My first eBay problem :(

[Dr. Z]

Yeah it was bound to happen but after many smooth transactions, the time has come for a baddun. :(

Came across an auction for a 4Gb Kingston ECC Ram kit on eBay sat at just over £5. I have been looking for some server ram for a while for one of my servers so I thought I would watch it and see how it went. I read the auction, saw the photo of 4 sticks of RAM and clicked watch.

Fast forward to the end of the auction - the RAM is there and with few bids it is still sat at £5.50. I figure that as the fact it isnt specifically listed as ECC (but IS listed as "server ram") its got to be worth a go at getting it supercheap so I lob in a bid of £20 with a few seconds to go and win it for £14.01.

At this point, I sit back and instead of feeling gleeful at having got £100worth of RAM for £14, I am a bit dubious as to why it was so cheap. I whacked the code visible on the chips into google and lo and behold, despite the fact that each chip has 1024 printed on it, it turns out to be a 1Gb kit of 4 matched 256Mb sticks.

I have emailed the seller and he is adamant that they are in fact 1Gb sticks but as I now know they aren't I really don't want to send him the money. At the moment, he doesn't seem to be taking this fact too well.

This could well turn out to be my first eBay neg or Non Paying Bidder "strike" but I don't feel like I am in the wrong because the listing clearly states its 4Gb when it isnt.


Title: 4 GB SDRAM SERVER MEMORY 4 x 1 GIG (4Gb Kit)

HI YOU ARE BIDDING ON

4 GB SDRAM SERVER MEMORY

4 x 1 GIG

(4Gb Kit)

100 % WORKING

GOOD LUCK


Argharghargharghargh! :mad:

[SidewinderINC]

Let me guess, he has 4 as the quantity of them?

This argument came up on ocuk about a year ago and it went round in circles if it's what I'm thinking it is..

he's got (4 of) 1GB kits and has written the listing for the 4 kits rather than 1 kit and then saying he has 4 of them.

If I'm right then you are in the right! As the description is for the "Lot" and the quantity is for the multiple of the "Lot"

[Dr. Z]

Nope, he has just one of them. One 4Gb kit was what the listing was for, if you read the text it couldn't be more clear about what he is selling, only what he is selling isnt what he thinks it is.

[SidewinderINC]

hmmm, you're only going to be paying around £15 and he only has one of them I'd probably pay for it and complain later, it might take longer but I'd rather that than a no payment mark and a negative.

If the auction is exactly how you say and he only has a quantity of one then you'll get all your money back.

[Dr. Z]

I wont get the postage money back and then I run the risk of him never actually sending the money back (he comes across like a child in his replies, "thanx" and txt spk etc).

If he was using proper English then I might do it that way but at this rate I just dont trust him. Ebay should side with me, right? Might ask them what they think about it.

[SidewinderINC]

Yeah, best thing to do would be email them about it.

He's obviously taken the 2 photos of the actual RAM but ebay might say "he may have used a stock photo and they might not be accurate" but all kingston kits are labelled like that as it's a 1GB kit and it's the kit label on each stick.

Has he said that he is going to complain if you don't pay?
I sent an email to a user selling a Gibson Flying V becuase it turned out after the auction that it was a Wee-Vee which is a 1/2 scale guitar saying "you deliberately misled me with this auction, you have nowhere stated it is the Wee-Vee and have always called it a flying V. I will not be paying for this auction and am contemplating reporting you to ebay"

He accepted it and nothing more happened.

[Dr. Z]

Yeah, best thing to do would be email them about it.

He's obviously taken the 2 photos of the actual RAM but ebay might say "he may have used a stock photo and they might not be accurate" but all kingston kits are labelled like that as it's a 1GB kit and it's the kit label on each stick.

Has he said that he is going to complain if you don't pay?


I asked him to confirm that the photos were of the actual item and his reply indicated that it was the case.

He hasn't responded since my last message telling him that unless he could prove it was 4Gb of RAM I wouldn't be paying yet.

Time will tell and I have now contacted eBay about it.

[SidewinderINC]

:thumbsup:

Good luck mate :)

[Feek]

Got a link to the auction, I'd like to take a look.

[Dr. Z]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300187226712

[Feek]

OK, reading further.

He says it's a 4Gb kit. He's wrong.

He says 100% tested - Well if he tested it, he'd know it's not a 4Gb kit but a 1Gb kit so he's either telling porkies or misleading on purpose.

I'd contact him (always use eBay mail) to explain that the auction is incorrect, that a simple google for the part number will indicate that the memory sticks are in fact 256Mb each making a total of 1024Mb, hence the part code.

I'd then contact eBay to try and cancel the bid with the reason that the auction details are incorrect and misleading and that you will not be paying for it.

Then it's down to them. If it comes to feedback then at worst he gives you negative and you get a chance to respond to that - If his writing style is as you describe then expect an "DID NOT PAY, OMG DNT TRUST HIM, SCAMMER!!!!!!!" type comment then you can put a nice intelligent comment to explain why. You also get a chance to leave him nice negative feedback which if you word correctly, he'll have no comeback for as well.

But from the item description providing you get eBay involved then I don't think it'll go that far.

I'd seriously suggest not paying for it though. He doesn't offer Paypal so you have no buyer protection through that method.

[SidewinderINC]

I hadn't seen the auction when I said pay for it and claim it back later :p I do withdraw that statement now lol.

[Dr. Z]

The correspondance thus far:


Dear martindrz,

hi sorry no paypal and no collection post only

- silentt_seeker


Hi,

Would you prefer a cheque or a bank transfer?

Also, having just reviewed the item I note that the photographs that accompany the listing are of 4 256Mb sticks rather than 4 1Gb sticks (if you search on google for that part number it shows as a 1Gb kit of 4 256Mb matched sticks). Could you please check to see if this is the correct photograph and if it is, its not the same as your description!

Thanks in advance,

Martin

- martindrz



Dear martindrz,

hi as far as i no thay are 4 1 gig stiks
thanx joseph

- silentt_seeker



Dear silentt_seeker,

If the item in the photograph is the exact item you have listed, it is unfortunately NOT 4Gb of RAM and is actually 4x256Mb sticks. The /1024 on the label indicates the total capacity of the kit rather than the capacity of each stick.

For example, see this link http://www.serverpartswarehouse.com/297330.html which shows that that Kingston part number is 4 256Mb sticks.

At this moment in time, I am not sure as to how we should proceed because it looks very much like your listing was incorrect. Had you listed it correctly as a 1Gb kit I simply would not have bid on the item!

If you can confirm beyond all doubt that each individual stick is 1Gb (perhaps by putting the RAM into a server and taking a photo of the POST screen showing 4Gb present) I will bank transfer you the money immediately. If not, I will have no choice but to open an ebay dispute regarding this item.

Martin

- martindrz

[Feek]

And here's your reply... ;)

Dear silentt_seeker,

Further to my last message I have double checked and the product code on the memory you have auctioned is definitely a 1Gb kit consisting of 4 x 256Mb sticks to make a total of 1024Mb, hence the product code. I can understand that it initially looks like a 4Gb kit but a simple internet search will show different.

I'm sorry, but because the auction is inaccurate that I won't be paying anything for this and will be contacting eBay to cancel my bid due to incorrect and misleading information. If the kit had been 4Gb as stated then my cheque would be in the post tomorrow.

As the auction was incorrectly worded you might be able to contact eBay and get a refund of your listing fee and transaction fee.

Love and kisses

Martin

- martindrz

[Dr. Z]

eBay got back to me and said that although I was entered into a binding whatsit, in this instance it would be best for the seller to open an Unpaid Item Dispute and select that we both mutually agree to withdraw from the sale. It means he gets his money back and a chance to relist the item for free and I don't get a non-paying bidder strike.

The seller messaged me to say that although he believed me to be wrong about what the code on the sticks actually meant, he wold "understand" if I didn't want to go through with the sale.

So far, so good.

[Feek]

The seller messaged me to say that although he believed me to be wrong about what the code on the sticks actually meant, he wold "understand" if I didn't want to go through with the sale.

He knows! Of course he does. After the dispute goes through and it's settled I'd put money on that he'll relist them correctly.

Well done, a good outcome :)

[Chuckles]

I've got 4 exact sticks of that RAM on my desk at work :p

It wasn't me that tried to flog it to you though ;)

[Garp]

He knows! Of course he does. After the dispute goes through and it's settled I'd put money on that he'll relist them correctly.

You have more faith in humanity than I have.. I wouldn't be surprised to see them re-listed as 4Gb

[jmc41]

There is no way that item can be interpreted as anything other than 4 1gb sticks. I wouldn't trust anything that doesn't offer paypal or another "approved" method of payment with buyer protection.

Lucky escape. I'm sure they'll be back. Makes you wonder what his other item for sale really is!

[Edit] - The other item is the one with the 19" "WIDESCERRN" monitor.