On April the sixth 2005, I was on the internet auction site eBay, hoping to find a bargain computer for my autistic son.  Together we searched through the PC section trying to whittle down the vast selection.  After what seemed at least 2 or three hours of searching and bidding (only to be out-bidden constantly during the last sixty seconds of the auction), we finally struck it lucky!

The computer described had the following specification:  CPU: 2400+/ 160gig hard drive /cdrw/ dvd drive /128meg graphics card /800meg ddr memory/tv card/2.1speakers/15inch TFT monitor/winXP/usb mouse+keyboard/cosmos silver case with lights and item reading/

Previously, we had simply gone with the bidding by placing higher bids then what was shown as the current bid.  This time, with the bidding on £165.00 and two hours to go, I put a bid of £350 pounds, as it seemed that would be a reasonable price for all that was listed. 

   Much to our surprise, we found we had won the auction and the final price was £200.00.  Both Adrian (my son), and myself were ecstatic over this stroke of fortune.  Not only had we won the item we decided was just what Adrian wanted, but we had won it for £150.00 less then I would have been prepared to pay.

   I promptly contacted the seller who insisted that he would only accept Postal Orders which I collected next day from the Post Office.  With the extra for postage, the item total was £230, then there was also the cost of the postal orders themselves, and finally the cost of sending it registered.  The final total was now £247.00, which I still considered a bargain.

Two days later I contacted the seller to confirm he had received payment and to check that the posting of my item was going smoothly.  This was confirmed by him, and he also informed me I should receive the item in about 3-5 days what is normal delivery time.

Now the fun and games really started.

 After 7 days the goods had still not arrived, so I contacted seller by phone On the 12^th April enquiring about my goods.  Mr Mason (the seller) assured me that the item had defiantly been posted (to the address I had supplied him with by both email and letter accompanying the payment).  I also asked if he had proof of posting and his reply sent the first warning bell ringing through me.

 ‘The post office doesn’t give me one,’ he replied. 

Now I know different.  Like many others I too have been using eBay for both buying and selling items.  And I am quite aware that when you send anything by Royal Mail, they usually ask if you want proof of postage. 

When I related this to him, he paused and said ‘I’m new to this, I didn’t know that.  But I defiantly posted it last week’.  He then went on to say that I should give it another few days at least, while he makes enquiries at the post office using the receipt he had been given.

 It was on the 17^th April when I contacted his again asking if he had had any success tracking the parcel. 

‘I lost the receipt’ he replied, ‘and I’m unable to trace it.  Give it a few more days and if it hasn’t shown up by then, I’ll give you a full refund.’

 Fair enough I thought he seems honest enough

21^st April.  Another telephone call.  Mr Mason agreed the item was unlikely to arrive and he would refund my money.  I told him it would be best to pay using my online account with PayPal, to which he agreed. 

25^th April.  ‘Where’s my refund’ I asked him over the phone. 

‘I sent it by post’ came the reply.  More warning bells. 

‘I though we agreed you would use PayPal to refund me’ I replied.

‘My computers gone down on me and I can’t get on the Net.’

‘When did you send the payment and how? I wanted to know.

‘By cash in a registered letter.’ The answer came back.

‘Do you have a copy of the post office proof of posting?’ I asked him.

‘I did but I’ve lost it.’

It was then I knew I had been ripped of for £247.00

As if he could sense what I was thinking, he suddenly started a rant about how in his opinion, I had received the computer, and the refunded money and I was pulling a scam and ripping HIM off.  He also said that he was going to contact the police about me ripping him off and harassing him.  It was now obvious that I wasn’t going to get anywhere.

 I decided that I had better report this to eBay and see what they can do.

I opened a dispute giving the above information, and Richard Mason replied with the following:

Dispute Opened on: 12-May-2005:  By:  Raymond Baker:

Other Party's ID:  richardmason1: 

Other Party's Response:              The item has been sent.

Courier Company: Royal mail

Postage Date: 12-Apr-2005

Tracking Number:  Not supplied

Additional Details: None Supplied

Dispute Status:  Closed

  Apparently this answer was sufficient enough for eBay to close the dispute (without informing me) and say the matter was now settled.   I tried claiming compensation from eBay, but they have chosen to ignore all my emails.    EBay did contact me asking if I want to use square trade to solve the dispute.  For this pleasure I must pay eBay £20.00 with no guaranty that they will resolve it, but as the injured party, I must pay eBay to receive any form of help.  I ask you; there's me ripped off for £250, and eBay wants to charge ME, the injured party to pay them before they even look at anything.

  I then tried to file a claim with eBay, and again it proved a complete waste of time.  After spending nearly 3 hours finding out how to go about making a claim, I filled out the form and never heard from them anymore.  I have spent absolutely ages trying to find the claim page again, but I am constantly being sent from one help page to another without ever coming across the actual form itself. 

  After numerous emails, telephone calls and a few written letters, I finally received an email in German (fortunately I speak the language), that informed me my claim has now been passed to the appropriate department, and I should wait up to four weeks for them to contact me.  Needless to say that I never heard from them again.

  3 Months after the swindle, I received an email from eBay informing me; 'that as I did not send them any of the original paperwork' (which I was never asked for), and as 'I had not been in contact with the right department (whatever that was), I had forfeited my right to claim any compensation.  So that was it then!

  I can understand why so many swindlers and thieves are now flocking to eBay.  It seems that people can swindle anyone there with impunity, and the staff at eBay are either completely useless or simply cannot be bothered to protect the interests of their customers.  I imagine that this is because they have so many people using their site, they do not really need to bother with the occasional complaint from individuals such as myself.

  So a word of warning:  If you are going to use eBay, then be prepared to be ripped off.  DON’T expect any support or backup from eBay, DON’T expect any form of help, and certainly DON’T think you are safe. 

For the Record:  The person with who ripped me of on eBay is: Richard Mason of St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 ***, Tel No: 0*7*6*7*8* (I have left certain information deliberately out, as complies with Human Rights (in this case to the criminal) and Data Protection.

I'll publish and be dammed

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