Ebay (Au) anyone?

Recently I have bought inexpensive articles on Ebay, but sadly the quality has plummeted. Before you jump all over me saying that’s the risk one takes shopping online that more people are doing, it is convenient.

 

Example 1-- A men’s 'cashmere' scarf that was ultra thin light weight rubbish, that I reviewed accordingly. Buyers have the right of review and refund but the seller will not refund until I lie changing my review to 4 or 5 stars presumably so he can flog off more crap.

 

Example 2-- An ‘engraved’ stainless steel dog ID tag which is NOT 'engraved' but printed (ink). Strangely I must wait 7 days before I can write a negative review. Ebay promise much but deliver nothing

 

Perhaps I am expecting too much. What do you think?

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I love eBay.  As I live about 45 minutes away from a major shopping area, I find it's cheaper to buy online than to pay fuel costs.  I have had two dodgy dealings in the whole time I've shopped there, so I really can't complain.  And even goods from China have been great, the latest being a small tablet for under $50 so I can read my eBooks.  There were lots at that price so I wasn't worried that it was anything dodgy, and I love my little tablet, it's just perfect.  eBay is my go-to shopping place for everything from fabric to electronics.  You have to be very unlucky to be ripped off badly.  The comments about not leaving negative feedback immediately are correct.  Any time I've had a problem, I correspond with the seller before leaving any feedback, and all but one have been sorted.  Good luck shopping there in the future.

 

Hiya Tanwin, 

I think eBay is all good. quality or not makes no difference. if you buy of reputable Ebayers and look through their profile and see they have sold over 250000 items and positive feedback is 98 percent you will be ok.

If the quality is not there then you can complain and to date I have never been stuck with a useless item. Once I have explained the flaw with their product and how it did NOT meet their description and I want a refund they have done so including postage.

They have also come to a agreed price if no full refund was given. I am always pleased with the outcome. If not happy with their response you can always lodge a Ebay or Paypal dispute and that will always get things resolved. Might take a couple of days but it will get sorted.

Have a good one.

yes, eBay is always buyer beware, recently I have tried to buy yoga socks people in china must have very very small feet the men would not with a little exaggeration go on my big toe :)

yes it is best not to worry about a refund unless you are talking about something expensive and always found at least up to now the dispute system very good, so if a refund is not offered I would go straight to there, apparently, it does hurt them if you give a bad review

just did a search to see if I could clarify what I think but it was not good enough to post.

these days I do not worry about a refund and just write what I think,  sadly you are right and people should ignore their request and give it too them :)

yes, eBay is always buyer beware, recently I have tried to buy yoga socks people in china must have very very small feet the men would not with a little exaggeration go on my big toe :)

yes it is best not to worry about a refund unless you are talking about something expensive and always found at least up to now the dispute system very good, so if a refund is not offered I would go straight to there, apparently, it does hurt them if you give a bad review

just did a search to see if I could clarify what I think but it was not good enough to post.

these days I do not worry about a refund and just write what I think,  sadly you are right and people should ignore their request and give it too them :)

RAY,    i would never even try to buy clothing on there,  [or anywhere else]   that came from china,    there sizing is like childrens sizes,    

I don't "do" or likre Ebay, but as I am a crafter I do use Etsy. 

I have been using eBay for about 10 years, mostly hardware and it related items. Value of purchase has ranged from about $2 to $600, a lot from overseas.

while I have experienced a couple of duds I regard overall standard of quality & service as quite good. Prices of many items are very competitive and generally a far wider range than in local shops.

items promoted on local marketing sites are often available on eBay at far better prices!

i don’t bother with clothing items as sizes and quality can be unpredictable.

it’s important to check seller ratings/reviews.

i LOVE EBAY,    dont know how i lived so long without it,  lol,  i get mostly  all my dvds there,    films and my music,    have only had one bad dvd,   and i got in touch with the seller,     who replaced it,  i have found one man on there who sells A,I, discs,    and all a very reasonable rate,    i go to him first,   to see if he has what i want,    if not,  i go onto the site and buy what i can,     i have also bought the most beautiful cushion covers  on there where i wanted to spruce the lounge up,   also tthrow rugs,   a lovely shower c curtain    with elephants,   and non slip bath mats to match,      i have had no trouble leaving feedback,    i got a roll for doing jigsaws on,   [which i couldnt find anywhere else,   .    i love it,     

I think most of you missed my point that I have used Ebay for a couple of years but its only lately I have been disappointed in 2 inexpensive articles which I have now been offered refunds and now that I understand fully how their system works

However changing a review to suit a seller so he can flog-off more of a substandard product makes the whole Review system a SHAM. Or am I missing something?

In that case, do not accept the refund and put up a rating of 1 star and the truth about the item if indeed was misleading or truly inferior. 

I understood your point, but if you take a full refund then the ability to rate is gone because it is as if you have not made a purchase at all.

I do believe that you SHOULD be able to leave a rating if there was a full refund given, but Ebay does not allow it so if you really want to leave bad feedback then do not settle on a full refund.

In that case, do not accept the refund and put up a rating of 1 star and the truth about the item if indeed was misleading or truly inferior. 

I understood your point, but if you take a full refund then the ability to rate is gone because it is as if you have not made a purchase at all.

I do believe that you SHOULD be able to leave a rating if there was a full refund given, but Ebay does not allow it so if you really want to leave bad feedback then do not settle on a full refund.

I left a rating after a full refund was given to me on Ebay .. albeit it was a very positive one with full stars.

if you are not happy leaving a feedback,   get in touch with PAYPAL,    they will sort it out for you,   helped me,  

Have used eBay since 2005, mainly for books and movies - have very seldom had any problems even when buying from China.  Yes you have to triple check their sizes as they are smaller than Australian [or any other western country for that matter] but the quality is usually good.  Bought winter socks last year that are warmer than those bought here.

Many years ago we bought a Disney collection, [about 15 dvd's] from China for less than half price, which included the postage, that we would have had to pay in Australia.  These are in English too.

I have to agree Tanwin, that the quality from some sellers has deteriorated - especially ones who live a fair distance away [WA /overseas].  Usually ebay or paypal sorts it out if the seller refuses to play ball.

..if you are a size 12 ladies you need an XL or XXL in clothing I have found...love ebay and never had a problem...bought a lovely rug online...was about 10 centimetres shorter than stated...complained nicely....offered me choice of returning...too much of hassle or $50 off...took that option and in restrospect I think the smaller size is fine

 

Boy oh boy! Ebay can sure run one around in circles.

It seems to get a refund I must ask the seller to send me a Revision Request so I can alter my review to a more favourable one.

Problem is his are 'unavailable' and according to Ebay the seller only has a certain number of these and without one not even they can delete my negative review as the complaint is 'still open'.

So they will give me a refund and once that is done then they can delete the review, which smacks of a bloody shambles

Tanwin wrote:

"...Example 1-- A men’s 'cashmere' scarf that was ultra thin light weight rubbish, that I reviewed accordingly. Buyers have the right of review and refund but the seller will not refund until I lie changing my review to 4 or 5 stars presumably so he can flog off more crap."

This is how I would handle that Tanwin. Fundamentally the questions to be asked are was what was sold appropriately represented? or, was there some problem with the delivery, handling or even seller's attitude?

If the scarfe was misrepresented, damaged or the like then write to the seller noting that it or its handling does not meet reasonable quality expectation and see what they intend to do about that. It may be that they are only too happy to oblige with a satisfactory management of the situation. Still then give the product a low rating but it would not be fair to give the seller one too. In you note, left with the rating, advise people of the quality (of both the scarfe and the management.) 

If the product is not as represented and the seller will not appropriately manage the situation then a negative would be appropriate but you may need to be prepared to substantiate the mis-representation or poor management of the process at the time of any claim made to Ebay.

Tanwin: "Example 2-- An ‘engraved’ stainless steel dog ID tag which is NOT 'engraved' but printed (ink). Strangely I must wait 7 days before I can write a negative review..."

I never knew that. Printed rather than engraved does seem like something a representor should know. Just the same, negative reviews are pernicious in the Ebay environment. It seems unreasonable to give a negative without giving the seller a chance to resurrect the relationship. Even when they do, while you would not give them a negative you can note whatever may have been wrong with the sample you recieved as advice to everybody else.

The other thing I have not been familiar with is the ability to change a rating you have given after it is given.

I think Ebay is quite well developed and a convenient way of getting rid of your surplus gear or of finding that missing piece of china in your set or whatever. My only problem with it is that fees seem high and rising. Gumtree is a gentle alternative but beware of dealing on that where you cannot physically inspect the item since it provides nothing like the insurance and general assurance which Ebay does.  

Good tips Jaid

The part of eBay I find most annoying is the FALSE ADVERTIZING.

You search for a particular product and a list of them comes up but when you click on it to take to the checkout the item you want to buy is a different price .... 

S?UZE,   have never come across that,   the price stated is the price you pay,   are you sure you are not counting the postage costs?    i try to look for what i want with free postage,   as buying a lot as i do,  [with movies and music]    paying postage fees can add up,    there are usually 2/3 or more adv, the same thing,  so up to you what you want to pay,   ALSO SUZE,    AFTER your price goes in,   the G,S,T is added,  maybe that is where you are seeing a difference,    it is usualy only a few cents,     i have had a very good service from E,BAY,     and have a good rating myself,   if you are a regular user,   you can check your own rating,  

 

At last I have received a credit for both items which I regard as inferior however each time I 'chatted' online to Ebay Au I have been told different stories. 

I was told I must 'ask the seller for a Revision Request to change my feedback review', however one seller had run out of these. According to Ebay each seller only has 'a limited number of 'Revision Requests' I assume has run out because he has received many complaints on numerous other articles.

As messages whizzed back and forth, Ebay then said they would 'give me a credit and delete my negative feedback' This did NOT happen

All the while the seller was pestering me demanding I change or delete my feedback before he would refund me.

My profile lists my feedback reviews and the ability to alter/delete them, but strangely the two in question were missing

Finally Ebay REFUSED to delete my negative feedback because 'they regard it as an honest review so it would remain'

Had I known, I could have done things differently as this has become a bitter learning curve

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