Dodgy ebay bloke - The outcome

I purchased a set of renegade cans from a bloke on ebay. They were described as "few scratches here and there but nothing a good polish wouldn't sort out".

I received them but they were far from described with scuffs to both cans. I went straight to paypal and filed for a partial refund. Later on that evening he gets back to me, very angry that I didn't email him before. Needless to say we were'nt agreeing on anything and he would only offer £15 partial refund instead of £30 like I asked (he stated it would only cost £15 as only one can was damaged - I emailed him pictures of both damaged cans. He had the cheek to LIE to me straight about both cans not being damaged) He wasn't budging and I didn't want a full refund as I had already paid for the renegade 'surgery'. So I dropped the case and a few unpleaseant emails were exchanged. Mine weren't abusive as such just explaining why I didnt like how he lied to me. One of his replies:

YOU NEED TO THINK FIRST BEFORE OPENING YOUR MOUTH!!!! IF YOU WERENT SO QUICK
ON GOING TO EBAY THIS WOULDNT BE WHERE IT IS TODAY.
I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A BAD EBAYER AS YOU TO DEAL WITH, AND I NEVER WANT TO
DEAL WITH YOU AGAIN, WHICH I HAVE MADE SURE YOU WONT BE ABLE TOO!!
I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER TIMES YOU HAVE TRIED THIS ON WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IAM
SURE IAM NOT THE FIRST PERSON. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARENT WELCOME ON EBAY AND
GIVE IT A BAD NAME.
SO YOUR NOT WELCOME!!!!
MARK

Now, the next day, one of my items is bought via the Buy it now. I am now unpaid after 4-5 days. Ebay url is as follows:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MESO:IT&ih=007

So I dig about and notice this ebayer has also recently won a Chrysler for £3800. Who was the seller? The same guy I bought the cans from, thats who!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=150027987632

Needless to say I was very suspect. But whats this...*rummages about more*...oh...would you look at that

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...oDisplayType=2

She bought a busa as well!!! Co-incidence? I think not.

More rummaging about and they both live in Southampton.

I've never got along well with ebays search menu and trying to find out what is against the rules, has any 'offence' been committed here? I would like to perhaps blackmail him for the partial refund I am entitled to. Or just get him banned. But I know that isn't straightforward.

I'm a bit lost if I'm honest. Are you saying there are two people selling to each other who are friends? (to try and up the ratings etc?)

Originally Posted by CheekyLemon

I'm a bit lost if I'm honest. Are you saying there are two people selling to each other who are friends? (to try and up the ratings etc?)

What I'm saying is (I'm never very clear ) that:

I bought an item from bloke A.

Bloke A has had two items won by Bloke B yet Bloke B has never left Feedback for Bloke A. Bloke B is, in my opinion, shill bidding

When I fell out with Bloke A over a faulty item, Bloke B bids on my item, wins it and doesn't pay (and I know Bloke B will not pay for it). Bloke A was very angry with me.

Bloke A and Bloke B live in the same town.

It's too much of a co-incidence.

posssibly a coincidence.

You can only get a star from each ebayer once. So if you buy multiple items from "your friend" then give him good feedback, you only get one star.

I guess it depends on whether you want more refund or you want him banned. Go straight to ebay with all the info and he might get banned, or if you are confident enough, take all the evidence to him, and blackmail him as a bluff. Keep us updated!

Why didn't you talk to him first?

Not sure about the multiple accounts thing. It could be a rather unsuccessful attempt at shilling. If he keeps winning with the other account, then it's going to cost him in final value fees, especially on bikes and cars.

report them to ebay mate, i got a few kicked off the other week as they were bidding up their own items that i was bidding on, they had left each other feedback for buying and selling 3 times on the same day both from sunderland

It is against ebay's policies for two people at the same address to bid on each others items - as for in the same town etc - if it was a dummy bid to either hike the price or to avoid a sale then it's also against their rules, however I don't know how you go about proving it or how ebay go about investigating it.

With regards to your unpaid item I'd attempt to contact the buy through email and ebay's messaging system - give them a couple of days to get back to you and if they don't, send them another message declaring your intent to open an 'Unpaid Item' dispute with ebay unless they contact you or send payment by a set date.
If the date arrives with no contact or funds, open the dispute.

I would always make a couple of attempts to contact any buyer or seller first before contacting ebay or paypal - (it may be that because you went straight to paypoal this guy's got his back up ) - unexpected things happen, people make mistakes, computers fall over, servers go down, life in general just sometimes puts a spanner in the works.

Personally I would advise the above and then washing your hands of it and moving on. Is a petty little tit for tat thing really worth it? Blackmailing him - where's the point?

Originally Posted by K

Personally I would advise the above and then washing your hands of it and moving on. Is a petty little tit for tat thing really worth it? Blackmailing him - where's the point?

It is worth it in my book yes because I bought an item which was described far better than it physically was. I did only ask for a partial refund from him, I did go straight to paypal but that is because I have no time to mess about and finances are very tight this month so needed to resolve the matter quickly. It really isn't tit for tat or petty I feel. I only want what I feel I am entitled to.

He isn't out of pocket whatsoever in this matter yet he feels it necessary to buy and not pay for one of my items. I think that is the petty part. But I know what you are saying.

I have emailed the buyer of my exhaust 3 times, once right after, once on saturday and once today, sent an invoice as well.

Warthog - I want my £30 refund esentially. Whether this be through blackmail or otherwise. I'm not bothered about getting him 'abbned' through shill bidding, too many people do that. He'd get found out eventually.

I will let you all know what happens.

Think I'll email him first with my findings and see what he says.

I would wait a little while for the item to become properly unpaid. Then report him otherwise he will pay for it and get away.