Dear readers,
I am a new, but prospective online buyer, simply because I do not have the time to hunt around personally for the goodies.
I completely agree that online buying is a different and delightful experience when buying from western countries. They are outright honest and refund the paid amounts without a question, when deliveries are missed out.
The story unfortunately is not the same in India and I also completely agree with pimpom_in1, when he talks about "outright cheats and crooks". The managing company such as eBay should not turn a blind eye to such nefarious activities and should focus on carefully checking out anticedents, correctness of the advertised brands and their price structures in relation to the market pricing. eBay has to realize that ultimately it is their own market credibility which gets portrayed. They should act merely as a post office!
I now refer to the statement by Ms. Sapana on positive ratings. The question is, what has eBay done to those sellers who carry more negative ratings. As regards the positive ratings, If I were a cheat, I could generate hundreds of these through like minded friends and cronies through a few false transactions?!
I reproduce below a blog written by me on June 09, 2007 to share my experience
With Warm Regards,
Atanu Mukherji
My Blog
Dear purchasers/ eBay officials,
Online shopping is the best possible that can happen in today's computer literate world. One can simply log in into the likes of eBay and Amazon.com to get all the goodies delivered at doorsteps without moving a foot.
One should, however, be wary of cheats and frauds who lurk behind such large platforms looking an oppurtunity.
My personal experience in such purchases is minimal, but out of 5 times, I as cheated thrice. The first time was a small digital camera from Sify, which did not work at all, but on my insistence the MD of that organization refunded the entire amount. The other two times were purchases from Amazon, which got lost in transit, but their management refunded the entire amounts.
Lastly, I shudder to think, it happened at eBay, India recently. eBay being an organization of international repute and popularity, I purchased three items, one of which was perfect and delivered all the way from Mumbai, exactly as the item was advertised {Cordless Collar Microphone (Item number: 13010958377)}
I compliment the seller for his excellent services.๐
The other items were purchased from Modern Automobiles for the Toyota INNOVA which I drive. The items are as follows:
(1)TEFLON COATING POLISH-From DU-PONT (USA)-for cars,bikes (Item number: 280116390486)
(2)NANO CLEAN PROTECT SEAL (made in spain) for cars & bike (Item number: 280117984364)
Despite the dealer's assurance the these items would be delivered in two days (from Delhi to Gurgaon, where I live), they took more than 8 days with one excuse or the other.:-(
As records will show, all payments were transacted promptly and immediately by card, under confirmation email by eBay to me.
I was utterly shocked to find that the TEFLON coat polish is in quantity just sufficient for the bonnet of my car. These have been refilled locally and priced exhorbitantly (much more than what is available from the open market)
The Nano WAX does not have any semblance with the pictures the seller has shown. They have sent two cheap plastic jars with cheap labels and unsealed contents. There is nothing "Spanish" as the seller has claimed. I am even now unsure whether I should subject my vehicle to the unknown contents within. In the open market I saw the original Nano Wax for Rs.745/- only and in double the quantity.
The advertisements given by Modern Automobile are 'big and colourful', enough to lure an unwary, trusting and gullible buyer like me.
I take the amounts spent on these items (approx Rs. 1800/-) as an 'Eye Opener' for myself and and also serious buyers, should they heed this caution.
I would prefer the eBay management to please screen the sellers they advertise, because it is primarily eBay's brand image and credibility, which is visible to us.
I look forward to the courtesy of a response from you at either of my email IDs: Atanu.Mukherji@Siemens.com and atanu.mukherji@Gmail.com, failing which I will have to escalate this organizational laxity through other means.
With Thanks & Warm Regards,
Atanu Mukherji
General Manager (Siemens)
