SolveYourProblem
Article Series:
Small Business Guide To Buying Items:
eBay Auctions
SafeHarbor:
eBay’s Own Scotland Yard
by Jeff Cohen
SafeHarbor are the eBay police department.
If you break the rules, commit fraud or try to buy something
you’re not supposed to, they’ll be after you.
When
You Don’t Pay
This is the most common rule buyers break – it’s all too easy
to just change your mind and try to get out of the auction.
eBay regards every auction as a contract, and will punish you
if you don’t go through with your end of the deal. If you decide
not to pay then expect to get a few nasty warning emails from
eBay threatening you with banning if you do it again. Not to
mention, of course, that you’ll get a big negative ‘DID NOT
PAY’ feedback comment from the seller.
So There Are Things You Can’t Buy on eBay?
Yes, there are: more things than you’d expect. It makes sense
that you can’t buy firearms, for example, but you also can’t
buy fireworks – eBay are worried about the risks of sending
them in the post. Laws in many countries mean that you can’t
buy alcohol or tobacco. You can’t buy illegal or prescription
drugs, stocks and shares, or lottery tickets. No underwear,
either. You can’t buy any little pet puppies or kittens, as
animals are banned. If items infringe on copyright, like pirate
CDs or software, then they’re not allowed either.
eBay's policy is controversial, not least because it is somewhat
random in its enforcement – and there have been accusations
that they’re more responsive to the copyright concerns of big
businesses than to auctions for items that might actually be
dangerous. If they do decide to go after you or the seller,
though, they will cancel the auction and may also suspend your
accounts.
Fraud
eBay runs remarkably well considering how unregulated it is,
but there are still fraudsters. If you are a victim of fraud
– for example, you pay for an item that never turns up – then
SafeHarbor will investigate for you. eBay's standard purchase
protection will give you up to $200 back if your claim is successful.
Be aware, though, that this can take a few months.
In addition, if you paid by PayPal, then they can usually
reverse the transaction relatively easily and get you more
(if not all) of your money back. This is another reason why
many buyers prefer to use PayPal. Some sellers are a little
scared of the effectiveness of the refund system, as they can
send out items in good faith only to find that their buyer
was fraudulent and the transaction has been reversed. If you’re
worried about fraud, as a buyer, you should always use PayPal.
# # # # # SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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