eBay Annoyance

[shanmonster]

I recently purchased three hip scarves from a dance costume dealer on eBay, and when I received them, I was very unhappy. One of the scarves is acceptable, although not of the highest quality. But the other two were designed by a crazy person. They are long, rectangular scarves with coin detailing all the way to the very ends, and then, halfway down the edge of the scarf are two short, thin pieces of ribbon. These, I suppose, are supposed to be ties. However, the scarves would only fit someone who weighs about four hundred pounds, and even then, the ties are so insubstantial and poorly-placed that the scarf would look like utter shite. When I hold the scarf up by the ties, it hangs like a hammock.

Anyhow, here's what I wrote to the dealer:

Hi! I just received the three hip scarves I ordered from you a while back. Although I'm happy with one of the scarves, I am unfortunately not pleased with the other two. The way they are made, it is impossible to tie them around anyone's hips in an even slightly attractive manner. If at all possible, I'd either like to exchange these scarves for wearable ones, or for a refund. Please let me know how to go about doing this. Thank you!

Here's what I got in response:

Hi Shanmonster, Thank you for your email. In response to it I have to say that the pictures and dimensions were very clear on Ebay. The scarves were made in Egypt for belly dancers and it is really up to the byre to figure out how to wear them. You are the first one to have an unusual complaint like that. If you are so unhappy with your purchase I am willing to take them back on the following condition: you will pay for shipping them back to me and I will refund the money but I will deduct the amount I spent for listing those two items. (I could have sold them to someone else with that listing.) Also I'll have to have three good feedbacks to the three items not only for 1. Please let me know what you want to do.

This does not seem acceptable to me. I'd be willing to send them back and pay for the shipping, and maybe even for the initial posting costs, but I cannot give good feedback for all three items. This seller, like the scarf designer, is on crack. The best I could manage is to not leave feedback at all for the two pieces I'm unhappy with.

To top it off, the listing is inaccurate. The scarves are each described as weighing more than two pounds, because of all the coins. This is extreme hyperbole. They weigh about 1/4 to 1/2 pound each--tops.

So, should I keep the scarves and soak up the monetary loss, or should I pay a bunch of money, leave lying feedback, and then probably not get back all the money that's owed to me? Hmm. I'm thinking I should soak the loss.

Oh yeah, and since I was the only bidder on those hip scarves, I'm not so sure they would have sold to someone else on that particular listing....

Anyone want to buy a couple of unwearable hip scarves?

Comments

[miraba.livejournal.com]

Contact ebay and let them know that the seller misrepresented several items and it trying to force you into giving positive feedback. You're dealing with a clear case of fraud, and hopefully they'll deal with it as such.

You want to mention:
misrepresentation of the weight etc of the scarves
----> feedback extortion <-----

You do not want to mention:
how you can't use the scarves

Good luck!

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

This is good advice; especially now that the seller is behaving even badlier. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/shanmonster/109859.html)

(Ahem, yes, I watched Neverwhere (http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/NeverwhereDVD.asp) too many times.

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

Personally I'd point out the listing was not accurate, and take it up with ebay with a complaint against the seller. But then again, I can be a real beotch. ;)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Well, I sent out one more email:

I'm sorry, but your terms are not acceptable to me. It is unfair of you to ask to to lie. Leaving positive feedback for something I cannot conscionably say anything good about is fraud.

Also, the items were misrepresented in your write-up. They were listed as weighing over two pounds each because of coins, but they weigh 1/4 to 1/2 pound each, tops.

I guess I'm going to have to soak the loss.

I'm sorry we couldn't come to a compromise.

[pivyca.livejournal.com]

Definately write to ebay. Forward them the email about the lying feedback request, too.
At least even if you have to eat the costs, which sucks, it won't happen again to someone else.

[liquid-quaalude.livejournal.com]

I would def contact ebay, that seller is BS....
I sell alot and sometimes buy on ebay and you run into alot of wack jobs and scammers...

[prolixfootle.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this'll help or not. I used the one provided by Amazon for non-delivery of an item, and got my money back.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidence/isgw-fraud-claim-requirements.html

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

No dice. Each purchase came to less than $25, so it wouldn't be covered. Ah well. Thanks anyway!

[longpig.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could make them into curtains? :D

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Maybe not curtains, but one of those things that goes across the top of a window. What're they called again? Flounces?

[ladyiolanthe.livejournal.com]

Valances, I think. :)

[superdaintykate.livejournal.com]

Valances. Kicky!