eBay

Back in prehistoric times, bosses worried that workers were using the office Internet connection to look at pornography. After that it was Amazon.com. Now it's eBay and the other auction sites.

eBay The eBay Empire • eBay • PayPal • Bill Me later • StubHub --- News • eBay Buys Bill Me Later • eBay: Where Recalled Items Live Forever • eBay Ignores Scam Victim • Class Action Against eBay • Sunday Times Reports Widespread Shill Bidding on eBay • Boston Man Charged with Hacking eBay • Consumers Question eBay's Security • Recalled Products Routinely Listed on eBay • eBay Faces Shilling Suit --- More eBay Complaints • Merchandise Not Received • Misrepresentation • eBay Motors • Shilling • Miscellaneous Complaints • Sellers Complaints • Defenders

Walk through any office around 8:30 a.m. and everyone's logged on and ready for another day. Only thing is, instead of reading the CEO's latest rantings, they're buying antique waffle irons on eBay and selling some left-over parts from that old Studebaker out in the back yard.

The whole thing works more or less on the honor system, which is pretty much how speed limits work. Our suspicion has been that if you held up a radar gun, you'd find a lot of people speeding -- and a lot of others (or maybe the same ones) not coming through with the merch.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints we've received:

K of East Rochester, NY September 25, 2009

Bid on Ebay Apple Ibook G4 Laptop and won the bid on 9/11/09 in the amount of 228.62 with shipping 13.95 and insurance 4.70 which I paid for with a Postal Money Order on 9/12/09 by sending it to her. Janice B. listed the item as mint condition and that it had Microsoft 2004 Student Edition Package. Received it on 9/21/09 and was shocked to find that she had thrown the laptop into a box with no padding or securing it in anyway to prevent damage. And upon receipt I found it to be filthy and to have no Microsoft software installed and no disks to install it.

The mint condition was less than described...deep scratches on the bottom, significant scratches on the top lid, the screen when turned on had damage....a two inch long and a half inch wide whitish area that had a half inch area coming off the longer area. Above the line, there are several round white areas on the screen. And along the left hand side there is a long thin white area to the screen. This defect is not on the outside of the screen but, behind the screen. Very noticeable when laptop is on and I wonder how it effects printing out pictures and documents etc. to which this laptop was purchased for (that particular use).

Emailed Janice B. and she stated that it was my problem that it had no Microsoft "You get what you get" and that the laptop had no scratches or damage to it. Notified the seller that I was not happy, she offered to take the laptop back and return only half of my money. I refused. She then offered to have me pay to ship the laptop back to her and she would inspect it and send me what she felt was adequate in a refund. I refused. I demanded a full refund and then I would send the laptop back to her and if this was not agreeable to her I suggested we meet halfway between New York and Virginia for her inspection or she could go home to Pa. and I would meet her. Instead of responding to any of these offers, she has avoided me.

So my economic damage is 247.27 plus the aggrevation of dealing with this issue. The laptop was purchased for business use and since it was not as listed on Ebay and of no use to me, I bid on another laptop and won the bid. So, it has cost me 192.01 plus 10.00 for shipping 5.00 for insurance for the second laptop which is exactly what the seller offered in her listing. I protected myself by explaining to the new seller my situation and she reassured me to my satisfaction.

edward of san Antonio, TX September 20, 2009

They continue billing my bank account for 19.99 every month for being a seller when I am not as seller. they are not allowing me to close my account and keep pushing off permission to close the account ever month. big time scammer. they wont return my money. keep running me in circles.

Mary of Killeen, TX September 17, 2009

I recently opened an eBay store, specialing in Designer Type Fragrance Oils. These are designer type fragrance oil, with no alcohol, used by thousands of consumer, who are allergic to alcohol used in traditional perfumes and colognes. There is case law as well as court decisions regarding the ability of perfume manufacturers to copywrite a fragrance or scent, and the types of disclaimers that are required to be utilized when selling designer impostor scents. Additionally, eBay has its own trademark violation policy. I recently received an email advising that my ebay account had been suspended because of trademark violation for wording in my ebay listing: Similar To: NAME OF THE Fragrance - (L)Type* - 1/3oz Body Oil, and the disclaimer: Similar To Type* oils are not the originals and have no connection to any perfume, or cologne manufacturer. Although I am not qualified to determine if in light of the disclaimers whether this is still a trademark violation, Ebays policy of suspending some accounts, while allowing other to continue to sell the exact same types of items, many with no disclaimers at all, is clearly unfair, and has the potential to result in a substancial financial loss for the accounts that are suspended, but with no consequences to the other sellers of the same types of items. I spoke to an ebay representative, who stated that the listings in question were trademark violation, but that if the other ebay stores or sellers were not reported to them, that it was none of their business. eBay rely solely on buyers and sellers reporting each other as their way of identifing these types of violations. The ebay policies in place are for the protection of all ebay sellers and buyers, so in that regard if a violation of eBay policies has been committed,should not all ebay sellers who list and sell the same items deamed to be in violation of trademark laws not be suspended also, and not a select few?

C of Lake City, FL September 11, 2009

Bought a "new" cell phone from them on eBay, didn't work, exchanged it for another "new" phone from them, phone #2 didn't work, exchanged it for phone #3, phone #3 didn't work, paid them MORE money for another type of cell phone, never sent. I use this phone as my "virtual office" phone--could not afford this type of situation as it resulted in lost sales. Went to AT&T and bought a new phone--works fine.

Two weeks later, received "new" "different" type of phone that was promised to me in two DAYS from DigiKarma4Less, AKA DigiKarma, AKA LX Industries, returned to sender and now am trying to get monies refunded. eBay not interested as they say too much time has gone by since original purchase, Paypal not interested as they say the second, different type of phone was paid for through them but not through eBay.

I am trying to get credited through my credit card company after sending my credit card company documentation of all phones returned and received by DigiKarma and their email stating they would refund me my money, but they haven't--they don't take care of their business! They don't answer their phone, they commonly did not return phone calls, were VERY complacent in trying to get my situation resolved. They should not be in business.

Robert of Ocala, FL September 4, 2009

I bought a truck on ebay from this business. They described the truck as in perfect mechanical condition. When I came to pick it up, the truck was not as described. In the first week I had to put over 6000 to fix major mechanical problems. They refused to pay for it. They offered to buy it back from me, but I had already paid the tax on this vehicle and they didn't want to pay for that difference.

Deb of Mc Leansville, NC August 21, 2009

Sold a bottle of cologne that I bought from Belk's Department store on ebay. Customer bought product. She then contacted me saying product was not as advertised and wanted full refund. She would not send the item back until I refunded the money. I would not refund unless item was returned. She has now left negative feedback which lowers my 100% rating. Ebay bases their fees on feedback scores. So now I don't have a 100% rating. Product was exactly as described bought from Belk's not as buyer described as being fake. Now I am stuck with less than 100% feedback for selling to a malicious buyer.

johnnie of clarksville, TN August 20, 2009

bought a boat out drive on ebay. paid with wire tranfer like requested. paid for shipping and insurance about 4 months ago. still no out drive was told it went to canada then shiped back to them. they said waitng shipping company to pick up to send. that was 3 weeks ago. still no drive

gerard of schererville, IN August 17, 2009

I purchased a item from a ebay merchant well im not the best at computers so I tried to pay them but I could not get in so I tried numerous times so finally the merchant told ebay that I was not paying so I received a strike so I got locked out from buying from ebay. I cot in contact with ebay and they gave me the run around. For one there is a log that was in their system but they did not agree when I told them. Second I did do what they wanted me to do but I am still locked out and after all they want the same information they wanted before and I just had enough and would not comply since it seemed to go on deaf ears and it was and still got a run around.

Pat of Ft Pierce, FL August 16, 2009

I sold an ornament to a buyer on ebay that was in pristine condition. He asked for a refund, said it smelled of smoke. I told him fine. Send back the ornament & I'll refund your bid. That wasn't good enough. Buyer wanted me to reimburse him the postage for sending the ornament to him AND for the return postage too, even tho the auction stated shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. I refused.

The very same day, the buyer reports me to PayPal 'item not as described'. PayPal didn't notify of me of this claim, I found out by going to my acct, which is now in the red to the tune of 65 & some odd dollars & the buyer hasn't returned the ornament, holding me hostage. The buyer can escalate a claim w/o sending the item back to the seller? PayPal can take your money & put you in the red w/o Notification or your input? What is going on here? I am now out the money AND the item. 129.29 - a Swarovski retired ornament in Mint Condition.

I HAVE 100% FEEDBACK on ebay FOR ALL THE GOOD THAT DOES! EBAY AND PAYPAL ARE A BUNCH OF THIEVES!

Lindy of Dacula, GA August 10, 2009

This is an ebay auction that I won and they didn't accept paypal so I mailed them a check. They sent the item first class mail for 1.22 but charged me 3.95 to send it first class mail. I failed to get it insured and there is not tracking number. I am not even covered by paypal.

It is the honesty of the ebay seller and the post office employees who handle mail every day that is suspect. While I have never before now lost a package or piece of mail, I will be disappointed. When contacted the P.O. they had me go on line and fill out a mail theft complaint form and it reads like this is mail fraud. Scary!

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |