The lesson I learned!

baiyishang · Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:21 PM

I would like to share a lesson I learned by buying something direct from a seller without going through the transaction in eBay.

A week ago, I saw a nice Balenciaga ice blue bag listed on eBay. In seller's orginal list, seller has clearly indicated that the Balenciaga bag is in excellent condition with no wear, tear. Since the seller doesn't have lots of feedback (only 3, all from seller, not buyer). I communicated with the seller via email, and had received some more pictures from the seller. Everything looks good, so I asked the Seller if she would have a BIN price. Since she is a new seller, so she told me she couldn't add BIN, but willing to sell it to me at the price I am willing to pay, and she would send me an invoice from paypal directly. I hesitated a little bit, but since she kept telling me she is not a scammer, and she is a trusted person, and also worked with me on the price, I believed her.

Anyway, I paid through paypal, and she sent out with FedExpress with tracking number, I got the bag in 2 days. When I opened the box, the bag looks ok outside, but no mirror with one broken tassel which I can accept. When I looked inside, I was horrified that there is a big huge tearing hole inside black linen which is kind of unfixable unless I changed the linen. I exam more on the bag, and suddenly realize the bag she sent me is not the bag on the pictures. Although the bag is authentic with the correct color, but the rivet on the picture has a notch on either side, the rivet for the bag I received is a simple circle, without a notch!

I immediately filed a dispute on paypal, but the seller said I did not request additional pictures of the interior of the bag, and will not issue a refund. I escalate my claim, but was closed and denied by paypal because they said my paypal transaction didn’t link to eBay transaction, so the dispute claim only applies to the shipment of goods, not to disputes about the attributes or quality of the goods received. They will only investigate if there was indeed an ebay bidding transaction.

Although I also filed a dispute to my credit card, but I don’t really put much hope on getting my money back. I just want to share my experience, and warn everyone if you are going to purchase anything directly from a seller not going through eBay, be very careful! For me, not only paypal won’t take this claim, nor can I leave any negative feedback to that seller b/c the transaction wasn’t going through from ebay! I learned my lesson, and I hope everyone here won’t run into this situation.

Oh Donna! · Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:42 PM

I am so sorry you had to go thru that, I bet you do get it resolved thru your CC company though. I said this is an earlier post, there are sooo many sellers who accept offers made by PFers and then they end the auction to take care of it off eBay. The only reasoning I see for that is to avoid final value fees. While I'm sure most end up happy for both parties, I would never end and auction to sell off ebay because I am no longer protected by ebay and my PayPal protection is almost nothing because of it also. All to save $40 or so bucks. To me its just not worth it. I would rather pay ebay their fvf and be protected. If a potential buyer makes me an offer I change the price to a BIN (if there are no bidders) and if there are bidders that person will bid until the price is what we agreed upon. I wont do transactions off ebay.

Good Luck to you!

lmpsola · Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:46 PM

Oh I am so sorry that happened to you! I really hope you get your money back.

I Love RICE · Dec 23rd, 2006, 11:30 PM

Thanks for sharing this!

lucywife · Dec 24th, 2006, 03:53 AM

Well, I said that already, but I repeat again. NEVER EVER BUY OUTSIDE eBay. Don't trust sellers who offers you to buy that way. Honest sellers wouldn't offer those tricks if they have nothing to hide, clear and simple.

chloehandbags · Dec 24th, 2006, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baiyishang

I hesitated a little bit, but since she kept telling me she is not a scammer, and she is a trusted person, and also worked with me on the price, I believed her.

Sorry this happened to you.

The more someone is willing to lower the price (below a reasonable level), the more I think they may be a scammer and/or the item may not be all it seems.

If I wouldn't give my belongings away for next to nothing, why would they?

merrydish · Dec 24th, 2006, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucywife

Well, I said that already, but I repeat again. NEVER EVER BUY OUTSIDE eBay. Don't trust sellers who offers you to buy that way. Honest sellers wouldn't offer those tricks if they have nothing to hide, clear and simple.

I totally agree! Don't get sucked into some story and later find out you have been scammed.

On the brighter side...you were smart to pay by credit card. A few times I've been sent items that were "not as described", really smelly, stained, counterfeit, etc., and have told the seller and my credit card compay that I would return the items and wanted a refund. Even when I had a seller give me a hard time at one point, I just let my cc company handle the matter and
always got my refund. Be sure to take photos, print out the photos the seller emailed you and, if you return the item, be sure you have a tracking number and a signature requirement so the seller can't claim she never received it. Yep, it's a hassle but I'm sure your cc card company will remove the charge.

eping · Dec 24th, 2006, 02:01 PM

sorry to hear this baiyishang... a dispute w/ your CC would most likely go through... GOOD LUCK

siworae · Dec 24th, 2006, 02:54 PM

i am sorry this happened to you! i hope your cc company will allow the chargeback so you can get your money back.

Christiflora · Dec 24th, 2006, 03:15 PM

Yes, I agree that reversing charge is hopeful. Good luck to you.

I am suggesting an alternative for the case of sellers not being able to add a BIN. The selle can end the current listing, and recreate a new listing with the same description but no thrills (only the no-fee photo). The extra cost is only a few dollars, and definitely worth it.

charleston-mom · Dec 25th, 2006, 12:14 PM

I agree - be very, very careful. I do have one seller that I've been buying from for many years- that sometimes I will e-mail her to see if she can get a specific bag for me and sometimes it takes months (she has a consignment store) and she will e-mail me and we handle it outside of E-bay, but I've purchased at least six bags from her and have come to know her pretty well. Other than that, I never ever ever purchase outside of E-bay, no matter how good the deal is.

misspiggy · Dec 25th, 2006, 04:13 PM

Wow so sorry this happened to you, I guess now you'll have to change the lining?? Hope it hasn't soured you to the bag itself...

ishopndrop · Dec 30th, 2006, 01:41 PM

We all make mistakes..(Fool me once shame on you ...Fool me twice shame on me)..I hope you can get a chargeback with your CC..You won't know unless you ask

ssm · Dec 30th, 2006, 04:15 PM

So sorry to hear that!!

baiyishang · Dec 30th, 2006, 04:35 PM

Thanks everyone for your warm support. I learned my lesson, just don't want to spend the time to deal with this seller anymore. I am just going to take a lose and move on with it. There are still lots of honest and good sellers on eBay.

Good luck to everyone, and happy new year!

Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:21 PM	#1
baiyishang Member Location: Chicago, IL	The lesson I learned! I would like to share a lesson I learned by buying something direct from a seller without going through the transaction in eBay. A week ago, I saw a nice Balenciaga ice blue bag listed on eBay. In seller's orginal list, seller has clearly indicated that the Balenciaga bag is in excellent condition with no wear, tear. Since the seller doesn't have lots of feedback (only 3, all from seller, not buyer). I communicated with the seller via email, and had received some more pictures from the seller. Everything looks good, so I asked the Seller if she would have a BIN price. Since she is a new seller, so she told me she couldn't add BIN, but willing to sell it to me at the price I am willing to pay, and she would send me an invoice from paypal directly. I hesitated a little bit, but since she kept telling me she is not a scammer, and she is a trusted person, and also worked with me on the price, I believed her. Anyway, I paid through paypal, and she sent out with FedExpress with tracking number, I got the bag in 2 days. When I opened the box, the bag looks ok outside, but no mirror with one broken tassel which I can accept. When I looked inside, I was horrified that there is a big huge tearing hole inside black linen which is kind of unfixable unless I changed the linen. I exam more on the bag, and suddenly realize the bag she sent me is not the bag on the pictures. Although the bag is authentic with the correct color, but the rivet on the picture has a notch on either side, the rivet for the bag I received is a simple circle, without a notch! I immediately filed a dispute on paypal, but the seller said I did not request additional pictures of the interior of the bag, and will not issue a refund. I escalate my claim, but was closed and denied by paypal because they said my paypal transaction didn’t link to eBay transaction, so the dispute claim only applies to the shipment of goods, not to disputes about the attributes or quality of the goods received. They will only investigate if there was indeed an ebay bidding transaction. Although I also filed a dispute to my credit card, but I don’t really put much hope on getting my money back. I just want to share my experience, and warn everyone if you are going to purchase anything directly from a seller not going through eBay, be very careful! For me, not only paypal won’t take this claim, nor can I leave any negative feedback to that seller b/c the transaction wasn’t going through from ebay! I learned my lesson, and I hope everyone here won’t run into this situation.

Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:42 PM	#2
Oh Donna! Member Location: Soon the UK!	Re: The lesson I learned! I am so sorry you had to go thru that, I bet you do get it resolved thru your CC company though. I said this is an earlier post, there are sooo many sellers who accept offers made by PFers and then they end the auction to take care of it off eBay. The only reasoning I see for that is to avoid final value fees. While I'm sure most end up happy for both parties, I would never end and auction to sell off ebay because I am no longer protected by ebay and my PayPal protection is almost nothing because of it also. All to save $40 or so bucks. To me its just not worth it. I would rather pay ebay their fvf and be protected. If a potential buyer makes me an offer I change the price to a BIN (if there are no bidders) and if there are bidders that person will bid until the price is what we agreed upon. I wont do transactions off ebay. Good Luck to you!

Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:46 PM	#3
lmpsola Sofa King Banned Location: Los Angeles	Re: The lesson I learned! Oh I am so sorry that happened to you! I really hope you get your money back.

Dec 23rd, 2006, 11:30 PM	#4
I Love RICE Member Location: Great Lakes, USA	Re: The lesson I learned! Thanks for sharing this!

Dec 24th, 2006, 03:53 AM	#5
lucywife Member Location: in transit	Re: The lesson I learned! Well, I said that already, but I repeat again. NEVER EVER BUY OUTSIDE eBay. Don't trust sellers who offers you to buy that way. Honest sellers wouldn't offer those tricks if they have nothing to hide, clear and simple.

Dec 24th, 2006, 02:01 PM	#8
eping i <3 twn	Re: The lesson I learned! sorry to hear this baiyishang... a dispute w/ your CC would most likely go through... GOOD LUCK

Dec 24th, 2006, 02:54 PM	#9
siworae I ♥ Hyun Bin Location: 612/952	Re: The lesson I learned! i am sorry this happened to you! i hope your cc company will allow the chargeback so you can get your money back. __________________ My Collection 성시경: 6집 여기 내 맘 속에/ Sung Si Kyung Vol. 6 *"안녕 나의 사랑..."*

Dec 24th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#10
Christiflora Member	Re: The lesson I learned! Yes, I agree that reversing charge is hopeful. Good luck to you. I am suggesting an alternative for the case of sellers not being able to add a BIN. The selle can end the current listing, and recreate a new listing with the same description but no thrills (only the no-fee photo). The extra cost is only a few dollars, and definitely worth it.

Dec 25th, 2006, 12:14 PM	#11
charleston-mom Member	Re: The lesson I learned! I agree - be very, very careful. I do have one seller that I've been buying from for many years- that sometimes I will e-mail her to see if she can get a specific bag for me and sometimes it takes months (she has a consignment store) and she will e-mail me and we handle it outside of E-bay, but I've purchased at least six bags from her and have come to know her pretty well. Other than that, I never ever ever purchase outside of E-bay, no matter how good the deal is. __________________ Oh to be able to smell lilacs again!

Dec 25th, 2006, 04:13 PM	#12
misspiggy Member	Re: The lesson I learned! Wow so sorry this happened to you, I guess now you'll have to change the lining?? Hope it hasn't soured you to the bag itself...

Dec 30th, 2006, 01:41 PM	#13
ishopndrop GIVE ME BAAAGGGSSS!! Location: RIO GRANDE VALLEY	Re: The lesson I learned! We all make mistakes..(Fool me once shame on you ...Fool me twice shame on me)..I hope you can get a chargeback with your CC..You won't know unless you ask

Dec 30th, 2006, 04:15 PM	#14
ssm Member	Re: The lesson I learned! So sorry to hear that!!

Dec 30th, 2006, 04:35 PM	#15
baiyishang Member Location: Chicago, IL	Re: The lesson I learned! Thanks everyone for your warm support. I learned my lesson, just don't want to spend the time to deal with this seller anymore. I am just going to take a lose and move on with it. There are still lots of honest and good sellers on eBay. Good luck to everyone, and happy new year!