Ebay advice - "barely played" ps1 game has torn manual and case inserts

[JTalbain]

So here's my story and i need some ebay advice. I bought a ps1 game (Final Fantasy Tactics for ps1) on ebay with buy it now. There were no pics present but here was the guy's description:

"Used and barely played. Black / Original release. Disc has minimal scratches. Case and instruction manual are included. Good luck bidding."

So the day after thanksgiving i get the game in the mail. The manual has cigarette burns on it and the back cover is torn off. The case insert has the spine taken off. So obviously I'm feeling pretty shafted, so I send the guy a message asking for a refund. Here's his responses to my messages:

Message 1:
"Don't. I do not issue refunds. The item is exactly as it was desribed in the auction. If you needed further info. before purchasing, I would have gladly answered any of your questions. The deal is done. Sorry for seeming soo harsh, but sell it yourself if you truely don't want it. "

Message 2:
"You're welcome! It's the game disc itself that was barely used. If you needed a near-perfect, mint condition game, case, and manual, I would've gladly told you this wasn't what I was selling.

Pro-Tip, If you know you're looking for something special, ALWAYS about the item before bidding. Good luck with your future purchases from eBay! "

So now I feel pretty shafted. Here are my options:

1 - file claim with paypal - not very likely since paypal usually sides with the seller

2 - file claim with ebay - don't know how this works

3 - leave him negative feedback - reluctant about this. i have a perfect feedback record and i'm afraid of retaliatory feedback. his feedback record shows he's done retaliatory feedback.

4 - sell the game on ebay - this is gonna happen at a loss tho most likely b/c i would be honest in my listing about the condition in my listing.

any other things i can do? i'm just trying to get my money back or most of it if possible. any advice is appreciated. i'd like to keep my feedback perfect through all this too.

EDIT - i'm taking it as my loss with no feedback being left. stop posting here people. thread's done.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: JTalbain

 

[thecrecarc]

of course. but wait until there is a solar eclipse, and jupitur aligns with your cat though

 

[John]

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/inr-snad-process.html

 

[JTalbain]

oh yeah sorry about that guys. i pressed enter as i was typing this up, and then the message posted. just decided to finish this up, but the message was blank as i was finishing typing.

 

[dj2004]

I don't see anythign wrong. All he said was the game was barely played, not saying what shape the booklet/case is in.

 

[Gibson486]

Why do peopel care so much about their feedback? Is one negative feedback really that bad?

 

[JTalbain]

Originally posted by: dj2004
I don't see anythign wrong. All he said was the game was barely played, not saying what shape the booklet/case is in.

well yes i know that what he said is technically correct. but barely played implies that the game is in good condition. i know it's my fault for not asking further about it, but u gotta admit his listing is pretty misleading. i'm just seeing my options about what to do.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Move on. Not worth it...if the game plays fine does it really matter. He didn't lie in the auction description. If the game wasn't functional I would raise hell but who really cares about the manual?

 

[dighn]

well if the game disc itself is fine I don't think you have much to go on.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: JTalbain

Originally posted by: dj2004
I don't see anythign wrong. All he said was the game was barely played, not saying what shape the booklet/case is in.

well yes i know that what he said is technically correct. but barely played implies that the game is in good condition. i know it's my fault for not asking further about it, but u gotta admit his listing is pretty misleading. i'm just seeing my options about what to do.

If he is "technically correct", then why are you still arguing about it?

 

[JTalbain]

alright input taken about claim validity

about the feedback tho... should i leave negative? or should i just leave it unleft? no way he's getting positive feedback.

 

[dj2004]

Originally posted by: JTalbain

Originally posted by: dj2004
I don't see anythign wrong. All he said was the game was barely played, not saying what shape the booklet/case is in.

well yes i know that what he said is technically correct. but barely played implies that the game is in good condition. i know it's my fault for not asking further about it, but u gotta admit his listing is pretty misleading. i'm just seeing my options about what to do.

And that's exactly why I never deal with Ebay. Though in your case you probably had little choice.

 

[imported_wicka]

Yeah basically you have no real platform to complain on unless the disc is messed up.

 

[dighn]

I don't think this warrants a negative, because technically he's correct, and a torn manual/case inserts is not that big of a deal imo. maybe a neutral to warn others

 

[tfinch2]

Final Fantasy Tactics is not a collectors item like many FF fanboys think. Who gives a rip, play and enjoy the game.

 

[JTalbain]

well the thing is he said game was barely played. he said game, not disc. but overall i'm over it regarding the game seeing as i spent only $24 on it BIN. just a lil disappointing way to start the christmas season...

 

[Thraxen]

That sucks. That is clearly shady. Most people would assume that "barely played" means "good condition" since that's how it is commonly used. Though unfortunately the wording itself could mean anything. Maybe he did barely play it and the case just sat out on the floor getting abused. I'd say that guy is an ass but you really have no where to go with this.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Has he already given you feedback? If so, wait until the day before the limit (don't remember how many days it is) and give him a neutral.

If he hasn't given you feedback yet, just wait.

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Has he already given you feedback? If so, wait until the day before the limit (don't remember how many days it is) and give him a neutral.

If he hasn't given you feedback yet, just wait.

Screw neutral, I'd give him a negative for being intentionally deceptive with his description.

 

[JTalbain]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Has he already given you feedback? If so, wait until the day before the limit (don't remember how many days it is) and give him a neutral.

If he hasn't given you feedback yet, just wait.

point taken

 

[clamum]

I don't think he deserves negative feedback. One could argue he was being a little deceptive about the product he was selling, but he did not lie about anything. With no pictures of the item he was selling, I would be sure to ask him questions about it.

If the game works, just play it and forget about it, and remember this when bidding on something again.

 

[Howard]

"Barely played" would still be truthful if all he sent you was the game disc in a paper sleeve. Not including the "Case and instruction manual are included." part, of course.

I don't think you should give him a negative. He didn't lie about the conditions of the case and instruction manual. You should've asked him about those, or asked for pics.

 

[tfcmasta97]

I dont see anything wrong with what he did. game disc itself is the only thing i thought of when i heard barely played. he also included manuals like he said.

He may not have described it exactly like he could have but i was not mislead by the description or anything

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Has he already given you feedback? If so, wait until the day before the limit (don't remember how many days it is) and give him a neutral.

If he hasn't given you feedback yet, just wait.

Screw neutral, I'd give him a negative for being intentionally deceptive with his description.

While the seller could have and should have provided information in his auction about what state the manual and case were in, the OP also had the opportunity and responsibility to ask the seller what condition they were in before he bid on them and bought them.

If the seller is putting up an auction for a 'barely played' PS1 game and the game works just fine then the seller does not deserve a negative. It is the ultimate responsibility of the bidder to ask about the state of the manual and case if it wasn't included in the auction description if it was that important to him. If the bidder didn't like the information provided to him, he could have continued his search.

The OP/bidder/buyer has learned an important lesson for the future.

Never assume.