eBay

Back in prehistoric times, bosses worried that workers were using the office Internet connection to look at pornography. After that it was Amazon.com. Now it's eBay and the other auction sites.

eBay The eBay Empire • eBay • PayPal • Bill Me later • StubHub --- News • eBay Buys Bill Me Later • eBay: Where Recalled Items Live Forever • eBay Ignores Scam Victim • Class Action Against eBay • Sunday Times Reports Widespread Shill Bidding on eBay • Boston Man Charged with Hacking eBay • Consumers Question eBay's Security • Recalled Products Routinely Listed on eBay • eBay Faces Shilling Suit --- More eBay Complaints • Merchandise Not Received • Misrepresentation • eBay Motors • Shilling • Miscellaneous Complaints • Sellers Complaints • Defenders

Walk through any office around 8:30 a.m. and everyone's logged on and ready for another day. Only thing is, instead of reading the CEO's latest rantings, they're buying antique waffle irons on eBay and selling some left-over parts from that old Studebaker out in the back yard.

The whole thing works more or less on the honor system, which is pretty much how speed limits work. Our suspicion has been that if you held up a radar gun, you'd find a lot of people speeding -- and a lot of others (or maybe the same ones) not coming through with the merch.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints we've received:

Robert of Ocala, FL September 4, 2009

I bought a truck on ebay from this business. They described the truck as in perfect mechanical condition. When I came to pick it up, the truck was not as described. In the first week I had to put over 6000 to fix major mechanical problems. They refused to pay for it. They offered to buy it back from me, but I had already paid the tax on this vehicle and they didn't want to pay for that difference.

Deb of Mc Leansville, NC August 21, 2009

Sold a bottle of cologne that I bought from Belk's Department store on ebay. Customer bought product. She then contacted me saying product was not as advertised and wanted full refund. She would not send the item back until I refunded the money. I would not refund unless item was returned. She has now left negative feedback which lowers my 100% rating. Ebay bases their fees on feedback scores. So now I don't have a 100% rating. Product was exactly as described bought from Belk's not as buyer described as being fake. Now I am stuck with less than 100% feedback for selling to a malicious buyer.

johnnie of clarksville, TN August 20, 2009

bought a boat out drive on ebay. paid with wire tranfer like requested. paid for shipping and insurance about 4 months ago. still no out drive was told it went to canada then shiped back to them. they said waitng shipping company to pick up to send. that was 3 weeks ago. still no drive

gerard of schererville, IN August 17, 2009

I purchased a item from a ebay merchant well im not the best at computers so I tried to pay them but I could not get in so I tried numerous times so finally the merchant told ebay that I was not paying so I received a strike so I got locked out from buying from ebay. I cot in contact with ebay and they gave me the run around. For one there is a log that was in their system but they did not agree when I told them. Second I did do what they wanted me to do but I am still locked out and after all they want the same information they wanted before and I just had enough and would not comply since it seemed to go on deaf ears and it was and still got a run around.

Pat of Ft Pierce, FL August 16, 2009

I sold an ornament to a buyer on ebay that was in pristine condition. He asked for a refund, said it smelled of smoke. I told him fine. Send back the ornament & I'll refund your bid. That wasn't good enough. Buyer wanted me to reimburse him the postage for sending the ornament to him AND for the return postage too, even tho the auction stated shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. I refused.

The very same day, the buyer reports me to PayPal 'item not as described'. PayPal didn't notify of me of this claim, I found out by going to my acct, which is now in the red to the tune of 65 & some odd dollars & the buyer hasn't returned the ornament, holding me hostage. The buyer can escalate a claim w/o sending the item back to the seller? PayPal can take your money & put you in the red w/o Notification or your input? What is going on here? I am now out the money AND the item. 129.29 - a Swarovski retired ornament in Mint Condition.

I HAVE 100% FEEDBACK on ebay FOR ALL THE GOOD THAT DOES! EBAY AND PAYPAL ARE A BUNCH OF THIEVES!

Lindy of Dacula, GA August 10, 2009

This is an ebay auction that I won and they didn't accept paypal so I mailed them a check. They sent the item first class mail for 1.22 but charged me 3.95 to send it first class mail. I failed to get it insured and there is not tracking number. I am not even covered by paypal.

It is the honesty of the ebay seller and the post office employees who handle mail every day that is suspect. While I have never before now lost a package or piece of mail, I will be disappointed. When contacted the P.O. they had me go on line and fill out a mail theft complaint form and it reads like this is mail fraud. Scary!

Amy of Chesterfield, MO August 3, 2009

Terrible consumer protection for Sellers! Have made numerous attempts to resolve this when a Buyer used fraudulent information to "buy" my cell phone. It was an expensive item. Ebay is of NO help. I would like an email reply.

Luz of San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States July 29, 2009

I found a car in Ebay. I was interested, after two weeks, I contacted the seller and accepted to pay whas he asked for. He requested to send the money through Western Union. At the beginning he said to send half of the money and when I inspect the car then pay the other half. Then he requested the full amount to send the car, so I did.

After two days he said that he found another buyer who offer 8,000, and because he needed extra money to send the car, I should send him 2,000.00 which I refused because that was not the deal, and he said that I should tell Ebay to return the money. Now Ebay said that they are not resposible and that I have to contact the person, because they do not recognized him as part of ebay. I found the car when I entered to Ebay. I dont understant, and I want my hard earned money back. 6,000.00

Dan of Walla Walla, WA July 29, 2009

I cant cancel and have been charged 10.00 per month for last four years. My email provider went out of business and my computer, with my user name crashed, all within days. Since I left the job I where I used ebay I didnt need the service of EBAY or PAYPAL so I tried to cancel. The instructions said I needed my user name. I didnt have it. It said they would email it, they couldnt because of the company closing. EBAY provides NO customer service telephone number that I could find. I sent emails to the fraud division and never got an answer. As far as Im conserned they've been stealing from me every month. finally, I canceled the credit card, and today I get a call from a collection agency!!

Brandon of Saginaw, MI July 24, 2009

I recently sold a lot of broken video game systems. Stating they were sold 'AS IS' with 'MISSING PIECES'... Well I guess they were missing too many pieces for the buyer. And instead of communicating with me, he filled a complaint for a full refund... and then left negative feedback before we even got any where with the claim. I have been in contact with Ebay to remove this feedback as I feel it was not justified. I have yet to hear from them. This buyer has done this EXACT situation to other people as well.

Why has Ebay turned into this breading ground for bad people. I have been a seller on ebay since 2001, and it never used to be like this... Now sellers cannot leave negative feedback and the fees are getting outrageous not to mention all of the other problems. I am off to find an alternative. I am now done with Ebay. They are going to lose a member that was with them from the beginning, not that matters to any one there anymore....

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |