eBay shenanigans
I've actually always had pretty good luck with eBay. No real problems until recently when I received a re-sealed game. The seller appears to sell mostly non-video game collectables so I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and let him know it was a re-seal and asked him for a refund. He tried to argue at first, claiming that not all games had an h-seam etc., but I just let him know I've been collecting for a long time and I'm sure it's a re-seal. He said "k-mart screwed me then", I sent the game back, he refunded me with no problems, so I left him positive feedback and thought it was over.
I still had his feedback page open when I closed my browser (I use Opera which saves your open tabs) so it opened again the next day and I noticed there was another feedback immediately after mine for the same game, which he re-listed and sold again as factory new. So basically, I want to let the new buyer know what happened. Do you guys think I should send the buyer a message explaining the situation? The buyer left a neutral feedback for another reason, but doesn't appear to realize that it's a re-seal. Is there any recourse for the new buyer after leaving feedback? I feel responsible for knowing and want to speak up.
*edit* - I meant to post this to "everything else" sorry if it's the wrong place.
Comments
even a few Lic. Games didn't have the H seam
Once a seller has been made aware of an important fact that could affect the value of the item, if they do not disclose that material fact in the relisting of the item then they are intentionally trying to be deceitful to the public for a profit. I don't know what ebay's policies are on this but I would imagine there is a strong recourse for it. I would notify ebay of this if I were you.
Unfortunately eBay doesn't care about enforcing policies when they are still making money. That's why they usually yawn when someone reports shill bidding.... a higher end price means higher fees they take in.
Something like 80% of autographed merchandise on eBay is assumed to be fake, and there's going to be reseals too. All you can really do is try to spread the word to other collectors, because eBay certainly won't remove money from their own pockets.
Once a seller has been made aware of an important fact that could affect the value of the item, if they do not disclose that material fact in the relisting of the item then they are intentionally trying to be deceitful to the public for a profit.
I once sold an oboe for $300, which was returned and dude said it was in unplayable shape (the cork) and I shouldn't list it again. I had no idea if he was right or not, and relisted it (sold again for $350) and the buyer loved it and left great feedback.
Moral of my story is you never know the expertise level or intention of the person telling you your item is bunk.
If he was indeed screwed by K-Mart, it was probably a store reseal. Game gets returned, then the store reseals it and sells it again as new.
^ This. Usually in the shipping and receiving department, if a box seal it cut with a exacto-knife or damaged with a fork lift or pallet jack, they usually re-wrap the item and sell it as new.
If it had a K-Mart sticker on it, it's safe and is a good indication that something like that might be the case. Without pics, it's hard to say though.