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Ebay scam - 3/28/2004 5:04:10 PM   
BOTTLEMINER

 

Posts: 8
Joined: 1/29/2004
From: Palmer Lake, CO
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I thought this was interesting, I sold a whiskey bottle on ebay a couple months ago. The buyer contacted me and said it was cracked and that he wanted his money back.He sent the bottle back to me and when I recieved it it wasnt the bottle I had sold him. HE still wants his money back but I wont refund it untill I get the original bottle.The kicker is that I mark all bottles I sell on the bottom so I wont get ripped off. Buyers and sellers beware!!
Post #: 1
RE: Ebay scam - 3/28/2004 5:46:33 PM   
Pontiled

 

Posts: 411
Joined: 8/27/2003
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Way to go, Bottleminer! That's one way to trip them up! Out of 10,000 people you may meet on eBay's auctions, you may meet 1 that plays games like this, but that 1 can cause lots of problems if you don't protect yourself. I take full photos, including the sides and bottom and usually mark them in a non-conspicuous place.

Oh, welcome to the Forum.

_____________________________

Mike Russell
Author of: The Collector's Guide to Civil War
Period Bottles and Jars -- Third Edition

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 2
RE: Ebay scam - 3/28/2004 6:16:48 PM   
BottleDig1

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 3/10/2004
From: North Alabama
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Yes, welcome to the forum, BottleMiner!

_____________
BottleDig1

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Post #: 3
RE: Ebay scam - 3/31/2004 4:48:33 AM   
vtspring

 

Posts: 27
Joined: 3/31/2004
From: vermont
Status: offline
thank you for the tip . i am new to ebay and have just started putting bottles and jars up for auction.i will be sure i mark each item i sell.another thought is that every bottle has its own certain charecteristic scratches or bubbles that can be photographed or recorded

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 4
RE: Ebay scam - 3/31/2004 10:50:29 AM   
Maine Digger

 

Posts: 823
Joined: 2/4/2004
From: Augusta, Maine
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Hi Bryan, was that a 'high' price bottle that you sold? I suprised the buyer didn't take a pic of the alleged crack and e-mail you before paying postage to send the bottle back. I'm just now getting ready to start selling off a lot of surplus bottles, and I appreciate the tip about marking or having some other type of varifiable identification. I'm also going to be selling some marbles, and if you think bottles are bad......try to prove it's not the marble you sold! DNA? IFor the marbles I'm going to use a respected consignment site, even though there's a 17% commission to pay, I'll avoid the hassal of someone trying to rip me off. Keep us posted how you make out!

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Norm Miller

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RE: Ebay scam - 4/3/2004 8:57:51 PM   
Kim

 

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Joined: 2/25/2004
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Hi All
I advertised a ute on EBay, using it for the very first time. I recieved an email asking about a bid on a boat and if I did I had to re-submit my bid. The strange thing is that I didn't even look at a boat and I definately did not bid on one.

There was also a new model metal detector listed for bidding. A person contacted the seller a few times and thought he was going to get a bargain. When the prospective buyer wanted to view the detector the guy backed off. He did not reply to the prospective buyers emails again. Apparently the sellers aim was to get the money in the bank and the detector didn't even exist.

I find it a bit disturbing when we put our details in, I know that a lot of people use it but as a first timer I was a bit set back with the fault of the bidding.

Regards Kim

(in reply to Maine Digger)
Post #: 6
RE: Ebay scam - 4/3/2004 9:35:20 PM   
Maine Digger

 

Posts: 823
Joined: 2/4/2004
From: Augusta, Maine
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I wonder if it may make sense to search out those sites that are devoted to the type of item you want to sell? I find when you join a site such as this, you develop relationships where you can have complete confidence in transactions you may make. I have found the same with other forums dedicated to individual diciplines, whether marbles, photographs, furniture etc. The downside is that you might only have hundreds of potential buyers vs. hundreds of thousands. I will still list 'commons' on e-bay, (most of what I have anyway), but intend to offer the more serious items on sites devoted to the genre.

< Message edited by Maine Digger -- 4/3/2004 9:38:04 PM >


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Norm Miller

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Post #: 7
RE: Ebay scam - 4/4/2004 12:47:51 AM   
Harry Pristis

 

Posts: 495
Joined: 7/24/2003
From: Northcentral Florida
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quote:

There was also a new model metal detector listed for bidding. A person contacted the seller a few times and thought he was going to get a bargain. When the prospective buyer wanted to view the detector the guy backed off. He did not reply to the prospective buyers emails again. Apparently the sellers aim was to get the money in the bank and the detector didn't even exist.


I don't understand the problem, Kim. If I were selling something on eBay and a prospective bidder contacted me "a few times," I'd probably stop responding also -- particularly if the prospective bidder wanted to visit with me.

How did you determine that the detector "didn't even exist"??? Is it possible that the seller merely wanted to get on with his auction after deciding he didn't want to deal with the prospective bidder?

You can always check the feedback on that particular eBay auction to find out how it went for the principals.

--------Harry Pristis

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(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 8
RE: Ebay scam - 4/4/2004 5:05:42 AM   
Kim

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 2/25/2004
Status: offline
Hi Harry
It was heavily discussed amongst other operators and was found to be a scam. I may not have explained it very well.

Quote from another place "This guy surfaces every few weeks with a new Ebay account with 0 feedback. He requires payment via Western Union (no recourse for the buyer). The auctions last a few days and then Ebay cancels them. Definitely a scam!!"

Apparently he would not give a serial number of the machines etc.. He obtains his photos by scanning them. The Item has been taken off ebay.

I guess it comes down to buyer beware.

Regards Kim

(in reply to Harry Pristis)
Post #: 9
RE: Ebay scam - 5/3/2004 5:06:21 PM   
jbernstein

 

Posts: 4
Joined: 5/3/2004
Status: offline
Hi message board I am new on the board as of today it looks like a great place to research and learn some new things. I collect and sell a certain whiskey myself and there are some real scam artists out there as of late. Just a warning becareful when buying any paper seal liquor product on ebay. Please feel free to contact me via email I will get into more details.

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 10
RE: Ebay scam - 7/9/2004 4:36:12 PM   
amblypygi


Posts: 441
Joined: 4/6/2004
From: Western Massachusetts
Status: offline
I had the same thing happen with some little porcelain figurine I was selling for a friend of mine. The guy tried to return a different one with two chips and claimed it happened in shipping. I always take very detailed pictures and keep them on file though, and I sent him the following message: "I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your return because I don't believe it is the same one I sold you. The original shipment was insured though, so you can file a claim with the postal service for full reimbursement. I will of course be providing them with all of the pictures I have in order to prevent any mail fraud"

Never heard another word from him, though he did give me my first and only negative feedback

Sean

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 11
RE: Ebay scam - 9/23/2004 12:45:34 PM   
dpbottleman

 

Posts: 10
Joined: 9/20/2004
From: Texas
Status: offline
Was it a 1867 sour mash whisky from Chapin & Gore?

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 12
dpbottleman - 9/24/2004 8:41:23 PM   
Dale

 

Posts: 67
Joined: 9/3/2004
From: Texas
Status: offline
I notice you were from Texas and collected Dr.Pepper bottles. I try to collect Dr.Pepper bottles, but have only two good ones. There is a token at the bottom right of the picture that is good for Dr. Pepper at any fountain in Waco, Texas. I also live in Texas, south of Luling. Where in Texas are you located?




Attachment (1)

(in reply to dpbottleman)
Post #: 13
RE: Ebay scam - 9/28/2004 12:05:13 PM   
bearswede


Posts: 2905
Joined: 9/28/2004
From: western mass
Status: offline
Hi... I think buyers need to be heard too! I bought a flask on ebay; it was advertised as having hairline cracks, but the pictures didn't show much. I asked the seller if they were in-manufacture and stable... He assured me they were, so I got in the winning bid. The bottle arrived in a box without "fragile" written on it, and the flask had only one piece of bubble wrap. The cracks were NOT hairline; they were huge, much longer than advertised. One circumscribed a piece that was actually loose and about to fall out. The seller advertised a return policy within three days; since he had not answered any of my post-auction emails, I wrapped the flask up and sent it back asking for a refund. He refused, and Paypal would not help me even tho the item was supposed to be covered by a guarantee. Ebay didn't help either; so the guy has my $100 AND the flask!!!!

In this instance, the buyer is left helpless and that's just not right...

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 14
RE: Ebay scam - 9/28/2004 3:29:33 PM   
LaidBackJack

 

Posts: 64
Joined: 8/4/2004
Status: offline
Almost the same thing happened to me, with a non-bottle purchase. Leaving me with no recourse, I proceeded to get a different user name, & then I bid on & won another of this crooks' items, for more than he had taken me for originally. Upon receiving his email after the sale, I informed him that I'd pay for the item when he repaid me for the first one. Of course he buffed me off. But then I proceeded to bid on everything he put up, after I had left him nasty feedback on the item I had won. After a few nasty emails, he sent me my refund. When dealing with one of these crooks, it's always informative to go back through their feedback & email the people they have screwed previously. The info is available through their feedback, just email any negatives & you will get a clear picture of what kind of jerk you are dealing with. Then go after them. If all you do is get them off Ebay, that will be a good thing. I was lucky, the guy wanted to keep his username, and so he paid me off. I never paid for the other item, but I abandoned that username...tough luck for him.

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 15
RE: Ebay scam - 9/28/2004 7:14:15 PM   
kumtow

 

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/13/2004
From: Australia. Tropical Queensland
Status: offline
Good on you laidbackjack, but how come he didn't just block you from bidding on his items? Or did you have to change you user name a number of times?
I have had no real problems on eBay yet...touch wood. I did buy a gin some time ago that had a small crack that was not mentioned in the discription of the item. I put it down to inexperience of the seller as he had very little feedback. He was more than willing to refund me if I sent the bottle back. I chose not to request a refund and let it ride, which I now regret as I resold the bottle some time later a lost a lot of money due to that small crack. I am now wiser, particularly about bottles I intend to resell..

_____________________________

~Alan~
Arrgh, not another....... Holbrookes!!!

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 16
RE: Ebay scam - 9/28/2004 9:59:48 PM   
LaidBackJack

 

Posts: 64
Joined: 8/4/2004
Status: offline
This guy I was dealing with did not understand the system enough to know that I was someone he had burned before, using a different username. I got hip to him by checking his feedback, & monitoring his sales for a couple months. He sells 10 items, but only gets feedback for 1 or 2. A really squirelly character. I don't deal with anyone with much negative feedback anymore. There is little excuse for it. I have 1200+ transactions & 100% positive feedback, it's not hard if you're an honest dealer. You can email anyone who leaves feedback, and I recommend doing so about anyone with any negative feedback. There are some absolute rip-offs out there, protect yourself BEFORE you bid any serious money on anything. I also don't like dealing with people who have less than say....75 transactions. Check what the seller is selling, and if it's a bunch of $3 crap, but you're interested in something they are now selling for big money.....watch out! I was extremely lucky to get my money back in this one case, I have other stories where I didn't get diddley. Live & Learn. Let the Buyer Beware. Cheers!

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 17
RE: Ebay scam - 9/29/2004 4:20:54 PM   
bearswede


Posts: 2905
Joined: 9/28/2004
From: western mass
Status: offline
There's a larger issue here tho... As citizens of Ebay, we're given this false sense of security... We think: people won't screw us 'cause they want to continue dealing on Ebay and they don't want negative feedback... but if an Ebayer picks his/her spots and gets a few negatives among a whole bunch of positives, most people won't be bothered by it thinking it's just a few disgruntled people... So the treachery gets masked... And also, Ebay and Paypal tout all these protections against fraud, but don't you bother to try and utilize them... They are just as much a scam as what the scamers are perpetrating!

I really feel I don't ever want to do Ebay again after my experience... I've been having fun doing the other auctions like Glassworks and Heckler's... Unfortunately, there's too much down time between auctions...

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 18
RE: Ebay scam - 10/12/2004 7:52:27 PM   
bearswede


Posts: 2905
Joined: 9/28/2004
From: western mass
Status: offline
Hey...

Maybe there IS some justice out there! I just checked in with ebay and I discovered that the guy who screwed me is no longer a registered member of ebay... Maybe my bitter complaints were finally heard...

(in reply to BOTTLEMINER)
Post #: 19
RE: Ebay scam - 11/28/2004 7:40:57 AM   
ladyp3797

 

Posts: 60
Joined: 1/19/2004
From: New England
Status: offline
Lots of photos are important to successful sales on eBay. We have a "hold for payment" file to store photos after an item has a bid. Then when the sale is over, and everybody is happy we delete them. (Did they buy insurance?)
Lp

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Post #: 20
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