Fuming!

[Josh36912]

Hello Everyone,

I don't know what i expect from starting this thread other than to vent...

Early November I purchased a Rolex from auction it was a great price and in immaculate condition, I was over the moon. At this point I should mention I dabble in buying and selling lower end vintage watches and cufflinks, business was good and I wanted to start stepping up the ranks. Hence the Rolex.

I usually stear clear of eBay but the traffic to our site just wasn't the right audience for the Rolex so off i went to eBay. Setup a listing 'Buy It Now'. Almost cost me a fortune ... after nearly being scammed by 2 South African based accounts. When i say nearly scammed i mean they sent me PayPal and eBay confirmation emails that i only noticed were suspicious because of the poor English used, on closer inspection the emails were from paypal@europe.com and ebay@europe.com rather than paypal@paypal.com and ebay@ebay.com (the watches were ready to be shipped). Dodged a bullet with those!

So I copy the auction description and paste into eBay, the watch gets sold and everyone is happy. 3 weeks later I get a message saying the buyer wanted a refund. The lot was 'no returns' and had some really Hi-Res photographs but after a lot of back and forth eBay judged in his favor once he escalated to 'not as described' (obviously without even asking me) as apparently it was fair on both of us to return to square one .

The issue i have is the state the watch has been returned in. It now has what i am positive is purposeful scratching above the date, right on the lens. Firstly i feel ripped off but mostly i am devastated at what was a beautiful watch which is now scratched to bits on the back, lugs are scratched from some poor attempt at a strap change and this lens is in a shambles...

[CrownMe]

I personally would never sell on ebay. Ebay always sides with buyers. As for buying I do that all the time. Have only had a problem once and ebay buyer protection refunded me my money with no problem.

[brandrea]

Sorry to hear of your experience. Hoping future deals work out better for you.

[Vincent65]

Not really sure what to say, sorry to hear. I'd steer clear of trading on eBay altogether!

[AS1]

I would be fuming too. What an awful story... I know it doesn't count for much, but you certainly have my sympathies.

[motoikkyu]

Many eBay customers are total bastards. My colleagues have told me horror stories of watches purchased and returned with parts missing. You have been abused. I am very sorry that this happened to you. I hope you sent your great photos (before and after) to eBay to remind them that they are abetting very poor behaviour. Obviously, your idiotic buyer wanted to fit a 20mm bracelet to a 19mm lug-set and this was somehow your fault. I had a watchmaker/eBay buyer in New Zealand demand a 50% post-transaction discount on an as-is enamel dial 1920s because he wanted it to run better than within 4 minutes a day. I told him to return it immediately so that I could smash it into powder for having failed to please him. He never wrote back.

[aaamax]

Scary.
I have heard/read of similar events in regards to selling on Ebay. The classic is the "I received an empty box." Then you're screwed as a seller.
I will say this. There must be a way, albeit more effort than it's maybe worth, but to eliminate the ability of Paypal to access your funds after you have received them. Either taking them out immediately or removing your credit card from your account. I haven't thought this one through, but there must be some kind of action to be taken on your end to protect yourself. Otherwise, one would be well advised to stay clear of assbay as a seller.
Good luck.

[dcash0615]

Yep! Couldn't agree more.

Originally Posted by Vincent65

Not really sure what to say, sorry to hear. I'd steer clear of trading on eBay altogether!

[Josh36912]

Thanks for the response guys. To be honest i'm grateful to have received anything in the box now!

I have sent the original photos to eBay and these latest photographs but i don't expect anything beneficial for me to happen.

For those interested i have attached the original photos...

[springer]

I would be more than a little PO'd. I'm sure the buyer is bragging to all his friends now about how he conned the seller on ebay.

[motoikkyu]

Rough place to trade, especially with high-ticket items. I still sell there, but usually pieces of limited value. Still a great place to buy parts or look for things globally. Definitely not enough being done to protect sellers. You have to remember that the original crew that founded/grounded eBay are long gone: they sold out as very rich folks. Even the second generation made their money and got out. You're dealing with sort of "third tier" individuals now, plus the corporation is publicly traded. In the "good old days", we traded all sorts of interesting stuff there, now it's quite tame.

[crowncollection]

New paypal rules are ridiculous they can return a watch for upto 6 months c

[watchthisone2]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

New paypal rules are ridiculous they can return a watch for upto 6 months c

Correct.
6 months is crazy!

[LunetteVerde]

😭😭😭😱😱😱 that's very bad scenario and it sucks

Ebay is pro buyer period


♛lunetteverde@Instagram♛

[The_Walrus]

Ebay really isn't worth the fees paid as a seller to the openness of fraud.
Unfortunately it's the best exposure you can hope for and there lies the dilemma.
I personally have been fortunate.
Sorry to hear you misfortune OP .

[Andad]

Ebay is moving in the wrong direction with their buyer protection.

[RC2]

Omg. Looked liked they put a knife to that lug and put sandpaper all over the cyclops.

[bdex75]

I am glad that you got the watch back at all and amazed that it was the original watch. Have you opened up the caseback to verify that the original movement is still in the watch?? I have heard the empty box con and the returning a fake movement or fake watch that is same model.



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[Josh36912]

Originally Posted by bdex75

I am glad that you got the watch back at all and amazed that it was the original watch. Have you opened up the caseback to verify that the original movement is still in the watch?? I have heard the empty box con and the returning a fake movement or fake watch that is same model.

All these cons coming out of the woodwork are making me feel quite fortunate!


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Originally Posted by RC2

Omg. Looked liked they put a knife to that lug and put sandpaper all over the cyclops.

Sandpaper! I was trying to put my finger on what was used.

[MP5]

care to send it to me for a 6 month test drive? Ill prolly get it back before that but Id like to wear that beauty

[Sav10001]

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE PACK OF LIES!!!!!!!!

It was me who bought this watch - and i returned it because the seller claimed it to be 'TOTALLY ORIGINAL" !!!! Despite the fact that the dial has been re-painted and has new markers, all of which reported to me by a VERY REPUTABLE FULLY ACCREDITED ROLEX WATCHMAKER known to many on this very forum. The seller then admitted he know it was repainted but claimed HE WAS NOT OBLIGED TO POINT THIS OUT IN THE DESCRIPTION because I SHOULD HAVE REALISED!!! He then offered to take the watch back for a £500 FEE! yes £500 !!!! an abosulute disgrace to the trade. Ebay obviuosly ruled in my favour. The watch was returned in THE SAME CONDITION - it was never worn. Not once. The Strap was not changed. NONE of the apparant damage described above took place. The seller is a despicalbe liar, and i am shocked by his lies.

[Sav10001]

Furthermore, as a genuine lover of most things vintage ( that is my trade) to be accused of deliberately sabotaging a watch is just not acceptable. This seller is clearly attempting to wriggle his way out of refunding me. It is me who is 'fuming'.

[fmc000]

Grabbing popcorn...

[RC2]

Originally Posted by JHyatt

Sandpaper! I was trying to put my finger on what was used.

Looks like it from pic. I am so sorry to hear and see what happened.

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by fmc000

Grabbing popcorn...

Oh boy.


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[Josh36912]

Originally Posted by Sav10001

Furthermore, as a genuine lover of most things vintage ( that is my trade) to be accused of deliberately sabotaging a watch is just not acceptable. This seller is clearly attempting to wriggle his way out of refunding me. It is me who is 'fuming'.

Unfortunately i cannot 'wriggle' out of giving you a refund as eBay did rule in your favor and you have been given every penny back.

But here i am with a damaged watch...

[Sav10001]

Justice has been done then.

To be absolutely clear, you should not lie in sales descriptions, you will be found out. Secondly, don't offer to refund £700 instead of the sale price of £1200, for 'your expenses'. That is nothing short of theft.

Lastly, don't accuse me of deliberately damaging a watch. Sandpaper?????? Get real you loser.

[Mark020]

Ebay is my last resort for selling nowadays. Way too expensive, keeping my money for 21 days (200+ feedbacks and >10 years member) and too buyer biased.

[alexkarbo]

Like you said, just be happy you at least got the watch back. There are many horror stories that make your story look like a happy ending fairy tale. :)

[joe100]

Subscribed! Haha