Well it had to happen eventually...

[cosworth]

I recently bought a 1Ds Mk.II from eBay. Seller's email checked out, I Googled him, everything seemed legit. Paypal, eBay and email account all were good.

Since it's a big purchase, you have to check this stuff out. Clicked buy it now. Sent extra money for overnight shipping. It was a typical no box sale. Where the seller didn't have everything it came with and the seller seemed a little disorganized.

I had spoken with two ther sellers here on POTN and in between emails, good deals to pass up etc. I didn't get to do business with them. This I now regret.

The seller said that he would ship the 1Ds Mk.II body once the payment cleared his bank. I've heard this before from photographers who don't seem to understand the internet. Once the money is out of my account and into YOUR Paypal, you ship. Even Paypal abides by those guidelines.

6 days pass and I lose it. I email the seller saying he has 12 hours to rectify this. Again, no response. His Paypal supplied phone number was disconnected as well. 8 hours pass and I say, screw this freak. I banged his feedback, lit up the paypal escalation and called my Visa Card company. Paypal politely stated that once I initiate a chargeback through Visa it takes precedence over any dispute they have. Excellent. I just hope the doesn't hit me with negative feedback for some wacky reason.

I get my cash back within 48 hours and I can then purchase from a fellow POTN'er who is on the ball, and understands what I mean when I say overnight shipping please. Visa rules.

My first online purchase was a belt and a t-shirt in 1996. Took this long to find a doofus.

Note to future sellers: when selling a $4575 item, you reply to emails and you ship immediately. Not when you have time to get to the post office.

Now who wants to sell me a 1Ds Mk.II? I'd love a Mk.III as well but those are rarer than a date with Paris Hilton this week.

[Grace]

OMG Jason- that sucks- but I'm glad you got your money back! I wish I could help you on the new body! Good luck!

[HarleyQuinn]

That really, really blows. Should we get the lynch mob together?

[cosworth]

Bah, I don't even care. I'm getting my cash back and this guy has to deal with banking and eBay garbage. I might have to go back and dispute feedback if he turns on me but we'll see. I had 2 negatives a long time ago in a selling spree where customs opened the item and they were unhappy with how it arrived. Once more neggy is worth $4575 of trouble.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Really glad you got your $ back! Whew!

Re: shipping immediately..
I rarely can, but I make a point of telling prosepctive buyers exactlyu when I expect to be able to ship.
Did that just yesterday in fact, and the buyer balked at waiting a week before I could guarantee shipping.
Glad we talked about it up front!!

Ahh well,. the point is similar to yours though,. set a time table and agree on it. Then don't be a doofus!

[Mark_Cohran]

I've bought from eBay a few times, but no big ticket items. You're story makes me even more cautious. Glad you got your money back.

Mark

[cosworth]

I assume he found another external buyer at a better price and hoped I'd go away nicely. Ha!

[cskn0125]

amazing. At least you are getting your money back.

If you want an MKIII, you should talk to asimo on the broadway forums...wasn't he selling one for 4800? Better do it quick enough before I find the cash and catch that deal haha.

[Gujustud]

mofo seller. Get him where the sun don't shine.

I see a MKIII in your future.

[PhotoJourno]

Jason man, steel balls to spend $5k on ebay. I mean there is so much any of us can do to research the seller, but I agree with what you posted:

- On a purchase of this caliber, overnight shipping means I get up from my chair NOW, and go get it done. On any purchase of camera gear, my first step has always been to give the other party my cell phone number. That way we are both at peace, knowing we can contact eachother.

And on Paypal, I ship once the money shows on my Paypal account. Becasue Paypal is saying someone paid you. Waiting 3-5 biz days until the money transfers to their personal account is just a bunch of crap.

Glad that your CCard stepped up to the ball, and allowed you to recover the money. Nowadays there are many that operate that way. I cannot stand it.

Gotta keep our eyes open.

[cosworth]

Yeah, my risk taking gene works flawlessly. I only did this because he totally checked out and beacuse I knew Visa had my back. Googling someone and their email is key. Make sure their ident checks out.

And hell yeah, on a transaction this large the paypal email comes in and I leave grandma in her chair and bolt for the post office ASAP.

If this was done without my CC in hand, it just wouldn't have happened.

[John_B]

cosworth,
Yuck! I haven't yet had a problem on ebay, but luckily there is credit card protection.
Its kind of like a seat belt, don't normally need it but what if?

[blonde]

Originally Posted by cosworth

but those are rarer than a date with Paris Hilton this week.

sorry to hear that Jason but i am glad that Visa pulled through on this one. as for your Paris Hilton comment, i am willing to bet that even in prison she still manages to "get some"...

[BottomBracket]

I'm glad to see that your CC provided a safety net and that you didn't have to rely on Paypal's protection program. Years ago I had to resort to a Paypal dispute when an ebayer didn't ship me the item I won and paid for. I filed a Paypal dispute, and weeks later I had a favorable decision. It was a Pyrrhic victory though as Paypal said they couldn't refund me any money because the Ebayer in question closed their account long ago.

Lesson learned: pay with a CC, and dispute through that. Paypal's protection sucks.

[Lightstream]

I buy a HUGE amount of stuff over the Net... Paypal, CC, the whole nine yards. At the same time I'm sooooo leery of spending $4.5K over the Net that even if B&H had a 1DM3 sitting there RIGHT NOW, I wouldn't do it. I'm waiting till I get back home, sit down and have a LONG chat with my local dealer and pick up the 1DM3 right there and then (yes, inspect before I commit, too!!)

If it means waiting (none of this deposit, preorder, 'list' crap for me), then I'll wait. I am not due back home for a while yet anyway.