Okay, further to http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=122641

here's the thing

1) bought some RAM from the states
2) they sent it, doesn't work
3) they say my laptop is "picky" and the stuff I need is a) "slightly different" and more expensive
4) they want me to send them $9 via paypal
5) they say once I've left them positive feedback and paid $9 they'll send the "different" RAM

So far they've ignored any answer as to exactly how the new memory is "different"

Am I right in thinking if I leave +ve feedback I can't subsequently claim my money back via Ebay. And also that I cannot ask for my $9 if they don't send anything (sale outside of Ebay).

I'm just worried that I'm going to send back their broken RAM (so they can send it on to the next scam victim), pocket my $9 (and the $24 I paid initially) and then send me nothing and because I've left +ve feedback and the $9 was outside Ebay I won't have a leg to stand on.

Or am I being cynical?

What would anyone do?

1) Not send the chip back and just claim via Ebay saying the chips bust and explain to Ebay that they're saying I have to leave +ve feedback before they'll refund?

2) Pay up, send if off and hope this isn't a scam?

3) Assume it's a scam and squeeze a 2nd hand super spicy vindaloo into a box and send it to them with not enough stamps on so they have to pay for the extra postal charges

quote:

---

Originally posted by BenB
"plz re:Ebay shizzle
...
#3) Assume it's a scam and squeeze a 2nd hand super spicy vindaloo into a box and send it to them with not enough stamps on so they have to pay for the extra postal charges "

---

Yup. Made me a bit cynical too.... I can understand why they would do it e.g. to protect against a situation where they pay the refund and then the other person leaves negative feedback. But the whole thing seems a bit scamalicious to me. The fact that in the e-mail they said "this problem is unique to you" yet clearly the e-mail which was about two pages long (about all the hoops I had to jump through in order to get a refund) clearly hadn't been typed just for me..... Then again, searching for their name on the web doesn't come up with loads of scam warnings...

The missus assures me that leaving positive feedback doesn't preclude you from starting proceedings against a seller.

If you send it back, it'll be at your own expense and it has to be sent tracked (if you don't, it suprising the number of items that "aren't received".

I can't think of any way to resolve it that's not gonna cost you more cash

Personally for the sake of $24 I'd flog the memory back on ebay as "untested" and leave negative feedback

You'll be $24 down, but hopefully you'll feel a bit better

Oh aye, and this bit
"5) they say once I've left them positive feedback and paid $9 they'll send the "different" RAM"
is blatently against ebay rules, it's classed as "feedback extortion" and should be reported..

[Edited on 6/10/09 by UncleFista]

quote:

---

Originally posted by UncleFista

Personally for the sake of $24 I'd flog the memory back on ebay as "untested" and leave negative feedback

---

Leave negitive Feedback and either open a dispute as goods fault on reciept or Sell on.

File a claim on ebay and paypal for faulty goods, you'll get a full refund and it's up to the seller to get the goods back at their cost.
I know as I was on the other side with a laptop I sold in "as new" condition and the buyer complained as there was dust on it and a mark on the carry case (I mean the kind of mark you might get when you put it in a box and wrap it in bubble wrap!). Paypal refunded the buyer including all postage costs and I had to cover the return postage. Dont worry about feedback just yet, get the cash back first.

what feed back do they have? i guess if they have all positive feed back its not a scam if they have dodgy feed back why deal with them in the first place

If you paid with Paypal, just claim thro' them, I assure you they will come down on your side & if you point out the part is faulty & it will cost you £££'s to send back they will simply refund you without returning it, or they will insist the seller pays return postage.
Basically his fault it doesn't work therefore he has to cough up.
Trust me - I'm not a doctor

Yeh, maybe just claiming it is the best idea!!!

The wierd thing is the vendors feedback is mostly good (apart from a 0.01% warning of Bait + switch type scams.....) So it looks like a few people have had "unique" problems in the past.... And if they always demand +ve feedback before they con people the chance for neg feedback has gone!!

I think it's better to do that than flog it on the bay. That means someone gets dumped with some knackered ram and Ebay get double bubble on the costs!!

Also just noticed that the vendor says if I ask for a refund they because shipping was "free" even though I had to pay $1 for it, they'll charge me $6 restocking fee.

that's it, they're getting shafted

thanks for the advice peeps!

Why would you buy RAM from the states?

Clecos I can understand!

if they want you to post it back, then get them to pay return postage first.

if not, then open up dsipute - item not as described and claim all your money back.

leave feedback as appropriate.

if item was described as working and does not specifically name your lap top make/model as being one it doesn't work in, therefore item should work.

it doesn't, then why should you be out of pocket?


I bought some ebay memory, 2 GB DDR, was in UK and I made sure it was identical to the one in my Dell lappy and have had no probs, think it was about £ 20 or less.... not that that will make you feel any better.

[Edited on 6/10/09 by 02GF74]

quote:

---

Originally posted by designer
Why would you buy RAM from the states?

Clecos I can understand!

---

For future reference....

Crucial.com have a very good website for identifying the exact memory type you want based on motherboard type etc.

Might be useful.

Good luck getting a resolution Ben!

quote:

---

Originally posted by James
For future reference....

Crucial.com have a very good website for identifying the exact memory type you want based on motherboard type etc.

Might be useful.

Good luck getting a resolution Ben!

---