eBay feedback etiquette?

Made the horrible mistake of buying a guitar on eBay. Listed as "great condition," but is really in "berkeleying horrible condition." Good news: I only paid $111.00 including shipping, and it came with a case. Bad news: If I return it, I'm out $40 shipping on my end, plus (presumably?) the $45 I paid the seller to ship it to me in the first place. The seller is not going to refund the shipping, right?

Anyway, the item was horribly misrepresented. Is it wise to give the seller negative feedback without returning the item? He's flamed other buyers, as in "Well, if it was so terrible, why didn't you return it?"

What say yee?

Hold nothing back. If you don't give brutal negative feedback, how will the next person know?

I agree. If it was misrepresented, others should know. If you leave bad feedback, explain why in detail, and also explain your reasons for keeping it as opposed to returning it. Well, as much as you possibly can given the character limit. On a side note, I absolutely hate sellers that wait to give feedback until the buyer has given it to them. The way I see it, once the buyer has paid they have fulfilled their obligation, and therefor feedback should be given to rate how well they did in fulfilling their obligation. I sell way more than I buy, and I give prompt feedback. If the buyer forgets or doesn't feel like giving me feedback, I'm not loosing any sleep over it.

16vCorey wrote: I agree. If it was misrepresented, others should know. If you leave bad feedback, explain why in detail, and also explain your reasons for keeping it as opposed to returning it. Well, as much as you possibly can given the character limit. On a side note, I absolutely hate sellers that wait to give feedback until the buyer has given it to them. The way I see it, once the buyer has paid they have fulfilled their obligation, and therefor feedback should be given to rate how well they did in fulfilling their obligation.

What if the buyer gets the item, then makes a bogus paypal claim?

First contact the buyer with your concerns, and ask for every penny, including return shipping.

If he then says no, either contact ebay or go ahead with the full frontal negative.

Or, ask for a partial refund and keep the guitar. There might be a middle ground.

-James

I would probably leave neutral or negative feedback. Be very clear what the problem is. What I hate are the "OMG HORRIBLE SELLER WILL SCREW YOU DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" feedbacks. I never know whether or not it is a seller problem or one of the buyers who will never be satisfied. Be clear and be fair.

Partial refund for a mis represented item is the best course of action.

I bought a laptop for parts one time that was represented to be in working order with only a cracked screen. When I got it, it was DOA. Since I had purchased it for case parts, powering up wasn't a huge concern, but I really did want the spare motherboard and CPU. I contacted the seller, and he immediately refunded half of the purchase price. I had payed for shipping insurance, and the seller claimed it was booting when it was shipped. To my knowledge, an insurance claim was never made, but that's not on my end anymore since it was refunded. I left better feedback because of the seller's cooperation than I would have if it were exactly as described.

poopshovel wrote: Made the horrible mistake of buying a guitar on eBay.

Not a mistake. You got burned, yes, but it is not a mistake. We've bought some really really good guitars from fleabay. Only got burned once. It won't happen again.

Anyways, this thread is useless without pictures.

Been in both those shoes several times. Personally, I'd be willing to give him a chance to make it right. I know I've appreciated being given the chance myself. Hey, I really didn't see that crack in the manifold.

If the seller doesn't stand up and make it right(ish), he should get the negative feedback he so richly deserves and has earned. Give it to him.

You can go through the paypal process seperately from the feedback. They aren't the same. And you don't inherently have to give back the item just because you file a claim. You'll have several options open to you, and to the seller.

Fear not his words in his feedback on you. They won't hurt you. In fact, your reply to them can help you quite a bit. If he looks like a raging idiot and you look mature, you gain.

In reply to foxtrapper:

Actually, ebay's new policy forbids sellers from bad-mouthing buyers whatsoever. Even a pissy response will net them a reprisal from ebay if the buyer complains.

poopshovel wrote: Made the horrible mistake of buying a guitar on eBay. Listed as "great condition," but is really in "berkeleying horrible condition." Good news: I only paid $111.00 including shipping, and it came with a case. Bad news: If I return it, I'm out $40 shipping on my end, plus (presumably?) the $45 I paid the seller to ship it to me in the first place. The seller is not going to refund the shipping, right? Anyway, the item was horribly misrepresented. Is it wise to give the seller negative feedback without returning the item? He's flamed other buyers, as in "Well, if it was so terrible, why didn't you return it?" What say yee?

If you want to make a point-return, return, return. Poop, I know we come from different sides of the political divide, but can we agree that this is America, and that money walks while bullE3 BMW talks? Send it back, with some kind of "signature confirmation" that you can hold over his head. Even if the little liar doesn't sign, you'll have documentation that he didn't. If he does sign, you'll have documentation that he's lying when he says, "..oh, you never sent it back!"

If some of those folks flirting with the same lying seller see that you put your own money up to return his mis-represented POS to him, maybe you can help them avoid the guy. And of course, if the seller is running one of those "online businesses", maybe that'll help put the lying SOB out of business.

Slightly off topic, reminded me of this: http://www.funnyphotos.net.au/images/best-ebay-feedback-if-we-were-in-prison-i-would-pr1.jpg

Anyways, this thread is useless without pictures.

Link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130425017504&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123

My message to the seller, 15 minutes after receiving the package:

"Dear seller,

I was excited to get the guitar so quickly (about 15 minutes ago,) however was really disappointed in the condition. While the condition in the linked "mygear" page was listed as "VERY GOOD!" and the finish as "original," the guitar has not only obviously been repainted (white over red, which shows through in the numerous scratches,) in what looks to be latex paint, but the horns look like someone went at them with a hatchet (in an attempt to 'reshape' the guitar maybe?,) and even as a smoker, the smell of stale cigarette smoke inside the case made me gag when I opened it. I'll be going to the UPS store for a shipping quote today, and decide whether to send it back or re-list it with an ACCURATE description on ebay. I hope you'll honor your return policy.

Thanks,

Mike"

...The plot thickens. I get the guitar home last night. The EMG active pickup in the bridge "kind of" works. The other 2 do not...probably because the wires have been REMOVED. Not just "clipped" or wired all berkeleyed up. Gone. The wires for the EMG were connected with electrical tape. Lovely.

Sending the seller another message today, asking if he'll refund the ENTIRE amount, as I've only got until tomorrow to send it back. Not really sure what to do if he doesn't reply.

Regarding the "see if he'll do a partial refund," check out his feedback. Anyone who's done this in the passed has been labeled as an EXTORTIONIST!!! lawlz.

Either way, I should've known better. Seemed like a killer deal, and I ignored too many warning signs.

Contact ebay asap. I've had to do that before, they will generally go after them if the seller won't work with you.

You've got 45 days to file a claim with ebay. The auction ended on the 2nd, so you've got plenty of time. Far past tomorrow.

Click on the "Buyer Protection" button on the listing page and start the proceedings. It makes it all official.

Thanks for the help guys. So now that I've sent 2 emails in 2 days with no response, should I hang on to the guitar while I deal with ebay for now or send the muhfuggah back? Again, the logic being: A $37 mistake (the cost of return shipping,) I can live with. For $82 (my shipping cost plus his shipping cost,) I'll rob some parts off it, keep the case, and re-list it as "Parts/Project," and try to recoup $50 or so.

Did it come from Lansing, MI? If so, than just give them a call. Sometimes works better than e-mail.

Mr. Steve Fata, Owner - (517) 323-9848

Hello, We will send you a return label if you want to return it. We do not refund shipping otherwise. I will get it over to you this morning. We were unaware of any issues with the guitar. Thank You, Maggie www.VintageCityGuitars.com 517-323-9848 Lansing, MI

Sounds reasonable, right?

Sit on the guitar while you go through the ebay and paypal dispute claim process. Follow their instructions. Do not jump the gun.