ripped off on ebay, buyers beware

[revmondo]

yes, after 9 wonderful years of careful ebay shopping looks like I have finally gotten ripped off. Buyers beware, ebay no longer offers ANY help, support, or assistance if you are ripped off. All buyer protection plans have been cancelled unless you pay with paypal, and with paypal you now have limited protection.
I won an Austin Powers from an individual seller almost a month ago. He just keeps promising to send it eventually, but has so far promised to provide tracking numbers, then excuses, then more promises, more excuses, now no response at all. When I brought this up to ebay their response is that you can apparently steal from up to 3 people before they will take any action, and that they will do nothing for those that have been ripped off. They wont even offer any advice on what you can do, which is apparently nothing.
Anybody here in the Shaumburg, IL area? I can give you the address where my machine is...maybe you could pick it up for me?

[dattia]

OUCH! That's a tough one. Good luck!

[Tulsa]

Who's the seller?

[luckydog]

If you paid by a money order your basically out of luck. thats one reason I like to use paypal, it may take awhile but you usually can get your money back.

Ebay is to big to bother with the little guy.

I bought a Lionel train in early December, it took alot of threats and over 3 months to finally get delivery.

[Youngjedi]

I'm in the next town over Revmondo...But I'm not sure I can do anything if he refuses to give up the alleged machine. If he agrees to a pick up...let me know.

[compirate]

I'm in the next town over Revmondo...But I'm not sure I can do anything if he refuses to give up the alleged machine. If he agrees to a pick up...let me know.

I'll be at McCormick Place on Thursday, stop on by!

[revmondo]

the user id is clarat143. he seems to be having issues with the concept of shipping, so in my latest email I have asked if I can just pick it up, hoping that if I find a local pachitalk member I can pay them to pick it up and ship it. That way I am only out the $79 I paid for shipping and not the whole $258.00. Problem is the guy is beligerent and wont even respond to emails half the time, so it might not happen. Even though the total number of feedbacks was low hw only had negs from bad sellers, so I thought it was a safe bet. Kept trying to believe its just been a misunderstanding, but almost a month later and nothing but broken promises and a few nasty emails telling me he would do things his way and if i didnt like it, tough...

[Youngjedi]

I believe the restaurant show is in town then. Is that what you will be there for?

[revmondo]

I'm in the next town over Revmondo...But I'm not sure I can do anything if he refuses to give up the alleged machine. If he agrees to a pick up...let me know.

Trying again to email to see if the seller would be willing to do this. Not sure if I will get a response or not. I would be willing to cover your gas, time, and of course shipping costs if you did this for me. I will lose the shipping I already paid, but still get the machine.

If you paid by a money order your basically out of luck. thats one reason I like to use paypal, it may take awhile but you usually can get your money back.

yeah, I normally only paypal, but bought in to the no negs except from 2 sellers on bad transactions that could have been either side, long time on ebay (2.5years), and that he's not a regular seller and doesnt have a paypal account.

[01PyTypeR#1140]

I don't even look at ebay auctions unless they use paypal and even then I never use my bank acct. through paypal. I always use my credit card. If paypal wont back me up in a event, my credit card co. will. Good Luck! If I were near by I would hound the guy for either the machine or the money for you.

[jonnut]

yeah, always go with sellers that accept paypal, pay no other way! Sorry to here that!

[johnnyabc]

If he refuses to give you back your money and does not give you the machine you can file a police report. You can file a report in your local police department and more important call his local police department and alert them to the situation. You can also file online complaints with the links below. Good Luck brother

Links to where you can file online complaints

The FBI
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm

The Internet Crime Complaint Center
http://www.ic3.gov/

US Postal Inspector
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/

National Association of Attorneys General
http://www.naag.org/issues/20010724-cc_list_bg.php

The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaint Form

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

All State Police Departments
http://www.usacops.com/

[dattia]

That could work. $258 is a lot of money!

[Tulsa]

The problem with trying to use the authorities is the money was freely sent and it's only revmondo's word the guy didn't send the item. They aren't going to get involved in this and simply tell him to seek his money in civil court.

[jwegger]

On the couple of occasions that I have not received the items I won on ebay and paid with either a money order of check, I have had very good luck reporting the seller though the postal inspector. They send them a nice letter that accuses them of mail fraud and gives them 30 days to respond. In the 3 cases that I went this way I had the money back from the seller in less than 2 weeks.

[azlew]

If he refuses to give you back your money and does not give you the machine you can file a police report. You can file a report in your local police department and more important call his local police department and alert them to the situation. You can also file online complaints with the links below. Good Luck brother

Links to where you can file online complaints

The FBI
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm

The Internet Crime Complaint Center
http://www.ic3.gov/

US Postal Inspector
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/

National Association of Attorneys General
http://www.naag.org/issues/20010724-cc_list_bg.php

The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaint Form

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

All State Police Departments
http://www.usacops.com/

Thanks for posting these.

I never ever pay for anything on Ebay unless it is PayPal using my credit card. Then if I have any problems I immediately go to my credit card company and file the complaint direct with them. They then contact PayPal and PayPal then contacts me. I don't bother with PayPal's time structure as I have learned my credit card company runs the show over PayPal if (and I always do) I use my credit card thru PayPal. Yeah forget Ebay as they have no protection now for buyers.

[luckydog]

this is the seller on Ebay that I had a problem with, over 3 1/2 months to deliver a new train I won,

they have loads of bad feedback for holding money for months on new items.

so, he just started a new account!


May 16, 2007

Victims of Ebay seller "Allabouttoytrains"

RE: Allabouttoytrains = train-collections "New Name - Same Game"

Dear "Allabouttoytrains" buyers:

On March 26, 2007 it appears that "allabout" or his daughter (Dina)
opened an Ebay account named dina1980. On April 25, 2007 ( 30 days
later) the name of the account was changed to "train-collections".

In the last month or so, Allabouttoytrains seems to be systematically
moving his items over to the new listing. As of today, there are only
two items left under "Allabouttoytrains", but you can get all your
items
from "train-collections". Note that the web pages look the same and
most importantly the toll free phone number is still IDENTICAL.

All you loving mothers should be advised that you have only about 200
days to start goofing up Christmas for your kids and yourself - so get
your bids in early to "train-collections" for another round of panic,
melt-down, and heartbreak at Christmas!

[compirate]

I believe the restaurant show is in town then. Is that what you will be there for?

Yup.....

[revmondo]

UPDATE: You know, before I became a member of Pachitalk I used to think the world was a pretty bad place. Seriously, I just had a low opinion of the human race in general. Then I came here. After having been able to spend time with ya'll (yes, I am from Texas) my opinion has changed. Drastically. I dont think I have EVER met so many fine individuals in one place. I mean it. I dont think I have come across one bad apple in the bunch. From Tulsa's efforts to make this a place where everyone is a part of it, to Sir Arby's constant generousity, to the EXTRA SPECIAL EFFORTS of good folks like Youngjedi.
The issue with my bad ebay transaction hasnt been resolved yet, and this writing may be premature, but even if it goes south the fact that until a few months ago Youngjedi and I have never even met didnt stop him from offering his help without hesitation nor reservation. The ebay seller is now stating the problem all along has been that he cant figure out how to ship the machine and cant find a box (ect.), so Youngjedi is taking a pachislo box to him, and is even willing to pick up my machine and ship it to me for the seller, just to make sure it actually gets here. If this truly was the issue then it will be resolved. Regardless of the outcome I am honored, sir, to call you friend.

[compirate]

Some of the best people on this board!

If I'd been going to Texas after Chicago, it would have been hand delivered!