Moral responsibility?

Kind of a wide open question, ebay has policies and procedures... "moral" is open to interpretation, so I would say no, their policies may or may not be moral in your opinion, and others might have a different opinion.

OK, so that does not answer your question... they have an extensive help system and definition of the policies... if anything, ebay protects the buyer better than the seller... in my opinion... if the buyer complains enough, she/he will get a refund...

Greg
 
Sarah Winfield said:
Has ebay any moral responsibility to the buyer?

SW
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There is no implied moral responsibility, but there are their defined terms of business.

If you have bought something that is incorrectly described, there is a dispute process which, as Greg says, usually tips in favour of the buyer.

So for example, years ago I bought a cheap boat cover - it transpired that this did not keep water out. Ebay dispute process arranged for the seller to take a return and provide a refund; even when the seller disputed that the returned goods had arrived back with him, I got a refund in the end.
 
Perhaps more a matter of ethics rather than morals...... You know Ethics, it's that County to the North East of London.....

On a more serious note, as others have said, eBay does have fairly effective procedures in place to protect both buyers AND sellers against cheats and scammers, but to make use of that protection you have to have abided by their rules and restrictions - if you don't follow the rules, don't expect much help if or when something goes wrong.....

Recently I ordered two of a small electrical item from an eBay seller (who was showing more than two of the item in stock). The seller then told me that they were only sending one, because that was all they had (so their posting was incorrect), but didn't seem to want to give me a refund for the one they couldn't supply - they said some rubbish about "not being able to give a partial refund"..... after contacting eBay's buyer protection people, and telling them that all I wanted was a part refund for the one item I didn't get (I was quite happy to pay for the one that did arrive), they promptly refunded me the full amount for BOTH items. Go figure...... :rolleyes:

Jon.
 
I was thinking more in terms of items for sale at prices which the seller is assuming a buyer to be naive in the extreme.

It seems to me ebay have a moral responsibility not to encourage sellers to profit from buyers naivety. Or am I too naive myself?

SW
 
Although there are lots of legislation (law) covering distance selling in the UK, not even some large companies honour it, when you buy off eBay you are NOT buying from eBay, but the seller, and it is they who should meet their obligation. However as mentioned eBay has rules and policy in place for those that do not play by the rules, but if the seller does not want to "play ball" then its you and the seller in court.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
I was thinking more in terms of items for sale at prices which the seller is assuming a buyer to be naive in the extreme.

It seems to me ebay have a moral responsibility not to encourage sellers to profit from buyers naivety. Or am I too naive myself?

SW
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I think you are being naive, I am currently bidding on two lots of Bachmann wheels, the bid is now £24.00, new I can buy them for £20.00, if I was stupid enough to bid, then this has nothing to do with eBay, same as buying anything, check other sources before buying!!
 
Sarah Winfield said:
It seems to me ebay have a moral responsibility not to encourage sellers to profit from buyers naivety.
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Unfortunately that's a business model for some sellers!

To be honest if you have the internet and don't compare the price before buying or bidding, simply by opening another window and seeing what other options there are and typical prices, and bid blind then you are as likely to pay over the odds as going to Hamleys to buy LGB.
It astounds me frequently what people bid up to.
 
Sellers will charge whatever people will pay......

There's an old joke (or more of a parable really) of a guy who buys a burger for lunch every day from a food van outside his office.
The first day the truck is there, it has a sign saying "Burgers £2.00!", and the customer buys one.
The second day, the sign reads "Burgers £3.00!", and he still buys one.
Third day, "Burgers £4.00!" - he wants his lunch, so grudgingly pays up....
Fourth day, "Burgers £5.00!" - the customer says to the seller "I'm not paying a fiver for a Burger!".....

Fifth day, "Burgers reduced to £4.00"......

:devil:

Jon.
 
Not too many moons ago, I bought a 2kw fan heater from an ebay seller. I wanted an oscillating type and that was what the seller (and picture) indicated. When it arrived it was a fixed one, cheap and nasty too. Contacted seller to complain, and he said return it. In the end, I went through ebay who said that the seller was responsible for the return postage. Ebay also advised me that the seller couldn't send a returns label but that the said seller was still responsible.

So I returned it and got a refund on the purchase price and the original postage to me - but not the returns postage! On a one to one conversation with an ebay person, I was told there was nothing they could do.

SO NO - they do not have any moral values with regards to buyers in my experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
When I list stuff for sale I include a comprehensive 'terms & conditions' section which (I hope) covers every eventuality. I offer a returns policy (providing goods sent back to me are in the same condition in which I despatched them) and I stand the return postage costs. I do not have a limit on acceptable reasons for return and even specifically state I will honour the return even if 'on reflection you just think you have paid too much for it'. To date I've only had one item returned in the 15 years I've been active on eBay. That was an O gauge coach that had a photo of both sides of the item and despite the detailed description the buyer was convinced they should have got two coaches, not one. The upside was I relisted it a week later and it sold for more than double the price! Perhaps I've been lucky or alternatively not attracted 'plonker' bidders.
 
trammayo said:
In the end, I went through ebay who said that the seller was responsible for the return postage. Ebay also advised me that the seller couldn't send a returns label but that the said seller was still responsible.
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If it wasn't signed for and the senders address is on the parcel, neatly rewrap it and put return to sender on it and drop it off at the post office saying unsolicited mail.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
I was thinking more in terms of items for sale at prices which the seller is assuming a buyer to be naive in the extreme.

It seems to me ebay have a moral responsibility not to encourage sellers to profit from buyers naivety. Or am I too naive myself?

SW
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I will not repeat what Jimmy said but I do think he is right.

Buying on Ebay can be a slightly traumatic experience to the unwary. I would never bid on something without having a good idea of its worth so that I do not allow myself to be overcharged. Thus I wil research what I want not only on Ebay but via Model Railways on Shops Second Hand Listings, Glendale and Garden Railway Specialists between them have a pretty extensive list of items for sale. If still unsure of worth, ask on here one of us will have a good idea likely or you may find one has been sold via the forum sales listings.

Now having a good clue of value to you, you yourself can make a valid bid. Do this last minute of the listing, that way you will not get yourself into a must have it bidding war and end up overpaying. If you still do not win the item do not worry, another will be along eventually.

Things are so much better sometimes for having waited a while to get a good deal.

Must have it now items can often dissapoint.
 
Too true, Jon. I still have a couple of crappy items I bought off eBay when I first started out on garden railways. I keep them to remind me of my rank stupidity! I rarely bother now with eBay for track, locos, rolling stock or buildings - much prefer to see things "in the flesh" before I part with my cash.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
I was thinking more in terms of items for sale at prices which the seller is assuming a buyer to be naive in the extreme.

It seems to me ebay have a moral responsibility not to encourage sellers to profit from buyers naivety. Or am I too naive myself?

SW
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The golden rule of any auction is to know when to sit on your hands.

Also, remember that many sellers, myself included, will aim for their auction to end just after Chablis o'clock, which tends to lift the prices although I can't think why :p:p

If I'm bidding, I determine my ceiling (top bid) and pop it in a few seconds before auction end - many people do this.

I prefer to buy it now because I can't be a**** with the auction faff a lot of the time.

However, you do have to try and scutinise the item on the basis of the pictures and the detail. There is the old adage - if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is :nod::nod::nod: Look for signs of wear - wheel treads, skates etc and always look for a picture of the underside.

Lastly, Sarah, there seems to be an awful lot of poor rubbish on ebay at the moment - although having said that, I picked myself a winner with that C-19 at £365 o_Oo_Oo_Oo_O But don't forget, that was after about two or more years' searching, and I was open as to what loco I might be tempted by (in other words, it wasn't a question of a C-19 or bust)

Here is an example of ebay rubbish - take a careful look at the picture of the underside. The advert is suggesting that it is USAT (USA Trains) but it isn't, it's a lash up of some description that ought to be on sale for about £20.

USA TRAINS G SCALE R-30205 UNDECORATED COMBINE | eBay
 
Sarah Winfield said:
I was thinking more in terms of items for sale at prices which the seller is assuming a buyer to be naive in the extreme.

It seems to me ebay have a moral responsibility not to encourage sellers to profit from buyers naivety. Or am I too naive myself?

SW
Click to expand...

If you think eBay is bad look at some of the prices sellers put on things on Amazon :)
 
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