Seller says item has been stolen

vicstar_2

Last week I won an auction for a mobile phone on e-bay. I was really happy as it was the exact model my Dad wants for Christmas and no-one else put in a bid so I got it for the seller's minimum price. I paid by paypal immediately and the seller said he would send me the phone on Friday. I got another e-mail from the seller this morning saying that the phone had been stolen from his workplace and so he could not proceed and has refunded my money :mad: .

I am really suspicious about this and think the seller was just disappointed that he didn't get a better price (other phones of the same model are selling for much more but the detail in his listing was really uninformative and may have put people off). However, I have no proof of this (until he relists the phone ). Whilst I know there's nothing much I can do about this and will have to start looking for another phone what should I do about this phone on my e-bay account? At the moment my account is now showing that I have to pay for the phone again and I don't want this to look bad on my record when its all the seller's fault. Also, will I be able to leave feedback and what should I put?

Thanks for your help

Vic

black-saturn

If they filed a NPB alert to get their money back they will close the case after 7 days of the auction ending. It wont look bad on you at all. If they dont file a NPB alert just delete the item from your 'Won Items' list and forget about it (but dont leave feedback till they do).

Keep your eye on his listings but there is the possibility he could be telling the truth. Phones do get nicked.

Mandles

I would leave negative saying disappointed as phone got stolen from your workplace .this lets other buyers see what he has said & cant do it again.Dont worry about your seller account as paypal will have a record that you paid.Beware if you do leave a neutral as he may do the same!keep an eye on his auctions & report him to ebay if his phone "turns up"

jaffa30

Hi
You can file a non performing seller against them.

Jaffa

bleugh

give up and walk away! leave a neg, file a non performing seller and walk, the seller doesnt HAVE to sell if they decide not to (though they SHOULD, you can't MAKE them)
find another phone!

fatboyonadiet

I'd disagree with leaving a negative, neutral at worst, when I've won items that have got lost I've left a positive IF the seller refunded me quickly and was apologetic. Same from buyers when items have gone missing for me.

Maybe watch anything he sells in the next few weeks before you leave any feedback...

abe999

I think you have been Lucky. The Ebayer may be miffed that the phone didn't reach the price he thought it should but he has refunded your money so he is at least showing a responsible attitude on this point.

Many people fail to receive goods and never get their money back so like "fatboyonadiet" I agree with not leaving negative feedback on this one. Either Positive or if you are not convinced, Neutral feedback would be the way to go

captain_insano

I think it's very harsh to leave a negative if you have been refunded. A neutral is sufficient with description of what has happened in case he tries that excuse again.

Enterian

I've had a situation like this, with an item 'dropped and broken' when I won it at a bargain price.

I left a neutral stating "Sale not completed, item broken prior to despatch", and I got a positive in return.

Not much else you can do really.

Enterian

jaffa30

Imho

you could leave a possitive along the lines of

Full refund given after phone was stolen

It could be it was stolen we'll never know

Jaffa

Wig

You don't know if it was stolen but I feel it is important to leave this in your feedback for others to see. I would leave neutral saying:

"Motorola 7502 won for 5pounds, could not be delivered because it was stolen soon after auction finished, monies refunded"