[rhiggs]

I am not sure this is the right place to ask this but what the heck. Last night, I bought two Monster Power line conditioners, Model 3500 with a "Buy It Now" on ebay for 129.99 each plus shipping. These are "brand new, sealed in the box". The listing actually had three listed but I only bought two. I paid via PayPal and asked to be notified when they would be shipped and asked for the tracking number.


About an hour after I bought them, I received an email from the seller indicating he made a mistake and that they should have been listed for $265.95 and asked to have the sale cancelled or asked if I would pay his cost plus shipping. He indicated his cost was $238.00. Now, I figure what he was selling them for, less ebay fees and PayPal fee and it appears he nets about $8.00 on each one. So, I started thinking he actually paid less than $238.00 for them (he indicated he bought 10 units). He also indicated the shipping would be around $25.00 (for one) when both his listing (the one I bought off of and the new one) indicated the shipping to be $15.55 for one. I told him I really only wanted one right now but could use another one in the future (approx. one year if my plans workout).


I do believe he did make a mistake pricing them but I also feel he is not being completely honest with me. So, what would you do?


1. Asked him to send both units for the price paid (he really does not have to send them.


2. Just have him refund my money and be over with it.


3. Have him send one unit for the cost paid and cut his losses in half.


4. Pay his "cost" price plus shipping


What do you guys think?

 

[Joe_M]

That's a tough one but by him posting the auction and you paying that price, it's still a form of contract. Unless he had a disclaimer about pricing mistakes or errors, he should send them to you for the price paid. My feeling is he probably does/did it on purpose. There are some unscrupulous people on Ebay. How's his feedback?

 

[rhiggs]

He has about 50 feedbacks, all positive. So, he is rather new at the game.

 

[Mulch]

I would buy nothing from someone who uses bait and switch techniques. I would pay more to someone honest just on principle. But that's me.

 

[GreySkies]

I wouldn't pay his new price. I'd just have him refund the cash and then I'd leave a neutral feedback along the lines of "Sale cancelled due to pricing error."


Maybe I'm just paranoid, but depending on the nature of his past sales, he may be setting up a larger scam by developing a history of too-good-to-be-true prices.

 

[David Guill]

Simply, he is a bait and switch and you are a fool to pay what he is now asking. Fifty transactions is plenty to know what one is doing.

 

[Brown Radagast]

Let's be nice and assume the best of intentions, to keep things fair:


I'd try and negotiate - tell him that:

a) you'll keep the price that was asked for and go through arbitration - but he'll get a negative from you; or

b) you'll negotiate the price somewhat, but he needs to ship it for free; or

c) you'll want a full refund and/or another suitable substitute, and he'll get a neutral feedback.


Good luck!

 

[Chuck Mullen]

Get a refund and get the hell away! Who knows what he is actually going to send you. If he'll do this with the price what will he do with the merchandise?