section where i can request the sellers information..?