Arrrrrrghhhhhhh! Asleep at the wheel down the Ebay highway

flcardtrader

Half of me says, "don't share this with the group as you screwed up." The other half of me says, "unscrupulous listers need to be shared"

The listing I bought on an impulse = 1956 Topps Willie Mays #130 Unbelievable Condition New York Giants

The card is listed as a reprint in the Item Specifics section and later in the listing detail the seller mentions that it was listed as a reprint because it had not been authenticated by PSA or the like. Honestly, I missed the item specifics section before I purchased and felt the seller represented the card as reprint because it was not authenticated.

I received the card yesterday and sure enough, it is a reprint.

Seller refuses return, Ebay rules in favor of the seller as they agree, the listing is accurate. I have appealed Ebay's decision.

Seller also offers these gems:

57 Unitas
53 Stahl Meyer Mantle
52 Berra
68 Ryan

The perplexing thing about this seller is they offer a number of graded/ungraded, signed/unsigned, singles/sets/lots = the overwhelming majority of his items are actual cards forming a nice selection of cards via Ebay.

The big question I have = why would a seller contaminate their hobby inventory with fake cards sprinkled in with actual cards and then act surprised that a buyer could have missed a critical bit of info?

The personal question I have = obviously I need to take ownership of not completely reading the listing and falling for an impulse buy, but should I have recourse with Ebay ?

charrigan

I would aggressively seek a refund.

Arguments in your favor:

a) Listing title does not state that item is a reprint

b) Listing body says it is a reprint "because it is not authenticated", not because it is a modern reproduction

c) Card is most definitely not in "unbelievable condition"

I would appeal. Call eBay and explain to them the subtlelty of a seller who buries reprint information deep in the listing with intent to deceive. That alone could get a reversal. Failing that, hopefully you used your credit card and can do a charge-back.

For the future, if it's too good to be true, it probably is. So, investigate a lot before pulling the trigger. This is NOT your fault, though. A lot of people blame buyers for getting taken--but it's 100% the deceptive sellers that we should be angry with.

charrigan

<< <i>Seller refuses return, Ebay rules in favor of the seller as they agree, the listing is accurate. >>



How did you get a ruling so fast, if you received the card yesterday? eBay's Resolution Center requires a 3-day waiting time for seller's response in an "item not as described" case.

flcardtrader

I opened the case yesterday afternoon around 12:30 EST.
He responded around 5:30 EST.
I responded soon after.
He responded to me at 10:36 and then the seller escalated to Ebay.
At 10:37 PM I received this from Ebay = The seller has asked eBay Customer Support to review this case and make a final decision.
At 10:54 PM, I received this from Ebay = This case has been decided in the seller's favor.

I went to sleep after my 2nd reply and read all of these when I woke this morning.

I quickly hit the "Appeal Ebay Decision" button around 5:30 AM.

60sfan

This seller is a JERK.....instead of "unbelievable condition" his listing should say REPRINT.

charrigan

I'd recommend that you call eBay now and explain your case over the phone. I am very surprised that they sided with the seller. Be sure to include all the relevant info:
--details of reprint hidden in listing
--reprint not in listing title
--uses "reprint" in unconventional manner. does not say card is modern reproduction
--all you want is to return card for refund

I would be shocked if they didn't allow it.

NickM

In your appeal, point out that it's a counterfeit.
And if the ebay CS gremlins still won't side with you, go to your credit card company.

Nick

LarkinCollector

<< <i>The personal question I have = obviously I need to take ownership of not completely reading the listing and falling for an impulse buy, but should I have recourse with Ebay ? >>


Tough call. I had a similar situation a few months back and chose to eat it, as when I went back to the listing the Specifics did include Reprint (though was not mentioned anywhere in the title/listing itself). On a PC, I would have caught it, but was on my phone at the time at didn't pay close enough attention or click the extra link for the Specifics. Also similar, the seller did have other legit cards from the era of the one I was purchasing, so I didn't think twice on authenticity of the one I bought. Thankfully, it doesn't look like you're out a huge amount regardless of eBay's decision, but it sucks throwing money down the drain.

coachnip13

You will win this because the eBay rep didn't have a clear understanding when they made the decision. Selling an unauthorized reprint is 1000% against eBay policy no matter how the seller describes it. As soon as you get them to understand that you will win the case.

charrigan

Agreed. I think that's why a phone call will help a lot.

flcardtrader

Thanks for the support.

I found these numbers:

(800) 322-9266, (888) 749-3229 = both of these route you through the auto-attendant
who points you to various websites for your problem. It also talks about a non-existent
Chat Now link in the upper right of the Ebay webpage.

(800) 717-3229 - this line rings to a different auto-attendant who informs me they are
much to busy and I should try again later. I will keep trying.

Does anyone have a number for Ebay not listed above?

charrigan

866 643 1587

Davis

I hope you're able to get your money back. Sellers that scam people like this are truly terrible people.

Here is another guy....he has a few auctions listed. I sent him a couple messages and he responds claiming ignorance and types like a 6 year old with poor grammar. If you follow the trail of his feedback (he has none from selling), he has purchased about 20 reprints from other sellers. Yet his current auctions claim he is selling "estate finds" and he doesn't want to take the time to "go through all the cards". I suggest people report his items before other buyers get scammed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261534386647 LINK

flcardtrader

+1 for that number as I was able to speak to a human who took the time to look at the various issues that I had which were mentioned in this forum.

15 minutes later, my purchase price is in the process of being refunded and all is golden.

Thanks all!

coachnip13

Good news!

1neatstuff

dontippet

I've never seen ebay rule in the seller's favor when the buyer is wanting to return an item. I don't think it matters what the reason is.

jeffcbay

<< <i>The big question I have = why would a seller contaminate their hobby inventory with fake cards sprinkled in with actual cards and then act surprised that a buyer could have missed a critical bit of info? >>



Because this seller is preying on buyers like you who are willing to gamble on a "too good to be true" deal. It's an unfortunate situation that I hope you learn from, and I hope you get your money back. Thank you for exposing this crook.

charrigan

Glad it worked out!

mbz430e

It drives me crazy when people go out of their way to deceive others. This seller needs to be taken behind the wood shed! I get the fact that honest mistakes can be made, but when was the last time you used a screw down? This listing was intentionally staged to appear as if this card had been untouched since the late 80's or 90's. I certainly hope things fall in your favor.

stangrider

Read item description next time

vols1

<< <i>This seller is a JERK.....instead of "unbelievable condition" his listing should say REPRINT. >>



unbelievable
adjective
Not able to be believed; unlikely to be true.

goheels

Scumbag seller is right.
On top of that, he is ignorant. I looked at his 68 Ryan and it is a Milton Bradley card.
Here is a link to last week's Sports Collectors Digest that featured that set on the cover:
null

mtcards

The seller is definitely a scumbag.....that being said, if there werent a enough people wanting something for nothing (or in this case a lot less than it should be) these people wouldnt be making money by offering "reprints" as the real thing.

charrigan

Don't blame the buyer. That someone will pay doesn't justify anything.

bounce

go find actual selling prices for the reprint as support as well

if you can show a real disparity between them, and then point out again that the seller intimates it could actually be a real card which would also justify the difference in selling price, maybe that helps

i suspect you're out on this one, though, unless you take it up with the credit card company

charrigan

<< <i>i suspect you're out on this one, though, unless you take it up with the credit card company >>



Hey, Bounce, read the thread buddy He's already been refunded.

coachnip13

<< <i>i suspect you're out on this one, though, unless you take it up with the credit card company >>



eBay has zero tolerance for sellers who list unauthorized reprints. That's why he easily won the case.

brendanb438

To everyone on the board, if you everyone run into a similar situation just make sure you use the words unauthorized counterfeit a whole bunch with the eBay reps and they will overreact in your favor as the buyer. It is highly likely when all is said and done they will even demand that you destroy the counterfeits in question to make sure the seller doesn't attempt to sell them again.