Bought an Ebay item, seems too good to be true, seller won't respond to emails UPDATE

[Roufuss]

Ok... weird stuff has been happening to me on Ebay lately, so, another question.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8285725594&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

That's what I won, pretty awesome deal, huh? Well, I started thinking, maybe the Xbox 360 isn't included? What lead me to believe it was, was that

a) He put it in the auction description (Video Game System --> Xbox 360 ---> New)

b) Further down he lists it as Xbox 360 with 15 games

c) He has that big picture of it with all the games

But then you notice shipping is only $10 for UPS Ground for all of this. Isn't that kind of cheap? Maybe it was a seller error, since he hasn't sold anything, but that combined with the low feedback has me worried.

The auction ended kind of cheap for, you know, a 360 and 15 games, but I assume this is because it ended at a strange time, the title was a bit odd, and that the auction in general was shitty.

I mean, just after this one ended, bidding ended on a 360 with 4 games at $400, so it dosen't seem that weird mine ended for a few hundred more.

I've sent the seller a message through Ebay, and an email to his email address provided in the auction, and I'm going to send another today. I want to make absolutely sure, that I can get this in writing, that it includes an Xbox 360 WITH 15 games, not just 15 Xbox 360 games before I send any sort of payment to this guy.

Does anyone else have any other ideas? The fact that I haven't even received an invoice yet is strange, either, and that he wants payment within 1 day of the auction closing??

[ragtop70]

Two ideas come to mind. Maybe he/she is out of town and will respond in a couple days when he returns.
Also, per Ebay's rules, unwritten or not, you should have contacted the seller before the end of the auction if you doubted what was in it. If he contacts you requesting the money, you are bound by a contract to purchase whatever it the auction was for.

[Roufuss]

Two ideas come to mind. Maybe he/she is out of town and will respond in a couple days when he returns.
Also, per Ebay's rules, unwritten or not, you should have contacted the seller before the end of the auction if you doubted what was in it. If he contacts you requesting the money, you are bound by a contract to purchase whatever it the auction was for.

By the time I saw the auction, it was a bit too late to contact the seller and expect to have them get back to me. Reading through the auction however, you can see the examples where a 360 was mentioned as being included - if it's not included, that's out and out lying.

I have no regrets paying if it is in fact, an Xbox 360 and 15 games, which is what the auction leads everyone to believe. If, for some reason, there is no Xbox 360, then you better believe I'm not paying, since his auction is largely misleading. I mean, hell, why put almost pages upon pages of 360 information up if there is no 360?

It just popped into my head the other day when I saw how cheap shipping was, which may be an oversight on his part. He's not allowed to raise shipping after the fact, is he, if he does figure out "Wow, it'll cost more then $10 to ship a 360 and 15 games"?

I'd like to believe the seller is out of town, but according to his auction he "expects payment to be sent within 24 hours" so I would expect he'd ship it soon after payment. I just want to hear back from the guy before I pay, and whatever it is he's selling never comes because I got scammed (which is seeming to be more likely).

[SpazX]

If it doesn't include the 360 then I'd think you would be justified not paying him as the auction clearly states that the xbox 360 is included. I'm sure there's an ebay policy that would protect you from that.

I looked back for you and found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Xbox-360-Bundle-15-Games_W0QQitemZ8283636480QQcategoryZ62053QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So, either he had two of the exact same thing, that buyer backed out, or it's a scam.

[jlarlee]

he may have thought lowering shipping would get him better bids. My last month on ebay has been the worst I have been a moron magnet

[Roufuss]

If it doesn't include the 360 then I'd think you would be justified not paying him as the auction clearly states that the xbox 360 is included. I'm sure there's an ebay policy that would protect you from that.

I looked back for you and found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Xbox-360-Bundle-15-Games_W0QQitemZ8283636480QQcategoryZ62053QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So, either he had two of the exact same thing, that buyer backed out, or it's a scam.

Even if the initial buyer backed out, you would think he would have given the second chance offer to the next bidder for $800... as it stands now, he lost $105 relisting it.

I noticed that his new auction he made (the one I won) claims he has 10 of these bundles? How is that even possible?

Thanks for looking some stuff up Spaz. If, for some reason, it's figured out this is a scam, then what?

I mean, he answered the question on the auction you showed me that it was a premium xbox 360, that he "forgot to add that", yet on his new auction he makes it even harder to see that a 360 is included??

[SpazX]

Even if the initial buyer backed out, you would think he would have given the second chance offer to the next bidder for $800... as it stands now, he lost $105 relisting it.

I noticed that his new auction he made (the one I won) claims he has 10 of these bundles? How is that even possible?

Thanks for looking some stuff up Spaz. If, for some reason, it's figured out this is a scam, then what?

I mean, he answered the question on the auction you showed me that it was a premium xbox 360, that he "forgot to add that", yet on his new auction he makes it even harder to see that a 360 is included??
I see that he does say he has 10 of them, but I don't see how he could possibly sell 10 bundles like that for "$500 and up" unless he's rich, feels guilty, and wants to share with the masses.

That would indicate to me that it's either a scam or that they're stolen. He doesn't have any current feedback and his excuse of why he couldn't list all 10 at once doesn't make sense.

As far as it being a scam as long as you haven't paid him then you're probably good, you'll have to notify ebay or something. Maybe you can message the guy that won his last auction. There isn't any feedback for that but I'd imagine he would have at least had to ship something to the guy by now.

[slidecage]

i say its a scam.

xbox system 400 bucks
15 games say 50 each 750

1150 and you got it for 700.

i doubt walmart is selling a system with 15 games for less then 900 bucks.

i would never bid the dude only had 4 feedback. there was someone selling a nice PS 2 system with 10 games for 120 last night and didnt bid cause they only have 6 feedback.

If you pay. PAY WITH CREDIT CARD do not do a cash transfer via paypal. that way if you dont get the stuff you can do a charge back. paypal sucks

[suffah]

I agree, it's a scam. 4 OLD feedbacks....and this guy suddenly drops $10k+ on xbox's and games? Only to turn them loose on ebay.... Sure. If he didn't have 10+ systems then I'd say he's legit, but something about that just doesn't fit.

[Roufuss]

i say its a scam.

xbox system 400 bucks
15 games say 50 each 750

1150 and you got it for 700.

i doubt walmart is selling a system with 15 games for less then 900 bucks.

i would never bid the dude only had 4 feedback. there was someone selling a nice PS 2 system with 10 games for 120 last night and didnt bid cause they only have 6 feedback.

If you pay. PAY WITH CREDIT CARD do not do a cash transfer via paypal. that way if you dont get the stuff you can do a charge back. paypal sucks

Yea, I was definately paying with a credit card so I could chargeback through that.

I don't mind people selling with not alot of feedback... everyone has to start somewhere, you know?

[Roufuss]

I see that he does say he has 10 of them, but I don't see how he could possibly sell 10 bundles like that for "$500 and up" unless he's rich, feels guilty, and wants to share with the masses.

That would indicate to me that it's either a scam or that they're stolen. He doesn't have any current feedback and his excuse of why he couldn't list all 10 at once doesn't make sense.

As far as it being a scam as long as you haven't paid him then you're probably good, you'll have to notify ebay or something. Maybe you can message the guy that won his last auction. There isn't any feedback for that but I'd imagine he would have at least had to ship something to the guy by now.

Yea, I'm going to send a message to the other buyer to see what's up. It's weird that he didn't leave any feedback at all yet, positive or negative.

I'm just glad I knew better then to pay him as soon as it ended.

[Koggit]

At WalMart retail prices this would be $750 games + $400 console, and then he says something about email him to buy at $500? They're definitely stolen if he's not scamming buyers entirely -- nobody pays $1150 per bundle to sell them on eBay for $500. No transactions in over a year? ...claims he couldn't make a dutch auction, wanted buyers to contact him via eMail... has to be either stolen, or items he doesn't have and doesn't intend to send.

If you trust the guy, which I certainly wouldn't, then the auction definitely is also for the console. I don't think you have to worry about that, it's clearly listed. What I'd be worried about is whether he'd ship anything after you pay him -- whether he even has the item or not, and on the chance that he does have it, why is he lying about how he obtained 'em?

You've bid though, bid and won, isn't that some kind of binding contract? I don't know too much about eBay.

[Roufuss]

At WalMart retail prices this would be $750 games + $400 console, and then he says something about email him to buy at $500? They're definitely stolen if he's not scamming buyers entirely -- nobody pays $1150 per bundle to sell them on eBay for $500. No transactions in over a year? ...claims he couldn't make a dutch auction, wanted buyers to contact him via eMail... has to be either stolen, or items he doesn't have and doesn't intend to send.

If you trust the guy, which I certainly wouldn't, then the auction definitely is also for the console. I don't think you have to worry about that, it's clearly listed. What I'd be worried about is whether he'd ship anything after you pay him -- whether he even has the item or not, and on the chance that he does have it, why is he lying about how he obtained 'em?

You've bid though, bid and won, isn't that some kind of binding contract? I don't know too much about eBay.

I guess all I can do now is wait... I sent a message through Ebay to the other buyer who won this same auction on May 10th, depending on what he / she says will decide the next course of action I think, and I might send an email to Ebay soon as a precautionary measure.

[Roufuss]

Got a reply from the previous buyer... he explained to me how the guy hasn't shipped his 360 and 15 games he won, but has sent him an email explaining how "I had to go away last minute on a business call, I'll be back Tuesday or Wednesday to ship your items, sorry about the delay" . The previous buyer has already paid this guy, on May 10th no less, and he still hasn't shipped the system out in 10 days.

I'm starting to think this is a scam, espically since, if he had to leave so fast, he had more then enough time to put up another auction.

What should my course of action be at this point?

He apparently went out of town on May 18th, the same day I won my auction. It's just getting more fishy by the minute... I mean, he didn't ship this other guy's game and system out after 8 days?

[chakan]

Roufuss.

C'mon.

I know you want this deal, but it is so obviously a scam.

Walk away.

[Roufuss]

Roufuss.

C'mon.

I know you want this deal, but it is so obviously a scam.

Walk away.

Yea, I know, unfortunately I'm not sure what my options are in this case to just walk away. Should I email Ebay, and let them know of a potential scam? I've got a bad feeling I'm going to get a negative over this stupid shit, unless I can prove he's trying to scam people.

Luckily for me, and the magic of the internet, I've found his cell #, an old Livejournal page, some posts on an Xbox forum... I might send this cell # to the guy who's already gotten ripped off. I also found an AIM name, as well.

I found everything... cell #, real name, birthday, his old band's name, where he's worked, his interests, his musical interests... I've got everything except an address, which shouldn't be too hard to find at this point.

[Technique]

Yea, I know, unfortunately I'm not sure what my options are in this case to just walk away. Should I email Ebay, and let them know of a potential scam? I've got a bad feeling I'm going to get a negative over this stupid shit, unless I can prove he's trying to scam people.

Luckily for me, and the magic of the internet, I've found his cell #, an old Livejournal page, some posts on an Xbox forum... I might send this cell # to the guy who's already gotten ripped off. I also found an AIM name, as well.

I found everything... cell #, real name, birthday, his old band's name, where he's worked, his interests, his musical interests... I've got everything except an address, which shouldn't be too hard to find at this point.

How'd you manage that? Lets see his myspace.

[Roufuss]

How'd you manage that? Lets see his myspace.

It's Livejournal, but here you go:

http://xrsfx.livejournal.com/profile

Here's one for his band:

http://www.myspace.com/readysetfail

And it was pretty easy... he's used the same screen name for the past 3 or so years.

[ramatut4001]

Yea, I know, unfortunately I'm not sure what my options are in this case to just walk away. Should I email Ebay, and let them know of a potential scam? I've got a bad feeling I'm going to get a negative over this stupid shit, unless I can prove he's trying to scam people.

Luckily for me, and the magic of the internet, I've found his cell #, an old Livejournal page, some posts on an Xbox forum... I might send this cell # to the guy who's already gotten ripped off. I also found an AIM name, as well.

I found everything... cell #, real name, birthday, his old band's name, where he's worked, his interests, his musical interests... I've got everything except an address, which shouldn't be too hard to find at this point.

The seller might not even be the same person. I work with a guy who's really stupid with his passwords and found out the other day that he's selling a Camaro on ebay. This has happened a few times. Someone compromised his email or ebay account. This seller hasn't had a transaction in such a long time, it just made me think.

I have avoided some really tempting auctions before. Sometimes it just doesn't feel right. One thing I don't let myself do is bid on an auction I find with 1min left and I haven't read everything. I'd rather miss a deal than get ripped off.

[Roufuss]

At this point I think I'd rather take a negative then gamble with $700... does anyone if there is any way I can contact Ebay, and let them know about potential fraud?

I mean, yea, if the dude was a trustworthy seller and replied to emails, I'd go for this, but its gotten to the point now where he is very untrustworthy, espically what he's done to the other buyer.

[Mr_hockey66]

you should be able to report it through ebay. And if you paid with paypal and you never got your item you can get your money back just like a credit card. I had paid someone and never got the item. I contacted ebay and got the money back. I had to eat a neg feedback though even though the other person was kicked off ebay from being a scam artist.

[Roufuss]

Ok... so it's been about three days, and I didn't hear from the guy. I'm not paying him under any circumstances now, so how I can let Ebay know that he hasn't been in contact, hasn't even sent an invoice, and ignored my emails?

I figure there has to be a way out of this one, but I'm prepared to eat the negative if I have to.

I'm almost tempted to email the seller and tell him to forget it... his lack of communication and the fact he hasn't shipped out that other 360 makes me just want to forget this whole thing. Maybe he'll be cool and when we can mutually withdraw... but I doubt it.

[puternerd]

I just wouldn't do anything. If he contacts you just ignore him. More than likely he will never bother with a negative and if he does just put a response on it about it probably being a scam. If you get ebay involed they may try to get you to pay so they get their meaty fees.

[Roufuss]

I just wouldn't do anything. If he contacts you just ignore him. More than likely he will never bother with a negative and if he does just put a response on it about it probably being a scam. If you get ebay involed they may try to get you to pay so they get their meaty fees.

He finally replied to me, and I just told him I wasn't interested due to the circumstances, and the fact that ANOTHER buyer emailed me to ask me how this transaction went, because the seller is trying to sell another guy the same thing.

Apparently, the system and all 15 games are brand new, like he really has enough to cover 2 bidders AND a buyer on the side? I don't believe it.

I told him we can mutually agree not to sell it so he can get his fees back, and if he just decides to throw me a negative, I can eat the cost and I'll throw him one back which will probably destroy his feedback.

Ebay has no way of forcing me to pay, luckily.

[jlarlee]

I Don't blame you if this was a $20 game I'd be on his side but that is way too much money

[BodyShot213]

He could have maxed out his credit cards to convert the xbox to cash really fast so he could deal with his coke habit. Maybe he wants to ruin his credit?

[Roufuss]

Well, he finally emailed me back, said he was out of town on a business trip, blah blah blah. I told him how I don't feel comfortable buying the system from him, espically since the previous one didn't ship, and that something feels off. I told him we could mutually agree not to sell to get his funds back, or work something else out.

He just said no problem, he'll offer it to the next highest bidder, and I haven't heard back from him. So I guess that's that.

If he was legit, it was a hell of a deal, but $700 is too much to gamble with.

[slidecage]

He finally replied to me, and I just told him I wasn't interested due to the circumstances, and the fact that ANOTHER buyer emailed me to ask me how this transaction went, because the seller is trying to sell another guy the same thing.

Apparently, the system and all 15 games are brand new, like he really has enough to cover 2 bidders AND a buyer on the side? I don't believe it.

I told him we can mutually agree not to sell it so he can get his fees back, and if he just decides to throw me a negative, I can eat the cost and I'll throw him one back which will probably destroy his feedback.

Ebay has no way of forcing me to pay, luckily.


i think you could be kicked off ebay for that couldnt you.. Telling someone if you neg me i will neg you. you refuse to buy the system so he has the right to Neg feedback you , i dont see a reason why you have the right to leave neg feedback on them

[chakan]

I'm glad you held off paying and got out of that.

Now bid more carefully in the future!

[Roufuss]

Just wanted to add more to this story, but apparently the guy who won the auction before mine, still hasn't heard ANYTHING from this buyer and still hasn't received his 360.

In addition to that, I've had two completely different ebay members write me on Ebay, asking me how my deal went. One was in contact with the guy to buy a system... I told him to stay the hell away from this guy if he knew what was good for him. The other, whose message I just got today, asked me if I received mine, because he submitted payment and then never heard from the seller again.

The dude is really getting up there in fraud, I know the buyer of the original auction was giving him another 24 hours before they started filing with Paypal and Ebay.

[Roufuss]

Two more emails from two more unfortunate buyers in the last two days.

[CocheseUGA]

Two more emails from two more unfortunate buyers in the last two days.

That sucks.

[Roufuss]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=62053&item=220000278160

I can't believe someone fell for this.

[judyjudyjudy]

Are any of these unfortunate buyers reporting him? I'm surprised this guy hasn't been kicked off eBay yet.

I'm glad you trusted your instincts and avoided the transaction.

[Roufuss]

Are any of these unfortunate buyers reporting him? I'm surprised this guy hasn't been kicked off eBay yet.

I'm glad you trusted your instincts and avoided the transaction.

The auction I just linked to reported him and gave him a negative... alot of the emails I got from buyers were people that dealt with him outside of Ebay.

From the looks of it, the guy who originally bought his first auction never reported him or gave him a negative, either.