Comet-Direct Dodgy Dealing on Ebay

scheming_gypsy

oscardog wrote: »

Selling something you do not have - is that not fraud?

Legal Fraud definition - Conduct that is considered fraud under the law despite the absence of an intent to deceive because it has the same consequences as an actual fraud.

Also:

Fraud in law : fraud that is presumed to have occurred in light of the circumstances irrespective of intent to deceive

So taking money for something you do not have...........................?

I'm no lawyer but would be surprised if that was 100% legit.

Fraud - The crime of getting money from deceiving people.
As taken from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fraud_1?q=fraud

They didn't deceive you, they were just out of stock.

johnnyboyrebel

Less of selling what they dont have and trying to get away with it and more of selling something in error which is now out of stock (ie their stock systems f'ed up) or they are dropshipping (not a good idea)

Pain in the !!! but fraud, no.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Comet, like the rest of them did, will learn eBay buyers will not put up with OOS. Comet will either have to separate their items so they have stock set aside for eBay purchases or suffer removal from the outlet program and suffer the same restrictions as the rest of us. Even if they get the feedback removed, the opened cases will affect their account, open and escalate a Paypal claim for INR.

What Comet are doing isn't fraud but eBay policy says:

While insulting language like 'fraud', 'liar', 'cheater', 'scam artist' or 'con man' is strongly discouraged, Feedback containing such language won't be removed unless it also contains other type of content that isn't allowed

If you are bothered, I would contact Comet Head Office and ask why your feedback was removed.

lovinituk

Unfortunately ebay is not a level playing field. Ebay will turn a blnd eye to the big boys carrying out the sort of practices that would get small business sellers restricted or suspended in a heart beat. Think of the money the large companies are worth to ebay in fees!

oscardog

So I have 10,000 Ipads due in from my "supplier". Comet has 000s of my item for sale but all with the manufacturer

I will sell them all for £250 each and demand instant payment = £2.5m in the bank. HANG ON - That's what Comet did!!!!!!!!!

Money stays there for two weeks then my "supplier" lets me down. I delay another week then apologise for "supplier" failure and refund all of the buyers. Whoa, hold on there, that's what Comet did

I do not keep a penny but I do however pocket interest on the £2.5m. NO WAY - Is that what Comet did

Legal or not?

oscardog

Just making a point as I am a bit of a purist when it comes to Ebay as I do not like the way it has lost it's original attraction.

Is nearly all BiN which is a shame.

Also love a bit of the old verbal jousting.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

It only becomes fraud when there is the intention to deceive.

For some products companies like Comet and all the other massive retailers (and even small retailers, I sell stuff I don't have in hand and could get the distributor to fulfil orders on my behalf) aren't going to bother storing stock when they can order from the manufacture as the customer orders, this reduces their costs which then reduces the price you pay.

If you take Tesco Direct as an example they sell BBQs over a grand and then ship from the manufacturer. The stock exists and it doesn't matter whether it's in a company's warehouse or the manufacture's.

The issue you've experienced is due to them offering a very wide range of titles and not keeping tabs on stock levels and due in dates, it's part of internet retailing.

I want a table from Argos and they say it will be delivered within 49 days (due to limited delivery slots in this example but could applies the above scenario as well) but want my money as soon as I order. Now I'm not going to order because of this but I understand why and there's not much you can do about it as the only other option is for them not to offer that item for sale and then they lose orders from those willing to wait.

"Just making a point as I am a bit of a purist when it comes to Ebay as I do not like the way it has lost it's original attraction"

So why support the likes of Comet and not purchase from an independent trader?

lovinituk

oscardog wrote: »

I do not keep a penny but I do however pocket interest on the £2.5m. NO WAY - Is that what Comet did

Legal or not?

If you could prove that they never intended to supply the goods (or didn't even place the big order) in the first place and that they set out in the beginning to do it just to make a load of interest then I'm sure that would be illegal. However do you really think thats what they did?! I doubt it personally.

johnnyboyrebel

oscardog wrote: »

So I have 10,000 Ipads due in from my "supplier". Comet has 000s of my item for sale but all with the manufacturer

I will sell them all for £250 each and demand instant payment = £2.5m in the bank. HANG ON - That's what Comet did!!!!!!!!!

Money stays there for two weeks then my "supplier" lets me down. I delay another week then apologise for "supplier" failure and refund all of the buyers. Whoa, hold on there, that's what Comet did

I do not keep a penny but I do however pocket interest on the £2.5m. NO WAY - Is that what Comet did

Legal or not?

The money will be sitting in a paypal account (unless there has been an automated transfer to their bank in this period) so the interest argument is garbage.

oscardog

ludovico wrote: »

It only becomes fraud when there is the intention to deceive.

Not so - see my thread number 7 above.

Intention is not required.

Anyway, who really cares. They will get away with it as we all know. They are racking up Negatives at a fast rate but they seem very good at getting them removed.