Distance Selling Regulations and Ebay!

RFW

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

Shame it has to be 'a one man crusade' but again I suppose that's as indicative of our NIMBYist society as is 'promoting' the concept that if some people get 'scammed' it's their own fault, and they deserve it regardless of how frequently or infrequently it may happen. Never mind that some of these people may suffer from mental illness, ill education, poor upbringing, or any number of other reasons leaving them more vulnerable to scams or even just plain refusals to comply with DSR's, on top of which an organisation (such as EBay) giving the impression that they have no choice but to pay the costs of returns themselves because that is the 'advice' contained in their messages from departments labelled with titles like 'Buyer Support.' And because of the size of the organisation, the less well informed will assume that that must be the position in law.

Eh? So you chose not to answer why you've just singled out Ebay and don't include any other companies.
As for the comments about me, if you check these forums I often tell people that they are legally entitled to return postage. I also let them know that if it isn't forthcoming they have various options and should report sellers falling foul of SOGA to Trading Standards.
You also seem to not know the difference between the Sale Of Goods Act and Distance Selling Regulations. That's easy enough but if you are going to champion this you are best to be in full possession of the facts.

I may be wrong but I've never seen you offer any advice to any buyers on here. You've not posted any personal issue you've had where you were wronged, you haven't posted a link to any Ebay policies that go against either the Sale Of Goods Act or Distance Selling Regulations, you haven't even mentioned any of the sellers you accuse of consistently flouting the law. Care to remedy some of that?

theoretica

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

I would really like to see somebody as 'high profile' as Martin Lewis take this on and will be trying other High Profile Consumer organisations. - I would welcome any other comments/suggestions (other than the anticipated abuse form EBay sellers) from anybody else who feels as strongly about this as I do.

My comment is that you should take this crusade on yourself, as you clearly feel strongly about it, rather than trying to get someone else to do your pet project for you. Martin Lewis strikes me as a busy man who comes up with his own campaigns. Rather than trying to overburden the few who already have names for themselves, add to the number of consumer champions and this effort should benefit by getting your full attention rather than competing with other causes.

Knowyourrightsandusethem

Calm down everyone, I made it clear from the outset that I knew this would be contraversial. - I have been pleasantly surprised by the lack of threats from Sellers to the effect that they know who I am and where I live, watch you back etc. etc along with other 'playground threats.'

Excuse me whilst I look up the word 'hysterical' as I'm not sure that I have been, but I do think that some others may be going that way.

I have made it quite clear that I am aware that there are those that will seek to scam sellers and that I would support anything to tighten up loopholes to lessen that.

I have stated that my opinions also apply to 'other similar sites.' - My profuse apologies for not listing them all, its' just that to me the name 'EBay' is 'synonymous' with online shopping. - Apologies again if use of the word 'synonymous' offends anybody who may consider that I haven't used it absolutely correctly.

As for "comments about me" I do think that somebody is taking this a little bit personally. I am quite happy to point out very clearly that I consider that 'Soolin' for all of her impressive 'positions' on The Forum has made it quite clear that she thinks it OK for people to be scammed and that they deserve it and that she makes no allowance for those less fortunate who may have any number of reasons beyond their own control as to why they may be 'scammed' or just not protected as perhaps they ought to be. Any comments to that effect are directed at her and her alone unless anybody else thinks the same. - I see know reason to apologise if anybody else has not read a post correctly and assumed that such comments were directed at anybody else.

RFW

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

I see know reason to apologise if anybody else has not read a post correctly and assumed that such comments were directed at anybody else.

Well there we go, we've all been missing the subtext of your posts, if we'd all read between the lines we might have known exactly what you were going on about.

My final suggestion if you want to help the unfortunates who end up getting scammed would be to volunteer for the Citizen's Advice Bureau, not only would you then actually be helping but they would give you the required training so you would actually know what you are talking about.

campdave

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

I have made it quite clear that I am aware that there are those that will seek to scam sellers and that I would support anything to tighten up loopholes to lessen that.

Too vague. How? Ebay are not going to start reviewing every transaction. That's the only way these "loopholes" as you describe them can be closed.

It's only controversial as your ideas and suggestions are confused and half-baked.

wealdroam

Knowyourrightsandusethem, here's a simple question for you.

Why do you think Ebay should be responsible for educating and advising "these people [who] may suffer from mental illness, ill education, poor upbringing, or any number of other reasons leaving them more vulnerable to scams"?

Knowyourrightsandusethem

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing

Edmund Burke

alykatz

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing

Edmund Burke

Goodness me , overeaction much.

Whilst i see your point in general,the fact you think ebay needs singling out worries me.
As has already been pointed out ebay do have far more procedures to protect a buyer than most other online selling places.
I`m not sure why you think that when talking online shopping everyone would automatically think ebay unless you really mean a platform for selling second hand goods.[which is synomonous with ebay]

If your opening post had been about raising awareness of consumer rights for online shopping in all its forms then others would not perhaps been left wondering why you are focusing solely on ebay ,because it does rather look like you have an axe to grind.

As for accusing those that have pointed out the flaws in your post, which to be fair is rather lacking in any real substance, [though i do believe your conviction is real] somewhat childish and petty.

None of the regulars here condone scamming and any posts relating to such are filled with good advice on how not to get scammed or how to take action if you have been scammed.

The fact you do not know properly the laws you are trying to advocate or have any insight of how we all might go about making things better shows how little thought has actually been put into your post.

RFW

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing

Edmund Burke

In effect you really are doing nothing as I haven't seen you actually helping anyone with advice or said that you volunteer for CAB or a similar advisory body.

Perhaps you could start a thread advising people of their rights under SOGA and/or Distance Selling Regulations but from what you have already posted you may actually have to educate yourself as to what those rights actually are.

wealdroam

Knowyourrightsandusethem wrote: »

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing

Edmund Burke

Is that really your answer to my question?

Just to remind you, my question was:

wealdroam wrote: »

Why do you think Ebay should be responsible for educating and advising "these people [who] may suffer from mental illness, ill education, poor upbringing, or any number of other reasons leaving them more vulnerable to scams"?