Here is a warning to all of your eBay bargain hunters.
I bought a fax machine from a seller with a high feedback rating. It was item #3460229426. The fax machine had problems and I knew that when I bought it - which was fine. I was buying for parts. The problem wasnt the item... but rather the service and slick tactics.
Upon winning, I cut them a check for the amount plus shipping and $1,5000 of insurance. Thats the replacement value of the machine... and since UPS likes to beat things all to hell, I figured if it arrived pulverized - I would at least get a new machine.
They have an automated site that you login to and check out. Its self-service. You tell them the zip code, how much insurance you want and they quote the rate, take your CC (or provide you with a printable PO to mail with your check) and give you a reffernece number.
So a day or two after I mailed payment, I get a notice with a UPS tracking number that the package was shipped. I was curious to see how long it would take to get here, so I tracked online. It didnt come up online, so I called UPS. UPS said it would be two days.
I also confirmed that the $1,500 of insurance I paid for was on the package. To my shock, the UPS rep said "No, we don't show any insurance on this package, but all packages are insured for $100 anyway". I couldnt belive it. I even called back and talked to someone else who said the same thing, I thought it was surely a case of UPS employee incomptence.
Several e-mails to them and two phone calls went unansered by a human. Thankfully, thier machine arrived and I learned about this little con game before thier check cleared. I called the bank and stopped payment on the check. When I opened the box, the used toner cartiage that was supposed to be included wasnt present in either the machine or the box.
This earned me a negative feedback and the nasty calls from them still havent stopped. I offered to cut them a check for the amount of the bid and shipping minus $15.00 for the missing toner cartiage and minus the $21.00 fee my bank charged to stop payment. They didnt like that idea so I said to hell with them.
So never judge a seller by thier feedback number alone... go get thier feedback profile and see how many negatives. Apparently 369 other people share my opinion of Firebuy: they suck.
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