Hello, wiser heads.
I'm sorry this is long.
I just won a bid on eBay for what appears to be a designer item, my first ever, if it is real and in good condition.
After winning, I sent the seller the following message through eBay:
"Dear [seller ID],
Hello! I'm thrilled to have won my first [designer] piece ever, but may I please ask a favor? It is really more due to my own inexperience with designer items than anything else. I see that you have great feedback and I shouldn't be concerned, but I have literally never set foot in a [designer] boutique before and am not sure of myself, so I asked a [designer] authenticator for a 2nd opinion. Her reply was, "no red flags but need bigger close ups of the [designer] heatstamps(interior and exterior corner) and date code." Would you be willing to email me a couple of photos of these things? I would really appreciate it and know I would value this lucky win that much more with a more experienced 2nd opinion. I believe the turnaround time on responses from authenticators in the forum I consulted is about a day or two. Your good photos of the item in the eBay listing were a big part of what made me want to bid in the first place. This [item] has such a striking color combination! Thanks from a [designer] newbie,
-[my eBay ID]
Although I was hoping for the additional photos, I was also willing to accept a polite response from the seller refusing them, say, because it was not the seller's policy, or something like that. I understand that taking additional photos also takes more of the seller's time and effort, and that a winning bid on eBay obligates me to pay for my purchase in a timely manner.
The only response I received was an eBay invoice for the item, that included the following text below:
"WINNING BIDDER MUST PAY WITHIN 2 DAYS AFTER AUCTION ENDS OTHERWISE ITEM WILL BE RE LISTED AND BUYER WIL GET A NEGATIVE STRIKE AGAINTS THEM. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REVIEW ALL DETAILS BEFORE BIDDING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS $40.00 WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION."
Unfortunately, I've already paid for the item. It makes me uncomfortable to make sellers wait for payment, and I thought a requirement to pay within 2 days was reasonable. But since then, I've learned that eBay bidders have up to *4* days to pay for items, and the tone of the note on the invoice really worries me.
It's a nagging worry, and I went ahead and paid anyway...I'm now very afraid of how the rest of this first-time designer auction transaction will go. Will I receive the item? Will it be real or fake? If it arrives, what condition will it be in? Will it look like the photos on eBay?
If I receive the item, I'm going to take my own photos of heat stamps, date code, etc. and submit them to the appropriate forum here. I may also become a CarolDiva customer for the first time, especially if it turns out I need an authentication letter for a claim.
I think the only thing I can do now is
1. Wait for the item to arrive.
2a. If it doesn't arrive, open a case on eBay if possible.
2b. If it arrives and is obviously not as described in a way I can detect (e.g., damaged, smelling bad, bad construction/obviously fake), work through eBay to return for refund, opening a case if necessary.
2c. If it arrives and looks in reasonable condition, take photos and submit them for authentication.
2c1. If authentic & in good condition, be happy and relieved. Leave good feedback for seller. Stop worrying.
2c3. If fake, obtain authentication letter and open case on eBay.
Is this a good summary of my options? What do you think?
I'm sorry this is long.
I just won a bid on eBay for what appears to be a designer item, my first ever, if it is real and in good condition.
After winning, I sent the seller the following message through eBay:
"Dear [seller ID],
Hello! I'm thrilled to have won my first [designer] piece ever, but may I please ask a favor? It is really more due to my own inexperience with designer items than anything else. I see that you have great feedback and I shouldn't be concerned, but I have literally never set foot in a [designer] boutique before and am not sure of myself, so I asked a [designer] authenticator for a 2nd opinion. Her reply was, "no red flags but need bigger close ups of the [designer] heatstamps(interior and exterior corner) and date code." Would you be willing to email me a couple of photos of these things? I would really appreciate it and know I would value this lucky win that much more with a more experienced 2nd opinion. I believe the turnaround time on responses from authenticators in the forum I consulted is about a day or two. Your good photos of the item in the eBay listing were a big part of what made me want to bid in the first place. This [item] has such a striking color combination! Thanks from a [designer] newbie,
-[my eBay ID]
Although I was hoping for the additional photos, I was also willing to accept a polite response from the seller refusing them, say, because it was not the seller's policy, or something like that. I understand that taking additional photos also takes more of the seller's time and effort, and that a winning bid on eBay obligates me to pay for my purchase in a timely manner.
The only response I received was an eBay invoice for the item, that included the following text below:
"WINNING BIDDER MUST PAY WITHIN 2 DAYS AFTER AUCTION ENDS OTHERWISE ITEM WILL BE RE LISTED AND BUYER WIL GET A NEGATIVE STRIKE AGAINTS THEM. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REVIEW ALL DETAILS BEFORE BIDDING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS $40.00 WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION."
Unfortunately, I've already paid for the item. It makes me uncomfortable to make sellers wait for payment, and I thought a requirement to pay within 2 days was reasonable. But since then, I've learned that eBay bidders have up to *4* days to pay for items, and the tone of the note on the invoice really worries me.
It's a nagging worry, and I went ahead and paid anyway...I'm now very afraid of how the rest of this first-time designer auction transaction will go. Will I receive the item? Will it be real or fake? If it arrives, what condition will it be in? Will it look like the photos on eBay?
If I receive the item, I'm going to take my own photos of heat stamps, date code, etc. and submit them to the appropriate forum here. I may also become a CarolDiva customer for the first time, especially if it turns out I need an authentication letter for a claim.
I think the only thing I can do now is
1. Wait for the item to arrive.
2a. If it doesn't arrive, open a case on eBay if possible.
2b. If it arrives and is obviously not as described in a way I can detect (e.g., damaged, smelling bad, bad construction/obviously fake), work through eBay to return for refund, opening a case if necessary.
2c. If it arrives and looks in reasonable condition, take photos and submit them for authentication.
2c1. If authentic & in good condition, be happy and relieved. Leave good feedback for seller. Stop worrying.
2c3. If fake, obtain authentication letter and open case on eBay.
Is this a good summary of my options? What do you think?