What if you win an eBay item that's too good to be true?

[Rick Lee]

He was the buyer for his two feedback ratings and that was in 2006. Not everyone is a wheeler and dealer or maybe he uses multiple accounts. I don't sell on eBay anymore because of the stupid fees. But I buy there all the time. My feedback rating is 307, 100%, so I don't really care about getting more. The last time I got this great a deal was for my Ruf spoiler control module for (IIRC) $150 and sold my stock one for $175.

[on2wheels52]

"Wolfgang Special EXP"

So the quilted maple top?
Blue Book's for $475/90% excellent. That's music store retail pricing.
You offered more than I would even with free shipping (but I have enough guitars already).
Jim

[Rick Lee]

Sorry, that ain't real world pricing. Watch the eBay completed listings (before my purchase brought the average down).

[intakexhaust]

Don't sweat the first time sellers. I purchased a brand new custom built (with skid plate aluminum) Tommy Lift gate for my 12' box truck - won the auction with no reserve for $10! Thats ten dollars... laugh. Found an independent shipper for $185. The first time seller was all legite. I found out later he was an ambulance conversion company. I felt guilty so I also sent him an antique tin friction ambulance toy.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

(but I have enough guitars already).

Either your wife wrote this post or you forgot the green

[billh1963]

Originally Posted by baz

everyone has different strategies when selling on ebay.

When i sell....

......i enter a starting bid at the price i want. If someone bids - i get what i want. If a bidding war ensues - i get more. if no one bids - i re-list.

+1

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

Either your wife wrote this post or you forgot the green

I said guitars, not guns
Jim

[ramonesfreak]

dont fret! haha

it could just be that the guy has never shipped a guitar and is suddenly over his head in getting materials and everything if he intends to do it right

i shipped a guitar last week and it took me all morning to source a decent guitar box, go to staples for peanuts etc...ended up costing me $50 in materials alone.....it was a fragile old hollowbody Hofner that I wanted to make sure was very very safe so i did it right but it was a pain in my a*s and took me half the day to do

[Jim Richards]

Well RL, how did this turn out?

[Rick Lee]

Guitar has not showed up and seller hasn't replied to the two requests I sent for a tracking number, one to his person email, one through eBay. I'm not feeling good about this.

[Jim Richards]

Argh. Hopefully, it'll work out, RL.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Guitar has not showed up and seller hasn't replied to the two requests I sent for a tracking number, one to his person email, one through eBay. I'm not feeling good about this.

You should be able to get his phone number and address from eBay. Give him a call & Google him also. Maybe even find a Pelicanite who lives nearby stop by & pick it up for you?

[Embraer]

Rick, what's his user ID on ebay?

[azasadny]

I've gotten many "too good to be true" deals on Ebay and I've been very very happy with every one. Usually it was due to poor pics and/or poor description of the item and I was at the right place at the right time. Bought a Slingerland and Roland drumkit and my Porsche 911 this way!

[Rick Lee]

Well, still no guitar. Seller said he was shipping on Sat., 03/03. I've emailed twice asking for a tracking #. After a few days he replied that he'd get it to me. That was 03/10. No answer to my latest email asking for a tracking #. How long do I wait before opening up a dispute with eBay and PayPal?

[ossiblue]

IIRC, you have 30 days after a sale to file a complaint. It's been about two weeks, correct?. Probably a little early for eBay/Paypal to do anything but certainly keep track of all your attempts for shipping information, his failure to respond in a timely manner, his changing of when he will ship, etc. Hopefully, you backed your Paypal payment with a credit card. If so, should the guy not send the guitar and eBay/Paypal flake off as they try to do, you can challenge the sale through the credit card carrier and get a charge back--something Paypal hates! As you've probably read on these forums, eBay/Paypal often drop out if the seller can "prove" he sent the item--even if it's a fake tracking # or an empty box.

[sammyg2]

Always always always pay with a credit card on evil-bay purchases.
Always! Even though paypal, use a credit card.

That way if anything goes wrong, no matter what, you can get your money back. Even if the guitar is not delivered. Even if it is delivered but stolen. Even if UPS breaks it.

[Dublinoh]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Always always always pay with a credit card on evil-bay purchases.
Always! Even though paypal, use a credit card.

That way if anything goes wrong, no matter what, you can get your money back. Even if the guitar is not delivered. Even if it is delivered but stolen. Even if UPS breaks it.

Good advice.....PayPal is not much help. eBay is your best bet, file with them, they will help. Was eBay buyer protection mentioned in the auction? If so you will be okay.

[davidbir]

Also communicate with the seller through ebay-not through regular email channels-that way ebay has a record of all correspondence.
I had a guy screw me over a guitar on ebay-who is this seller?

[Rick Lee]

Seller's username is nightfalldarkens and there was eBay Buyer Protection on this one. I'm not worried, just irritated.