eBay saddle purchase update

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Happytohack

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Just a quick update. Paid £720 for a saddle on eBay last week. Paid immediately & was promised despatch within 2 days. No despatch. Promised despatch on Saturday & then got message to sy saddle wasn't being posted on Saturday after all but would be posted today (Monday). Requested that it be sent first class & that seller send me tracking number. Seller is now not replying to my messages. Basically the have £720 of my money! Thank goodness I paid be credit card via PayPal as I now will be pursuing the return of my money. What is the point if selling something & not posting it or replying to messages? This is not £7 or £17 But an awful lot of money to me. My Christmas is totally ruined due to the worry if all this.
 
I think a certain amount of time has to pass before you can make a claim. Its only been a week, including weekends and now bank hols, i wouldnt be panicking just yet. Maybe they are having a family time and not checking emails. You should get your money back via paypal anyway, it might just take time if the saddle doesnt arrive. dont let it spoil your xmas.
 
I wouldn't worry about this at all. You've paid by credit card so if it doesn't turn up within a week or so I'd suggest asking your credit card company to do a charge back and you'll get everything back. Nothing to worry about at all. They're probably just busy and thinking they'll do you a favour by not letting it get lost in the Christmas post, keep calm I'm sure all will be fine, either way :)
 
I think you're a bit hasty. Saddles can take a while to post and arrive. Couriers need to be phoned and arranged to come out which can be a day or two after the sale, then depending on postage time you have that and to add the time of the year!
 
Its possible that the seller is away today for christmas but if you are worried you could try contacting paypal and asking them if its possible to put a hold on the money until you have received the saddle as its not yet been sent
 
I wouldn't panic, they could be away for Christmas.

if you paid by paypal then you're covered, and have got upto 45 days to make a claim.
 
As for not replying to messages, not everyone spends their whole life online. There are plenty of people who don't have an office job and don't own a computer, therefore don't check messages or emails daily. At this time of year its possible they may not check for a week. At the end of the day if buying things online second hand is going to stress you out this much then maybe its not for you. Please stop panicking and give your seller a chance. If its not posted by early January with no valid reason why, then put in a not received claim. As you've already stated, you are covered by paypal and your credit card, you will get your money back even if its a scam (which doesn't seem likely at this stage) so there really is no need to worry. TBH its possible the seller is ignoring you if you're being demanding or hassling them, because if they haven't posted it yet and tell you so, they're just going to get more hassle aren't they. I'm assuming the seller is not a business but a private individual with their own life to lead, so please try to appreciate that. So far nobody has ripped you off, you're just having to wait a little longer for delivery than you would like to. It's hardly the end of the world is it.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
As for not replying to messages, not everyone spends their whole life online. There are plenty of people who don't have an office job and don't own a computer, therefore don't check messages or emails daily. At this time of year its possible they may not check for a week. At the end of the day if buying things online second hand is going to stress you out this much then maybe its not for you. Please stop panicking and give your seller a chance. If its not posted by early January with no valid reason why, then put in a not received claim. As you've already stated, you are covered by paypal and your credit card, you will get your money back even if its a scam (which doesn't seem likely at this stage) so there really is no need to worry. TBH its possible the seller is ignoring you if you're being demanding or hassling them, because if they haven't posted it yet and tell you so, they're just going to get more hassle aren't they. I'm assuming the seller is not a business but a private individual with their own life to lead, so please try to appreciate that. So far nobody has ripped you off, you're just having to wait a little longer for delivery than you would like to. It's hardly the end of the world is it.
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sure.

and im also sure if the seller didnt have the OP's £720 nice and snug in their pocket right now and actually got paid when the item was delivered then they'd have got off their backside and trotted down to the post office a whole lot quicker by now.

sorry, i dont think there's any excuse for sitting back and taking the attitude 'i'll get round to it when im good and ready if and when i can be arsed'

for a start, its rude. The buyer has had the manners to pay a LOT of money prompty when asked to. whats wrong with the buyer having the manners to post the item with in a day or two also not a week?

this is not a few pounds we're talking about its a good amount of serious money so anyone would be concerned they might be looking at losing it and having to go through the hassle of claiming it back and all the paperwork that will entail.
the seller obviously knows this and now is not even attempting to put OP's mind at rest by keeping up comms with her.

Not good enough imho and id be leaving feedback saying such.

Hope you get it sorted OP, but please dont let it spoil your christmas. Its not worth it. Try to tell yourself you'll deal with it in january.

good luck.
 
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I'd want to know if I'd spent £720! I'm sure the seller is taking their time now they've got their cash. Had they been waiting for the money form the buyer I'm sure we'd be saying 'dodgy buyer' we moan when our orders from the online stores take more than 3 days. To be honest the seller would have had 5-10 days depending on auction length to sort out a box. I sold a saddle on the 16th December and went to post office and posted it 48 hour via parcel force on the 18th December. No courier required to organise. I feel for the buyer I'd be itchy too because even if you are covered via PayPal it can take months to sort out a dispute meanwhile you can't ride as you have no saddle!
 
Whenever I've sold things on eBay, I've always weighed them first so I can quote postage, and have the necessary wrapping ready for the end of the auction. Posting a saddle is a bit more of a hassle, though you just have to wrap it and call the courier, who will pick it up from your house. Can't believe the seller has gone away for Xmas so that is causing delay, ridiculous. Not responding to messages when you've just banked a substantial amount of your customers money is inexcusable. Sorry, I would be smelling a rat too...
 
No excuse for the seller in my book. They knew when they listed the saddle exactly when it was going to end so should of had it ready to post on receipt of payment. If you're too busy to bother posting then don't list it in the first place!!
 
No excuse at all if someone has bought and paid for it you should be prepared to send it that day or the next. It's not acceptable. Never had a problem posting saddles and they should be sorted ready to go.

If they are too busy don't list it over Christmas.
 
As seller on ebay (both for my business and non business accounts), I think it's unacceptable to not post something of high value straight away or at least quickly. I am a sole trader with no employees and have to scrounge boxes from the recycling bin at the back of the co-op department store and often post something which was won on a Sunday night out on a Monday if the buyers requests it. In fact, I sold a rug last Sunday and posted it out on the Monday as the buyer needed it for xmas. It arrived on the Thursday.

If I can't post something straight away, I always let the customer know (like if I'm having trouble finding a box, etc).

I don't know if Ebay will let you file an item not received yet but I do know that it doesn't go straight to Paypal. The first step is through Ebay, then you have to wait 7 days for a response from the seller before you can escalate it to ebay customer service and Paypal. I had to do one last week with an xmas item I bought for my husband right at the beginning of December and waited 18 days with no response for the seller so filed an "item not received". Just doing the first step through ebay got their response and it arrived Friday by next day courier!!! No sorry or anything.

You don't need a special courier for saddles either (only side saddles as the box they need is over Parcelforce's size limit) but a normal saddle will cost you £15- £25 MAX to post at the post office by Parcelforce.

As a regular seller on ebay I would say wait until the "estimated dispatch date" listed on the auction has passed and then start the first step of the item not received if you have not heard from the seller. It won't go to PP straight away but the seller will just get an email with something along the lines "I've Not Received My Item" in the header (I've gotten them from bidders who have not gotten their items when it turns out the parcel was waiting for them at their sorting office!). If not joy after 7 days, then escalate it.
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
As seller on ebay (both for my business and non business accounts), I think it's unacceptable to not post something of high value straight away or at least quickly. I am a sole trader with no employees and have to scrounge boxes from the recycling bin at the back of the co-op department store and often post something which was won on a Sunday night out on a Monday if the buyers requests it. In fact, I sold a rug last Sunday and posted it out on the Monday as the buyer needed it for xmas. It arrived on the Thursday.

If I can't post something straight away, I always let the customer know (like if I'm having trouble finding a box, etc).

I don't know if Ebay will let you file an item not received yet but I do know that it doesn't go straight to Paypal. The first step is through Ebay, then you have to wait 7 days for a response from the seller before you can escalate it to ebay customer service and Paypal. I had to do one last week with an xmas item I bought for my husband right at the beginning of December and waited 18 days with no response for the seller so filed an "item not received". Just doing the first step through ebay got their response and it arrived Friday by next day courier!!! No sorry or anything.

You don't need a special courier for saddles either (only side saddles as the box they need is over Parcelforce's size limit) but a normal saddle will cost you £15- £25 MAX to post at the post office by Parcelforce.

As a regular seller on ebay I would say wait until the "estimated dispatch date" listed on the auction has passed and then start the first step of the item not received if you have not heard from the seller. It won't go to PP straight away but the seller will just get an email with something along the lines "I've Not Received My Item" in the header (I've gotten them from bidders who have not gotten their items when it turns out the parcel was waiting for them at their sorting office!). If not joy after 7 days, then escalate it.
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excellent advice.

also agree with what other posters have said about not listing something for sale of high value that might run into christmas or at a time when you decide you're going to disappear or be too busy to post it.

not to busy to bank the payment though i expect.
 
Op how much feedback did the seller have? if they did not have a lot I remember that a while back paypal were holding the funds from more expensive items until feedback was received or for a certain number of days so you may be lucky and find that the seller gets caught by this. hope they do get back to you though and get it sent quickly
 
If you have under 100, then Ebay used to withhold funds until the buyer left feedback or 45 days had passed without a complaint. I do not know if it was everyone or if it was a random spot check kind of thing. BUT in August/ September, Paypal had to comply with European laws with regards to money and banking (not sure what the exact details were) for residents in the European Union, so now when you withdraw money from Paypal, it ends up into your account within 2 hours. The law had something to do with Paypal holding money longer than necessary so I have the feeling that withholding someone's money for 45 days contravened the EU laws as my husband with his under 100 feedback has sold stuff and no money has been withheld from him.

I have been selling on Ebay since 1999 and Ebay/Paypal doesn't make it easy to find out the rule changes and tend to send you long waffling emails which make your eyes glaze over when the "user agreements" have changed.

I know my Post Office closed at midday on Christmas Eve so it could be that the seller did not realize this and could not actually get it out that day.

I think the simplest thing would be for the OP to:
1) Wait for the "estimated dispatch date" to come and go.
2) Email seller one more time this week just in case they did go over someone's house for xmas.
3) If no joy by the weekend, then file the "Item not received" thing in My Ebay. When you fill it out, it will ask how you want to be refunded if no joy and how you paid).
4) Wait the 8 days for a response or the saddle.
5) Escalate it in your "Resolution Centre" to Ebay's Customer Service (which will automatically do it with Paypal).

You can also ring Ebay and see what they suggest as well: 0208 0802105
Or the new number is found on their Contact Us page for Item Not receieved: http://ocs.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....5338913202&convId=0&ContactCsResultsPage=true
 
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Gosh i think u are being v impatient personally. We have been fighting since 15 nov for items that cost £1250 and the seller has lied so many times and let us down an its now on the small claims court track cos paypal took the money back from him thrn gave it back to him stating they 'couldnt uphold a claim against non tangible goods' so i am livid with paypal as well now. Its been horrid and spoilt my birthday and xmas but we are 6 weeks on and u are a week!! Give them a chance.
 
TChamp said:
Gosh i think u are being v impatient personally. We have been fighting since 15 nov for items that cost £1250 and the seller has lied so many times and let us down an its now on the small claims court track cos paypal took the money back from him thrn gave it back to him stating they 'couldnt uphold a claim against non tangible goods' so i am livid with paypal as well now. Its been horrid and spoilt my birthday and xmas but we are 6 weeks on and u are a week!! Give them a chance.
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isnt this post a bit of a contradiction though?

You've been through the same thing, found out you'd been ripped off but tell the OP's she's being impatient because she's handed her £720 over and now her seller seems to have gone AWOL over a week later?

think all you've done is confirm OP probably has been had.

On another point, im slightly confused as to how paypal works.
The seller isnt going to part with the goods until funds have been transferred to their paypal account and once they have the seller will simply withdraw or transfer them to their bank account. So, if the seller has removed the funds how would Paypal issue a refund in the event of a problem with item not being received?

thanks to anyone that can tell me how this works..
 
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lula said:
isnt this post a bit of a contradiction though?

You've been through the same thing, found out you'd been ripped off but tell the OP's she's being impatient because she's handed her £720 over and now her seller seems to have gone AWOL over a week later?

think all you've done is confirm OP probably has been had.

On another point, im slightly confused as to how paypal works.
The seller isnt going to part with the goods until funds have been transferred to their paypal account and once they have the seller will simply withdraw or transfer them to their bank account. So, if the seller has removed the funds how would Paypal issue a refund in the event of a problem with item not being received?

thanks to anyone that can tell me how this works..
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I *think* because Paypal is linked to your bank account, if you do not have sufficient funds in your paypal account to pay for purchase it will withdraw it directly from the approved bank account? Personally I am linked to an account that only holds £500 at any time.
 
lula said:
isnt this post a bit of a contradiction though?

You've been through the same thing, found out you'd been ripped off but tell the OP's she's being impatient because she's handed her £720 over and now her seller seems to have gone AWOL over a week later?

think all you've done is confirm OP probably has been had.

On another point, im slightly confused as to how paypal works.
The seller isnt going to part with the goods until funds have been transferred to their paypal account and once they have the seller will simply withdraw or transfer them to their bank account. So, if the seller has removed the funds how would Paypal issue a refund in the event of a problem with item not being received?

thanks to anyone that can tell me how this works..
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I think you have some sort of insurance with Paypal if they cant recover it, but not 100% sure.

In the OPs case she paid on her credit card, so if Paypal dont refund she can claim from her own credit card, much safer than other payment methods.
 
eBay hold on to the money for 21 days for sellers who are new. You cannot access this money (although it is in your account) until either that time has passed, you recurve good feedback.
I recently sold some stuff on there for the first time.
 
Happytohack said:
Just a quick update. Paid £720 for a saddle on eBay last week. Paid immediately & was promised despatch within 2 days. No despatch. Promised despatch on Saturday & then got message to sy saddle wasn't being posted on Saturday after all but would be posted today (Monday). Requested that it be sent first class & that seller send me tracking number. Seller is now not replying to my messages. Basically the have £720 of my money! Thank goodness I paid be credit card via PayPal as I now will be pursuing the return of my money. What is the point if selling something & not posting it or replying to messages? This is not £7 or £17 But an awful lot of money to me. My Christmas is totally ruined due to the worry if all this.
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Maybe xmas post.


I sold a rug and posted it 2 weeks ago and buyer not received it yet.


also i bought an ice boot in end oct from USA and not received that either
 
Leviathan said:
Maybe xmas post.


I sold a rug and posted it 2 weeks ago and buyer not received it yet.
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This is true! I'm already getting bidders emailing me where their item is, when they paid for 2nd class last week when the last posting date for 2nd had already passed!! LOL, maybe they have been reading this thread and have become worried as it's horse stuff I've sold :p

You need to take into account any backlog with the increased number of parcels in the postal system and the extended xmas/new years holidays that businesses like the Royal Mail has. My friend works for the Royal Mail and she has until the 2nd off so there will be less posties around to deliver the mail.

However, I always email my bidders straight away and explain what's what as they often don't know that an item isn't "lost" until a certain number of BUSINESS days has passed with the Royal Mail depending if it's going somewhere domestic or foreign and most people don't seem to take into account big holidays like the one we are in now! :) Just because Next has their big sale the day after xmas, doesn't mean the Royal Mail is delivering post, it's not a business day!

I think the OP is more annoyed with the seller with the lack of communication which is worrisome for such a large value item. If the seller had simply responded saying something like "Look, I'm having trouble finding a box to fit it in and have been so busy with Christmas stuff, would you mind if we waited till after the holiday for me to post it when I have more time?", I'm such the OP would have been a lot more reassured.
 
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Leviathan said:
Maybe xmas post.


I sold a rug and posted it 2 weeks ago and buyer not received it yet.


also i bought an ice boot in end oct from USA and not received that either
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I have lost 4 items through royal mail since early/mid December - items which have been lost through the post :(
Other items have taken up to 2 weeks to arrive, they have the date stamped on them when they went through the system!

I do think its the time of year and hopefully everything will be back to normal after new year!!

Paypal will recover any lost funds for you.
 
Latest update - saddle has arrived! Not 100% happy as it is not totally as described, but I shall keep it and never ever buy such an expensive item on Ebay again. Can't tell you the worry I've been through, but thanks for all the replies. To those who have been through the same hassle - I so sympathise. I am still waiting to receive another item that I bought a month ago - but at least it was for a lot less money. I know it has been Christmas, but surely if you list the item at Christmas, the least you can do is keep the purchaser informed of when it is going to be posted.
 
TChamp said:
Gosh i think u are being v impatient personally. We have been fighting since 15 nov for items that cost £1250 and the seller has lied so many times and let us down an its now on the small claims court track cos paypal took the money back from him thrn gave it back to him stating they 'couldnt uphold a claim against non tangible goods' so i am livid with paypal as well now. Its been horrid and spoilt my birthday and xmas but we are 6 weeks on and u are a week!! Give them a chance.
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You shouldn't have been this patient! Luckily, as I hassled the seller continuously, I now have the saddle. I think the moral of your story is that you should not be patient. I hope you get some or all of your money back.
 
Lula....the item was only ordered/bought a week ago....it is Christmas too. Annoying but its a week! Ours has been nearly 6 weeks & with all due respect, u dont know how many lies our seller has told us nor as we know now, how many people he has done it to. Re this thread & having now read through previous replies I see I am not alone in saying it was a bitmtoo soon for escalating etc. 1st day of normal post and saddle has arrived...
 
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