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.

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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:

Ken of Seven Springs NC (03/21/08)
Before I tell my experience, I wanted to share that usually I am not the type to sell anything I have unless I am going through some hard times then I finally decide what I don't use much and sell it to recoup some fund. When I am doing okay, I like to keep everything I own even if I don't use it as often as a person should. About two years ago after the merge/buyout of eBay-Paypal, I sold something on eBay and was billed for listing fee. At the moment, I did not have enough fund in my bank account and figured I would wait until my next paycheck (direct-deposit) before I pay for my listing fee. Well, eBay-Paypal went ahead and drafted the amount out of my account, creating additional unnecessary expenses such as Insufficient fund, putting me a step back than where I would like to be. I contacted eBay about this. They explained that when they went through a major overhaul, they set everything to default including automatic draft and instructed me how to change it to manual. So I did that...

Since then, I have sold few items (mostly video game while it still holds value) and had no problem paying listing fee manually including a couple of late fees. Now recently, I sold a game, and suddenly they drafted the amount out of my account automatically! Again, it is an insufficient fund, and it is 35 this time (29 the first time). How did that happened if I never changed it to automatic? I strongly believe that eBay-Paypal is behind something, and they had NO RIGHT to change my account. I feel that this is illegal access to my account, changing my preference, for their financial gain. I believe it is unlawful, and it is NOT fair since eBay owns Paypal; and it is as if they can authorize everything easily!

I suffered financially twice and had to pay out Insufficient funds when I feel that it is NOT my responsibility both times. This contributed me to unable to pay other bills resulting in additional late fee because I need gas money to get to work for 2 weeks with high fuel prices at 3.35 per gallon. Also, I feel it is federal crime for eBay to modify client's financial preference by setting it to automatic and etc. Something fishy is going on!

Rebecca of Erwin, NC March 11, 2008

Rebecca of Erwin NC (03/11/08)
I am a reputable seller on ebay. I sold a vintage 8mm projector on ebay. The woman received it and left me positive feedback. I left her feedback likewise. Next thing, she's emailing to tell me that she wants a refund for the projector because it is broken. I was shocked. I thought everything was o.k. I reminded her that she should have purchased insurance. She reported me to PayPal for selling her something significantly different.

PayPal made me refund her the entire amount, including shipping. My policies clearly states that we are not responsible if there is any damage in the mail. PayPal did not give me any seller protection at all. She sent me back the damaged item which was clearly in working condition when I mailed it. I lost around 50.00 as a result of this transaction.

Amy of Sunrise, FL March 11, 2008

Amy of Sunrise, FL (03/11/08)
My husband and I are getting a divorced. I opened my own ebay account for myself and daughter but ebay has blocked it. They are saying that I am affiliated with an old ebay account of my husband's and that is all they will state.

I tried to work with them but I received an email that they made their decision and they refuse to speak with me any more. I have done nothing wrong, I even faxed them my driver's license and a current bank statement.  I am unable to sell things that I would normally sell on ebay to generate revenue.

Grant of North Lima, OH March 11, 2008

Grant of North Lima OH (03/11/08)
I have NEVER set up a Seller account on Ebay, but someone sold a necklace using my screen name. Ebay, after many many emails and on line live help, still cannot understand or hear what I am saying. They canceled my registration due to non-payment for something I never sold. I told them to look at the seller account and see where the payment was supposed to go, but they are not bright enough for that.

Jennifer of Greene, ME March 5, 2008

Jennifer of Greene ME (03/05/08)
eBay sent me a message on 2/27/08, informing me that my credit card, had refused a request for payment of a 2.15 seller's fee on 2/15/08. Thus, my account was being assessed an additional 15.00 charge. I used eBay's on-line customer service chat line and, for three hours, tried to get an answer from five different agents about: 1. Why I was being charged 2 seller's fees (was one for PayPal?) and 2. Why an unknown credit card was being accessed. (I had last updated my profile on 1/19/08 to sell the one 20 item I had listed in the past year) None of the five agents, though unfailingly polite, addressed these two questions. Each explained that eBay passes on a fee that the bank charges for a denied fund request. One of the agents said she had reversed the 15.00 charge.

On 3/4/08, eBay sent me another email to notify me that I was being charged 15.00--this same charge again. I have exchanged emails with two more customer service agents, who both explained to me the same thing the first five told me in the chat room, but did not address my two simple questions. My six separate polite requests to speak with a supervisor were denied.

17.15, if eBay manages to deduct the false charge from my last credit card number in my profile, plus 4 hours and 45 minutes trying to get answers from seven customer service agents.

Guy of Gloucester, OTHER March 2, 2008

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