Got Ripped Off Buying a Gold Eagle on eBay

[Michigan11]

Sorry to hear about that. I have had nothing but great dealings with sellers and buyers on ebay. I really do hope you get your money back or something. Good luck. Keep us updated on what happens.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Sorry to hear about that. I have had nothing but great dealings with sellers and buyers on ebay. I really do hope you get your money back or something. Good luck. Keep us updated on what happens.

Thanks, I'll certainly let y'all know what happens.

you can initiate a chargeback through your card (credit or debit) INDEPENDENT of the paypal or ebay as mediators (this gets them pissed since THEY will be out the money..they will threaten to close your account if you do it again).

Does anyone know if there are time constraints with going this route? I never would have thought there would be a 45 day window with paypal. I just assumed since you weren't paying with cash or money order etc., since it was all traceable you would be immediately refunded. I thought all you had to do was prove your case, which is easy enough for me to do, they're just refusing on a technicality, "I didn't file in 45 days."

I would hate to try to use this method and them tell me there's a "60 day" limit or some bs.

 

[angelatc]

So I filed with eBay on the 45th day but it didn't direct me to paypal. That's when I found out I had to file with paypal within 45 days to get my money back. Now both eBay and paypal are saying I can't get my money back. I feel like an idiot for not reading the rules and following the directions properly. I just thought since the seller was working with me, and since I was using paypal and ebay that I was covered.(

Did you pay with a credit card? If so, call them and tell them that you need to initiate a fraud chargeback for goods not received.

The answer to the time limit lies on the back of your credit card statement. Some of them give as little as 60 days from when you received the statement where the charge appeared, others give as long as 6 months.

Dealing with eBay is an exercise in futility. Do not waste your time.

Debit cards with the VISA logo are guaranteed by VISA to carry the same protections that credit cards have, but BOFA might tell you something different. If so, call 1 800 VISA 911 and get them involved. Also be sure to file your original complaint in writing, preferably sent Registered Mail.

 

[fj45lvr]

If you paid with a debit or credit IMMEADIATELY contact the bank and fill out the paperwork ... you will get the money back FROM PAYPAL who credited this sellers bank account (which will piss off Paypal...but who cares)

You learned a valuable lesson.

 

[ryanduff]

Sorry to hear. I wasn't aware of that 45-day rule regarding paypal/ebay either. Let us know how it turns out in dealing with the bank/CC co.

If you're smart enough to buy gold... I sure as hell hope you're not buying it on a credit card.

The only way you might make out is if you had a Visa/Debit card and had it run as a Visa when deducting the funds from your checking account. In that case, you get the protections of a normal Visa card.

 

[Josh_LA]

She claimed her house was destroyed in a storm. Through googling I was able to find out that there was indeed a snowstorm right after I bought the coin. I even found a news article that showed her damaged home and mentioned her by name. Although it could be elaborate BS. Has anyone ever heard of a paper called the Roswell Record? From Roswell, NM.

I agree you use eBay to try to get something quickly, but the seller had perfect reputation and what seemed to be a legitimate excuse. I tried to be patient and work with the seller and allow her to make the correction. Besides I wanted the gold, not the fiat money back. I guess now I got nothing but a hassle instead.

doesn't matter, I'm not blaming her for her house being destroyed, but I am demanding my money back, unless the deal was so good I'd rather wait for it.

if you got your money back, you could quickly buy it again from somebody else.

Roswell Daily Record (is that what you meant?) was the paper who published the "Roswell UFO landing"

 

[slacker921]

I've had an ebay user in good standing suddenly lose their account.. and STILL honor a transaction. Mind you it was for less than $20, but they didn't get loads and loads of good feedback for no reason. The person on the other end of my transaction was apparently an honest person who just screwed up or something and had their account revoked.

If it's the woman I've heard tales of from the kitco.com forums then she was selling coins she didn't have with the expectation she'd be able to buy them at a lower price soon... the price of gold going up makes that impossible. There might be hope of just getting your money back and not getting the coin.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Thanks for all of your help. I'm learning a lot about how this whole process works.

doesn't matter, I'm not blaming her for her house being destroyed, but I am demanding my money back, unless the deal was so good I'd rather wait for it.

The reason I was waiting is, believe it or not, was that the deal was so sweet I would rather wait for it.

I was getting the Eagle under the spot price on Dec. 4th because I was using MS Cashback. Now the spot price of gold has risen so much, I've been robbed of that profit.

if you got your money back, you could quickly buy it again from somebody else.

True, but I guarantee I can't find an Eagle for $740 an ounce anywhere right now.

Roswell Daily Record (is that what you meant?) was the paper who published the "Roswell UFO landing"

Yes, ok then the article is real and she was telling the truth.

http://roswell-record.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=35964&SectionID=49&SubSectionID=112&S=1

If it's the woman I've heard tales of from the kitco.com forums then she was selling coins she didn't have with the expectation she'd be able to buy them at a lower price soon... the price of gold going up makes that impossible. There might be hope of just getting your money back and not getting the coin.

Yes, this is the woman from the kitco.com forums. I know this is what she was doing because our last correspondence said she was waiting on the shipment on Monday. Well, what the hell, she was selling coins she didn't even have!

This is her from the above article: A large tree fell on Karen Maynes' home, at the corner of West Seventh Street and North Kentucky Avenue, in the city's historic district.

 

[Josh_LA]

Thanks for all of your help. I'm learning a lot about how this whole process works.



The reason I was waiting is, believe it or not, was that the deal was so sweet I would rather wait for it.

I was getting the Eagle under the spot price on Dec. 4th because I was using MS Cashback. Now the spot price of gold has risen so much, I've been robbed of that profit.



True, but I guarantee I can't find an Eagle for $740 an ounce anywhere right now.



Yes, ok then the article is real and she was telling the truth.

http://roswell-record.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=35964&SectionID=49&SubSectionID=112&S=1

I never doubted her story, but it's none of my concern what happened to her, in fact, she can be completely honest and may have died, or her account was probably disabled for bad reputation out of her control, whatever it was, YOU still had the responsibility to demand your end of the bargain, and in this case, it is sad you were expecting a good cashback deal, and got THIS.

 

[sparebulb]

If the official route through paypal and ebay fails, I wouldn't hesitate to call my local prosecuting attorney. The one in my county is a POS but he is hell on bad check writers and grifters. He hammers them by dragging their asses in front of a grand jury and then makes them buck up unless they want to face the criminal charge. He would call her act Theft by Deceit. I'm a little uncomfortable with his methods, but he hammers lowgrade shitbags with the grand jury.

 

[pacelli]

When you talk with any entity on the phone that has the ability to credit you with your stolen money, start throwing the following words around in random order, "lawsuit", "fraud", "accomplice", "grand theft", "FBI internet crimes division", and my personal favorite, "aiding & abetting".

 

[Malakai]

You need to read the rules guys. I sell things on ebay for a living nowadays, and you need to be careful. As a seller and a buyer.
In your case it either was a real accident, or the person built up reputation and then scammed you all. You can contact a lawyer perhaps, but in the end 1k is probably not enough to be worth the costs.

if you follow the rules and suggestions of ebay and paypal, you are actually quite well protected as a buyer. Had you responded in the proper time and proved you never received the item, ebay and paypal would have removed the money directly from the sellers account to refund you.

Capitalism is competitive, you need to be vigilant and aware!

When you talk with any entity on the phone that has the ability to credit you with your stolen money, start throwing the following words around in random order, "lawsuit", "fraud", "accomplice", "grand theft", "FBI internet crimes division", and my personal favorite, "aiding & abetting".

I don't suggest any of this. Just follow the paypal/ebay rules as a buyer and you are well protected. Use a confirmed registered paypal account with confirmed address. Take all necessary precautions, do not elect cheap or first class shipping options or skip insurance (ESPECIALLY on big or intl purchases). If you make threats to a seller with legal council like my boss you can get yourself in trouble. You do not want a negative feedback and comment from a huge power seller.

 

[Josh_LA]

You need to read the rules guys. I sell things on ebay for a living nowadays, and you need to be careful. As a seller and a buyer.
In your case it either was a real accident, or the person built up reputation and then scammed you all. You can contact a lawyer perhaps, but in the end 1k is probably not enough to be worth the costs.

if you follow the rules and suggestions of ebay and paypal, you are actually quite well protected as a buyer. Had you responded in the proper time and proved you never received the item, ebay and paypal would have removed the money directly from the sellers account to refund you.

Capitalism is competitive, you need to be vigilant and aware!



I don't suggest any of this. Just follow the paypal/ebay rules as a buyer and you are well protected. Use a confirmed registered paypal account with confirmed address. Take all necessary precautions, do not elect cheap or first class shipping options or skip insurance (ESPECIALLY on big or intl purchases). If you make threats to a seller with legal council like my boss you can get yourself in trouble. You do not want a negative feedback and comment from a huge power seller.

I agree, things happen, and if you're careful, eBay & PayPal have done a lot to prevent such things. USUALLY in favor of the buyer.

also, buyers cannot get negative feedback from sellers, so a threat is not a bad idea if you have a case.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

also, buyers cannot get negative feedback from sellers, so a threat is not a bad idea if you have a case.

You know I forgot they changed the rules on that. I should have been more aggressive. I sure did learn a tough lesson on this one. Always read the rules.

 

[Josh_LA]

You know I forgot they changed the rules on that. I should have been more aggressive. I sure did learn a tough lesson on this one. Always read the rules.

glad you learned, but it's a lot of money, don't give up!

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Update: I went to the Bank today and they said they don't handle that there, so they gave me a number to call. I called the number and the rep said they are going to temporarily credit my account tomorrow, and open a 90 day claim.

So I guess there's a chance they could take my money away from me again if Paypal says I didn't follow the rules, but I guess the odds of that are slim...was thinking about doing a run on my bank after I get the money, lol.

Anyway, I'm just glad it looks like I'm going to get my money back. Thanks everyone for your advice.

 

[angelatc]

Update: I went to the Bank today and they said they don't handle that there, so they gave me a number to call. I called the number and the rep said they are going to temporarily credit my account tomorrow, and open a 90 day claim.

So I guess there's a chance they could take my money away from me again if Paypal says I didn't follow the rules, but I guess the odds of that are slim...was thinking about doing a run on my bank after I get the money, lol.

Anyway, I'm just glad it looks like I'm going to get my money back. Thanks everyone for your advice.

No, at this point it is up to the seller to provide proof that the coins were delivered.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

No, at this point it is up to the seller to provide proof that the coins were delivered.

Ah OK, cool. Well she never provided me with a tracking number, or even what postal service she was going to use so I can't see how she can prove that. I even called her number listed on eBay last night as a final last resort, and the number just rang and rang and then the voicemail box said it hadn't been setup yet, go figure.

 

[Josh_LA]

Ah OK, cool. Well she never provided me with a tracking number, or even what postal service she was going to use so I can't see how she can prove that. I even called her number listed on eBay last night as a final last resort, and the number just rang and rang and then the voicemail box said it hadn't been setup yet, go figure.

sounds like you seriously don't know your rights as a buyer, this is very standard and expected for buying something over $50, it costs less than a buck to get a tracking number in USPS, and if the deal was so good, you could've offered to pay them a few bucks extra to protect yourself.

oh well, you learn and learn.

 

[Archie]

I hope the best for ya. Since when does it cost money to get "tracker number" ? Everytime I order my coins they always send me the delivery info to my email at no charge (why should they charge) I guess Ebum is all about "extra fees" because its the first time I heared of people paying extra money just to get tracking information ? What a bunch of Crapola. I do agree though that you gotta be anal about understanding all the in and outs on "buying and sellers" policys.