[UPDATE]: The matter is still not resolved!
We have all heard tales of Online Shopping nightmares and quite a few of us have suffered the same. Here’s how eBay India and their seller mobhylestore ruined my online shopping experience and made me suffer for nearly a month.
It all started one fine morning when I finally decided to take the plunge and buy myself the Playstation 4. After the usual price comparisons I had to settle for eBay as Flipkart and Amazon don’t deliver high value items to my hometown. The listing price was 29,999 INR and with the 10% discount coupon I had, I bought the item on 22nd February 2016 and that’s how it all started!
I’ll be brief as to all the remarks, but the screenshots clearly speak for themselves. If you need any other information, feel free to drop a comment or an email.
Feb 22, 2016
Order Placed. Seller shipped the same via DTDC the very same day. Sweet!
Feb. 27, 2016
Received the unit. To my horror as soon as I tore open the outer packaging, the PS4 box was torn. The unit was not sealed. No warranty card. No invoice. There was no bubble wrap even!
I immediately contacted the seller. He apologized for the packaging and told me that it was an imported piece. Nowhere in his listing had he mentioned anything that remotely indicated the fact. He asked me to check the unit if it was working or not.
Feb. 28, 2016
Informed seller that the unit was not working. There was no power. He refused for a refund. Asked me to ship the same back to him and if it worked with him, he won’t do a thing. I proceeded to file an eBay guarantee Claim.
March 1, 2016
Received an email from eBay stating that my number was not reachable and they had asked for an alternate number as well as to elaborate my problems. Mentioned the problems to eBay via their portal. Updated the contact number. (They still don’t call on the updated number)
March 8, 2016
They finally called. Had to stop driving to talk to them for about 40 minutes. They asked for Authorized Service Center declaration from SONY stating the item was dead on arrival. Provided the same via email and portal the very same day. Took me an hour to convince the head of the center that I was not trying to get him to sign his property away! Sigh!
March 11, 2016
Got an email that my number was switched off. Damn! I updated the number didn’t I?
They asked me to reship the item to the seller.
Sent it via Bluedart the very same day. Expected delivery date was 14th March.
March 15, 2016
Seller received the item. To my surprise he informed me that he got a PS3 instead. Laughed at my attempts to nullify his claim. I immediately emailed eBay regarding the same with the receipt clearly stating the weight(4.5kg) of the shipped item as the seller claimed he got a 4.2kg parcel.
March 16, 2016
Again got an email stating my number was off! Not again! They asked for a Declaration Letter from Bluedart stating that the item was delivered in intact condition. Asked the courier guys, they denied to cooperate.
March 17, 18, 19 2016
Talked to eBay CS supervisors. They suggested contacting Bluedart CC and ask for the letter. Sat for hours at bluedart office and got the letter.
March 20, 2016
Emailed the letter to them at 1.43 AM. Called in the morning to confirm the receipt. They asked me to email again. Did. They confirmed the receipt and said the claim team will get in touch in 48-72 hours.
March 23, 2016
Rang eBay up. Asked them about the call, they said to wait for two days as 24th was a non working day.
March 25, 2016
Received an email stating that the claim has been closed because I did not produce any documents.
Rang them up.
They informed the letter was invalid.
I asked them to clarify.
They said they wanted DRS copy and I had sent a declaration letter. I politely showed them their remarks as to what they had asked. They said it will take 5 working days to see if the claim can be reopened and I’ll have to wait. It was clearly mentioned to bring a declaration letter.
Really? Is this how online shopping sites should treat their customers. Screw the money, they are hampering the joy one is looking forward to the product that one orders with so much enthusiasm. eBay India, hope you are listening. I have been too patient in this matter. Called you a gazillion of times. Cooperated fully. See you in court!
