Do not buy from this seller

[Kyuss]

I purchased a lumenarc reflector and a 400 watt ballast from an ebay seller (mycoralreefsite) on the 5th of May. I paid him via paypal within 2 hours of winning the auction. After that I kept asking for a tracking number, after a week and the items had still not arrived I kept harrassing him, he then emailed and said to call him.... When I called him he said that the reflector was damaged in transit and was being shipped back to him but the ballast was still on the way, I again asked him in three seperate emails for the tracking number for the ballast. never recieved it. After three more days or so of trying to get info out of this guy he again says, "call me". So I call him up again, "you never got anything right?" He said he had both the ballast and the reflector at his house and was waiting on fedex to pay him the $$$ back for shipping. (I paid for shipping insurance) He said the lumenarc was fine. I told him to ship now and he can deal with the insurance and reimbursemnt from fedex later, I want my items that I have paid for or just send me all my $$$ back, he said he would refund it minus the shipping.. wtf... So I wait another couple of weeks and still nothing. I finally just filed a complaint with paypal saying I want my $$$ back. Now he sends me another email all in caps saying call him.....

sorry ahole but I am done, it's almost a month since I paid and I have not recieved anything, ridiculous.. He sells corals too so beware, he has a website called mycoralreefsite.com

I have never had an issue like this, am I out of line for wanting my item or $$$ after almost a month?

[ReefLuvR]

Nope, not out of line at all. Keep up the complaints, follow up on everything you think should be done. There are just some folks out there who either don't care, or are out to cause trouble. Be the one person they wish they hadn't met. Good Luck!

[three90s&125sump]

+1

[jumpman420]

Good to try to go through paypal vs. trying to go through eBay. I am going through the same thing right now. I found a company that makes led strip lights, 96 leds in a 4' strip. Bought one off of them for about half price as what they go for on their website, and still haven't received the item after about 2 months. Going through the "steps".....

[jumpman420]

Sorry for the jacking, but how are the PPE buddy?

[Mr.Peanut]

I stopped using ebay because of the same thing. Pay Pal will usually do the right thing. Its just the aggravation and the fact you had to wait so long that sucks.

Keep in mind, if this is the worst thing going on in your life, you can consider yourself lucky.

[three90s&125sump]

+1

[Kyuss]

yeah luckily it is not the worst thing in the world, just a pita.

Scott, ppe's are still going. I had an astrae on one yesterday but hopefully that does not mean anything..

[odie]

I say we use gorilla tactics and call this number!!

305-345-0997.

[pogodzib]

Good luck with getting everything resolved with your e-bay adventures guys. Keep us informed on the outcome.

[schneijt]

I can't find it on Reef Central, but I swear that just a few weeks ago I saw someone complain about this same seller...

That said, I use eBay all the time and 95+% of the time I have no trouble whatsoever. I avoid sellers with bad feedback, and when "good" sellers do "bad" things to me, Paypal has always been there and backed me up. It's unfortunate that some real @ssholes are on eBay pulling crap like that, but at least feedback ratings allow them to eventually get "outed" and lose their business. I'm sure that Paypal will get you your money back, especially since it sounds like you've got great documentation of everything.

-Joe

[Kyuss]

Absolutely Joe! Email is a wonderful thing sometimes. I have purchased tons on ebay and not once have I had a bad experience. Guess there has to be a first time fore everything. I would be curious to see the thread on RC.

[schneijt]

It took me several years to have a bad experience on eBay, but finally a year ago it happened. I gave an EXTREMELY detailed account of my trouble to Paypal, and I got the money back from the seller after five or six days, because he knew there was no way he would win the dispute. I've never had to have Paypal "decide" a case for me, because I always provide so much info about how I've been wronged that there's no chance in he** that the seller can win. I'm such a b@stard. hehe

So, if for some reason the seller won't give you the refund, as long as you make your case eloquently, there's no way that Paypal can decide the case in favor of the seller instead of you.

-Joe

[reefcrazy8587]

Originally Posted by schneijt

I can't find it on Reef Central, but I swear that just a few weeks ago I saw someone complain about this same seller...

That said, I use eBay all the time and 95+% of the time I have no trouble whatsoever. I avoid sellers with bad feedback, and when "good" sellers do "bad" things to me, Paypal has always been there and backed me up. It's unfortunate that some real @ssholes are on eBay pulling crap like that, but at least feedback ratings allow them to eventually get "outed" and lose their business. I'm sure that Paypal will get you your money back, especially since it sounds like you've got great documentation of everything.

-Joe

The problem I have on ebay-is that I do not leave "bad" feedback for somebody unless I am willing to receive it--because you know they will leave bad feedback for you...i do neutral..and explain...it is kinda a crapshoot w/ feedback

[hansmatt]

you are right...it's a crapshoot, but if you are doing the right thing, then you are doing the right thing. Somethings stuff happens, and you've got to own up to the fact that things didn't work for whatever reason. In this case, the item was broken & didn't even make it to the buyer, so $ should get refunded no questions asked. Unexpected problems plus bad communication always equals a bad outcome. With good communication many of the issues can be avoided in the first place. Simple rule? do the right thing and things usually work out.