Replies

1. 
   Floss | Feb 06, 2007 06:04am | #1

   You can post negative feedback. Or file a complaint with e-bay. Have you asked the seller about a refund and to pay for the return shipping?

   Most sellers are pretty good about protecting their reputations. If you were taken advantage of there are ways to assuage the problem.

   J.P.

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
1. 
   miller | Feb 07, 2007 01:03am | #5

   I sent him a message, and he did not reply.

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Feb 07, 2007 01:19am | #6

   I do quite a bit on Ebay, and have only been burned three times.  On other occasions, that those three, when something was not right the seller made good immediately.  However, the last time I genuinely got burned, the seller never shipped the goods (a spool of expensive 4 awg wire), and then ignored repeated emails through the Ebay system.  I filed a complaint with PayPay, who made a partial refund.  I also left negative feedback on Ebay.  The seller then came to life and left ME negative feedback, saying I was a con-artist.  I have well over 300 positive feedbacks and only two or three negatives, counting this one, so it ticked me off.  I paid the $35 for an Ebay "mediator" under the mistaken assumption that Ebay would remove the feedback when they saw that it was malicious.  Wrong again.  The mediator claimed to have no authority except to pass messages back and forth.  The seller wold only remove the negative feedback IF I returned the money that PayPal had extracted from his account.  Fat chance, that.  So the mediation was a waste of time and money, and the negative is still on my feedback record.

   My point -- if they want to get you, they will, and Ebay won't help.  If you paid by credit card, you can refuse the charge -- or you could file with PayPal and see what happens.  But I am told that my experience is not unique -- some of the shysters on Ebay use feedback as a way to strike back.

1. 
   glasswd | Feb 07, 2007 05:37am | #15

   I'm glad you got a PARTIAL payment back from Pay Crooks. About two years back our son signed up for an on-line game service for five dollars a month out of my checking account through pay pal. Everything was fine for about six months. Some way or another someone tapped into the game site and began charging multiple hits on my account. One day was Ten hits!!! All told $260 bucks. I found out when my bank tells me I bounced two checks. So we get pp on the phone for three days (countless hours) they're "investigating", All the time telling them that they're letting these things go through daily when it should only be ONCE A MONTH!!The outcome? It's not they're fault it must be us. They also couldn't explain how it was us but too bad.Needless to say I can only wish horrible things upon them. NEVER AGAIN!!!!

2. 
   dukeone | Feb 06, 2007 06:05am | #2

   Mr. Miller: How did you pay? PayPal has some kind of buyer protection. Also be careful you don't bring nasty bugs into your house or shop. Like my mom always said about any food that might be too old: when in doubt toss it out!

   Duke

   "... Buy the best and only cry once.........

3. 
   allenb | Feb 06, 2007 06:54am | #3

   Bore holes huh.  You should post a picture of that wood.  Zebra wood is normally a little out of my price zone but that could turn into an interesting project.   Someone is always looking for an interesting piece of wood for something they have in the back of their mind.

   Best of luck,

1. 
   miller | Feb 07, 2007 01:55am | #9

   Here you go,  sorry my camera is terrible.

   
1. 
   starburn | Feb 07, 2007 03:57am | #10

   man that's some pretty wood, (except for the boreholes, of course), seems like it would be a bear to try to cut out all that stuff and try blending in some kind of plugs, plus it would take a small part of forever.  I notice it's taking a long time for the law to catch up to the net, I wonder if they ever will.  I hope you do post the crook's name.  I think I personally would be too skeptical of my fellow man's intentions to buy anything expensive sight unseen, but then this guy seems like he'd post fake pictures, for what it's worth I'm sorry you got burned, because I know how it feels.  And be consoled by the knowledge that unscrupulous behavior has a way of catching up with that kind sooner or later.

1. 
   miller | Feb 07, 2007 04:12am | #11

   This guy post a picture of the species.  Then says this is not the actual board, but a representative of the species.   I GOT RIPPED.  This guy sell lumber in thousand board foot quantities.  He is a lumber dealer; he knew exactly what he was doing.

1. 
   quequi | Feb 07, 2007 04:22am | #12

   Please post his eBay name.

   We would all like to be careful when buying from him, and some will avoid the seller all together.

   Please let us know if he does make things right.

2. 
   miller | Feb 07, 2007 04:29am | #13

   His name is jholden, and his store name is EXOTIC WOODS OF THE WORLD.

3. 
   quequi | Feb 07, 2007 04:59am | #14

   FYI, I found the eBay name of the seller @ Exotic Woods of The World.

   The correct spelling is:   jholden420

   He has fairly good feedback, so maybe a registered letter to his store address, as well as a complaint to eBay would be in order.

   If you are sure you are blameless, post negative feedback on the guy.

4. 
   Joe Sullivan | Feb 07, 2007 07:11am | #17

   Remember my experience with feedback, though.  One negative to him may not affect his ovcerall percentage by much (and most buyers look at the box score percentage).  However, if you have not had many transactions, one negative from him might really dump your score.

   I like the idea of an email campaign to him.  That would catch him by surprise, but BE CAREFUL.  There must be a lawyer in this crowd who will affirm that you had better be very careful to state just the facts and be sure that you have followed all the rules and are really blameless, or you might get hit with a commercial slander suit of some kind.

4. 
   pins | Feb 06, 2007 07:52pm | #4

   I think your gripe is valid, as is the advice you have received above. But once you cut the wood you own it and its too late to do anything except leave feedback and complain to EBAY.

   But, again, if you didn't give the seller a chance to make it right you shouldn't croak him. He may have thought that was a natural characteristic of the wood.

   I've has several instances where sellers have refunded my $ because something was wrong. One, a drill that had a bad clutch and another when a Canon printer was missing the printhead after the seller said that it 'worked fine.' How would she know that if there were no printhead. Just a couple of examples.

   pins

1. 
   miller | Feb 07, 2007 01:31am | #7

   I sent him a message on E-bay, and he did not even reply, much less offer a refund.  I  didn't cut the wood it came with the bore in it, and I have done nothing to.  This man sells a lot of wood,  he knew good and well what he was doing.  He either thought he would sell it to someone who didn't know better, or would not go to the trouble to complain.  I have had problems with this seller a few times before.  You know the saying, "you can shear a sheep many times, but only skin it once".  I got skinned this time.

1. 
   pins | Feb 07, 2007 01:44am | #8

   Sorry, I didn't see the 'can't' in cut around it. You're good to go, blast him and while you're at it post the seller's name here so others who read it won't get burned.I have 153, 100%, positive feedback on EBAY but as the previous poster said: "If they want to get you, they'll get you." And I haven't been to EBAY for so long that I had to look up my password. The exorbitant shipping charges turned me off.pins

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Feb 07, 2007 07:06am | #16

   OK, here's the deal about the shipping charges on Ebay.  They are exorbitant, and getting worse.  Part of it is doubtless a bit of a scam on the buyer -- but having done quite a bit of shopping there, I have concluded that it is a scam on EBAY.  Remember, the seller pays a fee to Ebay based on the auction price of the goods, so if someone pays, say, $10.oo for the goods, and $50 for freight, the seller's fee is based on $10.00.  I recently saw a $300 spool of wire sell for $95, with $200 in shipping and handling.

   In any event, savvy Ebay buyers always check the shipping charges before bidding.  In my case, I determine my maximum bid by figuring up how much I would be willing to pay for the item, and then subtracting the shipping and handling.  I really don't care how the proceeds get divided between the seller and Ebay.  All I care is what I pay.

   To use an example you will all relate to, I recently picked up five Jorgenson handscrew clamps on Ebay.  I first checked the new prices at Adjustable Clamp Company's web site, and then the sale prices at various web sites.  For each size of clamp (in very good working condition), I figured a price that was 25% below the lowest web sale price, and then subtracted shipping and handling.  I bid on quite a few, lost most, but won five.  As my bid had already been adjusted for shipping, I paid about 35% of the new price and was a happy guy with no surprises.  The clamps arrived in great shape and are hanging on my clamp rack right now.

5. 
   gb93433 | Feb 07, 2007 09:11am | #18

   In all my years in the lumber business it was never typical to see exotic wood with worm holes. Usually exotic woods are very nice.

6. 
   gb93433 | Feb 07, 2007 09:25am | #19

   The lumber I looked at on the website appeared to be poor quality. When he described lumber I noticed that he would write something like looks good and has splits. Splits never look good. That is typical of poor quality.

   You may want to make some Zebrawood tooth picks.

7. 
   cscwem | Feb 07, 2007 05:53pm | #20

   that's a tough one...

   I've made some very nice looking frame and panel doors using wormy wood for the panels.  for instance a white oak frame and a wormy white oak panel... it makes a nice contrast ....the more worm holes the better...not sure how that would look with your zebrawood, but maybe it's worth a try....

1. 
   JHOLDEN420 | Feb 07, 2007 06:50pm | #21

   hello everyone,

    my name is justin holden owner of exotic woods of the world or known as jholden420 on ebay. about the piece of zebrawood. i did retun the email to him saying if he was unhappy with the wood to please send it back for a refund no problem. as you can ask any of my over 10,000 custmers when i do a refund this is how it works. lets say the board cost 20.00 and i charged 10.00 to ship it. then when i get the board back from the customer i would then refund my customer 20.00 for the wood and 20.00 for shipping so the customer is not out any money. that is the only way on ebay that i can protect myself but only way customer loose any money if it cost more to ship it back to me then what i charged him. if that happens it no more than a 1.00 or so. so he is more than welcome to return the lumber for a refund if you do please put item # on the package..sir you or anyone on the site can call me if they have any questions.   731-212-1694

    

   thanks justin        http://stores.ebay.com/EXOTIC-WOODS-OF-THE-WORLD

1. 
   woodman2263 | Feb 07, 2007 07:59pm | #22

   That's really great you are willing to take the piece back and give a refund, that's the honest way to do things.  But I have one question that begs to be answered.  Why would you send him a board that has worm holes in it when it wasn't described that way?  Taking the wood back and offering a refund is noble, but what about the time he has lost in his shop by not having the material to continue?  What about the lost time packaging it up and driving to UPS not to mention not being able to work.  What is that time worth?  I believe you should be giving him a refund and not putting him through the hassle and wasting his time sending it back because you caused the problem in the first place.

   I ran into a problem with a seller on ebay sending me a piece of "claro walnut".  When I received it, it wasn't Claro but Eastern, which I have a barn full of.  Instead of putting me through the hassle of sending it back, he told me to keep it and he would refund my money.  His name is Antlersexpress.

   Is your rating worth the price of one board?

    

   Jeff

1. 
   JHOLDEN420 | Feb 07, 2007 08:05pm | #23

   i'm sorry if the board had a few worm holes. i do well over 200 packages a week and yes sometimes i make a mistake and put the wrong board in the package or even not see that somethiing was wrong with it. but please know when you are a seller on ebay you have alot of people everday that will try to get you to give them a refund when there is nothing wrong with the wood so to keep from losing money on my end becasue this is a business not a hobby, then i ask for my product back that way i know for sure there was something wrong with it.  its just like tgoing to walmart.com buying something then when it gets here is broke.you have to get it back to them before you'll get a refund.

    

   thanks

1. 
   woodman2263 | Feb 07, 2007 08:30pm | #24

   I agree with you 100% about protecting yourself.   It's unfortunate that it has come to that.  The point I am trying to make is, in this case only, you made a mistake and sent the wrong board.  You listed the board without saying it had worm holes in it.  Instead of making the customer go through all the trouble of shipping it back and wasting more time, refund his money and forget about the wormy board and don't request it back for 4 reasons:

   1. more time lost shipping it back

   2. unhappy he didn't get what he was told he would get.

   3. customer probably won't buy from you again.

   4. ALOT of knotheads here now know you!

   If you do the right thing and don't make him return it, you will retain the customer and draw a lot of praise from all the folks here that buy millions of board feet a year!

   Give it some thought.

   Jeff

2. 
   JHOLDEN420 | Feb 07, 2007 08:38pm | #25

   ok i understand your point but i haven't seen a pic of the board that he says has worm holes so how am i sure that it does have wormhole. and i would still want my wood back so i could at least resell. if i refuned everyone without getting my product back i would go broke and so would any company. i understand if i was in the wrong its bad on the customer i understand and i'm sorry but please understand this is a bussiness and i'm just like anyother company.so all he has to do is return and he'll get his money back and not lose out.

    

   justin

3. 
   miller | Feb 08, 2007 01:47am | #26

   I posted a picture earlier in this thread. " i'm sorry if the board had a few worm holes"  I counted the worm holes in 36",  that's half the board you sent me, and there were 78 holes.  These holes cover the entire length of the board.  They are not just confined to one spot.  I understand that mistakes happen, but this has happened before with warped boards.  I am sorry that we had a bad experience.  I am not telling anyone else not to buy from you.  I am just posting my own experience.  I did not post this thread to bash you, or hurt your business.  My original post was to find out if anyone had suggestions on how I could still use this wood.  When ask who I had bought it from, I simply replied.

4. 
   gb93433 | Feb 08, 2007 02:04am | #27

   Sounds like the business is trying to be honest and give the buyer the benefit of the doubt. Every business makes legitimate mistakes. Nobody is perfect. So give him a chance to do an honorable job and make it right.

5. 
   quequi | Feb 08, 2007 03:01am | #28

   As it turns out, I think you are right.

   One could not expect more than a refund of the purchase price and also shipping reinbursement both ways. That is a square deal, and jholden240 should be complemented.

   A word of advise about purchasing on eBay: READ the offering from start to finish, and ASK questions! For example:

   1.  The zebrawood listing clearly says 'picture is of a SAMPLE.

   2.  The sellers return policy IS NOT mentioned.

   3.  You MUST read the feedback: Some of the Negative Feedback seem very unfair to jholden240; But, you could also pick up on the fact that in several instances a shipping refund was evidently not offered, and that policy produced Negative Feedback.

   eBay is a great place to trade, but buyer beware. Don't count on eBay or PayPal to bail you out.

    

6. 
   miller | Feb 08, 2007 05:04am | #29

   "1.  The zebrawood listing clearly says 'picture is of a SAMPLE.",but the listing states that it is a great looking piece of wood. It does not mention any defects.  Do you not think that this description could mislead someone.

7. 
   Buster2000 | Feb 08, 2007 05:21am | #30

   I agree.  The seller has offered to make it right as best as he can at this point.

8. 
   miller | Feb 08, 2007 05:45am | #31

   I am sorry if it came across as if I was trying to bash this guy.  I honestly was not trying.  I just wanted to know if there was anything I could still use the wood for.  I hope I did not come across as a huge @#$.  I understand that he is trying to make it right and I do appreciate that.

9. 
   dougmeyer | Feb 08, 2007 05:10pm | #32

   I have never bought wood off the internet much less EBAY but I have bought a lot of things off the internet in general and EBay in particular. And frankly I am getting to the point that I am not sure if Ebay is worth it anymore. With the cost of shipping and handling and all and then add in the issues with getting what you want/need/expected.

   I just picked up a used book (circa 1967) that was advertised. It cost me $9.50 plus $5 shipping and handling.  So it set me back about 15 or so.  When I got it I open the box and the smell almost nocks me over. The book had gotten wet at some point and the cover (leather) was all messed up and so was the corners on the first 1/3 of the book. The inside bindings also had mold on them. I took the book and put it in the garage as I have issues with mold.  This things is a health hazard and should have been burnt not sold. The seller never said a thing about it. Now what can I do? I can let him know I am unhappy (I did) and at best he will refund my money and I can go to the trouble of sending it back. But in truth it is not worth the $15 to me to take the time to deal with the mess.  I wonder did the seller guess that?  I  mean their is NO WAY he did not notice the issue when he took the photos of it. To bad this did not show up in the photos.

   So at best I am not either a bunch of time (to try and ship it back) and a bunch of hassle (to deal with it) or I am out $15 and the guy gets $10 for what he knew what Junk.  I also missed another chance for another book (same book different seller).  But this is what Ebay is coming to I am afraid say.  So I wonder if it may not be the time to start looking at other places to buy things.  The internet sounds great and all but their are to many issues like the one with the wood.  Yes he can get his money back, but what about the time to take shipping it back? What about the lost time in dealing with this issue? What about the fact that his project is now on hold while he tracks down new wood?

   Yes the company is offering to give him his money back, but they did send him something that they should not have in the first place. Is their only responsibility to give him his money back?  What if the drug store gave you old meds? Would you be happy if they gave you your money back? I think we in the country have lost a lot when we started down this path that as long as you give me my money back everything will be fine.  There was (if what we have been told is true) harm and it was that this guy lost time and effort that he is not going to be compensated for.  And the company (who appears to be in the wrong) is going to get off with only paying the shipping, and if the guy feels it is to much a pain to send it back they will get to keep the profit.   I am not sure that is fair.  The guy did nothing  wrong and he will be out time and effort (cost of gas, going to the shipper, time to do this) and the company will be out (at most) the cost of shipping both ways.  Not sure this is truly a fair deal.  Especially when the company is taking a chance on the guy just keeping the bad wood so they are gambling (in effect) the cost of shipping (two ways) verse getting the price for the wood.

   It seams to me that people are having more issues with cheaper items then expensive ones and I wonder if this is because people are taking chances thinking that the buyer will not bother to fight for a small amount where as for hundreds of dollars people will.  I have notice this more and more of late.

   Not sure what to do about it but I think it is going to start to hurt all the internet sellers the good the bad and the rest of them.

   Well we may never know what really happened in these issues as we are only getting peoples words with out facts but this is becoming a said story that you hear more and more.

   Doug Meyer

    

10. 
    Buster2000 | Feb 08, 2007 07:05pm | #33

    I think we all understand the frustration...  I wouldn't worry about it too much.