an odd ebay encounter

[miketyler]

So I am gathering fold down parts for my 70 Mach 1 resto. I find an auction for 67-68 trap door with latch, hinges and prop rod. I win it and make pmt. I even called the guy and discuss shipping Fedex but we go with his preferred UPS and I make full pmt. Two days later I get a refund minus $5 for the paypal fees. WTF? No email explaining the pmt. I have called and emailed with no response.

I was getting a pretty good deal on the door with all the loose parts but I didnt think it was a steal. I dont want to give the guy negative feedback because he seems respectable but I can't help but think he just changed his mind and didnt want to let it go that cheap.

What would you do?   

[66gt350]

If there would have been communication there, I wouldn't leave neg. feedback.  To me it sounds like he found a better deal.  I'd leave him one last email asking for an explanation, and request the $5 for fees.  Why should you get hammered for something that wasn't your fault.  If no satisfaction, then leave negative feedback, or file a report with paypal and ebay.  By winning the part you entered into a contract, and he breached it.  Just like if you win and never send money.

Just my $0.02

[AzPete]

+1

[RapidRabbit]

If he refunded you through paypal he should have gotten the fees refunded.
I would leave negative and file a dispute with paypal for the $5 if he doesn't respond or contact you.

[sigtauenus]

If he refunded you through paypal he should have gotten the fees refunded.
I would leave negative and file a dispute with paypal for the $5 if he doesn't respond or contact you.

+1, that is exactly how paypal refunds work.  Refund the full amount and its like the transaction never occurred, nobody loses any money.

[sigtauenus]

BTW, was this fast freddy at mustang masters? 

[miketyler]

It wasnt a refund, it was a pmt from his acct. There is no reference to the ebay transaction anywhere in the notification or in the notes when I log in to Paypal. The user name is "old82z28ian" and joined last year and only has 14 feedbacks. All 100% though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170504746688

I really needed the door though, was hoping it was a mistake but am probably being naive.

[RapidRabbit]

Obviously the guy doesn't know how to use PayPal.  Still, not Emailing you or anything is pretty bad.

[RyanG85]

I think he was expecting a bit more and decided to bail on it. Isn't a 67-68 trap door different than a 70?

[daveSanborn]

I think he was expecting a bit more and decided to bail on it. Isn't a 67-68 trap door different than a 70?

The mechanism that holds the trap door in the open position is different between.... if I remember correctly.... the '66 and '67 model years, but I believe the door itself is unchanged.

[jims6t6]

If there would have been communication there, I wouldn't leave neg. feedback.  To me it sounds like he found a better deal.  I'd leave him one last email asking for an explanation, and request the $5 for fees.  Why should you get hammered for something that wasn't your fault.  If no satisfaction, then leave negative feedback, or file a report with paypal and ebay.  By winning the part you entered into a contract, and he breached it.  Just like if you win and never send money.

Just my $0.02

+ 1

[sigtauenus]

It wasnt a refund, it was a pmt from his acct. There is no reference to the ebay transaction anywhere in the notification or in the notes when I log in to Paypal. The user name is "old82z28ian" and joined last year and only has 14 feedbacks. All 100% though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170504746688

I really needed the door though, was hoping it was a mistake but am probably being naive.

That was a great price on an original door.  Fair value is easily $300.  The only difference is the holes across the top for the trim piece. 

[RustyRed]

He probably had someone offer him more...

For the lack of contact or response...I'd leave him negative feedback in a NY second.

[John Del]

I would give him another chance for an explanation.  Perhaps he meant to refund someone else, and got the auctions mixed.  If he won't come across with the door, zing him.

John

[miketyler]

I just got off the phone with him (he actually picked up this time) He claims the door was stolen. He also claims he emailed myself and eBay about this and filed a police report. I received nothing and I monitor my email constantly. Strangley he got the right email to send paypal pmt to.

He wasnt very apologetic either and seemed even less interested in refunding the $5 transaction fees. He went on to say he was being deployed on Sunday. Looking at his profile he is some sort of Coast Guard reservist.

That door and attachments may have been worth $300 to someone but apparently, not to any of the worldwide ebay audience that saw it for the week that it ran.

He also has a 67-68 console that several are bidding on now. I guess whomever stole the door didnt like the console and left it behind?

  

[66gt350]

He wasnt very apologetic either and seemed even less interested in refunding the $5 transaction fees.
  

If it was me...I see a negative feedback in his future!!  And I'd still contact e-bay and report him as a bad seller.

[1497]

Negative feedback with a concise explanation why in the comment area. I have no tolerance for eBay a$$ hats. I bet his dog ate his homework a lot when he was a kid too.

[sigtauenus]

He went on to say he was being deployed on Sunday. Looking at his profile he is some sort of Coast Guard reservist.

Good on him for being in the military, but that isn't a silver bullet that lets you be a jack ass.  There's many legitimate times to play the "I'm deploying" card, and this isn't one of them.

[AtlantaSteve]

He also has a 67-68 console that several are bidding on now. I guess whomever stole the door didnt like the console and left it behind?
  

And you know it would really be wrong to setup a fake ebay account, and run the bidding WAY up on that console so you're guaranteed to win, and then just never contact him.  Or worse, string him along.

That would be really wrong.

[buening]

......or set up two fake ebay accounts and bid them against each other up to a few thousand dollars.  Then he gets stuck with the high ebay fees and you never pay for the item.....but yeah that'd be wrong too   :craz :craz

[johnpro]

That was a great price on an original door.  Fair value is easily $300.  The only difference is the holes across the top for the trim piece. 

That is correct, and the same problem with the reproduction trap doors.  Only the '68 door is reproduced, so us '69/'70 people are forced to use it, and have the holes in the top.  It would have made so much more sense to sell them as '68-'70 doors, with a template to drill the holes for a '68.

definitely leave negative feed back.

[sigtauenus]

That is correct, and the same problem with the reproduction trap doors.  Only the '68 door is reproduced, so us '69/'70 people are forced to use it, and have the holes in the top.  It would have made so much more sense to sell them as '68-'70 doors, with a template to drill the holes for a '68.

definitely leave negative feed back.

John, the 69-70 specific metal door was released a little bit ago. 
http://www.folddownseat.com/ReproTrapDoor.htm

[miketyler]

You know, this guy is a real winner. I just emailed him to remind him of the balance and he was suprisingly quick to respond with:

"Don't worry mike you will get your four dollars back. Right now I'm in Alabama under deployment would you like a picture of my orders?"

To be honest, up to this point I was going to take the refund, accept the possibility that this theft may have actually happened and call it a day but the guy is really trying my patience now. I responded back that its closer to $5 and that it's the principle of the thing that should concern him. I also added "I wouldnt mind a copy of the police report though"

No response on that yet but I went ahead and called ebay and was able to report him as a non-shipping seller. The eBay rep assured me that sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers - when did they start this policy??? I haven't sold anything in years but have 100% feedback and over 500 transactions. I was reluctant to leave negative feedback for him for fear of receiving negative feedback in retaliation. 

Looks like he is a Mopar guy too - now has a 68 Charger for sale now.   

[Kats66Pny]

That guy sounds like a real a$$hat.

[sigtauenus]

Yeah, ebay changed the rules a few years ago.  I used to be a powerseller, selling so much on ebay to fund my project, but haven't really done anything in over 2 years now.  The fees kept going up and seller protection kept going down, including not being able to leave feedback for buyers.  I consider ebay feedback to be about worthless now.  The only protection you have as a seller is to report a buyer who doesn't pay, which gets you a refund of listing fees, and 3 complaints against a buyer gets the buyer banned.  Well, gets his account turned off which he then creates a new account under a different name.   If a buyer is a jackass after the sale, ie, claims damage, tries to force a discount after the fact, etc, you have no protection at all.

Back to your "deployed" seller, if he has internet access to check email, he has internet access to go to paypal and give you a refund.  

BTW, if he sent you money on paypal vice giving you a refund, that means you paid paypal fees when you got the money back from him, right?  So is that the missing $5?