Well, isn't this interesting...

[agilebrit]

Remember this rant about the eBay seller who listed a book "not in their inventory"? Well, looky here....

The book I bought: "Slight wear to DJ edges. Crease on fly page and title page, otherwise book very good." My price? $3.75 + $3.25 shipping.

The current listing: "1st U.S. Edition. No marks in the book. Crease on the fly page and slight wear to DJ." Current price? $5.95 + $2.59 shipping.

I haven't gotten eBay involved yet. I've emailed the seller about this. Yanno, doing this is begging for a negative feedback. Did they think I wouldn't look for the same book again? Did they think I wouldn't notice? Did they think I was stupid? They didn't even send me an email explaining; I had to look in my Paypal account and hunt it down there.

I am beyond irritated--but I was polite in the email:

Hi! I was the buyer for this item, paid immediately, and you refunded the money with a note saying "Unable to find in inventory." However, I notice that you've (apparently) put the same book up, with the same basic description:

Slight wear to DJ edges. Crease on fly page and title page, otherwise book very good. (the one I bought)

1st U.S. Edition. No marks in the book. Crease on the fly page and slight wear to DJ. (current listing, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=377&item=4508373399&rd=1)

I'd like to complete our original transaction. Please contact me as soon as possible. Thanks! Julie

No mention of feedback (they've already left me a positive) or getting eBay involved. Yet.

UPDATE:
Heard from the seller. She asked me to buy it under the new listing, and she'd honor the original price. Said she felt really stupid; it was misplaced in non-fiction instead of science fiction. I'd rather she'd have cancelled the new listing, and I could have just paid her again, but I've done so. This may be a crafty way of holding a neg over my head if I don't leave her a positive feedback, but I'm hoping she'll be honest and this'll be the end of it.

I swear, if she files non-payment on me for the second listing, we're going to war. I'm saving the email from her, just in case.

Trust, but verify.

Comments

[illmantrim.livejournal.com]

you go girl!!!

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wouldn't be nearly as annoyed if they hadn't put up the same book a week later. I *was* just going to let it go, because I can understand losing track of inventory, when you have that many widgets up for sale. But since they relisted it, all bets are off. I want my book, dammit.

[whirligigged.livejournal.com]

My God. The same book? And it cost more? Do...whatever thing it is that eBay lets you do that brings down their grade or whatever. Negative feedback? *shrug* Whatever it is, do it to them!

But good on you for being polite.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Well...I just heard from the seller. She's asked me to order it under the new listing, and she'll honor the original price.

I'd rather she'd have just cancelled the second listing, but I've done it, and I'll be paying under the original listing. We'll see how this goes.