Ultimate transaction from hell, no item, excuses, then silence

Just aweful, item isn't all that relevant (a fishing reel), but the experience is worth noting for the wary; 5/31/10 seller counteroffers a best offer, I accept, and pay, noting the priority mail with 2-5 days until receipt. But item tracking doesn't show item being mailed. Two e-mails get no response, I then get his contact info from ebay, call that phone on 6/7/10, and get told by a parent that he left 2 weeks ago and is on a barge off the coast of Nova Scotia. I get told his father will call me tomorrow (never did). But I did get a series of e-mails on that day only from seller, the gist of which was he never had the item - but thought he would get it from a factory. The factory, however, didn't get it to him on time, and that is because their anodizer broke and were waiting for parts, but he would have it mailed to him on wednesday (6/9). Nearly a week more comes and goes, and at least 3 more e-mails (and one more phone call) yield no response (other than his family is able to contact him by e-mail, he just isn't responding to me); and the item tracking shows it still isn't mailed. Finally, I called the factory which seller alleged was expecting item from (a fishing reel), and it IS in stock. Opened case; requested item (NOT refund), in fact, send me item and send me some money back. Ebay said, however, they "don't do" partial refunds; I would need to get the money from him if I want the item, or, pay the full negotiated price. Kinda puts no value on the 3 weeks that I will have waited to get the item, if I ever do, which I doubt. And guess what, the seller has nearly 500 transactions, and a 100% rating (for now, I haven't left mine, yet). Moral of story: don't sell something on ebay you don't have.|||Great gosh! The moral is (also) don't get stalled by an obvious staller. You should've opened the case and asked for the money back ASAP, forget the item, forget the barge, forget the factory! Asking eBay to give you the item and a partial is kinda a weird one to hear also.~James~||||||||||||quit being a wierdo: Don't call James a weirdo.~~Paul Eells (1935-2006)~~|||I don't get it, once the item is not received after 14+ days, just file the INR with either Paypal or Ebay (not both). No need to make this so complicated. Seller is drop shipping and must prove delivery to Ebay /Paypal. Nobody is going to compensate you for anything ,except item price and the original S&H paid. Leave appropriate NEG feedback and DSR stars for the transaction. Get your refund and move on. What does the seller's feedback look like before you made the purchase? Did you use toolhause to see all the sellers negs to determine how the seller conducts business? If not this is the first thing you should do ,prior to bidding.|||In these situations when it is obvious your not going to get your item you need to worry about getting your money back. I have seen another buyer heck bent on getting their item and not a refund they ended up with nothing. You will not get your reel or your reel and more money. The most you will get is your money back.This is a posting ID to help fight against AI or RLI. I have no agenda other than to express my opinion, which is just that, an Opinion.|||while not germane to your situation But item tracking doesn't show item being mailed. doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't.When a seller uses online postage with e delivery confirmation often the only thing the usps website will tell you is that a label was created up until it is scanned as delivered.The post office does not offer real time tracking like ups/fedex.What you get is delivery confirmaion(scan at delivery if e dc/scan at accepance/delivery if bought at po-additional scans may happen but are not promised by this service)It may not be your fault but it is your responsibility Silver rule "do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you"|||listing a not-in-hand item is russian roulette for seller feedback|||||||||the seller has nearly 500 transactions, and a 100% rating (for now, I haven't left mine, yet). LOL!|||stevescho that Neg pretty much says it all. I think the bigger issue is Ebay is wanting these drop shipping volume sellers for the fees . For every 10 drop ship sellers, who crash and burn, there are another 10 + waiting to try their hand at listing the exact same items.|||"Moral of story: don't sell something on ebay you don't have." I agree with this statement.... Nothing worse than finding out that a seller doesn't have an item in stock and doesn't disclose that fact in the listing. On the other hand........... I'm seeing a trend in many of these posts: The disgruntled buyer usually states they should be compensated in some way for their inconvenience when a transaction goes bad. !!!!???? Why didn't the OP just file an INR claim when it was obvious the item was never on the way? I truly think there should be a training & probation period here for new buyers and sellers.... !