A Note About eBay Buying

[EricaR]

With so many people buying on eBay right now I figured I'd write something up based on what I learned over the past week.

During the last week of May I picked out a setting on eBay as a birthday gift to me from my husband. I paid for it on May 25th. It arrived on June 4th, but because I was waiting for the stone for it to arrive, I didn't spend much time looking at it. I obviously opened the box, took a look, said "yay, pretty!" then put it back away. Last week I was playing around with my loose stones and I pulled it out. I happened to be playing with my loupe at the time and I noticed that it was marked as a different metal than the listing had mentioned.

I went running over to my jeweler who confirmed that the setting was made of a much less expensive metal than I paid for. I checked with eBay and I had 45 days to open a "Not as Described" case with them in the resolution center. I was pushing that 45 day limit (it actually ends tomorrow) but eBay suggests that you contact the seller before opening a case.

I went ahead and contacted the seller who agreed to refund me fully. But now I was stuck. They had agreed to a refund through eBay messages so eBay had a record of it, but I was running out of time to open a case. I read eBay's written policies up and down and didn't find any mention of what to do if the seller had responded to you. So I called eBay and here's what I learned:

1. Even if the seller agrees to refund you and even if eBay has proof of that through eBay messages, eBay will not provide you any protection without opening the case.

2. You MUST send the item with Delivery Confirmation or you don't get any protection. If the item is more than $250, you must include Signature Confirmation.

3. Only email sellers through eBay messages or else eBay won't provide you any protection.

4. If in doubt, OPEN A CASE!

5. Oh, and check your stuff over carefully when it arrives, not five weeks later. Duh, Erica!

Based on the messages that followed me opening the case, I think in my case the seller was going to wait until after the my ability to open a case ended then not refund my money. A quick Google search turned up that it is pretty common. I think I'm going to step back from eBay and just buy from you guys here who are willing to take that kind of risk. Not worth the stress for me!

 

[Skippy123]

Erica thank you for this info. gosh what a pain, I am sorry!

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

This is very good information and we should be reminded of this. thanks

Annette

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I generally only buy jewelry on ebay when there is a return policy, and I have never had a problem. You just have to be careful in knowing what you're buying and buy preferably from vendors with great feedback. I have bought a couple of times without a return policy, but I was 100% sure of the items I was buying. Ebay is great when you learn the ropes and protect yourself. But anyone can make a mistake and not realize some of the more obscure rules like the 45 day limit, as an example. So thank you for sharing that!

 

[distracts]

Yep, the rule is always if you are pushing up against the 45-day limit, open a case, no matter what the seller says.

 

[ruby59]

Wth no disrespect intended, I am going to disagree. You waited until 40+ days to inspect your item. And are then blaming the seller saying he was the one who was trying to cause a delay so that you would be boyond the protection period?

Ebay is a buyer's paradise. And you would not believe what sellers on there have to go through with all that buyers are putting them through. In your case, the seller made an honest mistake. As a buyer you should have checked your item thoroughly like one would do when purchasing through any store. You really cannot blame the seller because he did not act instantenously.

If he were truely dishonest, he could have claimed that during that time period you switched out the setting for a cheaper one.

As far as sellers delaying the 45 day period, not to have to refund - Read about buyers who are "renting" items on ebay. They are wearing items to functions, then returning it. Or they are buying "New" items to replace their "Used" items, and returning their junk for a full refund.

Yes, there are dishonest sellers and buyers. But I can tell you that buyers get far more protection and the benefit of the doubt than sellers on the new ebay.

 

[EricaR]

I took full responsibility for not having looked it over more carefully prior to that point. I had checked the brand hallmark inside the ring, saw it was marked "950" and not looked much further. That was totally my fault.

What I didn't get into in my original message was the threatening emails and phone calls I've been receiving since requesting the refund and opening the case. Or the fact they tried to deny that they had ever promised a refund, even though those messages were sent through eBay and eBay can access them.

I was just trying to alert people to the fact that they need to open a case no matter what.