The old adage "Buyer Beware" holds true, especially when it comes to online purchases. A Clinton man learned an expensive lesson about shopping on Ebay.

Thirty one year old Charles Weakley has been posing these questions since he thought he'd purchased a motorcycle on Ebay.

Weakley asks, "Where did my money go, and where is my bike?"

January 26th was the first time he used Ebay.

Weakley found a 2006 Suzuki for $2,900.00.

He said the seller was Eric Berry, who he learned through exchanged emails, needed to sell the bike because he'd undergone knee surgery and was going through a divorce.

Weakley said, "I had to send the money to Spain where he was and he was going to send the bike out of Santa Cruz California. He said that his brother worked for DAS which is a shipping company for Ebay."

The retail store department manager wired over $3,000.00 through Western Union and after hearing nothing for several days, he contacted Ebay.

Weakley said, "But I still don't understand how Ebay can not be held accountable for any of this because they said he didn't have an account with them, but I have an account with them and you have to have an account with them to sell or buy."

Experts suggest that you always use Ebay messages and not their or your personal email and use paypal to pay for your purchases.

That way Ebay will be able to keep track of your transactions.

Christie White is assistant manager of It Sold Easy in Brandon.

She said, "They pretty much take the money and run once it's wired."

The company sells merchandise through Ebay and offers buyers and sellers advise on on-line purchases.

White said, "You always need to look at their feedback and make sure they at least have 95. Look at their page and make sure it looks legit that there's everything on it, a good description and stuff like that."

Weakley has contacted the Attorney General's Office who said there was nothing the state agency could do.

Ebay's website does not recommend wiring money for purchases.

Bill Moak with Mississippi's Better Business Bureau reports that Ebay has 100 million subscribers and 2,980 complaints nationwide.

Source: http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6228546&nav=2CSf

Only 2,980 complaints Nationwide? That seems so low - there is more than 'that' on here for heaven's sake! No way this can be accurate.....IMO!

Quote: › "I had to send the money to Spain where he was and he was going to send the bike out of Santa Cruz California. He said that his brother worked for DAS which is a shipping company for Ebay."

Talk about a total numpty !!!

There are at least 4 red flag clues that this was a scam right off the bat.

1 - wire the money - big NO-NO

2 - send it to another country - never send the money to a dif country than where the merchandise is supposed to be

3 - merchandise coming from another location - related to # 2

4 - shipping company FOR eBay - eBay doesn't have physical contact with anything therefore eBay doesn't have a shipping company

5 - DAS, who or what are they supposedly - if you never heard of the supposed company DON'T USE IT !!

While I hate to see anyone scammed like this, the guy was a total idiot.

Carol

This is an extreme case. I wouldn't buy motorcycles, computers,
big screen TVs, etc. from private parties unless I can see the item
in person. These are the type of items where I would look on craigslist.

--
Atlcollect Group - Buy Sell Lists
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/altcollect/

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I actually bought a used Dell workstation on eBay and that turned out quite well.

Of course that was about 5 years or so ago before it was such a con game.

Carol

Carol

If the seller had substantial feedback, and I could get a HUGE savings and pay with PayPal, I would probably consisder it worth
the risk.

I'm not "boycotting" eBay, but I do make a point of trying to buy
on craigslist or the alternative sites first. Easier said than done.
The las few items I was looking to buy could not be found on any
of the alternatives sites. Common stuff....scanner, military style
web belts, and CD cases. Ended up buying on eBay.

--
Atlcollect Group - Buy Sell Lists
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/altcollect/

No I understand. My purchases on eBay have been a lot less lately also.

I did get a camera last fall but I got the accessories by using the sellers own web sites instead of their eBay stores.

It's so much more of a risk now than it used to be. Unless you know how to check out a seller, it's not worth it any more.

Carol