Bad eBay Experience w/ Door Panels

[Oiluj]

I had a bad eBay experience this last week. Bought some used door panels that did not meet my expectations.

The eBay item description read: "Set of Inner Door Panels for 240z in Great Condition". "This is a set of door panels from 1972 240z. They are balck and in very good shape. Not sure what other models they might fit".

The pics in the listing did not show any close-up details, but I figured the "great condition" statement was accurate. When I recieved tham I found damage on the lower corner of the passenger side panel. (see pics).

The seller, "Alana4675", refused to take them back. I feel she misrepresented this item and will be contacting eBay to mediate the case.

I've purchased and sold alot of stuff through eBay and never had a problem till now. Guess that's why I'm surprised...

Looks like I will need to either re-cover the panels, or re-sell them on eBay with an accurate description for less than I paid.

So this is just a "heads-up" to be wary if you plan to buy anything from "Alana4675".

[MEZZZ]

Looks like someone used the vinyl repair kit on it and did a poor job.

I have hundreds of transactions on Ebay with just one bad experience...

WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THE Z I BOUGHT??

[juergen]

Really a very bad surprise. The panels look poor and have no chrome stripe. Hope you did not spend too much money. I got mine from an ebay seller in Canada. Brand new and like the originals. Price was 500 USD - quite a lot, but I got a perfect product. I think it will be very difficult to get such a rare part for a cheaper price.

Juergen

[Sailor Bob]

I bet most people here have had at least one bad experience when restoring.

We should have a page contianing the names of unscrupulious vendors/shops with a little information on them for club use. Might save someone a bad experience.

[hls30.com]

I started just such a thread a couple of years ago.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16183&highlight=bad+ebayer+list

Will

[EScanlon]

Julio, I can empathize with your experience.

However, while it may be said that the panel was not PERFECT, and not BLEMISH-FREE, or even PRISTINE.....can you see where this is headed?

The problem with e-bay auctions is that you are relying on:

1) The seller's description.

2) The "quality" of the "feedback" (Which is the biggest "joke" on e-bay.)

3) The poor or lack of pictures.

Sadly, while you feel you were defrauded, I think you'll find that e-bay will probably tell you that you should have asked for more detailed pictures if the ones provided didn't show it in the detail you wanted.

To boil it down to brass tacks....you assumed that the e-bayer meant flawless by saying "very good shape".

Considering some of the ones that have sold there before, they actually aren't in "bad" shape. How much did you end up paying for the pair?

FWIW

E

[DeesZ]

That is a sad situation, I agree. I feel bad for you. There are several issues at play here:

- The pictures that the seller presented are not that good, and the damaged area is obscured with the time/date on the photo, and few if any of the pictures show the "whole" item.

- The description was very short and is not an accurate representation of the goods in that the damage/repair is not indicated or mentioned. I think that you will be able to get a sympathetic ear from eBay IF you persist with them and quote their policies back to them about misrepresentation of goods being sold. Be prepared for this to take some time. It is always more of a chore to build a case of "misrepresentation by omission" versus the classic "they out-and-out lied"...

- I guess that the seller had 100% feedback when you did the transaction, so there would have been no indication of foul play on the horizon (but did you notice that hardly any of the feedback was for being a "seller"? That can't be held against you - how many people would dig that far into the ratings to make that determination?).

- With the auction ending 9 days ago, I assume that you tried to negotiate a fair resolution prior to the feedback being left. Feedback is good leverage for the buyer, and I see that you have already exercised it. It was a good whack that you delivered, too.... reduced the seller feedback rating average to a point way, way below where I would do business with this person (without iron clad guarantees or a personal 'visit' to inspect the goods by self or friend). Unfortunately you may have pulled the trigger on negative feedback a bit soon. It may have remained as good leverage during the reporting process with eBay while seeking resolution..... But whatever... there are cases where eBay will pull feedback if there is a mutual agreement between the seller and the buyer... check the policy on that, and you still may have a bit of leverage there to work with (e.g. I'll agree to withdraw the feedback if you make this good with me).

- I see that PayPal was a payment option... Did you use PayPal? If so, there may be a bit more leverage for you to recover. This method also is like prying teeth out without any pain killers, but it can be done if you are patient and stick to your guns with their policies, etc. If you used a charge card, try to have the charges reversed.

Several of these things would have moved me to make direct inquiries to the seller... I would have required some assurances beyond the listing description and blind faith... did you contact the seller for more info and get assurances that there was no damage, etc? If so, your footing becomes more firm for receiving a favorable solution from eBay/PayPal.

- If this was a $30.00 purchase, I'd just roll with the punches and bite the bullet... but at ten times that - which is where you went, I'd be seeking resolution with the seller through all avenues available.

Please do not take offense to the above. I am not trying to rub salt into the wound; I feel your pain. Rather, I'm trying to help you find some sort of a way to recover.

Anyone else had success in a situation like this? Please let us know how. It'd be tempting to send one of Tony Soprano's boys over to work out a settlement and give some 'concrete' advice on how to construct accurate eBay listings (once the hands have healed up).

Please let us know what the final resolution is to this.

[Oiluj]

I paid over $300 for them and knew they had no chrome. The drivers side is fine.

I did not expect flawless items, but not someting with such an obvious defect. The seller should have disclosed it.

The pictures in the listing cut that corner off, and showed detail on only the driver's side panel. Seems to me that she was trying to hide the problem.

I left negative feedback, but the seller only has 3 transactions, so that's likely not a big issue for her. Regardless of what I think about it, I doubt eBay will do anything about it.

I figure if I sell them, I'll lose about $100 on the deal. I'm not going to dwell on it and just move forward. The main reason for my posting was to warn others to be wary if she is selling any other Z parts...

[Oiluj]

I did contact the seller prior to bidding to ask about tears and chrome. I didn't think to ask about repairs...

[jonathanrussell]

Julio, I can empathize with your experience.

However, while it may be said that the panel was not PERFECT, and not BLEMISH-FREE, or even PRISTINE.....can you see where this is headed?

The problem with e-bay auctions is that you are relying on:

1) The seller's description.

2) The "quality" of the "feedback" (Which is the biggest "joke" on e-bay.)

3) The poor or lack of pictures.

Sadly, while you feel you were defrauded, I think you'll find that e-bay will probably tell you that you should have asked for more detailed pictures if the ones provided didn't show it in the detail you wanted.

To boil it down to brass tacks....you assumed that the e-bayer meant flawless by saying "very good shape".

Considering some of the ones that have sold there before, they actually aren't in "bad" shape. How much did you end up paying for the pair?

FWIW

E

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33696&viewitem=&item=320201260296

Here is the link to the auction description. Everyone wants to defend ebay and the seller but I think the seller purposely cropped the images to defraud the buyer. I too have been very fortunate in my numerous ebay purchases but this situation is dishonest. I for one will add this seller to my list of "never buy from".

[MEZZZ]

- If this was a $30.00 purchase, I'd just roll with the punches and bite the bullet... but at ten times that - which is where you went, I'd be seeking resolution with the seller through all avenues available.

Speaking from personal experience on my one "burn" on Ebay, all I can say is it is a severe waste of time and effort to seek a resolution. Ebays buyer protection plan is a total sham I found out and PayPal is not much better. You can seek a resolution on your own with the seller and if that does not wok yuou can pay $100 for a mediator to contact the seller and try to work out a resolution, but, with no guarantee.

I exhausted all avenues with the exception of taking the seller of the Z I bought to court. He had totally misrepresented the car in the ad, blatantly LIED to several follow up emails I had written. It took 3 months to get a title, turnes out that he did not even hold the title in his name when he sold it to my in August, only applied to have it transferred in October.

And what did Ebays buyer protection plan do for me? Not a damn thing! He wasnt the legal owner, said the title must have gotten "lost in the mail", sold me bascially a totally different car than what was described. All ebay said was , go to your BMV in Ohio and show them the ad as a bill of sale and have them issue you a title. On the condition? Well, cars older than 10 years are exempt from mileage fraud and condition. Basically, sorry about your luck, you can leave the seller a negative feedback.

I leave feedback calling him a liar and theif, totally misrepresented car...

he leaves me on calling me a Blackmailer and a piece of dog feces! And Ebay said they wont take it off because it does not fit their definition of vulger!

So, as the old saying goes, buyer beware. Chock it up as a learning experience and move on, as hard as that is to do.

[DeesZ]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33696&viewitem=&item=320201260296

.........Everyone wants to defend ebay and the seller but I think the seller purposely cropped the images to defraud the buyer. I too have been very fortunate in my numerous ebay purchases but this situation is dishonest. I for one will add this seller to my list of "never buy from".

I do not see this crowd or myself defending the seller or eBay.

I went on the light side with comments relating to the issue of caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware). But really, that is the absolute bottom line here. EScanlon hit the nail on the head. The only thing that I differ on slightly is that I seem to have more faith in the eBay feedback system.

I have been burned by sellers on eBay too. But really, if I was dropping over $300.00 on something, I would be at fault if I did not exercise due diligence.

I have learned the hard way that not all sellers are as honest as I am when I do listings.....

I remain optimistic that there may be a resolution to this, but it will take a lot of effort.