eBay help

[webnewland]

I've won an auction April 20th, paid within the hour and was told the item would be shipped the next business day. A month later didn't Receive anything, emailed him and was told that his last batch of package seems to be all lost and will sent another one within couple of days. I emailed him couple of days later and since then (about 2 weeks) I've receive no reply from him (i've send 2 more email and no reply). Check the auction page again and now his ID is non-registered. I paid insurance for the item and through some research got his Home address, Should I send him a letter w/ some sort of threat that I'm going to report this to someone?
Only $20 auction, but as a college student anything is important.
*Also, last batch of feedback he received was negative, so those must be the people who's like me, got ripped.
any help would be appreciated
Thanks


Edit: Also anything I can do with Paypal/eBay?

 

[Pepsi90919]

if his last batch of feedback was negative why did you bid...

 

[webnewland]

I won the auction a month and half ago, the last batch of negative he got was very recently.

 

[Pepsi90919]

oh

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
if his last batch of feedback was negative why did you bid...

i think he means now... a whole month after he bid... his last batch of feedbacks r negs. rather then send a threatening letter... couldn't u just contact his local police station?

 

[Pepsi90919]

okay, thanks for reposting what he just said.

 

[webnewland]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
if his last batch of feedback was negative why did you bid...

i think he means now... a whole month after he bid... his last batch of feedbacks r negs. rather then send a threatening letter... couldn't u just contact his local police station?

Would I have any reason to contact his local police station? There isn't a lot of money involved ($20), but could I report it as Mail fraud?
Thx

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
okay, thanks for reposting what he just said.

sure no problem.

by the way, it usually does not take a genius to look at the posting times, and take into account the possibility that while i am typing my reply, the OP could have taken liberty of answering ur question, to realize that it wasn't a deliberate repost.

and also... thanx for the wonderful solution u offered.

 

[spanky]

there have been many ebay help threads before and i think in some of those threads... ppl have mentioned that u can either contact the local police station, or the post office (for the mail fraud). i'm guessing that the local police station will have a better idea then i do about what is the appropriate course of action.

 

[NokiaDude]

DO NOT LEAVE FEEDBACK YET!!! This is the worst thing you can do. I did that and I never got my item becuase he didn't like ANOTHER negative feedback. Now I only buy from people with 100% feedback.

 

[chowderhead]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
DO NOT LEAVE FEEDBACK YET!!! This is the worst thing you can do. I did that and I never got my item becuase he didn't like ANOTHER negative feedback. Now I only buy from people with 100% feedback.

You cannot leave feedback for a NARU person. Go through Paypal if you used that to see if you can get your money back for non-performance.

Good luck. Paypal bidder compliant

 

[Turkish]

do you have any phone number to contact him?

 

[webnewland]

Originally posted by: chowderhead

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
DO NOT LEAVE FEEDBACK YET!!! This is the worst thing you can do. I did that and I never got my item becuase he didn't like ANOTHER negative feedback. Now I only buy from people with 100% feedback.

You cannot leave feedback for a NARU person. Go through Paypal if you used that to see if you can get your money back for non-performance.

Good luck. Paypal bidder compliant

I went to the link and it specified that the claim must be within 30 days, the transaction happened April 20th. How strict is Paypal w/ that requirement?

 

[webnewland]

Originally posted by: Xiety
do you have any phone number to contact him?

Yes I got his phone #, but it's long distance, so I'd prefer some cheaper method to contact him incase we get into a long conversation

 

[Turkish]

Alright since you got his phone number, I am going to tell you a secret. At least this is what my friend has done.
Call him, buy a cheap phone card, and call him, and present yourself as FBI Fraud Investigation Agent from the Cyber Crime Department. Tell him that you were contacted by the buyer's (you) local police station about it and as the buyer side claims, the seller didn't serve the buyer as promised upon payment. Tell him that you were given an order (by an upper level supervisor) to report what both sides has to say and once this is done, the department is going to start the actual investigation.

Do this seriously. I know this sounds stupid, but it works. People are scared of this. If you talked to the guy before, let a friend of yours do it. I am sure it will work and he will refund your money or something

Good luck.

 

[ReiAyanami]

what i've learned from cyberwings is that if ur within 30 days of filing a complaint, Paypal will not do anything. if the guy cleaned out his account and flew to bahamas with shawn, there is no money in the account to refund. Paypal is not FDIC insured, it is not a bank, it is not regulated.

looks like ur out $20, as eBay's deductible is $50 or more. of course ebay itself is a scam....