mystery ECU

flman · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:47 pm

This same ECU has been listed 3 or 4 times in the past month or 2 and it always gets retracted or ends. What is the seller thinking??

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0519396355

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:32 pm

yea i put that up a month ago or so. Seller probably wants more money.

johnrv4 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:40 pm

I bid on that item. Then I got a phone call from the seller. He said he doesn't list items with a reserve, because he doesn't want to pay Ebay the extra charge for a reserve auction. Then, he said he would sell it for $250, and email me an invoice. He did email me an invoice from Google check out. I didn't want the item for that price, and the idea of buying it using Google check out instead of Ebay and Paypal didn't seem like a good idea. At least buying it through Ebay you'd have some protection if it's DOA.

geordi · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:40 pm

Sadly, no you wouldn't.

Ebay's "protection" is about as effective as using a coat of paint to stop a bullet. Its all about a FEELING of security, not an actual method. I've been on BOTH sides of bad transactions, and the ONLY reason I've come out ahead on both was that I paid with a credit card (denied the charge when Paypal / Ebay wouldn't help at all) and the guy who bought from me and said I sent him a broken item DIDN'T pay with a card... And Paypal told him the same thing they told me: Good luck with working it out.

Your BEST protection is buying with a credit card. This isn't just for online transactions, it is also for real-life transactions.

You ever notice how every retailer's easy-pay card thing ALWAYS defaults to asking you for your pin number? That is INTENTIONAL for two reasons: It eliminates the fee that the retailer pays per transaction to Visa / MC... AND it also COMPLETELY ELIMINATES your ability to dispute the charge OR get the free extended purchase protections that are in EVERY SINGLE Visa-purchased transaction agreement. You have a problem with the purchase that the retailer won't help with? Visa WILL get you the money back, if they agree with your claim. Most of the time the customer will win. Retailers have ZERO recourse against this, so that is why they (And Paypal) default to instant-bank-transfer of the money... It's just like cash. If there is a problem... THEY are the ones with all the power, not you, the consumer.

ALWAYS use the credit card option. It won't change the price for you, and even if it is a bank check card, the Visa Protections STILL APPLY.

johnrv4 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:53 am

I have to agree with you about using a credit card. I use mine for just about everything I purchase. I have a "cashback" card that gives me back a cash rebate, so that's my payment of choice.
Twice I have bought items using Paypal on Ebay. I didn't receive one item, and the other item wasn't at all what was described. Both times, Paypal ruled in my favor, and the money was returned to my account. I still do prefer to use the credit card though. Another advantage of using my credit card, is the doubling of the manufacturer's warranty up to one year.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:11 pm

I do not like Paypal even though I have used it on both ends. When I am forced to use Paypal to make a payment, I use the credit card option instead of the bank account withdrawal.
Double protection from scams.

The only scam a Credit Card company (yup Amex) could not resolve was a Unwanted Membership for Spirit Airlines.
When I sent Spirit a Snail Mail Letter, I told them it was either their error or a Criminal act.
Make it go away and I would not pursue a Federal Investigation and file criminal charges.
They tried to tell me I did not click the right box when I went through their cancellation procedure, and I told them they were wrong and how poorly their counter intuitive their web site was.
Their web site told me they were sorry to see me go, but never sent the email confirmation.
Spirit finally canceled the unwanted membership.
Not all of the scammers and rip off artists are from Third World Countries with bad English.
I am waiting for the J8 for $5,000.00 that I can pick up in Miami.

As much as I don't like Paypal, they did get my money back for an Item that was never shipped and I was charged for. Weeks later the seller sent the wrong DVI cable that would not work to connect my set top HDTV box to our HD TV, I tossed it into the Misc box of cables.

geordi · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:03 pm

This seller canceled my bid and ended his auction this morning. I don't have an accurate phone number on my Ebay info, but he DID request it... So hes up to the same crap as posted earlier.

I reported his listing to Ebay under the heading of "avoidance of Ebay Fees" which might at least get him noticed. Their really nice (sarcasm) reporting form limits you to 100 characters for a description however... So not much chance to really describe what he is up to. Stupid system, and I doubt anything will ACTUALLY be done. Ebay is dying.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:23 pm

geordi wrote:

This seller canceled my bid and ended his auction this morning. I don't have an accurate phone number on my Ebay info, but he DID request it... So hes up to the same crap as posted earlier.

I reported his listing to Ebay under the heading of "avoidance of Ebay Fees" which might at least get him noticed. Their really nice (sarcasm) reporting form limits you to 100 characters for a description however... So not much chance to really describe what he is up to. Stupid system, and I doubt anything will ACTUALLY be done. Ebay is dying.

...Swallowing a lump of coal, he may get a diamond out his back side.
I would almost bet his Lady has thought of putting a lump of coal into his salad telling him it is a crouton.
What a tight @$$ not setting a reserve on eBay :!:

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:22 am

Of course, I should mention that I had no need to purchase another ECU anyway, as I already have a spare... I was just curious to see what he would do. If my $25 bid had been allowed to finish, I would have paid for it. (With a card, fully expecting to be scammed)

Yea, I agree on the diamond comment. cheap bugger. Somebody should shill-bid that thing when he next lists it, and let it end with a 25000 total. Then the "oops, I thought I put a period in there" could be used... But Ebay would STILL go after him for the fees. :twisted:

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2009 1:38 am

It's been a while since I sold anything with a reserve. What is the reserve fee anyway now? a dollar or so? What a cheapskate :!:

mystery ECU

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