A negative ebay experience...

[John Sabato]

<soap box mode on>

I just experienced a poor attitude on the part of an ebay seller... He is one of the big guys too... but customer service is obviously not one of their strong points.

I won an auction for an M1A combination tool on August 24th. I sent the payment via paypal on August 25. The auction stated that "all items paid for by paypal and money order ship immediately"

The total of the order was only $7.50 including the $3.00 shipping fee and the insurance...

I simply forgot about the issue expecting to see the item in about a week...

While reviewing my "My Ebay" page, I realized on Monday of this week that the item had not arrived... I sent an email to the seller asking about how and when the item had been shipped. Yesterday, I received the item in the mail with a postmark of MONDAY of this week. 16 days after I had paid for the item.

Here is what this wonderful ebay professional replied to my short email requesting to know why, and a refund of my insurance money since there was no insurance sticker on the envelope... only a stamp that said "insured."

======================

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 7:15 PM
To: John Sabato
Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #7177028132

Mr. Sabato,

When we state "all items paid for by paypal and money order ship immediately" that is a general statement about our business policies.
99% of orders are shipped the same day or next day. We do not express or imply, warranty or guarantee that your individual order will be shipped within forty eight hours. Clearly there is no way that all orders can be shipped immediately all the time.

For the record, we reserve the right to withhold shipment on any ebay auction for up to thirty days for any reason. This is our right under the auction terms of sale and ebay terms of use. We are sorry you seem to be unhappy with that, but might I remind you that this is mail order
and delays for other reasons do occur. usually, but not always delays
are outside our control, most usually delays result due to the postal service being slow. If you feel that in the future you may not wish to wait for products to be delivered in the mail we suggest you shop elsewhere than eBay or other mail order venues.

The item was sent well within ebay's terms of use which specify article is to be sent within thirty days of payment. Shipment in 18 days is well within auction terms of sale and ebay terms of use.

We strive to have all items in stock at all times. This is not always
possible. The item was temporarily out of stock. Thus the delay.

Parcel was sent with usps insurance. ( That is why "INSURED" is stamped on the envelope). Also- attached is a copy of the USPS insurance receipt.

I hope we have cleared up these issues for you.

Please let me know is you have any further questions.

DL Sawyer
optica-electronics
===========================

Well ...what they have cleared up for me is that I need not buy from this vendor again...

here is my final reply:
===========================
I have had only a single bad experience purchasing on ebay. A guy sold me a Luger pistol magazine that was obviously and blatantly defective, but was misrepresented in the auction listing.

I got what I ordered from you, but the conditions of the sale have not been very pleasant. You act like you did me a favor by selling me something at an agreed upon price. This item may not be a major sale to you, but it was something I needed, and didn't expect to have to wait almost 3 weeks to receive since you claimed in your auction that "all items paid for by paypal and money order ship immediately"

I do not agree with your assessment that your statement "all items paid for by paypal and money order ship immediately" is a general statement about your business practices, but a specific statement by you, and not by implication, that if a buyer pays you via paypal, that the item is shipped "IMMEDIATELY". Not that 99% ship immediately. That is a deceptive advertising practice, not to mention that you place items for auction that you don't or may not have in stock... No mention of that in your auctions either.

I am a very reasonable person. I understand that the term immediately likely means as soon as the order is processed. It didn't take you 16 days to process my order. It didn't take you 16 days to determine that the item wasn't even on hand when you listed it. It would only have been common courtesy to notify me when you accepted my payment that you didn't have the item in stock... But obviously, once you had been paid, my satisfaction with my order was no longer of any concern to you.

I allowed 16 days to go by to allow plenty of time for mail delivery. The actual delivery took only TWO days so don't try to blame the delay on the mail service. Your envelope postmark was dated MONDAY of this week. Funny how the shipment date coincides with my one and only email request to know when and how you had shipped the item.

If you had accepted responsibility for your actions, you might still have a new customer in me that would recommend you as a source for parts.

Integrity is what you do when no one is looking. I have always operated by the Christian principle that you should treat someone the way you would like to be treated.

I will indeed shop elsewhere than your establishment... And will recommend that my fellow gun enthusiasts do the same. I don't have a problem with Ebay at all. You will note that inspite of my dissatisfaction with your service that I left you positive feedback... Only because I got what I ordered. The Narrative of the feedback tells the true story for anyone who takes the time to read it.

-John Sabato
====================
Sorry I bored you guys, but I thought you all should know the name of this vendor... caveat emptor

thanks guys for letting me blow off some steam...

<soap box mode off>

[Model 12]

If I don't let my jets cool a day or so, I want to simply say "KMA".

Excellent response. Cool and professional.

[lugerholsterrepair]

John, The guy is an Idiot of the first order. I sold 18000 dollars on eBay in the month of August. While looking over the pkgs to be mailed out I discovered one I forgot. It had been delayed two weeks because of an oversight. I immediately Emailed my customer and begged forgiveness. He was very accomodating and all was well but it was my job to explain my stupidity for not mailing his paid for pkg and to apologize. Most people forget or never knew how to respect a customer. I have added optica-electronics to my don't buy, don't even look at list. Thanks for the heads up! Jerry Burney

[Johnny C. Kitchens]

I hope you gave the appropriate comment for this particular seller on ebay...

[wlyon]

John Just took him off my Christmas Card list. Thanks for the warning.

[thegundude]

Muchos gracias.

Your bad experience has now become my learning experience and for that I thank you for your generosity in sharing....

[hqbmw]

I sold 18000 dollars on eBay in the month of August.




Jerry,

What was the "buy now" price for your $18,000? Personally, I wouldn't have bid more than 6 or 8 Thousand Dollars for it, but there's a sucker out there wanting anything you put on Ebay!

Jack Hiles
Mesa AZ

[trigger643]

by and large my experiences on ebay and GB have been positive. The only thing I have had in the recent year approaching a negative experience was a holster I purchased for an M1917 Colt. The photo was clearly a 1917 dated, but I received a 1918 holster. I contacted the seller, sent the item back, received the correct holster and an explaination I'd just been sent the wrong one ('accidents happen') -- and the seller paid the shipping. The guy was so nice and polite, so quick to ship, that I didn't have the heart to tell him the 1917 holster, although super nice, wasn't quite as nice as the 1918 I'd held briefly and I had second thoughts.

Perhaps my only criticism of late has been the legion of buyers that seem to wait for the auction to expire before emailing me and wanting to buy the item. These guys used to really bother me, now I just ignore their inquiries.

[MauserLugers]

Hi John,
I admire your position and thanks for posting your experience. Principle, honesty, and courtesy are very important. It is interesting the support you received for posting your view/opinion of this transaction. I remember when I posted a bad experience with a fellow Forum member to let all know the lack of principle on his part, I didn't receive the "fan fare" you have. Honesty, principles, courtesy still are important to some of us. Ego and "the money" are not the most important factors for everyone. Keep up the good work. -- Bill

[lugerholsterrepair]

Geeze Jack! Give an overworked holster guy a break! 18000 WORTH of stuff....It was a lot of work I can tell you..Listing, answering questions, packing shipping and driving to the Post Office. You meet 95% really nice people and there are 5% jerks who are idiots or don't pay or both. Good way to sell stuff, beats the heck out of a local newspaper add.

Bill, I guess we are hesitant to jump on a member...maybe we should if he deserves it. Did it ever come out alright? I place a lot of trust in members and would be really disapointed to be involved with a bad experience with one. Jerry Burney

[hqbmw]

Jerry, indeed $18,000 is an enormous amount. How do you do it and still keep stitching as beautifully as you do? Me thinks the Lady Eleanor must be involved.

Do you have time before your relocating to accept a small holster repair?

Thanks,

[lugerholsterrepair]

Jack, I don't even know how to turn on a computer, your right..Ellie does it all. I pack and drive to the PO in between stitching holsters.

If you have one that needs repair fire it to me. I am sure I can work it in. Will be down your way soon! Cooling off? Thanks, Jerry Burney

[tudorbug]

Ebay has both super fine people and those who live on the underside of society's sewer drain grate. You sometimes never know which you will be dealing with when you have an interest in an object.

John, fine answer, well thought out.

David

[John Sabato]

Thanks to all for the support... Having friends with like values and principles like you guys makes a bum deal like this seem dust in the wind to me...

best to all of you.

[hqbmw]

Originally posted by lugerholsterrepair
Jack, I don't even know how to turn on a computer, your right..Ellie does it all. I pack and drive to the PO in between stitching holsters.

If you have one that needs repair fire it to me. I am sure I can work it in. Will be down your way soon! Cooling off? Thanks, Jerry Burney

Jerry,

You have a kind wife; the kind I wish I had married. I'll try to get to the Post to send you a small project tomorrow.

Weather is just great!! Daily highs are below 105 and nights now getting into the high 70's!!! Great sleeping with the windows open again.

Jack Hiles
Mesa, AZ