I have always used a popular E auction site for buying my Lanterns and other things, and I have been using this site for over 10 years. One of the reasons I used this E Auction site is their guarantee, which I thought protected me from Fraud. Well I have discovered to my cost, it ain't worth s**te. So here is my little tale :- I purchased an item for approx. £90 and the box duly arrived. The box was Empty, Yes! a totally empty box. So I didn't worry too much as I had my guarantee didn't I? I reported the non arrival of my item making it very clear that the box arrived empty from the couriers. I was reassured from their customer service that they would take care of my problem, BUT that there was a five day period when I had to communicate with the seller before the matter could go any further. So I contacted the seller who accused me of trying to get the item for free, I replied that if I was going to steal something it would be a darn sight more valuable than £90, so the conversation became more reasonable, including me sending pictures of the Empty box etc. and we determined that the most likely explanation was that someone in the couriers organisation had stolen it and repaired the box, which upon close examination revealed a Sellotaped section. He said he would tackle the courier, and later said that he wouldn't get the full refund because he hadn't paid the insurance premium.Sorted I thought, BUT unbeknown to me he had contacted the E auction site with details of the parcels tracking and that he thought i had stolen it. My claim was then rejected and closed on the evidence of tracking details. I appealed in no uncertain manner and I was given another 10 days with instructions to contact "action fraud" and get a case reference number and send them copies of the Paperwork. "Action Fraud" didn't want to know and said they specifically don't deal with missing items from auction sites and referred me to Citizens advice, which of course can't provide me with a case number so are a waste of time. I then tried to report the crime at my local Bridewell Police station but they don't deal with ONLINE crime and referred me to "action Fraud" LOL. I Consider myself lucky that it's only £90, my only income is my state pension(worst in EU), and that it is the first time anything like this has happened after over 10 years using this E auction site. It leaves a VERY bitter taste in ones mouth, and needless to say I will no longer use them because their guarantee isn't worth the computer space it's written on. So beware E Auction Sites, if you have the slightest doubt, insist that the courier waits while you open the parcel in their presence, DONT assume the E auction will look after you, because they WON'T. Ray
When using e-prey, always use PayPal, always. They will bend the world backwards for you to avoid a PayPal charge back. PayPal is so sinfully in favor of the customer it's almost criminal.
Not in this instance, they have me by the proverbial short and curlies, I quote PayPal's Buyer protection program :- "If the seller presents evidence that they delivered the goods to you, PayPal may find in favour of the seller for an Item Not Received claim even if you claim you did not receive the goods." Tracking details are considered proof of delivery, which is why BOTH Paypal and E-prey don't pay out on Item not received claims, if the seller provides tracking details. If I was a criminal I would base a scam around the above buyer protection quote, using multiple fake accounts, operate for 3 months or so, then start again with a new set of fake accounts.
Had items gone the wayside banished to the shadow realm from e-prey with tracking information that's marked delivered. Usually the responses were prompt and I get refunded in short order. No questions asked. Not sure why it didn't fall in your favor but I know the policies aren't foolproof. I've seen some nasty things people can pull off with PayPal, ruining the sellers outright.
Both paypal and ebay are criminal organizations as it comes to protecting buyer or seller. Opening the parcel with the delivery guy still at the door step, means you must be fast as lighting, because he/she hits the gas pedal while the doorbell sounds still hangs in the air. And even then: you open the parcel > it contains a brick in stead of your 2.500,00 euro, Hasag orkan > delivery of brick is successful. The shipping agent doesn't know what you are collecting: it may be bricks....
You can add Amazon to that! Yet I have NEVER(touch wood) had any problems with Amazon. I can't remember the last time I went into an ordinary shop to buy something(Not including Supermarkets). Before the internet I used to seek out junk/second hand shops, with no Idea of what I would buy and wander around to see if anything took my fancy. I sit here looking at a larger than fist sized piece of rose quartz that I got that way, not sure if it cost me 75P or 15 shillings, I've had it that long, didn't even know what it was, just a pretty rock. Now I wouldn't sell it for £100, it's become part of the background noise. I love the internet, Yet I wish it had never been invented! How can one have such conflicting thoughts? I had a brass Aladdin table lamp, wick type. I can remember finding it in this huge warehouse type junk shop clear as day, yet I haven't a clue where it went! I think maybe it's time to start weaning myself off the Internet and get out a bit more LOL.
@whiteturbo , I understand. Part of the sport is the hunt itself. For years i visited flea markets and co., but over the years they changed into leather jackets and cell phone markets. A lot of the static (?) flea markets also didn't survive the lock down(s).
I noticed this too. Alot of flea markets rarely have anything good these days compared to pre-pandemic. Just modern video game toys from 5 years ago and a bunch of other late millennial and "zoomer" related stuff. When I was growing up you had real antiques and classics out in these flea markets.
Have you checked that seller's feedback? Perhaps this has happened before with him. The weight of the parcel when it was posted may be shown on the label, but if not, then the code on it and the cost of the postage will show it's weight at the time of postage and if it was very light then the lantern was never in that parcel. Those are some ideas anyway. whiteturbo
First thing I did! He's at 100%, and he was as upset when I suggested he forgot to put it in the parcel as I was when he suggested that I was trying to get it for free! Nope It's the courier/warehouse etc. and because I didn't post it they won't even discuss it with me as I'm not their client. It has upset me, but in the scheme of things its a triviality, and I just have to accept that it was my turn to lose out and hope that Karma strikes back at the thief whoever they are. One consequence though is that I will be far more suspicious about any delivery, and I will reduce my use of E-Prey to the minimum and stick to proper sellers like the guy who sells all the Tilley spares, he can't afford to get a bad name, although I wish we could choose the couriers because EVRI and Yodel(same company I believe) are unreliable and I lost a £500 Synthesiser with them for nearly 6 weeks, even got hold of the CEO's Email and got them to chase it up, Thought I had lost that one! but I'm convinced that because I made such a fuss it was FOUND. I would never use them again voluntarily, sometimes its better to pay more AND take out the insurance! Maybe take things a little less for granted!
