Was going to start a new thread, but figured it kinda fits here anyway…
Too Good a Deal on eBay?
Yes, of course - if it looks too good to be true, then… it probably is, right?
My wife wanted a new pram, and decided on the UPPABaby Alta… RRP $899, or about $750 via online-only outlets. As luck had it, she found a local-pick-up-only offer on eBay, “only” an hour away, for a “new in box” Alta, for only $500. Yay, she says.
First Alarm - stock picture of the item only… Doesn’t always mean bad things, but can suggest that the seller does not in fact have the advertised item… Also the description was just copied from the manufacturer’s website…
Second alarm… Seller says - pay first, before they will confirm the pick-up address. Odd, I thought - never had a seller insist on payment before pick-up… but ok - they’re not insisting on bank deposit (!), so I’ll have PayPal protection/s…
Third alarm… Upon arriving at the address this morning, the lady hands me a clearly opened box with pram inside… She says it’s unused, only opened to check the colour. Mmmm…
I’d parked in her driveway, so took it back to the car and check the pram out with my wife… who identifies that whilst new looking, there are various accessories missing… not even the instruction booklet present… Walk back up to the door - the lady presumable was watching, and she immediately opens the door… Ask her about it, and she (I suspect) fakes surprise… Her story was that she’d received two prams, and only opened this one to check the colour as the other one was different to the box… Wife asks for a discount so we can buy the missing items, but no go, with seller instead offering a full refund, as “I had other offers higher than yours”…
And to her word, the money’s coming back… But we of course have missed out on what appeared to be a great deal…
SO - Who here actually has got a Too Good To Be True deal on eBay? Or are they all crooks and swindlers?