After 10 years...I finally got one of those...

BurningSkies · #1 06-01-2009, 07:52 PM

...eBay jerks. I've been dealing with eBay without a problem for such a long time. I've bought and sold, both for myself and also at several different businesses. Always it's been cool.

Then a few weeks ago, I won two cheap compressor units (two of the same model) from the same guy. After winning, I asked if there would be a discount on the shipping since they could go in the same box. No answer for 3 days. Then..."You were prompted to pay though eBay checkout". No response to my question, not in the least bit friendly. Nothing.

Again, I tell him I'm ready to pay, but I haven't heard a reply to my question and I want to make sure that it's a real person, not a scam..."well, once I ship, I'll refund something maybe..."

It takes a week for the unit to get shipped and eventually the box shows up. Poorly packed, both rack units are crammed into a single second hand box for a presonus unit. No bubble, no peanuts just a piece of ripped plastic and some crumpled paper and a bit of tissue paper. OK, the units look ok, but I'm annoyed. I've paid 20 bucks for poor packaging, slow service.

Next I notice that the seller hasn't included any of the power cords! Yeah, they're standard 'kettle cords' and I can go out and buy some (I don't have any extra)...but who sells units without the cords? Now I'm slightly torqued. I drop an eBay PM to the guy: "Hi, both Compressor units showed up, but no power cords were included. Please ship me power cords for both."

To the point, not angry, simple and to the point.

The reply:
There is nothing in the description about power chords. They are computer electronic equipment power chords. Everyone has them laying around the house. If you need two... I will send them, but you will pay shipping on that end. The chords will be cheaper to buy or find laying around that to ship 2. You payed and I promptley sent your items with good packing. Thanks for
your buisness.

My Reply:
Don't worry about sending them. I would have thought that since they came with power cords when purchased new, that every piece of gear I've ever purchased, new or used came with power cords (dozens and dozens), and that these units are inoperable without them, one shouldn't need to specify that they should have come with them. I'm sorry, but really... that's just unbelievable.

In all the time I've bought and sold, I've never given someone negative feedback. Tonight I did. Twice. He started with 6 positive, now he's only got four. I feel bad about it, but come on...how hard is this? If everyone has cords lying about the house, why didn't he send them? Now I have to see if I can find some in town or online order them...and it's added a handful of dollars to the cost.

tplyons · #2 06-01-2009, 08:05 PM

If something is missing that prevents functionality, I mention this.

Would you buy a computer without a power cord? No.

You're entirely in the right here.

BurningSkies · #3 06-01-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

If something is missing that prevents functionality, I mention this.

Would you buy a computer without a power cord? No.

You're entirely in the right here.

That's what I was thinking. I can't even try these things out until tomorrow when I go to the practice room and I have to steal cords off of other units in my rack to try them out? Stupid. I certainly don't have any extras piled in the corners. I have exactly 1 power cable for each piece of gear I own, plus one that's an emergency one I carry in my gig bag for 'in case of' situations. I wonder where the hell I'm going to find two locally. I also am picky to make sure that cords that were spec'ed with gear stay with it because not all gauges go with all electronic units.

elgecko · #4 06-01-2009, 08:14 PM

Did the auction have pictures of power cords or mention power cords were included in any way? If not, you probably should have asked before the auction ended...same with the shipping discount.

If there were no pictures or mention of cords, then the seller has no obligation to provide you cords or deserve negative feedback IMO.

BurningSkies · #5 06-01-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Did the auction have pictures of power cords or mention power cords were included in any way? If not, you probably should have asked before the auction ended...same with the shipping discount.

If there were no pictures or mention of cords, then the seller has no obligation to provide you cords or deserve negative feedback IMO.

The shipping thing is fine...Except for the fact that it was poorly packaged and sat around for nearly a week before shipping. I'm not mad about that, even though most dealers I've bought from have offered to ship both together and offer a slight break on shipping. I understand.

Now, the no power cord thing...It does bother me. Would YOU ever expect to buy any kind of electronic anything and have it not show up with a power cord that initially came with the instrument and is integral to its operation? Its not a functioning unit as stated without it. How about an amp? How would you feel if you went to a shop, bought an amp only to get it home and find out that you had to go and buy a separate power cord?

coreyfyfe · #6 06-01-2009, 08:35 PM

I think you were in the right to leave negative feedback. I mean, it's one thing for a pedal to be sold without a power supply, in fact it's fairly common, especially for ones that run on batteries. But for a piece of rack gear? And on top of that, to have both of them packed into a single box with little packing material to protect them is just stupid. Honestly, I've sold a bunch of stuff on ebay/TB/CL over the past few years and if there was anything that was needed/useful but not available I made sure to specifically mention it and price accordingly. This guy should have give you the same respect.

elgecko · #7 06-01-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Now, the no power cord thing...It does bother me. Would YOU ever expect to buy any kind of electronic anything and have it not show up with a power cord that initially came with the instrument and is integral to its operation? Its not a functioning unit as stated without it. How about an amp? How would you feel if you went to a shop, bought an amp only to get it home and find out that you had to go and buy a separate power cord?

If I bought that piece of gear brand new, off the rack from a commercial retailer, then yes. I would absolutely expect a cord. If I was buying that gear used, off Ebay, and there was no picture or other indication that a cord was included, I would either 1) ask before bidding or 2) not expect a cord.

The unit need some sort of audio cable to render it a "functioning unit" right? Is the seller obligated to provide you one? A compressor without an incoming signal can never serve as a "functioning unit". Should the seller provide you a means of creating a signal? Should the seller have thrown in the power cables? Probably, but unless it was explicitly stated, you just can't make those assumption on a Ebay auction. Caveat emptor!

MJ5150 · #8 06-01-2009, 08:58 PM

Sorry bro. You're a good guy, so definitely didn't deserve this.

I bought a Nissan truck years and years ago. When I went outside to take delivery...no rear bumper. I asked the salesman "WTH?", (probably not exactly WTH since that is a fairly new expression and this was like 20 years ago), but he tells me it is an option. Ridiculous what people try and get away with.

-Mike

DarrenJK · #9 06-01-2009, 09:00 PM

the guy deserves bad feedback. Don't feel bad about leaving the feedback, feel bad about having to deal with a crappy Ebay seller.

BurningSkies · #10 06-01-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

If I bought that piece of gear brand new, off the rack from a commercial retailer, then yes. I would absolutely expect a cord. If I was buying that gear used, off Ebay, and there was no picture or other indication that a cord was included, I would either 1) ask before bidding or 2) not expect a cord.

The unit need some sort of audio cable to render it a "functioning unit" right? Is the seller obligated to provide you one? A compressor without an incoming signal can never serve as a "functioning unit". Should the seller provide you a means of creating a signal? Should the seller have thrown in the power cables? Probably, but unless it was explicitly stated, you just can't make those assumption on a Ebay auction. Caveat emptor!

I've been buying from ebay without a problem since the 90's. I've purchased racks full of gear, and this is the ONLY time this is happened. So yes I do expect a unit to come with the power cord it should have. I don't expect patch cables, signals or any other fun stuff that you're devil's advocate stance wishes to mock up, but yes, I expect it to come with a power cord, new or used. If gear doesn't come with its power cord (or source) its listed as such. This wasn't. It was a picture of the face of the unit and a cut and paste of the manufacturer's spec sheet.

I'm also convinced that since I ended up getting the two units so cheaply the seller was disgruntled about the situation, and it very well could have been intentional.

Maybe you live in a land of much lowered expectations.

Then, I guess after many hundreds of transactions, it was bound to happen sometime.

MJ5150 · #11 06-01-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Then, I guess after many hundreds of transactions, it was bound to happen sometime.

Good point.

Only one after hundreds of transaction is a good ratio. Stop yer whinin'.

-Mike

BurningSkies · #12 06-01-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Sorry bro. You're a good guy, so definitely didn't deserve this.

I bought a Nissan truck years and years ago. When I went outside to take delivery...no rear bumper. I asked the salesman "WTH?", (probably not exactly WTH since that is a fairly new expression and this was like 20 years ago), but he tells me it is an option. Ridiculous what people try and get away with.

-Mike

That sucks! A rear bumper isn't optional, its the law. I generally expect people to be upright in their dealings, and I'm usually a good judge of those who aren't and stay far away. In the end, it comes down to about 15 bucks in expense, but its just corny and dishonest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenJK

the guy deserves bad feedback. Don't feel bad about leaving the feedback, feel bad about having to deal with a crappy Ebay seller.

Feedback has always been a bit of a mine-field, you know? You don't want to sink someone's boat unnecessarily. You have to worry about reprisals (or used to), and you have to take what others have written with a grain of salt...I mean, there really aren't that many A+++++++ Best eBayer in the World!!!! people really out there. It does bother me that the guy was acting like I was being the jerk. Oddly, the description said he was selling the stuff for his church, which with his kind of dealings would suggest some kind of bad spiritual mojo.

BurningSkies · #13 06-01-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Good point.

Only one after hundreds of transaction is a good ratio. Stop yer whinin'.

-Mike

Doh!

CrispyDelicious · #14 06-01-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

When I went outside to take delivery...no rear bumper. I asked the salesman "WTH?", (probably not exactly WTH since that is a fairly new expression and this was like 20 years ago), but he tells me it is an option.

-Mike

Oh wow, I just LOL'd. So hard. Thanks

warwick.hoy · #15 06-01-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

I'm also convinced that since I ended up getting the two units so cheaply the seller was disgruntled about the situation, and it very well could have been intentional.

This is what I'm thinking.

MakiSupaStar · #16 06-01-2009, 11:00 PM

Don't sweat it man. Punk kid. It's a business relationship not a friendship. You gave him money. He gave you incomplete product. Ding him. Sleep like a baby.

**cheezewiz** · #17 06-01-2009, 11:04 PM

It's an epidemic. I've had good luck for years on TB and on Ebay, and I've run into douches both places recently. Of course, the Ebay doucheload is much heavier. It's an anomoly here.

kserg · #18 06-01-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

It's an epidemic. I've had good luck for years on TB and on Ebay, and I've run into douches both places recently. Of course, the Ebay doucheload is much heavier. It's an anomoly here.

I am sorry! I thought i told you that the blowup doll was used! It was in the damn description!

Sartori · #19 06-01-2009, 11:47 PM

That sucks, but it happens. You've been lucky until now, though. Ebay is full of scum, just like most of the internet.

Gopherbassist · #20 06-02-2009, 04:25 AM

You're all clear with me. Guy ripped you off and didn't answer your questions, I say that's bad service. I've had two similar transactions. Both said new merchandise, in both cases software that was supposedly new was scratched (one even had finger prints all over it,) and in both cases the liar got negative feedback.