My first purchase on eBay was a Treo 600 (used) from itwizard47 (item # 9112115518) which was posted as a PDA handset in `Excellent' condition. On receipt of the handset, I discovered that it was worn out and frayed from the edges. On leaving a negative feedback, the seller promptly replaced the set which was satisfactory and I left a follow-up feedback acknowledging this.
However, to my chagrin, I subsequently found that the set had software of a foreign service provider (Cingular) as a result of which a major application like sms could not function in India due to compatibility problems with Hutch (I also suspect with other Indian service providers as well). Shortly thereafter, on a visit form Delhi to Mumbai, I made efforts to visit the seller for a replacement of the handset. The seller expressed his inability to change the set since he did not have another handset in good condition but promised to send me a replacement in 3-4 days. It has been around 6 days and I am yet to hear on the matter.
I feel that on a platform like eBay, where the buyer is in no position to check the goods before acceptance and he/ she relies purely on the discretion of the seller, the entire onus of ensuring that the product matches the condition claimed and importantly, is fully capable of use in India is very important.
If this is not so, buyers making large transactions will lose faith and turn away from eBay.
Ravijit Chaudhuri
