Buying a machine on eBay sight unseen with pallet delivery
- Thread starter RobinBHM
- Start date
Help Support UKworkshop.co.uk:
shed9
establiSHED member
I stand corrected. I knew the distance selling regs didn't cover competitive bids, but understood the application of Consumer Contract Law would. I'll another read later but good to know if the case.
guineafowl21
Established Member
Most of my machines are cast iron, green and heavy, and were bought unseen. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t bid on something unless I’m prepared for it to arrive on my doorstep. Questions are asked before the auction ends, and if I’m not happy with the details, or the response, I keep scrolling.
I’ve also sold quite a few, and have had buyers win the auction, then disappear. It’s irritating. Many of them started asking for more pics after winning the item. As a seller, it rings alarm bells when the buyer wins the auction, then starts to decide whether they want it or not, having prevented the other bidders from buying it.
Not really a criticism of the OP, just my view from the other side of the argument.
I’ve also sold quite a few, and have had buyers win the auction, then disappear. It’s irritating. Many of them started asking for more pics after winning the item. As a seller, it rings alarm bells when the buyer wins the auction, then starts to decide whether they want it or not, having prevented the other bidders from buying it.
Not really a criticism of the OP, just my view from the other side of the argument.
A lot also depends on whether it is a consumer contract, which depends on whether either party is selling in the course of their business or not. It's only a consumer contract if the seller is operating as a business and the buyer is not.
Exactly my point. There are far too many people who seem to consider that a winning bid is simply the first step in a negotiation with the seller. Before you bid you should be sure you want the thing, and are prepared to go through with th transaction if you win. if you are not sure then don't bid. All legal arguments aside to do otherwise is just a really poor way to behave.
The reason e bay are not keen is because they are concerned about people negotiating their own deals and thereby avoiding the e bay fees. I don't do that, because I simply feel it is bad practice. If you are going to buy or sell stuff using their platform then you should pay the fees. With the pocket watches I collect, as with many other things, you often have a situation where the seller has got something found in a deceased relatives drawer or garage and know very little about it. A conversation with the seller can often be very useful in determining exactly what they have got, and so how much you want to bid for it.
If you pay by PayPal and there is a problem, for instance the item does not turn up, e-bay will wash there hands of the problem and refer you to PayPal, I had this recently when the seller even got hold of a UK Post office signed receipt, not signed by me and not from the sellers registered address, but from an agent address in London, PayPal sided with the seller, it took a lot of correspondence asking for the Customs forms before PayPal would even consider the claim, they still would not refund the monies, my next action was with the Ombudsman who wrote to PayPal and suddenly PayPal begrudgingly paid me back with a "On this occasion" comment, meanwhile I contacted Nationwide Visa who's card I use to pay my PayPal account, there was no argument they just refunded the monies, so I was actually paid back twice, I contacted Nationwide Visa and offered to re-pay, they told me to put it into my savings account, the amount was £590.00, this is a real life experience not hearsay.
That is wrong. If you place a winning bid on e bay you are entering into a legally binding contract to buy the goods. If you refuse to pay for the goods without a valid reason, and that is broadly limited to the item not being as described, or not fit for purpose, then you have broken that contract. If the seller was prepared to go to the trouble of taking you to court over it they would undoubtedly win. No body does of course because it would be too much hassle, so you just block that buyer from bidding on your stuff in future and contact the next highest bidder or relist it. Likewise whilst the seller can decide not to sell the item and withdraw it at any time before the auction ends, if they let the auction run to a winning bid and then refuse to let you have it because it didn't fetch as much as they wanted, they too would be in breach of contract. Regardless of the law, or the likelihood of anyone ever taking any kind of legal action in these circumstances, this is just a very poor way to behave, and I am rather depressed to find so many apparently condone it.
This whole "it's only e bay so buyers and sellers alike can just mess everyone around however they like" attitude is exactly what gives it a bad name.
That is a very good point. The card providers very rarely have any qualms about returning your money, in my experience at least. So I too have my pay pal account linked to my bank MasterCard account.
In my last eBay dispute, item not as described, seller didn't want to refund, I went to eBay having paid with PayPal. They dealt with it themselves and sided with me.
I have only had a few disputes over the years but it has always worked out ok in the end, although it can be a very slow process. You can find exactly the opposite approach as well. A while ago I bought a part for the Merc from a salvage place on e bay, that I had never used before. Advertised as in good condition. I messaged them when it arrived to point out that two wires in the loom were broken and had been joined together with chop block, not really my idea of good condition. I told them I intended to repair the loom and see if it worked, and let them know. Without further ado they not only gave me a full refund, but sent me a replacement part as well. Having repaired the loom the original part worked perfectly, but they refused to hear of me returning the extra one, or the refund. Needless to say they now have a regular customer!
I read this as Black, Heavy...and Pendulous.
Watched the rocky horror on disney+ last night
SamG340
Established Member
£1000 item and he wont even reply to you ? That would set alarm bells ringing for me
Jonm
Established Member
Was that because they wanted more information or because they wanted confirmation that the item was in your possession by asking for a specific picture.
Well this post set a hare running didn't it 
best case is this guy isn't an experienced seller, doesn't have an eBay account so sold it through someone else's account. So all messages go to the other person's account which she has to relay to the owner. He listed he would accept cash on collection which is always a good sign. The worst case is that he was an eBay seller and was banned. Collection is definitely the right move - have you collected it yet?
Edit: just read you opted for delivery - I hope it works out right after all this angst
best case is this guy isn't an experienced seller, doesn't have an eBay account so sold it through someone else's account. So all messages go to the other person's account which she has to relay to the owner. He listed he would accept cash on collection which is always a good sign. The worst case is that he was an eBay seller and was banned. Collection is definitely the right move - have you collected it yet?Edit: just read you opted for delivery - I hope it works out right after all this angst
Last edited:
woodieallen
Established Member
Sounds lie a dubious porn filmI read this as Black, Heavy...and Pendulous.
Watched the rocky horror on disney+ last night
You must have seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show ?. Its about as famous and cult as the original Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy.Sounds lie a dubious porn film
RobinBHM
Established Member
sellers get the worst deal on eBay, there are lots of scammer customers…they claim it never arrived, arrived broken, arrived short in qty…….often all lies. eBay sides with the buyer - as their business model relies on confidence of buyers.
Jonm
Established Member
I appreciate what you are saying but eBay is different in that they actively discourage any contact between seller and potential buyers (Edit- except written contact via the eBay system). I understand that they will ban people that their scanning process suspects of trying to make contact before the auction is finished, they basically are more concerned about their fees than allowing proper inspection of goods prior to sale. I cannot think of any other selling method for second hand goods where a sale price has to be agreed without the opportunity to physically inspect the goods or talk to the seller on the telephone. In these circumstances it is likely that buyers will want re-assurance that all is well and sellers should expect that to be the case. If the seller and buyer are both genuine the sale should proceed but with caution on both sides.
The OP wanted reassurance that “good condition” was indeed exactly that and became concerned that there was no reply. Sellers of machinery could post a video of it working. I have done this for a dumper, forklift and a vice. Most sellers do not do this. The video of the fork lift demonstrated its slope climbing and lifting abilities but also plenty of black smoke.
Last edited:
Jonm
Established Member
My experience is the exact opposite. Never had problems with selling, buying I have had one attempt to scam me out of thousands.
Similar threads
