The Energon Pub

So, I bid and win an auction for an item on ebay, and it has been over a week and I never got it. I pay the same or next day after I win at the latest. Today, I got a message saying "Sorry, I can not find the item you won in any stores. I looked everywhere. I'm sending your money back". So, I'm thinking, WTF? So I email him back asking why he listed an item for auction that he actually does not have. No response yet. He has a long history on ebay. Has a 98% rating, and his reviews are generally good. So, part of me wants to neg his a$$ for being stupid and trying to sell something he doesn't even have, but the other part of me says to just let it go, and he may neg me back, and lie as to why. What do you guys think?

I guess it depends what his setup is.. lol

If he just goes to the local department store then resells it, while a smart business move, is pretty jerkish, (one could argue you he is still trying to provide an item to soemone who can't get it otherwise)

But perhaps he works for a small chain of actual stores and sells the stuff on the bay but doesnt keep it in his home or something, who knows, nothing wrong with that.

It's good that he at least gave you your money back, some people might just keep it. I'd still give him pos, maybe neutral. make a comment about it too maybe.

Sportimus Prime wrote:What do you guys think?

That's f'd up...

I'd probably give him a neg...

but, if he refunds your money, then you would probably be better off letting it go.

Report it to eBay. Sellers are required to have the items they list. Preorders are accepted, but only if they will ship within 30 days. eBay does have a policy about this, but they only way they will discover and enforce violations would be if people like you report it. Do your part to help the eBay community - report the seller.

Neg feedback and report him to ebays moderators regardless of a refund or not.

That is what the feedback system is in place for, what he is doing is CLEARLY in violation of ebays rules.
He is misrepresenting what he has to sell.

If he wont refund you, paypal dispute will fix that as well.

Get your $ back first, then Neg him.

Coolpop nailed it...get your refund THEN report him, neg him, etc...

FYI: be prepared for a retaliatory neg feedback at you from him.

Yeah, get your refund, then give him negative feedback detailing in a straightforward and polite manner what he did, while mentioning that he did give a refund and whatever else you want to say to him. Report him to e-bay and whatnot as well.

Well just respond to the neg in a civilized manner. That way, you don't look bad after he revenge negs you.

Same thing happened with me a few months ago. The seller was toynk and on their ebay auction title, it stated IN STOCK. Two weeks after paying and without hearing one word from them, he tells me it's out of stock. After I got my refund I submitted my first negative feedback ever. I don't think it was a big deal for them as they have dozens of negative feedbacks among thousands of total scores.

It's usually not worth the retaliatory negative feedback. In situations like this, I'd usually leave a positive feedback, but state the problem in the text. The way I understand it, he'll still have to pay the ebay and paypal charges, so ultimately he's not getting off scott free.

The way the feedback system works, 98% is not a good feedback level. Anything below 99.7, and you're taking a risk.

You may think he's being stupid, but it's a way of making money from nothing.

I'd say Neutral it. He sends you your money back but he was being a bit of a dork about selling something he doesn't own.

Yeah, neutral or positive. He did give you your money back, so he didn't rip you off or anything. And if you neg him, he'll neg you back, and you don't need that.

NEGATIVE him, if he negatives you for no good reason go complain to ebay to get his account closed!

Sunstar wrote:I'd say Neutral it. He sends you your money back but he was being a bit of a dork about selling something he doesn't own.

Neutral is the way to go if you got your money back.

It sucks, but it's "fair".

I did the same thing, no item and no respose for like 2 months, so I gave a neg, then a day later we started to go back and forth because he submitted to have the negs mutually withdrawn.

Just save yourself the trouble and wait until you get your money back and then forget the whole thing.

Either leave nothing or leave a neutral saying "No item shipped, money refunded" or something like that.

A positive or a negative are not worth the hassle, trust me!

coolpop wrote:Get your $ back first, then Neg him.

Same here. Get your money first. Then a Neg commenting him selling things he have not.

Split the difference and pick neutral. I'd only neg him if he refused to refund the payment.

Speaking of eBay woes, here's an example of dodgy selling tacts in response to a message from a buyer who had been waiting for his item for a month:

"I didn't send it for a month, but I was going to send it until I saw the negative feedback you left me. I tell you what. You take off the negative feedback and I'll send it."

Not only is this blatantly blackmailing, but it's also very, very stupid. If the seller had written...

"I'm sorry, [insert lie here], so I wasn't able to send it until now. I will be sending it today, and would appreciate it if you would consider withdrawing your feedback when you recieve the item."

... the buyer would probably have acquiesced.

Sportimus Prime wrote:So, I bid and win an auction for an item on ebay, and it has been over a week and I never got it. I pay the same or next day after I win at the latest. Today, I got a message saying "Sorry, I can not find the item you won in any stores. I looked everywhere. I'm sending your money back". So, I'm thinking, WTF? So I email him back asking why he listed an item for auction that he actually does not have. No response yet. He has a long history on ebay. Has a 98% rating, and his reviews are generally good. So, part of me wants to neg his a$$ for being stupid and trying to sell something he doesn't even have, but the other part of me says to just let it go, and he may neg me back, and lie as to why. What do you guys think?

Out of sheer curiosity, what did you buy?

And yes, I agree with the neutral, and warn others.