eBay Situation - Wrong Pipe, What Would You Do?

[Ryszard]

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to come, but I've run into a bit of a situation buying a new pipe. If this post was submitted to the wrong subforum or is in violation of any rule, please (re)move it and my sincere apologies.

I've been looking all over for a specific Savinelli Tevere model, which is out of production and literally out of stock everywhere. I've come across the pipe on eBay from a reputable seller (tobacconist with a B&M shop & online presence) - 5k+ reviews (99,7% positive) and tons of articles offered. Out of like 600 positive reviews there have only been 1-2 negative ones in the past year or so. Their brick and mortar shop has nothing but decent reviews too. Out of the negative reviews one has been a wrong item received without compensation offered (not a pipe though).

Now I haven't really had too much experience with eBay so I thought this all looks well and I've bought the pipe (he had 5 in stock). It arrived a few days ago and it turns out he sent me a Savinelli Trevi of the same shape. I already have this pipe and wrote the seller offering to return it, for him to send me the correct Tevere model. It's been three days and I haven't heard a word from the seller. Mind you, this is B&M tobacconist who was open 10 hours every single day and has posted very actively on their Facebook presence in the meantime. I've even written them a WhatsApp message (there was a WhatsApp number stated on their website), which they have read but not replied to. What I'm trying to say here is they've definitely received and read my messages - they've been online every hour or so too.

I'm starting to feel nervous about all of this, especially since the pipe is considered a hygienic article and not covered under the eBay buyer's protection. The seller's profile says he accepts returns within 14 days though and in the worst case I'd be covered by PayPal's protection and could raise a dispute over the payment.

I've not returned the wrong pipe yet because I haven't heard back from the seller. I'm torn on what I should do next. I could leave them negative feedback or raise a payment dispute with PayPal, but I still really want this pipe and this might aggravate the seller into not selling it to me anymore out of spite or complicating the returns situation. I have the theory that the seller doesn't even have the Tevere model anymore and sent me a Trevi on purpose hoping I wouldn't bother with a return and just keep it.

What would you do in my situation, would you wait longer or leave negative feedback and take this to PayPal in order to stimulate a response? This is outside of the US, by the way - so US laws don't apply. I'm at the mercy of the seller, PayPal and eBay.

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[cigrmaster]

If you didn't get the pipe that he promised tell seller to give you full money back including shipping charges. It he refuses open a file with PayPAl and you will get your money back. Tell seller of intentions tom use papypl if he doesn't make good.

 

[spartacus]

If he is a B&M have you tried calling them. If they have not responded I wouldn't wait to open a dispute.

 

[BROBS]

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to come, but I've run into a bit of a situation buying a new pipe. If this post was submitted to the wrong subforum or is in violation of any rule, please (re)move it and my sincere apologies.

I've been looking all over for a specific Savinelli Tevere model, which is out of production and literally out of stock everywhere. I've come across the pipe on eBay from a reputable seller (tobacconist with a B&M shop & online presence) - 5k+ reviews (99,7% positive) and tons of articles offered. Out of like 600 positive reviews there have only been 1-2 negative ones in the past year or so. Their brick and mortar shop has nothing but decent reviews too. Out of the negative reviews one has been a wrong item received without compensation offered (not a pipe though).

Now I haven't really had too much experience with eBay so I thought this all looks well and I've bought the pipe (he had 5 in stock). It arrived a few days ago and it turns out he sent me a Savinelli Trevi of the same shape. I already have this pipe and wrote the seller offering to return it, for him to send me the correct Tevere model. It's been three days and I haven't heard a word from the seller. Mind you, this is B&M tobacconist who was open 10 hours every single day and has posted very actively on their Facebook presence in the meantime. I've even written them a WhatsApp message (there was a WhatsApp number stated on their website), which they have read but not replied to. What I'm trying to say here is they've definitely received and read my messages - they've been online every hour or so too.

I'm starting to feel nervous about all of this, especially since the pipe is considered a hygienic article and not covered under the eBay buyer's protection. The seller's profile says he accepts returns within 14 days though and in the worst case I'd be covered by PayPal's protection and could raise a dispute over the payment.

I've not returned the wrong pipe yet because I haven't heard back from the seller. I'm torn on what I should do next. I could leave them negative feedback or raise a payment dispute with PayPal, but I still really want this pipe and this might aggravate the seller into not selling it to me anymore out of spite or complicating the returns situation. I have the theory that the seller doesn't even have the Tevere model anymore and sent me a Trevi on purpose hoping I wouldn't bother with a return and just keep it.

What would you do in my situation, would you wait longer or leave negative feedback and take this to PayPal in order to stimulate a response? This is outside of the US, by the way - so US laws don't apply. I'm at the mercy of the seller, PayPal and eBay.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Open eBay dispute. It will take three days then it will generate a label for you to return it. Once tracking shows delivered you get your money back. Easy.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Although inconvenient...you’ll get your money back as both eBay & PayPal are very good at taking care of these situations when they occur. ️

 

[greeneyes]

As suggested above, I would call. People have strange habits when it comes to the internet, but a personable phone call often clears any misunderstandings right up.

 

[pipestud]

What BROBS advised is spot in. If that eBay seller has a 14-day return policy, you don't even have to correspond with the seller directly. Simply go into your eBay account and in the drop down menu to the right of your item purchase, just click the Return Item prompt and it's smooth sailing from there.

There is one part of your post that I don't understand. You said, "the pipe is considered a hygienic article and not covered under the eBay buyer's protection." I am not aware of that rule. And besides, you received the wrong "hygienic article." Either I missed something somewhere or you may want to re-read that one.

Pipestud

 

[Sonorisis]

Around here, B&Ms are staffed by kids who know nothing of the business and precious little about tobacco and pipes.

Be patient. Do not, under any circumstance post a bad review to the bay site about this seller. You WILL live to regret such action.

After contacting the 'seller' again, initiate the Ebay return process.

This will almost certainly work itself out in due time.

 

[ssjones]

Bingo- this works very time, even when the buyer is wrong (Ebay always backs the buyer)

Open eBay dispute. It will take three days then it will generate a label for you to return it. Once tracking shows delivered you get your money back. Easy.

 

[BROBS]

It even works when a seller specifies “no returns”... as long as you are returning it due to damage, defect, or wrong item.

 

[Ryszard]

Thanks everyone for your replies, tried calling the B&M but couldn't get through to someone speaking English. Just got off the phone with eBay though, as I wanted to find out why the article is not eligible for eBay's buyer protection (thanks to pipestud for the information). Apparently, I can't open a dispute/return through eBay because of some technical problem. I did open a dispute on PayPal in the meantime and hopefully that'll do the trick. I'm not planning to leave any feedback until the issue is completely sorted out.

What really bugs me is that they read and ignored all my messages. I wouldn't be half as annoyed if they were really busy or affected by the COVID-19 situation and had given me some sort of heads up. ("Hey we got your message and are super busy, we'll get back to you when we can." or something like that). Just ignoring an issue like this makes it seem like either they don't care or sent the wrong pipe on purpose hoping I'd take it off their hands and not bother with the return.

 

[mikethompson]

What really bugs me is that they read and ignored all my messages.

Yup, people are strange.

I'm glad PayPal is taking care of you though. Don't let it sour you on getting pipes of ebay in the future. There are some good deals on there if you look around, and plenty of good sellers too.

 

[ssjones]

Apparently, I can't open a dispute/return through eBay because of some technical problem.

I can't imagine what that would be. Are you in the US?

 

[BROBS]

I can't imagine what that would be. Are you in the US?

I’m guessing he means just a glitch that isn’t letting him start the claim?

 

[ssjones]

I’m guessing he means just a glitch that isn’t letting him start the claim?

That's what I read, seems improbable.

 

[BROBS]

That's what I read, seems improbable.

I’ve never had an issue.

 

[mso489]

What BROBS said. You can't do business with him after that, but I don't think you would want to. Could be an innocent error, but he's refused to correct it. Just as a note, that is why I don't do eBay and Pen Pal etc., not wanting to spend the time thinking about their problems. The larger retailers, such as our sponsors, tend to be serious business people and most often get it right with no delay. My advice is, go there. I have a Sav Tevere, that I won in a cartoon caption contest run by pipesmagazine and smokingpipes.com; it is a nice pipe I smoke regularly.

 

[hauntedmyst]

I have a friend that works for the DOD. Tell me the address of the store. If there is an empty lot or store near by I can have a wake up call delivered in the form of a Hellfire missile by a drone within a few hours. They will just claim it was a computer glitch, but you can let him know the next one won't be. No one should screw with a man's pipe. What ever happened to tobacconists and civility?

 

[Ryszard]

Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to read and respond to my situation.

I've made some progress in the meantime, thankfully:

• eBay won't let me open a claim because apparently eBay buyer's protection does not apply at all for any articles purchased through my country's eBay presence. Their website literally states that buyer's protection applies for almost all articles but this is the response I've been given from them on the phone after calling a second time. The first time they claimed it was a technical problem. Bottom line of both calls: take this to PayPal and they will help you, we can't.
  
  
• I've successfully opened a claim with PayPal which has stimulated a response from the seller. They were ever SO sorry but they shipped the wrong pipe due to a "technical problem" (ha ha) and unfortunately, all Tevere models of that shape are "out of stock" - despite still offering 4 on eBay as of today.
  
  
• He tried to offer "finding a deal" or returning the pipe for a "full refund". I've chosen to return the pipe for a full refund and will keep my PayPal claim open until said refund actually arrives. I'm gonna take mso489's post to heart and stay clear of eBay in the future - it seems a bit of a hit and miss.
  
  
• After an intensive searching session on Google, I've successfully managed to acquire a Savinelli Tevere of this favourite shape of mine through an internet shop in Greece and had a local friend re-route it to me from there. He has already inspected the pipe for me and this time it really is a Tevere and a beautiful one at that!
  
  
• I won't go as far as calling this a happy ending just yet, but I'm getting there. Thanks again, everyone!

 

[BROBS]

glad it worked out..
what country are you in?