Little eBay trouble...

morf · #1 12-26-2007, 08:21 AM

Hey peeps,

So I won an auction for a G&K head amplifier on the bay, for about 1/3rd less than the original price. The seller agreed to talk to his mother about opening a PayPal account so that I could safely pay him (he is from Hungary I think?). Anyway it has now been over a week since his last email telling me he would contact me the next day so that I can pay him, I've since then sent him a few emails asking what was up, no answer.

The thing is I have a gig beginning January for which I need this amplifier. I was going to buy it new but at the last moment found this one used on eBay so I jumped on the occasion.

My problem, as you already probably guessed, is that I need the amp ASAP and my seller is AWOL.

What should I do? I haven't paid anything yet, so I could buy the amp new like I was planning to, but what happens if a week later the seller emails me for his money? Is it possible to "cancel" an auction, maybe paying him back the 2-3 euros it cost him to put it up on eBay?

For the record the auction was won almost 2 weeks before christmas and the seller had told me I would get my amp by then...

Any suggestion/advice appreciated

mjolnir · #2 12-26-2007, 08:35 AM

Fart in his general direction, that always seems to work for you guys...

I jest.

I think there's an Ebay policy somewhere about this type of thing, something like the auction is void after 30 days of no contact or some such. I could be really wrong about that though.

morf · #3 12-26-2007, 08:49 AM

Yeah, problem is that I can't afford to wait that long, I have no way of getting another amp until then, and I can't afford to rent one.

I'm just saying, if I pay him back the ebay fees for his auction so he can put it back up for no cost, can he still legally make me pay his amp if he contacts me before the 30 days of no contact?

mjolnir · #4 12-26-2007, 08:53 AM

Probably, but if yer nice about it I'm sure he won't go to such trouble to screw you.

santucci218 · #5 12-26-2007, 08:56 AM

ill let you borrow my gk head if you let me borrow the conklin.

MJ5150 · #6 12-26-2007, 08:59 AM

The worst you'll get is a negative feedback if he comes looking for his money later. No one is going to "force you" to pay for the amp, or take you to court over it.

Advise eBay of the issues you had contacing the seller, and be prepared to show proof. You can also contact eBay, and they will give you the sellers phone number. Perhaps a phone call will expedite the transaction.

-Mike

morf · #7 12-26-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

ill let you borrow my gk head if you let me borrow the conklin.

But I need my Conklin for the gig

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

The worst you'll get is a negative feedback if he comes looking for his money later. No one is going to "force you" to pay for the amp, or take you to court over it.

Advise eBay of the issues you had contacing the seller, and be prepared to show proof. You can also contact eBay, and they will give you the sellers phone number. Perhaps a phone call will expedite the transaction.

-Mike

Yeah, that's a good idea I think I'll give him a call. I hope he speaks understandable English

He seemed young.

AmazingGracePlayer · #8 12-26-2007, 09:18 AM

Just don't pay him and buy a new/used one from a store.

santucci218 · #9 12-26-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morf

But I need my Conklin for the gig

always have to have it our way dont we!

morf · #10 12-26-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

always have to have it our way dont we!

If you visit I'll let you test it out till your fingers are sore

bongomania · #11 12-26-2007, 09:31 AM

I would contact Ebay customer support immediately and describe the situation. Leave out stuff that doesn't matter to them such as your January gig- just focus on the fact that the seller has failed to respond to multiple emails over a two-week period, and therefore you cannot complete the transaction.

DigMe · #12 12-26-2007, 09:36 AM

If he said it would be there by now over two weeks ago and also will not respond to emails then you have every right to move on IMO.

bc

morf · #13 12-26-2007, 09:39 AM

OK, thanks peeps I think I will wait it out till Friday just in case and place the order for the amp. Thomann's always gotten my stuff to me really quickly so I have a few extra days to spare.

permadave · #14 12-26-2007, 09:40 AM

If he flakes out too bad I would probably just not pay him and risk the negative feedback for non-payment. That's about the worst that will happen. It's better than losing the $ if he flakes out on sending the amp.

Also +1 for contacting ebay. I think they have live support via phone and through live chat (AIM type interface) I would run it by them and document that you tried to contact him.

santucci218 · #15 12-26-2007, 09:47 AM

next time im in france, lol.

HollowBassman · #16 12-26-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morf

I got an early present: SWR workingman's 4x10 and Big Ben 1x18 with a G&K head amp.

Am I missing something here?

mjolnir · #17 12-26-2007, 10:43 AM

Gallien-Krueger, maybe?

Bob Clayton · #18 12-26-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigMe

If he said it would be there by now over two weeks ago and also will not respond to emails then you have every right to move on IMO.

bc

agreed, the ball was in his court, and he dropped it.

morf · #19 12-26-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

next time im in france, lol.

Well next time im in the US if I'm somewhere near you

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowBassman

Am I missing something here?

??

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjolnir

Gallien-Krueger, maybe?

Yea?

edit: on wait I get why the confusion - I got early money for christmas enableing me to buy those, I have only received the SWR cabs obviously.

Bryan316 · #20 12-27-2007, 08:09 AM

Contact him one more time, explaining, you must have the amp by X date. If he doesn't get the ball rolling, then he loses out, and you bail on the auction because he was untimely and irresponsible. And keep record of your correspondences with him.

Oh, and I'd never rely on Ebay for something I "need". Something I want, sure of course, cuz if I get screwed I don't have my gigs affected by it. And if it comes broken with no time to get it repaired before your gig, you're really screwed.

However... if you want a backup guarantee.... does your store have a 30-day return policy? Buy the amp, and use it for the gig if the Ebay amp doesn't come in time.