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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> Ebay problem
        
(Message started by: Jonnycab on Dec 6^th, 2009, 1:12am)

Title: Ebay problem
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 6^th, 2009, 1:12am

I hope someone can help me with this, as it looks like it's gonna cost me a few quid :(

Before I start, I'll admit, it is probably my own fault for being stupid & not reading the rules....but I think Ebay are being a little unfare in not really considering the circumstances........read on........

I have a guitar which I've owned for 20 years & is my pride & joy, but due to personal financial circumstances, I have considered selling recently.

This guitar was previously owned by a guitarist (unfortunately dead now) who played in a band who were & still are one of the biggest rock bands in the world. It is a custom built model (for him), hand made.....& in this colour, it's maybe only one of a kind ;)

I've been in contact with various guitar dealers & many don't really have a clue...."could be worth anywhere between a grand & infinity mate, depends what a fan will pay" is what one particular Denmark Street guitar specialist told me over the phone ::)

Anyway , I was talking to a mate last week, telling him that I didn't really want to sell it, but it would be nice to know how much it might be worth on the open market & he suggested sticking it on Ebay with a ridiculous reserve price, just to see how much it might reach...then I might get some idea...

Great idea I thought :D.....So last Saturday night....after a few beers....I wrote a decent description with a load of pics & a £10,000 reserve price & posted it on Ebay..

BIG MISTAKE!!!! :o

The next day I cancelled the auction......once I'd sobered up....& in the cold light of day, the thought of actually selling my most treasured sentimental possession would be like selling my right arm.... ???

......Oh boy...I won't be drinking & going on Ebay again ;)

Anyway, the problem is, Ebay have billed me £100 for the reserve price fee on this item even though I cancelled the listing/auction within 12 hours of putting it on.

I've phoned Ebay & the operator stated that 'Ebay rules are that the reserve price fee for any auction (once started) is non refundable, even if it is cancelled within the time limit & has no bids'....but she will send it over to 'billing' & see what they say ???

Anyone had any similar problems with Ebay & how they were resolved ? :)

I don't really want to lose my 5 year Ebay account with 250+, 100% feedback, but there is no way I'm gonna pay Ebay £100 for something I decided not to sell.

I'd rather go back to sticking stuff in the local papers.....maybe the CAB or Trading Standards may have an interest in this....who knows ? ;)

Any advice would be much appreciated :)

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Snoopy on Dec 6^th, 2009, 8:11am

That is one of the problems with ebay if you use the reserve price option. you have to pay a high listing fee, even if you pull the item off at short notice. Read their small print it is in there somewhere. Looks like that could be a very expensive lesson for you and others if they do not know about it.
Best solution for getting a price on something that is so rare is to contact on of the London Auction Houses and ask for advice and when they are having a valuation day, or could they value you it for you if you are thinking os selling it.

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by lesterlad on Dec 6^th, 2009, 10:43am

Another option:
You could also queue up in the pouring rain at one of those BBC antique roadshow events, you may even get yourself on the telly.
:o

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by PJDavis on Dec 6^th, 2009, 10:45am

I'm sorry to hear of your problem. However, EXACTLY the same happened to me about 2 years ago! Ebay unfortunately have very little sympathy with this type of error, despite pleading ignorance or anything else they will most assuredly want to bill you for this, or chuck you out! I got chucked out, but in common with most other people that have made the same mistake I just opened a fresh account and started again under a new name and email addy. Hey Ho!!

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by gozz on Dec 6^th, 2009, 11:13am

JC.
Did you try the website 'Value My Stuff Now' ? I,ve got nowt worth valueing but my other half keeps having a go on there,she says it's £3 a time,hope you aren't short of £3,if you are we'll have a whip round ;D
GOZZ.

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by mick_66 on Dec 6^th, 2009, 2:28pm

Hi johnny,

Ebay like others are a business and like other businesses are unfortunatley ruthless in matters like these, I agree with snoopy on that you may have cost yourself an expensive lesson. I think they also charge you a final selling cut off your initail sale also,which also seems unfair.

i had trouble with ebay a couple of years ago with a buyer not sending me stuff..I went into dispute with them.But it was nt anything near £100, so i cut my loss and wont use them again..

on a brighter note.You still got your prize possession..

all the best m8.

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Tons_of_fun on Dec 6^th, 2009, 2:53pm

JC, i have had a couple of disputes with e-bay, but ended up paying out as i too didnt read the small print :(. I have just put it down to experience & only use e-bay when i have to :-/. On a more curious note i dont suppose you fancy revealing the name of the fabled guitarist do you. You've got me thinking now. It wasnt a certain left handed american was it ? ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Dave2302 on Dec 6^th, 2009, 4:55pm

If it were one of my mates who had suggested that I'd go slap him hard ;D

Seriously tho JC I'm sorry to hear that they are being so unsympathetic, but that's big organisations for you. At the end of the day we all check the box when we sign up, to say we have read and will abide by their rules.

Unfortunately even if you tell them to stuff it they may still pursue you for the fees.

May be cheaper in the long run to pay it. Perhaps try ringing them again and offering say 50 notes as a goodwill gesture for a quick and amicable solution ;)

HTH Dave

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by lleewar on Dec 6^th, 2009, 5:01pm

JC I would bite the bullet and do as PJDavis suggests unless you have a ton to throw away, especially at this time or the year. Lee

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 7^th, 2009, 10:36am

Thanks for all the advice guys :)

I've just emailed Ebay & have told a little fib ;)......that the reserve was supposed to be £1,000 & not £10,000 & that I cancelled the auction when I realised the mistake.

I also tried to appeal to their better side (if they have one) that it's Christmas - the season of good will to all men etc, & if they could see their way to letting me off this charge, then it will make Christmas a little easier financially ;)

I didn't go as far as to compare this to 'A Christmas Carol' scenario.....but maybe they might actually make a connection, you never know ;D

Anyway, fingers crossed ;)....will let you know the outcome :)

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Dec 7^th, 2009, 11:12am

Sorry to hear about your ebay troubles JC - the fees they charge can be a bit steep :o
I never use reserve price now as you still have to pay even of the item doesn't sell >:(

I only ever list things on ebay if :
a ) It is something I just want shot of and don't care what it goes for so I can start it off at 99p for which you can list for free.
b ) They are having a free listing day - this is normally only for private sellers and for auction format only - no reserves or BIN or best offers allowed if I recall.
The great thing about this is that you can set your start price at anything you like - basically the price you would like to get for the item / what you think it is worth - and if it doesn't sell it has cost you nothing apart from a few minutes of your time to list it.

If you have a very desirable item - like it seems you have - put it on for £10k !

My view is that this will flush out the time wasters and bargain hunters but attract genuine, well-heeled collectors - and maybe 'offers' around the asking price.

May I ask who the guitar was owned by ?

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Highlander on Dec 7^th, 2009, 11:54am

http://runstop.de/guitarlove.jpg

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Dec 7^th, 2009, 11:57am

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Methinks not.

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 7^th, 2009, 1:03pm

The guitar isn't worth £10,000, I just put that because I don't really want to sell it, but was interested to see how high someone would be willing to go for a rare & vintage guitar that was custom made for a now deceased guitarist.

The guitar is a 1980 white handmade Hamer Standard Custom (gibson explorer shape) & is worth at least £2000 alone. With it's history, then I'd have thought that it may well be worth at least twice that amount to a serious collector/fan & I was expecting many bids to come in from the USA.

The guitar was, as far as I know, custom built for the Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark (died in 1991), although the other ex guitarist (Pete willis) can also be seen playing it in many old photo's & vids. The guitar was extensively used in the recording of the 1981 'High 'N' Dry' album & world tour 8)

Check this out....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsHTmHSqQEg ....it's the guitar that starts the song (being played by Pete Willis).

A pic of Steve Clark at the Reading festival in 1980 with the guitar.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/hamerstandardcustom.jpg

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by tootman318 on Dec 7^th, 2009, 5:36pm

on 12/07/09 at 11:54:37, Highlander wrote:

http://runstop.de/guitarlove.jpg

classic stuart! }{ }{ }{

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 8^th, 2009, 12:00pm

Reeeeeesult!!! :D

Just got this email from Ebay....

"Thank you for writing back to eBay. I understand that you are concerned
about the listing fee credit for the item number xxxxxxxxxxxx..

After reviewing our database, I confirm that you have ended the item
number xxxxxxxxxxxx early. I've looked into this for you and am happy to
arrange a credit to your account for the above item."

Not only have they refunded the £100 reserve price fee, but they also refunded the £2.97 insertion,pictures & subtitle fees 8)

....And who says miracles never happen at Christmas :D

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Tenfut on Dec 8^th, 2009, 12:25pm

Time to buy a lottery ticket me thinks ;) ;) ;)

Tenfut

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Highlander on Dec 8^th, 2009, 12:33pm

on 12/08/09 at 12:00:51, Jonnycab wrote:

You can drop the price of the fares back down then }{

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 8^th, 2009, 12:42pm

on 12/08/09 at 12:33:50, Highlander wrote:

You can drop the price of the fares back down then }{

Don't think so....gotta pay for that Gibson Les Paul I bought last week ;D

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by tootman318 on Dec 8^th, 2009, 4:23pm

See, Benny Hill sorted that for you! ;D ;D

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Dave2302 on Dec 8^th, 2009, 6:26pm

Right result JC, I too would buy a lottery ticket if I were you. Glad you got it sorted M8

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Dec 8^th, 2009, 9:18pm

Pleased to hear you got it sorted OK.

The moral of this one must be 'Don't drink and eBay' ;)

Title: Re: Ebay problem
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 9^th, 2009, 12:30am

on 12/08/09 at 21:18:06, Scorpio_Mike wrote:

The moral of this one must be 'Don't drink and eBay' ;)

So that's why Parcel Force keep turning up on my doorstep with loads of bubble-wrapped junk }{