So, how many times have you been taken on eBay?

Rampage · February 10, 2004 6:39AM

For me, it makes 4 times now.

My most recent, actually two times in the last 4 months. One for $13.50 and this times for $38.00. I am to the point now where I just don't want to buy on eBay anymore. Selling has been fair, but buying is really getting to me. The most recent, the seller had 264 positive with zero negs and zero neuters. So, I don't know what's up. Maybe the USPS is being slow.

LAWMAN · February 10, 2004 6:41AM

10%, but I've bought nearly 60 items. Sometimes, it just ain't what it looks like on the website. Your pays your dollar and you takes your chances.

Rampage · February 10, 2004 6:43AM

When I said taken, I meant..........The Seller took your money and you got NOTHING.

Rampage · February 10, 2004 6:44AM

In your situation LAWMAN, at least you got coins, or whatever, in the mail. Three times I got nothing and the fourth I got something that was not advertised.

relayer · February 10, 2004 6:46AM

The first time I had to tell Mommy and Daddy

The second time I had to tell my credit card company

The third time I had to tell the police and FBI. They weren't as effective as the first two and the seller took over $100,000 of eBay money and went back to Brazil. I was able to settle with SquareTrade out of court on this one, but still lost $200

hookedoncoins · February 10, 2004 6:49AM

I have yet to be taken on eBay, but I haven't bought there for a while and when I do buy, I typically buy from forum members.

Russ · February 10, 2004 6:51AM

Based on the receiving "nothing" criteria, once, and that was as a seller. I stupidly shipped before receiving payment based on the word of a "Reverend" that payment had been mailed. He got the coin, and I got no money. Last time I made that mistake.

A couple other times, the item received was not what was advertised. Two other times beyond that, sellers tried to rip me off, but weren't successful in the attempt.

Russ, NCNE

rottnrog · February 10, 2004 6:54AM

I was taken once about 2 years ago for $264! But after about 800 more transactions it hasn't happened again (knock on wood)!

Rampage · February 10, 2004 6:54AM

Each time I paid with Paypal. I guess the thing to do is pay with a credit card, although I hate doing that. But, at least that way, you have protection.

Rampage · February 10, 2004 6:56AM

Forgot to say, I am glad I am not alone with people being raped, but I am sorry to hear of so many people that it happens to. I am thankful that all my losses have been relatively minor though.

millennium · February 10, 2004 6:56AM

One time...from a fellow in Miami. It was 98.00 for some software. Not too bad considering I have had almost 500 transactions now....Ebay and Paypal helped, so the loss was minor.

Dog97 · February 10, 2004 7:14AM

It was 4 times but after raising hell & threatening sellers I finally got a refund after 6 weeks on 2 deals that I paid instantly with PayPal.
2 deals I got shanked.
It usually takes me about 2 weeks until I figure out my stuff isn't coming and start asking questions. The sellers seem concerned at first and ask me for my address so they say they can check shipping. Then they spend 2 more weeks giving me the runaround or not answering email. They know to drag it out for 30 days so the PayPal time limit has expired.
Just like clockwork, happens the same way every time.
I've never gotten shanked when sending checks, it's always the sellers that take PayPal that screw me.
People say PayPal will freeze your account for no reason but I believe that these people are lying because every time I ever complained PayPal wouldn't do anything.
PayPal & eBay are the scammer's best friends.
What a coincidence, the Post Office says you can't do anything until 30 days and then PayPal says it's too late. Imagine that.

paigowjohnny · February 10, 2004 7:23AM

Got taken once on Yahoo for $8, but not on ebay...so far...

tjkillian · February 10, 2004 7:23AM

Of the over 150 transactions, I've not been burned at all.

Tom

Barry · February 10, 2004 7:27AM

Never, with 600+ transactions.

I'm always careful with whom I deal. Even if there are only 1 or 2 negative FBs, I may not bid, depending on the content of those negatives. If I ask the seller a question, and he doesn't respond, I don't bid. Also, I never bid on auctions of those who regularly sell NTC, ACG, etc. slabs. I also run safe2bid on the seller, to check for suspicious bidding patterns (shill) activity.

CarlWohlforth · February 10, 2004 7:29AM

With over 550 transactions I haven't had many problems. I have had 3 or 4 dead beat bidders but I never shipped them anything so no big deal. I bought a few raw coins, most were overgraded.

Lakesammman · February 10, 2004 7:38AM

That's one of the nice things about getting old - I dont remember any problems with ebay....

I did buy one counterfeit IHC but was so delighted with it, I kept it. Have never been completely stiffed. Have had some breakage but that's not ebays fault.

TheNumish · February 10, 2004 7:43AM

Have over 3000 postive feedbacks on ebay. Never been taken once. Even on tranactions when the person had feedback under 10. Got some radically overgraded coins from one guy that I didn't return because I had a feeling I was better with something than nothing.

AValde · February 10, 2004 7:45AM

I lost 9K just recently. The seller was a fraud. Ebay did nothing. They didn't even inform the sellers that the user had been NARUd so the buyers kept sending him the $$.

That seller has vanished.

flaminio · February 10, 2004 7:46AM

Never been "taken" by a Seller. I once had a buyer not send me payment after I had already sent the item. Gave me a negative feedback, too. But all my experiences with Sellers have been just fine.

MSD61 · February 10, 2004 7:48AM

So far I've been taken twice and it was my own fault. I bought two Frankies a 48 and 49 sight unseen. I went by the seller's description and was very un-happy when I got them. That was the last time I bought sight unseen. Now, I get the pictures and take them into PSP7 and edit them so I can see as much as I can about the coins I'm looking at.

relayer · February 10, 2004 7:49AM

Dog-

You have to file a buyers complaint with PayPal within 30 days (it is in their user agreement) and do it regardless of what the post office requires. Once you do that, PayPal will put a hold on the sellers account for that amount until the issue is resolved.

On the 2nd rip attempt on me I waited for 31 days before notifying PayPal and they told me to take a hike. So I notified my credit card company and they did a charge back to PayPal.

Boy did that get PayPal upset. They froze my funds and permanetly banned my account. It took me about a week to get them to come around to my way of thinking and un-freeze my account re-instate me. Weasels.

So if you do get ripped off and used PayPal be SURE to file a Buyers Complaint BEFORE 30 days

GottaGetCoins · February 10, 2004 7:52AM

I bought some real garbage on Ebay....the grade was true but the eye appeal really was horrible...I think I got duped...Every scammer is on Ebay, it hurts the many mant legit people.

Russ · February 10, 2004 8:00AM

<< They know to drag it out for 30 days so the PayPal time limit has expired. >>

Yep, that's what the last slimeball tried with me. I bought a DirectTV unit for $200. It didn't work, so I shipped it back. I knew exactly when he received it since I sent it UPS signature required. I eMailed several times asking where my refund was, no response. On the 29th day, I filed my PayPal claim and got the refund, including shipping. Cost the seller an extra $19, (the shipping), because he thought he could get away with stringing it along past the claim period.

Russ, NCNE

291fifth · February 10, 2004 8:00AM

<< When I said taken, I meant..........The Seller took your money and you got NOTHING. >>

Only once. A scammer out of Montreal selling modern US gold commems got me for about $225.00 last September. eBay's fraud insurance eventually paid off their maximum of $175. As a result I no longer do any eBay business outside of the US.

coppercoins · February 10, 2004 8:03AM

Zero problems to speak of in over 7 years of buying and selling on eBay to the tune of thousands of items. The secret is to find good sellers by buying cheap things and stick with them. Feedback numbers have nothing to do with it, feedback percentages have everything to do with it. The site has changed quite considerably since I signed on with my first user ID in 1996.

66Tbird · February 10, 2004 8:24AM

Bulionone was my biggy

Lots of things have to fall into place before I bid on anything.

CarlWohlforth · February 10, 2004 8:26AM

<< I lost 9K just recently. The seller was a fraud. Ebay did nothing. They didn't even inform the sellers that the user had been NARUd so the buyers kept sending him the $$ >>

That is just horrible!!

FatMan · February 10, 2004 8:33AM

Only once. Not for a coin, it was for a network card ($12) for my laptop. It appears the electronics clowns are more rampant than the coin clowns.

I have had a couple of buyers no pay. No biggie though, just relisted.

Ebay is a moderately risky venue but a little common sense goes a long way and can bring some nice rewards.

bigtonydallas · February 10, 2004 8:36AM

I have only been taken once. I bought a roll 1939 UNC Jefferson nickels for $60 including shipping and insurance. I sent a money order. Never got anything and the phone number they supplied would ring and ring. I tried calling at all hours of the night with no luck. I gave up after 3 months.

Other times I have been lucky when I purchased items and they were not what they were graded at. For example I bought a 1939 Jefferson nickel that was suppose to be MS64. The auction had a decent picture of the obverse. Well when I got the coin I could tell it was AU so I paid $3 for a .50 coin. I was a little upset until I turned it over and it was the double die reverse #1. I jumped three feet in the air! I also bought an 1857 Flying Eagle which was suppose to be VF for $18. It was only a VG. This baby also was also a double die obverse with the eye easily doubled. It is the one that has the cud along the rim above "In God". I was happy once again.

I have a hard time telling if a coin has been cleaned or not.

ealandg · February 10, 2004 8:45AM

Yeah. One time this lady tried to stiff me, but I had her name and address. I reported her to Ebay, PayPal, God, etc. without result. So I called information and got her number. I called her up and told her I was going to pursue this until I received the item or a refund. I told her that if I didn't receive my item within 10 business days she would be hearing from my lawyer. I also mentioned mail fraud, federal violations, etc. I got the item.

relayer · February 10, 2004 8:57AM

I lost 9K just recently. The seller was a fraud. Ebay did nothing. They didn't even inform the sellers that the user had been NARUd so the buyers kept sending him the $$.

That seller has vanished.

That is horrible. Make sure the DA in the district where you sent the money has gotten an arrest warrent issued for him. As long as he is still in the country he can be extradited back to that state if the police run a check on him somewhere.

Even though wire and mail fraud are Federal crimes, the FBI doesn't do anything until there are enough vicitims or money to take an interest in. The case I was in there were 80+ vicitims totaling over $100K (one guy lost $14k) and the FBI didnt' have an interest.

The local police in Texas were incompetent also. They talked to him and he told them he would issue refunds (and he did for a few). But that was just to buy time before he left the country.

agentjim007 · February 10, 2004 9:06AM

I don't want to jinx myself

Colorfulcoins · February 10, 2004 9:06AM

Knock on wood but I've never had a selling problem in almost 5 years (1700 positive feedbacks). I have had buying problems but its ususally related to returns where a seller hasn't fully disclosed. I recently got a coin that was abrasively cleaned - abrasively like sandpaper! Emailed seller and he will accept return less ship/ins, less payapl, less listing fees, less selling fees, less 2 trips to the PO and whatever else he can dream up...about a 20% non-negotiable sting. It deteriorates from there with him finally accusing me of cleaning his coin! What gall.

Fortunately, this kind of thing only happens once or twice a year and if the coin is cheap enough, I usually just write it off to experience! I just wish everyone on ebay treated me like I treat my customers....no shipping rip off, no questions return. Is it that much to ask?

AmericanSilverEagleCoins · February 10, 2004 9:09AM

I once had a brand new eBay seller who was so confused I think I ended up taking him.

I ordered a small N Scale train car for about $20. This huge package arrived. When I opened it there was a whole year's subscription of Playboys. It was the original Pamela Anderson year. I contacted him stating I had not received my train. He said he would check on it. Next thing I know I get another package but this time with another year of Playboys in a different year. Third package arrive a week later with a digital camera. I tried send the seller an email back stating I got all this extra stuff but he had been neg so many times by the guys supposed to receive the magazines and camera his account was NARUd.

A few days later my mailroom called me and said another office suite in our building delievered a misdirected package to our mailroom. It was my train car.

Unfortunately since I had a nice error in my favor, sooner or later I am going to get one against me to even out

AValde · February 10, 2004 9:20AM

<< 
That is horrible. Make sure the DA in the district where you sent the money has gotten an arrest warrent issued for him. As long as he is still in the country he can be extradited back to that state if the police run a check on him somewhere.

Even though wire and mail fraud are Federal crimes, the FBI doesn't do anything until there are enough vicitims or money to take an interest in. The case I was in there were 80+ vicitims totaling over $100K (one guy lost $14k) and the FBI didnt' have an interest.

The local police in Texas were incompetent also. They talked to him and he told them he would issue refunds (and he did for a few). But that was just to buy time before he left the country. >>

He is no longer in the country. He has fled to Germany. That is the latest word.

The seller actually defrauded about 78 victims all from ebay (150K in total). All fraud charges were filed, with every known law enforcement outlet. The local police said they do not investigate internet fraud. The Secret Service said they would take up the case as long as the total fraud amount was above 100K. It has been 3 months now. Not a word. His registered address on ebay was a hotel room. So it was easy for him to collect all $$, and check out. His paypal account was frozen and he cashed the buyer checks at a check cashing store (moneyTree). Since he had no intension of mailing the goods, he was willing to pay the 10% commission to these stores. This I came to know only when I filed my fraud charges with ebay and had to contact my bank for copy of the check. It is not reasonable to hire a private investigator to check every seller's background before buying on ebay. He is a perfect criminal.

This guy had 99% positive feedback on ebay and he got all +ve feedbacks by shipping small items (under 5 $) in time. There were some buyers who became skeptical about his motives w.r.t bullion and backed out. He agreed. But these buyers went ahead and gave him a positive feedback because he let them back out.

Moral of the story is: Always use paypal or credit card for purchases, unless u have dealt with the seller before and know him/her well.

paul43438 · February 10, 2004 9:25AM

I've had only one time a seller not send me the goods, of all things a 1996 mint set. less than twenty dollars. This was on Yahoo. Seller had all positives, over a 1000. been seller for years. I had bought from them before, no problem. Never respond to any emails, nothing. I personally think they died. what can you do.

<< Each time I paid with Paypal. I guess the thing to do is pay with a credit card, although I hate doing that. But, at least that way, you have protection. >>

Unless the rules have changed, you may not have the protection. Remember what you are buying when you use Paypal. you are buying their services to transfer funds to the seller, or whomever. The protection only happens between two people. So if you didn't get the item that the seller said they would send. Bad luck as You did get the service from Paypal. The money was transferred.

MICHAELDIXON · February 10, 2004 9:27AM

Only one time in 5+ years. It was a seller with the id: keara99

drainbamage · February 10, 2004 9:34AM

I have yet to be taken..... but I thought I had been.....

I purchased as a surprise gift for the lady who was then my girlfriend..... It was a pure silk robe. But the guy failed to tell me it was being sent from INDIA! It took three months for that robe to show up. It was the longest wait of my life on any item. But I will have to say that it was worth every second when I gave it to her and she almost passed out with child-like excitement.

I gambled and won..... but I doubt I would do it again.

Shamika · February 10, 2004 9:36AM

I was taken twice out of about 150 auctions.

ARCO · February 10, 2004 9:42AM

I have had well over 1000 transactions on Ebay and maybe another 60 on Yahoo, and all have gone fairly smooth. I had about $6.00 worth of Mercury dimes get lost in the mail that were uninsured...or that were never sent.

I almost always check feedback history before I bid and Try to hedge my bets by sticking with better sellers. Maybe that strategy and some luck have spared me having to write a long E-mail filled with threats and four letter words. LOL

Tyler

maxB3535 · February 10, 2004 9:53AM

Been lucky. Knock on wood. Over 300+ ebay transactions and never gotten stiffed by seller or buyer. Was in business for 16 years selling hardware and software and only got burned once.

ursabear · February 10, 2004 11:41AM

I lost $140 in a BullionOne transaction. Other than that, it's been OK with me (from the standpoint of a buyer).

MacCoin · February 10, 2004 11:53AM

the only thing I can complain about are the grades on raw coins. any mint state coin I buy have to be certerfied. I still bid on cheap cirulated barbers/SLQs for a whitmans album

RGL · February 10, 2004 12:23PM

Coming up on four years on eBay, including two in which I was a heavy seller, and never had a problem as a buyer or seller (one dead beat buyer never paid, but goods were never shipped), but now am beginning to worry about a $10 coin purchase paid via PayPal with no communication from the seller in three weeks ... thank goodness it's a tiny amount. (I did have one seller, a poster here, whom I paid and never received any communication in three weeks, but coins ultimately shipped about after a month.)

dollardude · February 10, 2004 12:23PM

I have not been taken in about 5 years of doing business on eBay. However, I did pay about $250 in stupid tax by making a deal outside of eBay about 2 years ago for some non-existent coins. I am very, very careful to avoid paying stupid tax by doing the following:

1. Staying inside of eBay and following their rules and regulations.
2. Checking feedback.
3. Stressing communications, communications, and communications.
4. Checking for "phantom" or "shill" bidding (not 100% accurate).
5. If possible, doing business with people I already know or are familiar with.
6. Reading the ad. If it is poorly prepared and unprofessional, I stay away from the item.
7. Asking questions before placing a bid if the item is of high value and there is pertinent information missing.

Fairlaneman · February 10, 2004 12:28PM

I have had about 600 transactions on Ebay both buying and selling. Three have went bad but nothing was lost except seller fees. Of the three none were coin related. A couple of times the wait from the "No Reply Sellers" gets the blood moving though.

I'll knock on wood also.

Ken

So, how many times have you been taken on eBay?

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