8mm Forum: E BAY GRRRRR----

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Posted by Bruce Wright (Member # 2793) on May 20, 2012, 04:54 PM:

Just tried several times to place a bid on an Elmo Super 8mm film sound projectoe st-1200. All I could get was "Some of your information is not available at this time. Please try again later." The projector sold for only $87.00. Someone got a good deal. I had a cut off price of $120.00 Anyone else got one for 87.00 ? Need it for back-up.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 20, 2012, 05:32 PM:

Bruce

I got the same messages. However, I was the SELLER! I feel it cost me money because of EBay's errors. But, nothing I can do about it because it wouldn't be fair to the winner. Just another EBay SNAFU! [Mad]

PatD

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 20, 2012, 06:01 PM:

I don't get it here. So Pat your projector was sold ONLY for $87!!!?? (too bad ... It is supposed to be above $150!)

On the other hand, Bruce tried to bid but he could not? What's wrong???

And wbat that message meant to be?

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 20, 2012, 06:08 PM:

Win

Obviously a problem with the ebay site. But The buyer knew he got a great deal because he paid within seconds of auctions end.

PatD [Mad]

There is a technical term for it here in the US. S@%t happens!

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 20, 2012, 08:41 PM:

There must be something wrong here, and how could you Pat got the same message while you are the seller??

While you still have to finalize your sale you might raise this issue too to Ebay. It perhaps there is a somekind of hacker that could hijack a low starting price listing?

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 20, 2012, 09:07 PM:

All ready did. There is nothing they can do. They said that is was only previous listings that the problem was with. They said that if bid couldn't come through the auction would not have ended. Also, thateven another bidder getting that message would still be able to bid. Just not see their own history. Sounds like bullcrap to me. All I know is I took a beating on that projector. I could have easily gotten 150.00.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on May 20, 2012, 10:10 PM:

In the future Pat you actually can not sell the projector for that amount and explain it to the buyer what happened. I once did a buy it now for an Elmo ST1200 Mint in the box for $249. It was worth at least 2x that. I paid via Paypal and I got a message by the seller that they made a mistake in the listing and he apologized. It was relisted and sold for $499. Se la vie. You shouldn't have to take a beating due to an Ebay snafu.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 20, 2012, 10:42 PM:

Alan

I made a second call to EBay and still got nowhere. Even though they admit to site issues I am still obligated to complete the transaction. They are saying that bids still could be placed resulting in the auction ending at it's scheduled time. In other words they don't give a s*&t. So, that's it I take a hit and lose money. The buyer is very happy. So I learned a lesson here. If this happens again I will end the auction early myself and relist with appologies to bidders. End of story.

[Wink]

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 21, 2012, 06:24 AM:

Alan, I don't agree with cancelling the transaction because buyer doesn't know what is hapenning. If that is allowed then it is unfair for buyers and everytime a listing sold beyond the seller's expectation then seller will easily say "sorry not for sale".

The only things is to bring EBAY shares the responsibility to this problem becuase they admit there was a site problem.

Otherwise list your item at the starting price you consider not too low (but usually attract less bidders)

Btw, any of this member understands the law? maybe a lawyer? I want to know what the US law says about a third party holding money of the transaction between another parties eg: Mr. A buys a house from Mr. B through Mr. C as the property agent. Mr. A gives the money Mr. B via Mr. C but instead of Mr. C giving the money to Mr. B, he holds it for 21 days. Mr. C can actuaaly raise benefit from the bank interest within that 21 days.

Any comment?

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on May 21, 2012, 08:50 AM:

To avoid this problem, the seller should have a starting price no lower than what he would accept for the item he is selling. Other option is to have a reserve price. This I find protects the seller, but will also scare away buyers...

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 21, 2012, 09:20 AM:

Vincent

You are absolutely right. A lesson well learned. And with my 8 years on EBay I should have known better. [Frown]

PatD

Posted by Joe Balitzki (Member # 438) on May 21, 2012, 09:34 AM:

Pat,
If you had started the auction with a higher price you might have dampened bidder's enthusiasm. With the economy being what it is, a low starting bid is often necessary. It sucks that eBay won't compensate you for their error. After auction and PayPal fees, you must have made very little on the projector [Frown]

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on May 21, 2012, 10:32 AM:

Hello Winbert,regarding what you're saying on the third party
holding someones money,this is a bitter pill to swallow I know,
but lawyers have been doing it for years along with various other
institutions and not a hint of any interest that might have been
accrued.Except if the "boot is on the other foot",and you owe them,then interest charges will be taken into account.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 21, 2012, 11:05 AM:

Joe

You are also right. I started the bidding with a 50.00 price. It had 223 hits and 15 people watching the last 2 minutes of the auction. I really thought there was going to be a bidding war. But, it didn't happen because of EBays site issues. And of course they didn't care about that. I have been selling on EBay for 8 years and when you have that many watchers in the last 2 minutes of the auction there is always a bidding war. You just sit there , refresh the screen and watch the bids go up. I hope it went to a member of this forum but I doubt it. [Confused]

PatD

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on May 21, 2012, 12:15 PM:

Pat, you have our sympathies on this.I think it would have sold on
here,regardless of shipping costs because unless someone picks
the item up in person,then shipping can't be avoided.These
machines are going to get less and less and the cost of postage
is going to increase, so my view is if anyone sees an item they
want,go for it,regardless of shipping,because that isn't going to
go away,but the chances of getting a projector that has been cared for by someone like Pat are getting less by the day.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on May 21, 2012, 12:57 PM:

Sorry but if e bay messed up like that for me id refund and go straight onto ebay and make a complaint and ensure they refunded all your costs and allowed you to re-list again, this is a company error, not the sellers.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on May 21, 2012, 01:10 PM:

Actually Tom has a point,Pat is being made the fall guy for their
shortcomings.Surely in legal terms that can't be right. As has
already been asked by Winbert,do we have anyone on the Forum
that has any knowledge of the legalities in the US regarding this
predicament.Common sense dictates that something is terribly
wrong with Ebay and it must be addressed.

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on May 21, 2012, 01:14 PM:

I've dealt with Pat in the past and found him to be a very honest guy..That said, Ebay has no compassion for nice guys and fighting them would be like fighting city hall. Like I said earlier Pat. Start at a price you would be happy with. The listing fees are not that much higher and as for scaring away customers. They won't help you get an apartment on Park Avenue.. And if your item gets no bids, c'est la vie and turn the page.. "Good luck on your next sale"

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 21, 2012, 09:58 PM:

Thanks for all your comments and compliments guys. I posted here that I listed it on EBay. I figured the buyer would have more protection that way. Especially with a high ticket item. But, hey I shipped it today and it's water over the dam. At least I can sleep tonight. My conscience is clear. [Smile]

Matter of fact...I even sent the buyer the link for the lamp house cover that Vincent mentioned! [Razz]

[ May 22, 2012, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: Pasquale DAlessio ]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on May 21, 2012, 10:07 PM:

I love your attitude Pat. Life's too short to get your feathers ruffled over something your probably have no control over. Lesson to be learned and move on....You're the MAN Pat [Smile]

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 21, 2012, 10:35 PM:

HI Jan

And you da woman!

Let me tell you a quick story from a few years ago at work.

A guy called me a brown noser. So I approached him with a mad look and said "You got a lotta balls calling me a brown noser. He looked a little scared. Then I said...How stupid are you? I'm an ass kisser. Any idiot knows brown nosing doesn't get you anywhere. As kissing is where it at! We both had a chuckle. true atory Jan. I hope no one is offended by the terms and can get a laugh out of this. I love to turn things around. It's a hoot!

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on May 21, 2012, 11:47 PM:

[Razz]

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