Anthony Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Hope someone can help on this. I bought an expensive item on eBay (£100's). The seller asked for cash out of choice on delivery, and for payment for courier by PayPal. I paid for the courier as asked and for the item by cheque on delivery. The cheque has been cashed, no problem. All this is a matter of record in my eBay messages, including his acknowledgement of payment. The item, by the way, is 100% satisfactory. Ten or so days later, I suddenly receive a text from the seller asking me to cancel the transaction to save him the fees, and saying he could then send me positive feedback. Presumably if I don't do this, he is inferring that he will leave me negative feedback. On going to the item in My Purchases, I have found that he has already cancelled the transaction from his side! I do, of course, wish to preserve my 100% feedback and equally am not keen to connive in what seems to me to be outright fraud. Can I trust eBay to support me if I report this approach to me, which is only by text message, so no trace on eBay? Should I shrug my shoulders in order to protect myself, and put it down to experience? The seller's English is not perfect, so I wonder whether he would try to use this as a get-out if challenged by eBay. Many thanks in advance if anyone has any guidance. Anthony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 8, 2015 If you still have a transaction number, report it to Ebay. In that way there will never be any question of your integrity as an ebayer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted January 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 8, 2015 Sellers can't leave negative feedback for buyers only the other way round. It's been this way for some years. (Before anyone mentions it, it is just possible, in that he has to leave you positive feedback, but then in the words actually say something different, which is perverse). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovex Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 If not fraud, it is a breach of the seller's contract with ebay. As it includes making a misleading statement it may also be fraud or one of its sister offences Dean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Seller is attempting to deny ebay their fee. They damn well ought to be very interested in that... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micklner Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I presume you have the item? Report him to ebay their problem to sort out as long as you have the goods. Never pay for anything on ebay with cash or cheque. You have zero protection if you do. Always use a credit card Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglian Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I think your safe paying via Pay Pal as well. I've had a couple of run-ins with goods not arriving and then sellers taking forever and a day to refund. The Ebay Pay Pal system is quite robust in these circumstances. In this instance, as noted the seller is simply trying to avoid the fees. Depending on how you feel you could either report it or just ignore it although I think to ensure your own ebay integrity remains intact reporting it would be the only thing you can do. However, you never really know – this chap has your address… but you don't want to do what he's asking as that is against your agreement with ebay to be an honest user of their site. Can he cancel the sale himself to avoid the fees – I don't know? I've been an ebay member for 11 years and in that time have only come across one nasty person who I reported and then kept a watch on them. It wasn't too long before they were banned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks for all the answers and help - it looks as if I should indeed report him as protection against my falling foul of eBay. Alternatively, it occurs to me that I could message him through eBay expressing surprise at seeing the cancellation of the transaction, making out that I have never seen the text - to be fair, I rarely have my telephone on. Hmmmmm Anthony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted January 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 9, 2015 Thanks for all the answers and help - it looks as if I should indeed report him as protection against my falling foul of eBay. Alternatively, it occurs to me that I could message him through eBay expressing surprise at seeing the cancellation of the transaction, making out that I have never seen the text - to be fair, I rarely have my telephone on. Hmmmmm Anthony I wouldn't make any form of direct contact with the seller, as it could be construed that you were attempting to agree. Just report to eBay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted January 9, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 9, 2015 Based on recent experience I would certainly start a dispute using the ebay system, it's difficult to find but I've found it to be highly effective, and as you've already received said item the seller is due to pay ebay fees, and they're trying to pull a fast one. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think the seller can post feedback when there's been a dispute, in both recent disputes neither of them posted feedback. If they do post negative feedback then you can ask ebay to rescind it, as you are merely pointing out to them unethical practise by a seller. If you have problems finding the dispute system PM me and I'll give you further details, the problem I can see is that the seller has now cancelled the trsnsaction and its invisible to the ebay system - perhaps done deliberately, but the item should be visible in your "bought" items and you can start a dispute from there. Despite much criticism of ebay, I've found their dispute system highly effective. Certainly all correspondence with the seller should now be through the dispute system as once launched they ask you to "work it out" with the seller by communications which are logged as part of the dispute. Good luck. Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted January 9, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 9, 2015 I think I would just ignore him, I wouldn't answer his text and would not bother with leaving feedback or contacting him. If Ebay contact you then be truthfull about how you paid and let them deal with it. If he has cancelled the transaction he can't leave any feedback so wouldn't worry. Depending on your phone many are able to block calls/texts so would have a look at that. I used to do the same as yourself and try and put things right but then found that all I did was use up precious time trying to beat people who were skilled at being devious. Ebay are big enough to look after their interests and there is modelling to do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglian Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 You could post positive feedback along the lines of 'item arrived promptly and is as described, many thanks' that gives him your answer to his unethical request and protects you and your ebay reputation. If he attempts to challenge you, ignore it as noted above. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Thanks again one and all. I agree with everyone, broadly speaking, but I think that a combination of the last two replies - a gun-spiking positive feedback allied to ignoring all forms of communication - must be favourite. What a great source of wisdom is RMweb! Anthony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I'm sure you'll let us know if there are further developments, Anthony - this is of interest to quite a few on here, I suspect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Mark I certainly will - at this stage I have left positive feedback and have heard no more. Anthony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted January 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 10, 2015 I think that's the best move Anthony as the ball is now in ebays court to reclaim their listing fees. Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 I promised a month ago to give an update on this dodgy dealing by the seller. As suggested, I gave feedback, confirming also that I had paid by cheque, and ignored all eBay messages about cancellation of the deal. It seems that eBay doesn't suffer from joined-up thinking, as there has been no visible reaction from them to date. Never say never, but it does seem the seller has got away with it. He is, incidentally, still trading on eBay. So, yes, I am miffed, but life is too short! Thanks again for all the suggestions, and I will post again if there are any developments. Anthony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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