eBay seller acting odd - should I feel bad for asking what I asked?

[Elliot B.]

I wanted true 5.1 sound for the TV in my room.

 

I won this item: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261752137987
 
This is the description:
 

you are bidding on a very much still usable 5.1 channel/dolby/ prologic home cinema system. recently the dvd player stopped opening??. so i bought another dvd player and used this as the amp/system to run everything else through. i.e t.v, dvd, mp3 and computer. everything else works fine. as you will see it comes with extra tower speakers that i bought seperatly for

[remixedcat]

I just asked how a seller on ebay's pants were and it's been 6n days and no reply.

 

All I did was ask how smooth the pants were and how tight the waistband was weather it was loose or tight fitting... simple question.

 

I've had other sellers answer within minutes.

 

They had "we will do our best to answer all questions within 48 hours" and they didn't. I would forgive them if they lived in the NE with all the blizzards but they live in MT where the weather hasn't been bad.

 

I really wanted the pants but I guess Imma pass on them becuase I don't want to buy form an unresponsive seller.

 

you gotta ask more questions for clothes since you can't try em on in a fitting room.

[Skiver Veteran]

I can kinda understand why he may get offended, a quick skim through his ebay feedback and it looks like he's sold quite a few things and got only good feedback. HOWEVER, does that mean its wrong of you to ask to see the goods working, not at all.

 

Things can break unexpectedly in transit etc, that's absolutely not questioning how trustworthy he is, but knowing what tech can be like it sometimes doesn't take much(If there is any dampness in there for example) for a problem. 

 

I wouldn't let it bother you too much, maybe even spin a small white lie and say that you've had a bad experience in the past so you just like to do everything you can to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible. You don't want to waste his time in the future if you do experience issues. 

 

If you can turn this into a positive thing for him also he might be a little more relaxed about it.

[Dick Montage]

I think he is correct in that he says they work but the advert shows them dismantled.  If you feel there is a reason to distrust, then simply don't buy them - it's not on him to wire everything up to prove it.  I don't go into Comet and ask them to setup a fridge before I buy it, so I know that it's a working fridge.

 

You didn't mean offense, and I don't think he has really taken it.  He is simply saying "No mate, sold as seen" - and ebay has a good process for anything otherwise.

[Elliot B.]

I always expect to see items working before I purchase them on eBay (or from the local Facebook groups my mother uses).

 

I also always make sure items are ready to be tested if someone buys from me.

 

I thought that was standard practice.

 

Due to his hostile tone (can you imagine how awkward it would have been when I went to pick them up?), I have decided to cancel the purchase.

[Dick Montage]

I always expect to see items working before I purchase them on eBay

 

Then this seller is clearly not one for you.  I don't feel that is a reasonable expectation.

 

Due to his hostile tone

 

I'm seeing no such tone?

[Skiver Veteran]

I think he is correct in that he says they work but the advert shows them dismantled.  If you feel there is a reason to distrust, then simply don't buy them - it's not on him to wire everything up to prove it.  I don't go into Comet and ask them to setup a fridge before I buy it, so I know that it's a working fridge.

 

You didn't mean offense, and I don't think he has really taken it.  He is simply saying "No mate, sold as seen" - and ebay has a good process for anything otherwise.

 

The only difference I would argue is if a product was faulty from Comet, apart from the inconvenience to yourself, its infinitely easier to get a replacement/refund on said product than it is on Ebay.

[Elliot B.]

Then this seller is clearly not one for you.  I don't feel that is a reasonable expectation.

 

I'm seeing no such tone?

"to unplug all this and re-attach the old one to prove i'm honest is an insult and i'd rather re-list"

 

That irked me, purely because most people I've bought from were happy to show me the item first.

 

Keep in mind, I didn't take the photos literally. I weren't aware the item was now in his garage. I thought they were readily available to be tested.

 

As you said, I clearly didn't mean offense. He could have responded in a more positive way.

The only difference I would argue is if a product was faulty from Comet, apart from the inconvenience to yourself, its infinitely easier to get a replacement/refund on said product than it is on Ebay.

Yeah, I don't expect stores to show me the items working because I believe it's far easier, in general, to solve issues with stores.

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

i don't care about the other feedback, i have being burned by a guy with perfect feedback (100+ sales)

 

"ebay is about trust and reputation"       no it is not, it is choke full of scammers (i personally met a few of those, so trust me, i know)

 

 

 

if in doubt, do not do it, or risk throwing your money away.

 

 

i know many of you did not have the same experience, but it does not mean it does not happen!

[Dick Montage]

As I say, it's your money so you choose where to spend it.  It's your expectation to see them working then fine don't buy from him.

 

But I read no such tone in his communications, and photos can be taken literally.  As it stands, he has said they work and shown photos - you are questioning that without any real reason to distrust him.

 

I've been in his position and just responded "Sold as seen - can guarantee working, but hey it's your call".

 

I think this is just a misscommunication between you both

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

"re-attach the old one to prove i'm honest is an insult and i'd rather re-list."

 

immediate end to our negotiations

 

"i of course will plug in in the garage and show all the speakers work no problem"

 

too late buddy.     "an insult",   come on!    trust is lost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

unless of course it is a Bargan Deal Of The Century and no one else is selling...

[theyarecomingforyou]

It's perfectly reasonable to ask someone to demonstrate that what they're selling works. If they're not willing to hook it up for you then I'd suggest you find another seller, as I wouldn't trust them.

[Cnónna]

but if he shows them working and the OP damages them in transit, no one can argue a fault.

 

either they where working when OP inspected them and paid for them. but got damaged/broken in transit maybe a wire got snapped or a socket broken.

 

or

 

if the OP took his work and they again did work but got damaged in transit. it's gona end up a blame game.

 

if I where the seller i'd just wire up the system and get shot of them. on the understanding the OP would help me repack them or pack them their selves.

[Dick Montage]

It's perfectly reasonable to ask someone to demonstrate that what they're selling works. If they're not willing to hook it up for you then I'd suggest you find another seller, as I wouldn't trust them.

 

Not if it's already been dismantled, stored and sold as seen.  You are then asking for something outside the confines of what they are selling and how they are selling it.

 

It's 100% your prerogative to not trust and not buy - but to expect someone to change their entire selling method to satiate your mistrust is nonsense.

[Neyht Member]

I always expect to see items working before I purchase them on eBay (or from the local Facebook groups my mother uses).

 

I also always make sure items are ready to be tested if someone buys from me.

 

I thought that was standard practice.

 

Due to his hostile tone (can you imagine how awkward it would have been when I went to pick them up?), I have decided to cancel the purchase.

I would have done the same. Used equipment should be tested first. You're not buying from a store. I don't really care how ebay ranks him.

[Dick Montage]

You're not buying from a store.

 

No, you are two private entities conducting a transaction.  If he said "OK, you've given me 3

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

 

What Elliot reads as an aggressive tone, I simply see as a seller not wanting the hassle and being prepared to let this potential sale pass as a result.

 

 

yes, and it is totally fine, and expected, that he actually lost it.   

seriously, i sell a lot of my old gear online, and i know for a fact i have to demostrate it working.   not doing so, is just lazy, and even if the gear was working, he makes it look like it could "potentially" not work.

 

playing the blame game later, and still keeping the perfect ebay feedback.   

so, while i see your point, i would not advice to buy from such sellers!

 

 

 

 

what is Your point?   That he should buy?     Why bother?   I am sure there are more options.

[Nerd Rage]

If it were Craigslist, I would say you have every right to pay after you see it works.  Being eBay with all the return policies and such if items don't meet descriptions, I always pay upfront and have the option to return if I am not happy.  Even on items that are listed as "No returns", eBay has buyer protection in place for misrepresented items.

[Dick Montage]

what is Your point?   That he should buy?     Why bother?   I am sure there are more options.

 

Of course not, it's not on Elliot to change his stance at all.  My point is that Elliott is saying the guy has an aggressive tone (or whatever word was used).  He doesn't.

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

Of course not, it's not on Elliot to change his stance at all.  My point is that Elliott is saying the guy has an aggressive tone (or whatever word was used).  He doesn't.

 

 

fair enough        not aggressive.  and yeah, if the guy is rich, he cannot be assed to hook it up for 50 quid....

still, not good attitude for the seller to have.   and yeah, the buyer can help hook it up, so it is not that hard.

[daorbed9]

I wanted true 5.1 sound for the TV in my room.

 

I won this item: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261752137987

 

This is the description:

 

 

Due to the item descrption, I just wanted to check them all over first, hear the surround sound etc. so I sent him a message.

 

Here is how the short conversation went down:

 

 

Is he right to feel offended? I thought it was common practice to show such an item working before receiving payment

 

Plus, Pro Logic isn't true surround, it's a stereo upmix, so I wanted to make sure the included DVD player (which is also the amp, it seems) was capable of true 5.1 output.

 

I would file a dispute with ebay if I was the seller.  There is no try before you buy clause on ebay.  If you won the auction then you are required to pay for the good.  Just like the goods he sold are required to be what he stated.

[Elliot B.]

It seems there are mixed views, so I'm glad I started the topic to discuss it

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

If it were Craigslist, I would say you have every right to pay after you see it works.  Being eBay with all the return policies and such if items don't meet descriptions, I always pay upfront and have the option to return if I am not happy.  Even on items that are listed as "No returns", eBay has buyer protection in place for misrepresented items.

 

and as someone who met successful scammers, and seen this "buyer protection" in work over the years, i think this strategy is far from perfect.

 

you can spend a lot of time and effort on dispute, and the money return is not a guarantee, no matter what you think. 

also if, after a lot of time wasted on communication, you get the money, you cannot get the time back! and time is money. so you lost anyway

you will also have a terrible review from the seller on your profile, that makes people not want to deal with you, since they don't know all the details.

[Nerd Rage]

 There is no try before you buy clause on ebay. 

 

I fall on this line of thinking.  Even though the sellers on eBay are mostly individuals, the eBay rules are setup as such that it functions as if you are buying from a store.  If I were to walk in to Best Buy and they have an "open box" special on a stereo, they aren't going to set it up for me to test out prior to purchase.   

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

I fall on this line of thinking.  Even though the sellers on eBay are mostly individuals, the eBay rules are setup as such that it functions as if you are buying from a store.  If I were to walk in to Best Buy and they have an "open box" special on a stereo, they aren't going to set it up for me to test out prior to purchase.   

 

 

also a good example.   i never buy an open box from the store.  i worked in renovations, as well as electronics, and it is a highly significant statistical chance that you are getting a defective product.

yes, you can return it, and get your money back, but you are wasting time and effort on it, as well as not having the right tool when you need it and unable to work. or no entertainment when you expected to have it.

huge hustle, not worth it.  so i would never buy an open box at best buy or anywhere else either.

 

 

sure if you have a ton of spare time and don't mind returning it, yeah...  buy why bother? why take the risk if in doubt? potentially wasting time on some you would not rather be doing?