Getting Justice From Ebay

I tried to buy a teapot from ebay; a simple enough task - but no teapot arrived. I've never really believed that things 'get lost in the post', except on very, very rare occasions, but I still expected to write off the twenty quid I'd sent by paypal.

Except for two things.

1. The seller promised "Royal Mail 1st Class Recorded Delivery"

2. The ebay listing - the basis of the sale contract - also stated "This will be sent fully insured against loss"

So I decided to complain, and seek a refund. The seller ignored my emails, and after a month, I considered I'd waited long enough.

Paypal

Because I'd paid by Paypal, Ebay immediately fobbed me off to Paypals dispute resolution. This is a joke, designed to keep buyers at a distance. Once you fill in the form, stating your case, you cannot add, subtract, discuss or even respond to what the other party does. It's a joke. I never got a single response that suggested a human being had read my complaint, and - at the very last moment - the seller sent proof of posting.

Apparently Paypal cannot tell the difference between proof of posting and tracking / proof of receipt, so they immediately decided in the sellers favour. How Dare They!

This was despite the 'insurance' promise, depite the 'recorded delivery' promise, and despite the law, which makes the seller responsible for delivery.

The seller obviously knows the system, and I began to suspect that I was not the first person to be shafted.

Ebay

I then went back to Ebay. By now I was no longer angry; the £20 no longer mattered. I was just determined to stop this cheat of a seller from continuing to sell to trusting, honest buyers. And determined to make Ebay act positively, rather than protect the cheat.

Their forms go round and round; their emails (all cut and paste, no sign of reading your complaint), constantly tell you to do what you've already done, and generally waste your time. It was soon clear that all they cared about was Not Being Bothered - no interest at all in defending the buyer - who probably, like me in June, trust Ebay's various promises. But no more, of course.

Eventually, ebay decided "Dispute Closed" - they promise to mark my feelings on the seller's record, so that action can be taken if there is firther scamming. But we all know that no visible action means no action at all.

Within ebay and paypel, this cheat has got away with it.

I was tempted to close my accounts; but then there's be absolute zero chance of ever getting the useless idiots to do the right thing; keeping the accounts open makes sure the records are ket - and I have access to them. Plus those few buyers who are not happy to use Google checkout can still pay me. And I'll still use it when I have no other choices offered (and I can trust the seller!). But ebay's empire will never be my first choice, and already, the amount of money I pass through the accounts is not much above zero.

Consumer Direct

It was clear that I'd have to do it myself. Using Google, I found

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

after you buy > online shopping > buying in the UK

Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06

I telephoned, and explained the problem. They listened, and within minutes, they'd told be about my rights under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000. They also took note of my complaint for trading standards, and sent me templates to send a recorded delivery letter to the seller.

And that's where we are right now. I'll update this page as things progress, but I am very confident that I will get a refund - but that's not enough. Ebay has to be forced to act on cheating sellers.

I urge you to follow up your complaint outside ebay - and then tell ebay the result. You gain, other buyers gain, even Ebay may learn that they must act on behalf of buyers to stop cheats.

The cheating seller is:

Gill Lewis
eldonshardware
25 Bush Street
Pembroke Dock,
Pembrokeshire
SA72 6XD

email addresses include:

goodzoffice@btconnect.com

ksmilfordhaven@btconnect.com

(don't expect a reply!)

I shall update this page, and it will remain here until ebay takes appropriate action.

PLEASE take action - Please INFORM EBAY of your action

You may contact me here: