Got Ripped Off Buying a Gold Eagle on eBay

[AmericasLastHope]

So I bought a Gold American Eagle in early December from a seller who had over 2,000 transactions and a perfect reputation on eBay. Within a couple weeks she said her house got destroyed and all shipments were delayed. Then the negative rep started coming in. Within a month she accrued over 55 negative rep points. But the reviews were mixed. She was still getting positive marks but people just said they had to wait a long time to get their coins.

So I kept trying to be patient and work things out with the seller. She stayed in communication with me, but the last I heard from her was in early January she said she would be shipping the coin out on "Wednesday." But then I never received it. Now she's not even a registered user on eBay anymore.

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.

Now I'm out almost $1000 bucks and I don't know what to do. All I know to do next is contact my bank and credit card company, and see if I can recover the funds that way. I'm a little paranoid though because I'm pretty sure paypal debited the money straight from my bank account. Has anyone else ever had any experience with anything like this before? I've never had to deal with fraud like this before, and it sickens me that someone could have over 2,000 transactions and a perfect rep and then turn around and screw so many people over like this.

 

[Josh_LA]

very rare, but it happens

next time something like a delay that long happens, GET YOUR MONEY BACK while you still can.

 

[Knighted]

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.

 

[Josh_LA]

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.

the ONLY reason I buy from eBay is so I can get it QUICK, otherwise why would I?

If they don't send it within a week, I'd ask for my money back immediately.

 

[muzzled dogg]

i've been fucked on ebay twice

mbna america paid both times

 

[constitutional]

Did you buy by using your credit card or bank account? Find that out first.

If credit card, file a charge back and you should be able to easily get your money back (with some hassle). If bank, go meet a representative at one of your local bank. They should be able to help you out. If they can't, time for a new bank.

 

[Josh_LA]

Did you buy by using your credit card or bank account? Find that out first.

If credit card, file a charge back and you should be able to easily get your money back (with some hassle). If bank, go meet a representative at one of your local bank. They should be able to help you out. If they can't, time for a new bank.

I think eBay only allows PayPal now SPECIFICALLY for this reason.

 

[emazur]

Sorry to hear that, I hope you get things resolved

 

[MRoCkEd]

hmm i got fucked with a $30 purchase (the guy listed a lot of video games and screwed over everyone) but paypal/ebay refunded me right away.

 

[the count]

Did you buy by using your credit card or bank account? Find that out first.

If credit card, file a charge back and you should be able to easily get your money back (with some hassle). If bank, go meet a representative at one of your local bank. They should be able to help you out. If they can't, time for a new bank.

Paypal efaults to taking the money directly out of your account, so be smart and always use the option to use your credit card instead! why not get some miles or whatever out of the purchase plus you have the extra layer of security.

 

[constitutional]

I think eBay only allows PayPal now SPECIFICALLY for this reason.

You can make purchases using credit card or bank account through paypal.

 

[Josh_LA]

You can make purchases using credit card or bank account through paypal.

yes, that's my point, using PayPal gives ebay the power to mediate and arbitrate the money if a problem occurs.

 

[fj45lvr]

yes, that's my point, using PayPal gives ebay the power to mediate and arbitrate the money if a problem occurs.

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).

 

[amonasro]

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).

This. For future reference don't let the seller yank you around until the 45 days is over. I got screwed out of a cell phone a few years ago, just didn't read the fine print

 

[AmericasLastHope]

the ONLY reason I buy from eBay is so I can get it QUICK, otherwise why would I?

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.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

i've been fucked on ebay twice

mbna america paid both times

Hmm, according to Wikipedia mbna was acquired by BofA in 2005. Was this recently? I use BofA, so maybe there is hope of me getting my money back.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Did you buy by using your credit card or bank account? Find that out first.

If credit card, file a charge back and you should be able to easily get your money back (with some hassle). If bank, go meet a representative at one of your local bank. They should be able to help you out. If they can't, time for a new bank.

I don't have a credit card, just a Visa debit card that I use for Bank of America.

 

[Arklatex]

Get n touch with Paypal and Ebay and throw a huge fit. It'll work.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Paypal efaults to taking the money directly out of your account, so be smart and always use the option to use your credit card instead! why not get some miles or whatever out of the purchase plus you have the extra layer of security.

I don't have any credit cards, but I do have a Visa debit card that goes through BofA, does this offer me the same protection as a credit card?

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Get n touch with Paypal and Ebay and throw a huge fit. It'll work.

So far I've talked with both of them, and all they've told me is basically "no." I guess I'll have to start escalating to managers and so forth, and start throwing a tantrum.