How in the f*** does ebay work?

Have wanted a Weber Smokey Mountain for a while but, I'm cheap and didn't want to shell out the normal $300 plus tax for one at a retailer. Found a new, unopened, undamaged box 18.5 WSM up for bid on ebay a week ago this past weekend. Won it for $255 plus free shipping and the ebay money back guarantee. Only clinker was it wouldn't be delivered until between Aug 11 and 22...no big deal. Caught me by surprise to see it at the front door when I got home today.

It came as advertised...brand new and undamaged. The packing slip was a bit of a surprise though. The ebay seller was supposedly located in Connecticut. The packing slip says the WSM was purchased by someone in Sherman Oaks, CA last Sunday (a week after I won the bid) at full retail ($299+tax) from Lowes and shipped from Lowes in Indianapolis. WTF?

This is the first item I ever bought on ebay. Is it possible I'll get an extra bill from PayPal for the amount over the $255 I already paid?

I don't think you have anything to worry about, but my last experience with ebay was in about 2008.

You're fine, no worries.

Ebay is good for buyers but now sucks for sellers.

eBay is still in business?

LooseGoose wrote:You're fine, no worries.

Ebay is good for buyers but now sucks for sellers.

This is the damn truth. I have had about 40% of my sales in the last 2 years go to reporting for mon-payment. People just bid and don't pay and there are no ramifications.

The guy you bought from probably uses a warehouse service. No worries. You won't be billed.

I sell easy to get rid of, leftover stuff on eBay all the time. I only accept paypal or money order before I ship.

Yesterday, after receiving a paypal payment, I shipped a broken cell phone to the Ukraine. Got $25 for the phone and $29.95 shipping and handling. It was worth it.

MasonGuy wrote:I sell easy to get rid of, leftover stuff on eBay all the time.  I only accept paypal or money order before I ship.  

Yesterday, after receiving a paypal payment,  I shipped a broken cell phone to the Ukraine.  Got $25 for the phone and $29.95 shipping and handling.  It was worth it.

Donetsk don't tell..

it works a lot like magnets.

The internet? That thing is still around?

You're fine, old man.

AMwood wrote:it works a lot like magnets.

Once the buy and seller connect, it's hard to pull them apart? Uh oh, bad news for you OP.

DWags wrote:

Thing was stolen.   Theifs are using Ebay to drop goods.   you're fine.  Lowes writes it off, thief gets money, you get WSM, everyone wins.  

They just write it off

Since you guys are pretty much useless as tits on a bull I posted the question on another forum and got this plausible response:

"A person will list an item on Ebay, usually at a greatly reduced price, without actually having the item. Once the winning bidder sends their address, the seller will use stolen credit card information to purchase the item from a website, giving the Ebay buyer's shipping address and the stolen credit card info as the billing address.

This way they get cash, and the items purchased on the stolen credit card go to you. It would still be possible for the police/banks to track them down, but they can shop on Lowes.com from Russia/China and police won't spend the time to hunt them down.

I'm not saying this to worry you or anything, there are probably a dozen other scenarios that could explain it as well. But it is just something to keep in mind, save your Ebay receipts, the packing list and print the ebay listing just in case.

Chances are the seller is overseas, and not in Connecticut, and he used stolen credit card information from someone who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA but put your address as the ship to address so it shipped from the Lowes distribution center closest to you.

You can search for "Ebay Triangulation Scam" if you'd like to read more, but I can't say what the correct way to handle it is. Paypal and Ebay don't care, because they both got paid, the seller will likely ignore your emails, and you got your item. So the only person out of anything is the bank/retailer/victim of the credit card scam."

_________

Looked at packing slip again. The scammer played with the shipping address too for some reason. Fucked up my name, putting my last name first and misspelled both my first and last names badly. They also added a letter to the numbers of my street address making it seem like an apartment. There was pretty much just enough correct information (zip code & street name) to get the delivery here.

Out of curiosity looked up the address of the person that supposedly made the purchase on google street view. Nice place, nice neighborhood. Dual attached garages and a circular driveway with gates on both ends. The house next door is awesome

The Pantry wrote:Since you guys are pretty much useless as tits on a bull I posted the question on another forum and got this plausible response:

"A person will list an item on Ebay, usually at a greatly reduced price, without actually having the item. Once the winning bidder sends their address, the seller will use stolen credit card information to purchase the item from a website, giving the Ebay buyer's shipping address and the stolen credit card info as the billing address.

This way they get cash, and the items purchased on the stolen credit card go to you. It would still be possible for the police/banks to track them down, but they can shop on Lowes.com from Russia/China and police won't spend the time to hunt them down.

I'm not saying this to worry you or anything, there are probably a dozen other scenarios that could explain it as well. But it is just something to keep in mind, save your Ebay receipts, the packing list and print the ebay listing just in case.

Chances are the seller is overseas, and not in Connecticut, and he used stolen credit card information from someone who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA but put your address as the ship to address so it shipped from the Lowes distribution center closest to you.

You can search for "Ebay Triangulation Scam" if you'd like to read more, but I can't say what the correct way to handle it is. Paypal and Ebay don't care, because they both got paid, the seller will likely ignore your emails, and you got your item. So the only person out of anything is the bank/retailer/victim of the credit card scam."

_________

Looked at packing slip again.  The scammer played with the shipping address too for some reason.  Fucked up my name, putting my last name first and misspelled both my first and last names badly.  They also added a letter to the numbers of my street address making it seem like an apartment.  There was pretty much just enough correct information (zip code & street name) to get the delivery here.

Out of curiosity looked up the address of the person that supposedly made the purchase on google street view.  Nice place, nice neighborhood.  Dual attached garages and a circular driveway with gates on both ends. The house next door is awesome

Sounds to me like you're wrapped up in an international conspiracy. You should flee the country ASAP.

What was the seller's feedback rating?

Seems like a textbook item for this type of crime. High demand item and no one gets too twerked up about $300.

MSU addict wrote:What was the seller's feedback rating?

Seems like a textbook item for this type of crime.  High demand item and no one gets too twerked up about $300.

Weird. Looks like they hadn't sold anything in 3 years until a little flurry of WSM auctions late last month. Reading through past history, they use to sell cosmetics and shit

Turtleneck wrote:

Sounds to me like you're wrapped up in an international conspiracy. You should flee the country ASAP.

I like Canada

DWags wrote:

So, you didn't read my response?  I think I was close enough to not be considered as a tit on a bull.

Wasn't physically stolen. No cigar, Tits DoSag   

The Pantry wrote:
I like Canada

Communist countries make good hiding spots.

The Pantry wrote:
Weird.  Looks like they hadn't sold anything in 3 years until a little flurry of WSM auctions late last month.  Reading through past history, they use to sell cosmetics and shit

Looks like a stolen eBay account as well.

MSU addict wrote:
Looks like a stolen eBay account as well.

How does that happen? Insider at ebay?

The Pantry wrote:
How does that happen?  Insider at ebay?

They bought some of the millions of stolen passwords the Russkies own.

The Pantry wrote:
How does that happen?  Insider at ebay?

eBay announced in May that their database had been hacked.  They were pretty nonspecific and didn't bother to make an announcement until two months after it happened, but the general belief was the hackers pretty much got all user names, email addresses and some personal data but no credit card info.  The password information they got may or may not have been encrypted.   They asked everyone to change their password and to change the password of any site where you use the same name and password, say maybe- amazon or paypal.  

http://www.cnet.com/news/ebay-hacked-requests-all-users-change-passwords/

The Pantry wrote:Since you guys are pretty much useless as tits on a bull I posted the question on another forum and got this plausible response:

"A person will list an item on Ebay, usually at a greatly reduced price, without actually having the item. Once the winning bidder sends their address, the seller will use stolen credit card information to purchase the item from a website, giving the Ebay buyer's shipping address and the stolen credit card info as the billing address.

This way they get cash, and the items purchased on the stolen credit card go to you. It would still be possible for the police/banks to track them down, but they can shop on Lowes.com from Russia/China and police won't spend the time to hunt them down.

I'm not saying this to worry you or anything, there are probably a dozen other scenarios that could explain it as well. But it is just something to keep in mind, save your Ebay receipts, the packing list and print the ebay listing just in case.

Chances are the seller is overseas, and not in Connecticut, and he used stolen credit card information from someone who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA but put your address as the ship to address so it shipped from the Lowes distribution center closest to you.

You can search for "Ebay Triangulation Scam" if you'd like to read more, but I can't say what the correct way to handle it is. Paypal and Ebay don't care, because they both got paid, the seller will likely ignore your emails, and you got your item. So the only person out of anything is the bank/retailer/victim of the credit card scam."

_________

Looked at packing slip again.  The scammer played with the shipping address too for some reason.  Fucked up my name, putting my last name first and misspelled both my first and last names badly.  They also added a letter to the numbers of my street address making it seem like an apartment.  There was pretty much just enough correct information (zip code & street name) to get the delivery here.

Out of curiosity looked up the address of the person that supposedly made the purchase on google street view.  Nice place, nice neighborhood.  Dual attached garages and a circular driveway with gates on both ends. The house next door is awesome

Thank goodness for other forums

Karma police gonna give you salmonella from that shit.

LooseGoose wrote:You're fine, no worries.

Ebay is good for buyers but now sucks for sellers.  

This. People have fucked me over, as a seller, numerous times in the past year or two. I tried selling an iPhone, and some dumb bitch said she couldn't afford to pay for it. You ****, YOU BID $300 ON THE ITEM!!!!!!!!! Moran.

Cosmo_Kramer wrote:

This. People have fucked me over, as a seller, numerous times in the past year or two. I tried selling an iPhone, and some dumb bitch said she couldn't afford to pay for it. You ****, YOU BID $300 ON THE ITEM!!!!!!!!! Moran.

At least she contacted you. Most of mine just don't pay and there are no consequences.

Rocinante wrote:

At least she contacted you.  Most of mine just don't pay and there are no consequences.  

The best part was that she reported me for "threatening" her because I said she has to pay. Then, I got docked negative points on my selling score because she gave me a negative review somehow. I contacted ebay through some rigorous, bullshit process and the negative review was removed asap and then she got a temporary ban I think. Wasn't justice, though. She was dumb.

And that actually happened twice with the same exact iPhone, with two people bidding and winning and not paying. Such a pain in the ass. I sold it finally but it took a month.

Cosmo_Kramer wrote:

The best part was that she reported me for "threatening" her because I said she has to pay. Then, I got docked negative points on my selling score because she gave me a negative review somehow. I contacted ebay through some rigorous, bullshit process and the negative review was removed asap and then she got a temporary ban I think. Wasn't justice, though. She was dumb.

And that actually happened twice with the same exact iPhone, with two people bidding and winning and not paying. Such a pain in the ass. I sold it finally but it took a month.

I got slapped with a neg from a guy that had buyer's remorse. Stupidly, I give the option of no questions asked returns, buyer pays return shipping. Well this dude wanted to return what he bought PLUS he wanted me to pay the return shipping. Nothing wrong with it, lots of pics in the listing to look at, detailed description, etc....he just didn't want it anymore after he got it. I held to my policy, told him I have no problem w/him returning the item and refunding his money but the return shipping was his obligation. He thinks that's not fair (why should HE lose money if he wants to return it he says, lol) and opens a case, I follow along fully knowing he's gonna lose. Last minute before it escalates to ebay for review he closes the case and sends confirmation that he's shipped back out the item. well, it turns out he's still able to leave negative feedback and he does.   Looking back I shoulda just paid the 5 bucks return shipping and be done w/that prick....but I just couldn't because I didn't do anything wrong. Of course ebay never returned any of my emails about removing the neg feedback. the only thing I was able to do was block that particular seller from bidding in the future....wow, big deal. lol

Cosmo_Kramer wrote:

The best part was that she reported me for "threatening" her because I said she has to pay. Then, I got docked negative points on my selling score because she gave me a negative review somehow. I contacted ebay through some rigorous, bullshit process and the negative review was removed asap and then she got a temporary ban I think. Wasn't justice, though. She was dumb.

And that actually happened twice with the same exact iPhone, with two people bidding and winning and not paying. Such a pain in the ass. I sold it finally but it took a month.

You should just use your old iPhones as coasters and peperweights, like the Middlebrooks.

goodbar wrote:

I got slapped with a neg from a guy that had buyer's remorse.  Stupidly, I give the option of no questions asked returns, buyer pays return shipping.  Well this dude wanted to return what he bought PLUS he wanted me to pay the return shipping. Nothing wrong with it, lots of pics in the listing to look at, detailed description, etc....he just didn't want it anymore after he got it.  I held to my policy, told him I have no problem w/him returning the item and refunding his money but the return shipping was his obligation.  He thinks that's not fair (why should HE lose money if he wants to return it he says, lol) and opens a case, I follow along fully knowing he's gonna lose.  Last minute before it escalates to ebay for review he closes the case and sends confirmation that he's shipped back out the item.  well, it turns out he's still able to leave negative feedback and he does.    Looking back I shoulda just paid the 5 bucks return shipping and be done w/that prick....but I just couldn't because I didn't do anything wrong.  Of course ebay never returned any of my emails about removing the neg feedback. the only thing I was able to do was block that particular seller from bidding in the future....wow, big deal. lol

It's really sad what eBay has become. Back in the day it was legit. Nowadays, people neg bomb for buyer's remorse and then don't give positive reviews for great transactions.