evil bay feedback....

[mikester]

So, I recently won an auction for an older RC airplane engine.

Here is the text description of the engine:

This auction is for an OS FS-61 Four Stroke Engine. There are 2 problems with this engine – first it is missing the exhaust/muffler pipe, second the needle valve is broken off. I am including an old locked up OS Max carb(shown in last photo) that has a good needle valve assembly on it, you may be able to modify it to work with this engine, but I cannot make any promises about that. Engine has not been tested - I do not have the fuel or equipment to do that. In my opinion from examining the engine it looks reasonably clean & I do not think it has actually seen any flight time, but since I did not buy this motor new myself, I cannot promise that. The mounting holes do show marks - as when I got this motor it was mounted to the mount shown in the last pic. Shaft does turn, but it’s a bit stiff, so may need some lubrication.. Engine comes in the original box with paperwork & tools. The box is heavily worn. Also comes with an OS 905 engine mount & an APC 10-7 C-2 Prop - Prop opening may have to be drilled a little larger to fit the prop shaft. Be sure to see my other auctions for more hobby items & vintage toys!!

You can see it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220029055902&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=012

Now, the engine CLEARLY has crash damage as the pushrod covers are damaged as is the intake manifold. This is probably why the needle valve is also broken. Also, in the ad he states it was hard to turn over. Well truth be told I doubt he could turn it over at all it was so frozen up.

Still, I want the engine - I've received it of course, disassembled it and assessed it's replacement parts needs. It needs a new con rod, bearings and needlvalve assembly at the least. In addition if I can't straighten them it needs new pushrods and covers and if I Can find one it needs a new intake manifold.

I believe that the engine was not what I expected at all but I do intend to keep it.

My question is; is it appropriate for me to leave feedback that is less than 100%? The selled was prompt in communication and shipping but the engine simply was not at all what I expected and requires extensive repair to bring back to running condition.

Thanks!

[techweenie]

What has the seller offered to compensate you for the inadequate decription? Your feedback is the leverage you hold over him.

You can tell him that you will leave negative or neutral feedback depending on how well he performs.

Once you've left feedback, you don't have any more leverage.

[JeremyD]

What techweenie said.

[JeremyD]

Part of the auction states :

Refunds:

I do my best to show clear quality photos and accurately describe all items, but nobody is perfect, sometimes I may miss something, I assure you it is not intentional. I stand behind everything I sell to be as described & as shown in the photos - if you are not happy with your purchase just send me an e-mail and explain the problem, I will always work with my customers to resolve any issues.

[notfarnow]

yep, use the threat of feedback to get resolution.

I'm having ebay issues as well... $200 auction and "0 transaction" high bidder is turning out to be a flake. Shoulda cancelled his bids.

[techweenie]

I'll say again: I've had 300+ transactions on eBay and maybe 75 on Pelican. I've had 4X the problems with Pelican sellers than eBay.

The feedback mechanism can be abused, but is good leverage if your seller cares about his rating. I've only had to threaten a negative feedback once on eBay.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by techweenie
I'll say again: I've had 300+ transactions on eBay and maybe 75 on Pelican. I've had 4X the problems with Pelican sellers than eBay.

The feedback mechanism can be abused, but is good leverage if your seller cares about his rating. I've only had to threaten a negative feedback once on eBay.

True. This is only my 2nd bad transaction (of roughly 100) on ebay. Of my ~20 pelican transactions, I've had 2 people not pay me and cut off contact.

Having said that, I still prefer buying/selling on forums like this over ebay.

[89911]

I use to be so careful about dishing out feedback. Many times I would not give any when perhaps negative was due, all to preserve my perfect rating. Flash forward to when I encountered a buyer who not only failed to pay, but left me negative feedback on top of it in an attempt for me to remove my non paying bid that I filed on him. The system in flawed if you think someone with 100% feedback is better then someone with slightly less. I now give it out as I see it and don't care what comes back. It is the way it should be.

[mikester]

Yeah, I'm not sure there is anything he could do - having posted the comments here I reevaluated the photos and you can clearly see that pushrods are damaged and you can even kind of see that the intake manifold is damaged.

Now this doesn't change the fact that the engine was pretty well frozen when I got it but that was an easy fix however. I stuck it in the oven for 20 minutes at 200 degrees and while this got me some very strange looks from my wife when she asked me what I was baking and I replied "engine" it still worked. After that ALMOST everything came apart without incident.

So, I think I'll leve positive feedback because he was very prompt and had it to me within the week of purchase and while it's slightly less than I expected I still got a deal on an engine. It will cost me a new con rod but I expected to spend at least $15 on new bearings. Another $20 on the con rod really isn't that much less than I bargained for. It's still an engine for much less than I would have paid for new.

All good comments though - thanks for the help as usual.

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by 89911
I use to be so careful about dishing out feedback. Many times I would not give any when perhaps negative was due, all to preserve my perfect rating. Flash forward to when I encountered a buyer who not only failed to pay, but left me negative feedback on top of it in an attempt for me to remove my non paying bid that I filed on him. The system in flawed if you think someone with 100% feedback is better then someone with slightly less. I now give it out as I see it and don't care what comes back. It is the way it should be.

If you are going to leave negative feedback on someone you think is going to match whatever feedback you leave - wait till the last possible moment to leave feedback on the auction. He can't bite you back.

[theFONZ]

I should have a lot more positives but I will not leave feedback as a buyer until the seller leaves his. As soon as I pay the seller should leave me a positive. Instead they wait so if the product is crap they can hold a negative rating over my head. I wish Ebay would make a rule the seller has to leave feedback first.

[Dave L]

I think feedback should be hidden from the buyer and seller untill both have given thier feedback.

[Schrup]

Whenever I leave feedback, I try to state what the item was & a remark about the shipping & communication. It is very helpful when I'm researching a vendors feedback if this info is present, to help determine the price I want to pay or if I even want to give them my business.

I've always left positive feedback, even when I was less than pleased. I will jab them in the remarks section such as; Item as described, sans cigarette stench, or Mint?. Enough to warn potential future buyers without the risk of retaliation.

There's a wealth of info in the remarks section on vendors if you do the research. A vendor can have 100% positive, but if you read the comments, you'll get an idea if people were really satisfied.

[89911]

Here is follow up to a similar question about eBay I posted a few months ago:

I have to leave negative feedback for eBay. Suggestions needed to make a good one.

You can check the feedback of the buyer and mine to see how it ended.

[notfarnow]

The ebay flake I'm dealing with right is in France, I think I've found him. A google search on his ebay ID comes up with only one match, same ID on a french "singles" site, with teh same town as listed on his ebay info.

I think I'm going to login and play with him for a while. Maybe setup a date or something... waste his time and energy and see how he likes it.