Honest Engine Collectors

I just recently got burned on ebay for the first time. I have been buying stuff on ebay since 1999, and have sold some items this year trying to clean out my garage for other projects.

I won the bid on a traffic light for my almost 5-year-old son that was 9.99 with no reserve. Shipping was stated as $40. I sent paypal for $51.29 total (including insurance) and the lady sent me an email thanking me for the money so fast. She sent me another email that claimed she took them to her local pack and ship, but I think she just never sent the light. She had 3 for sale and I emailed the other buyers and they got ripped off also. We all battled it out with ebay, paypal and squaretrade and I got nothing. I did a little research with her name and address and it turns out she might have a current warrant out on her for passing bad checks, but her feedback was not that bad at the time I made the purchase (she must have twisted it to make the other person look bad). Now she has been hammered with negative feedback by many people including myself and I have never left negative feedback before. My son loves traffic lights and traffic signs the way I like engines, so I tried to bid on it and won; I was going to give it to him for his birthday. I will admit, I thought that it was more than I should spend for a 5 year old, but I knew what it would mean to him and he could have it for many years like we collect engines.

My point is that I have bought many engine related items on ebay and shows, etc. and I appreciate the huge amount of honesty that is in the hobby. Word travels fast in this hobby, especially with sites like Harry’s and email lists; so I would like to thank all of the honest engine collectors out there. I have always tried to explain to people what I think is wrong (to the best of my mechanical ability) with an engine when I sell/trade it, and I guess that I must be asking tooooooo much to expect the same in life outside of the engine world???

My hat is off and I applaud those in the hobby that have sold me items in the past that their actions have also allowed them to sleep that night. I will chalk that 50 bucks up on the board of life to just buy from ebay sellers with 100% positive feedback and only engine related items from known engine people.

Sincerely,

Jeff Smith

I have had 2 similar experiences on ebay, out of about 300 auctions I've bought. ("WON" in cutesy-wootsey ebay terminology).

When you report it to ebay, you get a form letter thanking you for the report, and letting you know due to the other guy's (READ "CROOK'S") right to privacy, they aren't going to let you know what they determine.

The last experience was only $20.00. The guy had been an ebay member for quite a while, had a handfull of feedbacks, all positive. He simply took the money from the last two suckers who sent him money, and disappeared.

What gripes me is that although he has outright stiffed two people, his feedback is still shown (80%), and there is no mention of him being suspended from ebay (although apparently he has not listed any auctions after the last two, where he stiffed me and the other buyer.)

I guess I'll have to break down and start using PayShaft, but is that worth all the potential problems that opens up?

I have purchased many items on Ebay and there are a few honest sellers, but take all descripions with a grain of salt. Ebay is an outfit for sellers, they do not give a Clinton for the buyer.

Hank

[Paul Spence]

I buy on eBay and sometimes the descriptions leave a lot to be desired as well as those photos that are so dark you can't see what's being sold. I ask questions and check the response as well as the feedback. Sometimes I get things that are incomplete even though they are advertised as being complete. I like those that say they don't have any idea what it is, or have a means to check it out . Yea-right. I find folks passing off bad/poor items they picked up. that they can't repair as they don't know anything about it just to get their investment back and pass it off to another poor stiff. I reciently bought an engine from a know collector/dealer who said it was never tinkered with, barn fresh, "as found" and I believed him . I found out later after I dragged the closed crankcase engine home, and he was long gone with my $'s that someone sure did tinker with it as it had new cotter pins on the connecting rod cap bolts and the nuts were all rounded off from improper use of the wrong wrench that held the broken pieces of the rod bearing in tight. Had I removed the hand hole cover and checked, he would still have it, and not me . All I can say about that deal is, it was priced right and I could break even if I part it out or kept it long enough until I find the required parts, or the value goes up. Did he know about it , who knows. Next time I see him, I'll tell him about it even though I'm sure what his response will be (I didn't know that). I haven't really been totally stiffed (yet) with something I can't fix and use, just close. All I can say is "BUYER BEWARE" , any one can still get beat . Paul on a dreary day in NJ.

I have about 150 transactions with Ebay myself, I have 100% posative feedback. I have been taken twice 1st was a Davis engine catalog, listed as "buy it now" for $9.99 plus $4.99 shipping. Paypal excepted. I bought it paid for it, then got an email that it was a mistake and should have not been "Buy it now" maby it was a mistake I don't know but you get plenty of chances to change your listing before you post it, And it takes some time brfore buyers see it listed. 2nd was just a couple of weeks ago, a Tom Thumb engine was listed, No reserve. the discription said that he would deliver it to a local show if a $1000.00 reserve was met. he had 4 or 5 other items listed at the same time. only 1 had a reserve. I ended up winning the item for $330.00 ( but the way, it was missing the butter churn pully, had the wrong carb, no gas tank and both valve cages were welded on) I wrothe the guy and inquired as to paying and picking up. 3 days go by no responce. I write again, no responce. on the third email I get an answer it was to be a reserve auction, his mistake! No sale sorry, Oh ya and he said he had emailed all the bidders before auction ended to advise them of the mistake. ( I never got a note like that) he also says he asked ebay to with draw the auction and they said NO. Ya sure!!! I did not leave any feedback to them. The problem is that if you do leave bad feedback they will turn it around and leave you bad feedback and to me it's just not worth it. I did also deal with Ebay and squaretrade on both items, That to me was a waste of time. Like others say they won't tell you what the outcome was. I thought about posting here about them with there sellers name. well that could get you into leagle trouble with slander etc. But I guess all in all with 150 tranctions and only 2 bad ones That is not so bad. at least I have not lost money. Mike

Jeff have you tried contacting the office of consumers affairs in the attorney generals office in her state? Maybe they can follow through or even have her arrested.John.

[Harry]

I will add another point of information: If you post a complaint on PayPal and the seller "begs" you to remove the complaint, DON'T REMOVE IT! PayPal gives you only ONE CHANCE at a complaint per auction. If you cancel it, you cannot put it in again.

The State Attorney General is a good idea too, but make sure that you supply them with ALL information right away. Do your own PI work and supply them with the person's correct name and address.

If you have used the Postal Service for any part of the transaction, notify their mail fraud section. When I buy on e-bay, I will only pay with USPS money orders, and that is all I would accept in payment were I to sell something. Al Wait

If you post a name in a bad transaction and what is said is "fact" then there is no slander. Slander only happens when you lie about a person in public.

I've been stiffed once by a very bad description. Actually they had duplicate units and sent me a very rough one, not the one pictured. Also stiffed on payment once. He demanded I ship a DeWalt flashlight and he'd pay if it was what my description said. (It was brand new, in the box, with no battery, and I posted several photos)

I love the convenience of PayPal, but have quit using it because they are one of the companies that offer same-sex marriage benefits to their employees who are sodomites (homosexuals). Whether you agree that sodomy is wicked or not, you must admit that only one generation of people going down that road could be the end of society. Why? because two men or two women can't bear children. Their way is unnatural and it doesn't work. Thanks for listening guys, I'm off my soapbox... for now. Kevin

So far, I haven't been burned on ebay in about 50 transactions. If I can't tell what I'm looking for in a picture, if I really want it I'll ask for a better picture from the seller. If they don't respond, I don't bid. I don't use PainPal, and I really don't endorse them either. I have used it in the past. I had to cancel a credit card because of fraud linked through PainPal. Fortunately, Master Card sided with me and I didn't have to pay any of the charges. Like somebody else said, if the Postal service is involved in a shady deal, it can be mail fraud. If they get caught, they can spend some time in the bucket.