posted on October 16, 2000 12:25:18 PM new
Quick question for you all: I purchased an item from a seller that was listed in the glass category. I routinely purchase items similar (but not the same maker) for a collection I have. I had never seen items like these and just had to have them. All the items I have ever purchased have been glass, jade, lucite or bead - which is what I collect. Well, I received my item today and the item is some sort of cloth and resin. I went back to the auction and nowhere does it say what the item is made of. I had assumed it was glass being in the glass category. The picture in the auction was very good but with this particular item it is difficult to tell what the item is made from.
I'm not happy at all with the item as it is not what I thought it was and I would never have thought to ask specifically whether it was glass or not because of the category.
Other than that the transaction went very smoothly and professionally and the packing was exceptional.
It wasn't alot of money and I suppose I could always auction it off again and take my chances.
posted on October 16, 2000 12:39:45 PM new
Personally, I would email the seller to let them know about the glass catagory and your assumption that is WAS a glass item. WHO WOULD THINK IT WAS NOT GLASS???
That is a definate 'grey area' in my opinion.
It is deceitful and THAT is wrong.
This kind of thing is getting out of hand.
Even if it only cost you a buck..that does not make it right.
If they play hardball ...
you gotta do a neutral on the feedback.
JMHO
[ edited by zeenza on Oct 16, 2000 12:41 PM ]
posted on October 16, 2000 12:43:25 PM new
zeenza - I probably will do that, however, I just rechecked the auction again and there is a statement in the ad that all sales are final, item as is, and questions should be asked before you bid. I just don't think that this is a question I should have asked. But from the statement I have feeling I will get nowhere.
First, I would compliment them on their professionalism and excellent packaging. Chances are, if they gave such good service, they were not trying to be deceptive.
Then I would ask them if they possibly confused 2 of their items. Just maybe they placed a glass item by accident in the category meant for the resin piece.
Or, maybe they know these items are normally found in glass and that is why they placed it in the glass category. If so, they had the responsibility to mention that the item is NOT glass, but cloth and resin. It should go without saying, but that little bit of info would make a big difference to a glass collector.
posted on October 16, 2000 12:58:59 PM new
I think I would start by sending them a very polite email stating the situation and asking them what they can do to rectify it. They may surprise you and offer a refund. If, however, you get a nasty reply saying all sales are final, you are justified in leaving whatever feedback you feel appropriate.
Edited to add: Listing a non-glass item in a glass catagory is definitely misrepresentation.
[ edited by BlondeSense on Oct 16, 2000 01:01 PM ]
posted on October 16, 2000 01:10:22 PM new
Sometimes it could be an honest mistake. I think I've listed things as porcelain when they were glass, because I have a hard time knowing the difference.
posted on October 16, 2000 01:15:17 PM new
I think good arguments could be made either way on whether it is a misrperesentation, but from a practical point of view, you're better off never to make any assumptions based on category.
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All rights reserved. All wrongs reversed.
posted on October 16, 2000 01:29:37 PM new
I thank you all for the responses! I will be sending an email later today and will word it as femme suggested.
HCQ - for a category - I probably would have went for the collectibles decorative - as it is kind of a generally decorative sort of thing and I doubt another category would have been suitable.
I have no problem with crossovers in categories, for example a book on pottery in the pottery category instead of the book category. But, a cloth (silk maybe) and resin piece in Glass, Stained Glass is somewhat farfetched. I have bought others of these items that are glass and resin and I have no problem with that, it is the cloth part that bothers me.
posted on October 16, 2000 11:43:29 PM new
I think that it is definitely misrepresentation. However, the seller may not have known but from your description, that hardly seems likely.
I crossover a lot, war books in with military, sewing books in with sewing, etc. but they know it's a BOOK!
posted on October 16, 2000 11:56:11 PM new
Personally I think All sales final, item as is, ask questions before bidding goes a long way in answering your question about misrepresentation. They know beforehand there will possibly be people surprised and unhappy with what comes in the mail so they are covering their posterior. I never bid on auctions with this disclaimer.
posted on October 17, 2000 04:30:48 AM new
I have to disagree with you yourquest.
Asking them to ask their questions first on somethings is because some people never read the whole ad. I don't put that in my ad but I have had people ask me questions that were fully covered in the ad.
As is, I have used, if it has a defect which I have explained. If they bid and then don't want it that is a big expense for me. Better to put the "as is" in and maybe they will read it more carefully before they bid instead of waiting until they get it.
And all my sales are final tho I don't put it in my ad. Of course, that doesn't mean if I have misrepresented it or there was a defect I missed.
I am very careful about noting defects in my descriptions and I do a lot of books and china. It may lower the price but it's worth it not to have to get it back, relist fees, etc. With good packing and good descriptions then all I have to worry about is an occasional bad check or deadbeat bidder.
posted on October 17, 2000 07:18:29 AM new
No, I don't think fiberglass - but hey I could be wrong - let me describe it this way - you know the silk sunflowers that people decorate with? The cloth is the same as the petals on sunflowers.
I have emailed the seller explaining how I feel and I hope to hear from them soon.
posted on October 17, 2000 08:05:05 AM new
Categories are often related....I put books in certain categories where they do much better than some "book" category. Nothing hard and fast
posted on October 17, 2000 08:12:48 AM new
mballai - I totally agree. But you can tell a book in the pottery category from a piece a pottery. My point is, from the pic on item you cannot tell that it is not glass (or even a glass like substance), therefore, it should have been mentioned in the description that it is not glass.
posted on October 17, 2000 08:30:59 AM new
If we are debating this from a viewpoint of an illegal/unethical misrepresentation of an item, I would think the following criteria would have to be met:
1. The item clearly doesn't belong in that category, i.e., there is a clear category that it does belong in
2. The seller is knowledgeable and experienced enough about ebay in general and the item in specific to know the above
3. The change in category results in a significant increase in value (since no sane seller would miscategorize intentionally for the purpose of reducing the value of the item).
Otherwise, any miscategorization would seem to be the result of a mistake or ignorance on the part of the seller (or,frankly, just plain a disagreement on what is the "right" category for an item, which happens all the time at ebay).
From the postings I've seen above, we can't even tell what the item is made of, let alone what the correct category is, let alone whether the item sold for more or less than it would have otherwise. (Note: it isn't enough to say "it isn't glass, so it shouldn't be in the glass category". Often there just isn't an obvious category, so you make your best pick of the ones that do exist.)
Therefore, I find it hard to judge the seller guilty of the evil of "misrepresentation" in this case.
posted on October 17, 2000 09:26:01 AM new
And now with ebay offering 2 catagories to put your item in, makes it harder?
As for reading descriptions, and asking the seller questions before they bid, is good. I've had tons ask, when it is right there in the description.
If there is any defect, I put it in the description, if it ends well, and I'm shipping out, I print out the auction page with the description.
I've had items that had a small chip in it, and put this in the auction ad, and then have people email, and ask if it has any chips in it. I think a lot of bidders just look at the title and then the picture.
posted on October 17, 2000 11:54:06 AM new
Hi Captainkirk - thank you for your response. I do agree with you up to a point and I do not feel that the seller is evil by any means for placing this item in the glass category and he/she may have decided that this category was the most appropriate place for the item. However, I still feel that if you place a non-glass item in the glass category, you should state in your description that item is not glass.
In the meantime, I did some more research on the line that this item came from and I can see why they chose the glass category. This item is an accessory to a line that is stained glass. It just so happens that this piece is not glass. So at least, I can see why they chose the glass category. I imagine that a collector of the line would know that this accessory was not glass, it just so happens I am not a collector of this line (never even heard of it - but it seems to do quite well on ebay) so without being told, I thought it was glass.
I guess it proves I should have done more research or asked before I bid.
posted on October 17, 2000 12:16:45 PM new
spotty: you raise an interesting question...how much knowledge should a seller assume on the part of buyers? Perhaps they didn't mention the material because it was "obvious" to collectors of this stuff what it was. Its hard sometimes to know how much information to include in a listing - too much and you bore people (and may also make it easier for people to miss the important stuff), and too little and people like you make assumptions and end up dissatisfied.
I guess this is where the "good" sellers are better than the "poor" sellers - being able to anticipate what is important to their potential customers and making sure they aren't "surprised" when the item arrives. Of course, even the best seller won't be able to anticipate every possible aspect of an item that might be important to every single buyer...
posted on October 17, 2000 12:17:47 PM new
Just an update: The seller has declined to accept a return. They were very nice and very professional but state that they felt the category was correct and the auction terms specifically state no returns and the item is as is and they feel the item was described correctly.
Thank goodness the bidding didn't go to my proxy or I'd be cranky for sure!
Well, off to take a picture so I can get this baby listed!
They know beforehand there will possibly be people surprised and unhappy with what comes in the mail so they are covering their posterior. I never bid on auctions with this disclaimer. 
