Ebay etiquette

[Blueingreen]

Yeah. What's adding to my suspicion is that she is claiming this was explained on ebay but I can see no sign of that on the listing.

[Bidley]

When I buy an item on eBay, I only contact the seller if there's a problem. You'll be fine if you just pay up as you should, eBay and Paypal cover you well.

[ICBM]

I wouldn't pay for it. Report her email and the listing to Ebay, pointing out that the listing said three days for delivery, and leave negative feedback. Or if you want more hassle, just pay, wait the minimum period (two weeks I think), then make a chargeback for non-delivery, and leave negative feedback. It's not acceptable to sell something and then just fail to deliver it when you said you would because you didn't bother to arrange things correctly.

Play hardball. Ebay has too many people who think they can make up the rules to suit themselves and mess about their buyers (or sellers).

[Blueingreen]

I've had a chat with Ebay. They were a little vague but at least everything is a matter of record now and they seem to think I'm in a strong position if she were to raise a case against me. The suggested i contact her and ask for the transaction to be cancelled. It's a bit of a shame as I'd be happy to go through with it on her return if everything went smoothly, but I'm just a bit suspicious now.

[Blueingreen]

Yes ICBM. I think this is where the feedback system breaks down. The fear is negative feedback will lead to tit-for-tat undeserved negative feedback that either sticks or is a time-eating pain to get rescinded. I've been guiity myself of not leaving feedback when negative feedback was probably deserved.

[stickyfiddle]

Yes ICBM. I think this is where the feedback system breaks down. The fear is negative feedback will lead to tit-for-tat undeserved negative feedback that either sticks or is a time-eating pain to get rescinded. I've been guiity myself of not leaving feedback when negative feedback was probably deserved.

Sellers can't leave negative fb so you'll be fine. Listing stuff on ebay then going on holiday for 3 weeks is very odd behaviour.

[Gagaryn]

The situation here is far from clear. You say the bid was on a whim anyway so you won't be heartbroken if you don't get the amp, but also that it would be a shame if the transaction was cancelled as you's be happy to go through with it on her return if everything went smoothly.

Granted she has been daft timing the auction to end when she is on holiday, but might it not be the case that if you had paid immediately, she would have posted it before she left and you would have had it now?

[ICBM]

Not if she's claiming it was mentioned in the listing that she would be away (even if it actually wasn't).

Basically I would never send money for anything once you get into a potential dispute situation. Too much possible hassle and things that can end up causing a lot of trouble to get your money back. Non-delivery is only the easiest to deal with... what happens if the seller takes offence, so decides to pack the item badly - or just can't be bothered to do a good job now - and it gets damaged? You've then got the hassle of returning it, making a claim and all that sort of thing.

If it feels bad, walk away. The worst that can happen is that you get a non-paying bidder strike, and it takes three of those (I think - I could be wrong) to have any impact on your future bidding. The seller can't leave negative feedback for the buyer now so you're safe from that even if you leave a negative. Ebay is a buyer's world now - which is why I don't sell there any more - but you should use that knowledge for your own protection.

[Blueingreen]

I see - I'm a far from regular Ebayer (probably about 15 transactions in as many years) and didn't know the rules had changed.

[Blueingreen]

The situation here is far from clear. You say the bid was on a whim anyway so you won't be heartbroken if you don't get the amp, but also that it would be a shame if the transaction was cancelled as you's be happy to go through with it on her return if everything went smoothly.

Granted she has been daft timing the auction to end when she is on holiday, but might it not be the case that if you had paid immediately, she would have posted it before she left and you would have had it now?

You're missing the context. I said if she was looking to renege on the deal (because she didn't like the price) I'd be happy to walk away because it was an impulse bid. OTOH I'm not unhappy with my purchase or bothered about the wait if she's just been a bit scatty with her arrangements. There's no contradiction.

I've always made contact with sellers before paying. It's never caused in problems in the past. In this case I'm glad I did because I'd have had weeks of no amp arriving and wondering what the hell was going on.