How to report suspicious item

[biddyweir]

Evening all,

There is an item for sale in my vicinity that is suspicious.

I only came across it when the need arose to purchase such an item.

Initially, i had no reservations about the item, but having tried to contact the seller for several weeks (with no response), i examined the item specifics more closely.

It 'appears' that the listing has been active for 2 years (alarm bells).

The seller does not respond to messages.

This might seem harmless enough, but i contacted ebay to ask if the seller (0 feedback) is 'verified' or has been active on ebay.

I was assured ebay would investigate and email a response - i received nothing.

I called ebay several times to explain the situation and the advice i was given was to buy the item (it is cash on collection only). The money would be 'held' until i confirm collection.

My point here is that it is not really about the item.....or the money.....it is about the fact that ebay are unprepared to provide me with assurances that the item is genuine (despite evidence to the contrary).

I completely understand that if i 'buy it now' and it transpires the item is fraudulent, i will get my money back, but that's not the point.....

It would be a simple matter for ebay to verify the item/seller, but they chose instead to 'sit on their hands' despite the fact that i have made concerted efforts.

I could buy it now and yes, i would EVENTUALLY get my money back, but in the meantime my bank balance is -£BIN price and it is all an unnecessary 'headache'.

I've been on ebay since day one and as time has gone on, i have become more and more suspicious of the item. I am simply seeking reassurances that the item is genuine.

Ebay told me they would provide said reassurances, but have not.

I should add, the item is relatively 'rare' - it is not (for example) something i could buy from Amazon etc.....

How do i proceed? 

[papso22]

Ebay cannot/will not tell you whether the item, or indeed the seller, are genuine, even if someone said they would.

Cash on collection is no longer allowed by ebay so the listing is clearly very old.

[biddyweir]

Thanks ever so much for taking the time - really appreciate it.

Yes, you are right - cash on collection is not an option, despite listing specifying it - that is one of the many alarm bells.

I'm talking about the 'principal' of things here.....

I have highlighted that the item is incredibly suspicious, but ebay refuse to intervene.

They can see perfectly clearly if the seller is 'active'.

I have (readily available) software on my laptop that tells me how long i spent connected to individual IP addresses, when I connected and disconnected etc etc.

It will also tell me when said IP's were connected/disconnected when not connected to 'me'.

In general terms, this is 'old tech' - that is - it is not in any way 'technically advanced'.

Ebay are perfectly capable (or at least they should be) of verifying the item, but they chose not to.

That is what concerns me.....

[papso22]

Ebay's user agreement makes it very clear that they have no responsibility as to an item's condition, genuineness, or even existence.  That is all left to the seller, and Ebays money back guarantee protects the buyer. 

They do not have the staff, knowledge or capability to do what you want them to.

[*vyolla*]

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@biddyweir wrote:

It would be a simple matter for ebay to verify the item/seller, but they chose instead to 'sit on their hands' despite the fact that i have made concerted efforts.

I could buy it now and yes, i would EVENTUALLY get my money back, but in the meantime my bank balance is -£BIN price and it is all an unnecessary 'headache'.

I've been on ebay since day one and as time has gone on, i have become more and more suspicious of the item. I am simply seeking reassurances that the item is genuine.

Ebay told me they would provide said reassurances, but have not.

I should add, the item is relatively 'rare' - it is not (for example) something i could buy from Amazon etc.....

How do i proceed? 

---

eBay cannot provide you with assurances that the item is genuine, that would be an impossible task. 

Sellers are verified in as much as their account name must match the bank account name they've provided, and eBay will verify that bank account.

Buyers are covered by eBay, PayPal (if paid that route) or their card provider (if used to fund the payment), so it's nigh on impossible for a buyer to lose out.

However, from what you're saying here - item listed two years ago, feedback still at zero and no response from the seller when you contact them, this sounds like an account set up a couple of years ago and simply forgotten about. So, how to proceed - in the absence of any response from the seller I wouldn't. Whilst your money is protected it will be held up until the refund is processed.

[john1297576]

Sounds like an item listed as a BIN and continuously being renewed. I would have thought ebay would not renew for ever, as seller could have died.

You could see for yourself if seller was still active and had listed anything recently, but hardly worth the bother of looking.

[biddyweir]

Thanks again for the replies.

I don't want to drag this out, particularly as the party line is that there is nothing ebay can do.

I would disagree, but that's possibly a moot point.

I might ask if this is in danger of straying into the realms of wilful ignorance?

Terms and conditions have to comply with overarching rules and regulations.

There is something very odd about this listing.

Maintaining that 'there is nothing we can do, but don't worry - you'll get your money back' doesn't cut it.

But as you suggest, I will not buy the item - as that is the most logical course of action.

I'm sure it will become someone else's problem.....

[*vyolla*]

eBay do have something in place to monitor inactive accounts.

It's not entirely impossible that the account has been used to buy something with though and no feedback received for the transaction or left.

[biddyweir]

Thanks everyone!

All input much appreciated.

I'm going to pass on the item.

Hopefully eventually it will get deleted/removed.

Have a great weekend y'all!

[*vyolla*]

Have a great weekend too @biddyweir