darkSpyro

Just wanted to share my frustration. I found this as a Buy It Now on ebay and was super excited;

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayI...em=221186095805

I know it has package damage, etc... but thought it was a great price for a Series 1 Goldy. I got an email a few hours later with the seller refunding my payment along with the following story:

"Complete apologies. I had the Skylander packaged up and my child thought the package was for him and opened the Skylander up before he asked me. I can't complete this transaction due to me not having one unopened. Best of luck in future purchases."

I messaged the seller back saying that I would still be interested in the gold flameslinger. No respond. However, I then log onto ebay and see another gold flameslinger (series 1) on sale for $190 BIN ($10 shipping). I think it's weird to see 2 in one day considering I usually only see the series 2 goldies. Immediately I was suspicious. The picture is different (you can't see the spot that's ripped) and it's a different ebay user (been on ebay since 2008 with no feedback? SUSPICIOUS). There really was no where to prove that it was the same person... Until of course you look at where it ships from...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Skylan...=item41708d3e5f

I probably would have understood if they said they listed it thinking it was the series 2 flameslinger (that goes for about $20-35 on ebay), but to be lied to, etc... feels super sleezy. Anyone else feel the same?

-J

So I actually got a response from the seller (pretty quickly) after calling them out on it. They claim that they didn't post the 2nd one, saying that the city in Alaska has 30,000+ people, etc...

I just find it extremely hard to believe... that two of these get posted in the same day, considering that I haven't seen a sealed one online even in the completed listings. AND they ship from the same city in Alaska? Anyone want to ask the "new" seller for a full pic of the package so I can leave appropriate feedback for this person?

If only the second picture has the same ripped off sticker on the first and second picture you would know that they are scamming you big time. Suxs to see this happen I thought a bid and a buy on ebay was a sealed deal right? Also no way 2 golds fs show up there like this one did.

This is probably the 3rd or 4th auction that's been backed out on. People end up listing Buy it Now accidentally or list the wrong price or something which I'm usually ok with as long as they refund quickly. It's the people who lie or don't respond because they think they could get more money even after listing it at a certain price that bother me.

Why doesn't someone other than the TO contact the seller and ask for a photo of the flaw?

I'd bet good money that it's the same guy with the same Gold flameslinger. He cropped the photo to try to stop from being caught. You might be able to report him to Ebay for backing out of a completed sale and then re-listing the item.

Buy it, don't pay, and just see if it's the same address. If it is, refuse to pay anything over the $30 dollars.

Oy vey...Sorry WhoAreYou007.

People often throw honor to the wind when it comes to money. It's obvious it is the same one as the 2nd picture intentionally cutsoff the damage. Heck, they even mention the package damage (unpictured) in the description of the 2nd item.

Leave negative feedback.

Also, $125+ for that? Is that even possible? Or are they out of their minds? Flameslinger isn't even that great. He's an elf with a bow and arrow...Hello to every other RPG game in the history of ever.

i bet the person didnt get the amount they wanted so they made the excuse to back out of the auction. probably thought he should have gotten more than it went for. so he backed out and relisted it for a higher price with buy it now.

There is nothing you can do. You can't force them to ship any more than they can force you to pay. eBay used to have "non performing seller" strikes that led to a ban, but they stopped that a while ago. Their official policy now is to leave a negative feedback (which you can only do if you actually paid for the item), and find another auction.

Quote: Zing

There is nothing you can do. You can't force them to ship any more than they can force you to pay. eBay used to have "non performing seller" strikes that led to a ban, but they stopped that a while ago. Their official policy now is to leave a negative feedback (which you can only do if you actually paid for the item), and find another auction.

That's actually false. You can report the buyer and leave a description of the problem. They will investigate it and if in your favor they will end the listing and possibly suspend their selling privelage.

You can try, but all it takes is for the seller to say "the item condition has changed since I listed the auction" and the case is closed.

Quote: Zing

You can try, but all it takes is for the seller to say "the item condition has changed since I listed the auction" and the case is closed.

If he did in fact send the seller a message saying he would still take it even out of the box ebay will have that in their records. It's not hard to prove something like that as long as everything is done on ebay. Seems you have little faith in ebay. I have done alot of buying and selling and any time I have had an issue ebay customer support has been great in getting it resolved. It just takes some initiative.

^ This is very true... eBay is excellent at resolving problems and will usually side with the buyer if in doubt... I would definitely open a report case with eBay about it- they can also see if those two separate accounts are being accessed from the same IP addresses (which would also point out the fact she was lying in the messages saying she didn't have that other account, discrediting her if that's the case)... good luck!!

eBay siding with the buyer will help you in this instance, but it has screwed over a lot of honest sellers.

I've pretty much already written off ever getting it. At least I was refunded quickly. Also note that they originally set up the auction as a Buy it Now for $36 shipped which is what I bought. I'm still not 100% sure that it's the same person, but odds are that it is. I just want to know if it is the same person so I can leave correct feedback. eBay won't do anything for me because they have already refunded my money to me.

evilbay strikes again...

You aren't going to get anything from eBay, but they may shut down the seller for having multiple accounts, which is an eBay no-no.

This is my favorite part. Trying to say they have a heart and someone more deserving should have it.....for all your monies! lol

"Forgot I had purchased this and know someone more suitable should own it. So it is going to auction."

What a joke. This is why I hate people in general, especially in America the country I live in.

So it's looking like this might be one of the biggest coincidences on ebay in a long time. The user just messaged me wondering if I'd still be interested in the loose figure (which I am). Pretty noble of them, especially considering I thought they were trying to pull a fast one. I'll keep you updated on what happens.

... or they might just be reading this and decided it wasn't worth getting their eBay account banned.

^ Yeah... I thought the same thing!! lol Who knows!!

Quote: WhoAreYou007

So it's looking like this might be one of the biggest coincidences on ebay in a long time. The user just messaged me wondering if I'd still be interested in the loose figure (which I am). Pretty noble of them, especially considering I thought they were trying to pull a fast one. I'll keep you updated on what happens.

just watch they dont send you a custom painted flameslinger dude

Yup, looks like a coincidence. Unless they ripped more off the front. xD (Second listing has this image:
)

Plus - the bashed-up ness does indeed look like someone stuck it in a cupboard/box and forgot about it xD

Quote: WhoAreYou007

So it's looking like this might be one of the biggest coincidences on ebay in a long time. The user just messaged me wondering if I'd still be interested in the loose figure (which I am). Pretty noble of them, especially considering I thought they were trying to pull a fast one. I'll keep you updated on what happens.

Good to hear. Like others said just make sure that it isn't custom painted lol. Some people will do anything.

What are the odds of two people in the same city having a SSA Golden Flameslinger that is damaged in the exact same spot?

Take both pictures of the damaged spot and look, they are not the same ._.
And by that I mean the damage marks.

^I realize that. But seriously, what are the chances?

Also, perhaps pictures from different points in time. I'm not saying its the same, but that is crazy.

im going to go ahead and say that the odds of two people in jeneau, alaska having a gold flame slinger on sale on ebay one right after another, are impossible.

if 30,000k people live in that town. the USA has around 313,914,040 ....
lets try some math 30,000 / 300,000,000 = is like 0.0001 %

so thats the odds? (if my math is bad someone please correct it)

wheres that picture of "skeptical cat"
there are many similarities to the items.

the ripped off part on the front could have just been ripped a little more...
you can see the plastic indented on both pictures, the top, top sides,
at the bottom left and right there are little indentations of the plastic and the paper inside.
there is a tiny white mark on the right side directly across from the "A" in the FLAMESLINGER card, you will see this same white marking in one of the new pictures.
in the first picture the bottom right of the package the cardboard looks a little darker, this is because its slightly bent which you can see in the new pictures.

ok.. theres my CSI...

Quote: exosquad

im going to go ahead and say that the odds of two people in jeneau, alaska having a gold flame slinger on sale on ebay one right after another, are impossible.

if 30,000k people live in that town. the USA has around 313,914,040 ....
lets try some math 30,000 / 300,000,000 = is like 0.0001 %

so thats the odds? (if my math is bad someone please correct it)

Your maths is correct but not for this situation. What you have worked out is the percentage of the population of America that lives in that town.

The probability of two people in the same city having a gold FS is impossible to work out without the production numbers and packing system of the figures, but i would guess that it's way lower than 0.0001.

You would need to know. The probability of a FS in a shipping box be gold x probability that two gets shipped to the same city x any situational probability (ie the probability that the person that went into that shop was from that city). Impossible without the production numbers.

whenever i try using maths i get schooled. but i did first say impossible right?

Check out the new listing as a lot more images have been added to it now and one clearly shows the damage by the price sticker.

Huh. Their names are similar (alicia and alsea) and 'they' both ship Flat Rate.

^ Yeah, I still think it's the same two sellers... too many weird coincidences!!

I would not buy this at all someone is scamming.

telling you this clown is going to paint one gold and send u it not realising that he will show up special in giants people will do anything for a quick buck /quid

^ None of the Spyro's Adventure variants show up as special, at all. They start at evel 5 with 2100 coins.

I don't think the initial chase variants (the three silver variants) start at level 5 with 2100 gold...

^ The code on the bottom of the base of the figure is different as well, so if he had the same code under the green base as the regular S1 Flameslinger, it would be another easy way to tell it's a fake...!!

The gold do start with the bonus, they were the chase variants from wave 3 of S:SA and the first to have the bonus. The silver ones are the only chase figures that do not. The crystal and GITD's from S:SA have the bonus too.

As a note the original Frito Lay Flock Smash does not either.

^ The Silvers can be very easily faked, that's the only problem.

So even though the person offered to send it to me anyways... when I said I would take it, they claimed they cleaned their son's room and couldn't find it. They wanted to find it before being comfortable with me paying for it again to be sent. It's smelling even more fishy. I don't like it. I haven't heard from them in like a week.

it would of been more believable if they never responded to you, the fact that they have responded and now simply 'cant find it' shows they're lying.

This is a weird seller. It seems like the same figure but it looks like the package is a lot rougher shape in the second sale. I wonder if he beat on it to make it seem like a different figure. I expect you are this guys backup and you will hear from him if no one bids on this figure by the end of the auction. $100 is a high amount to ask for figure that as well be loose. I would not be surprised if this auction closes without any interests.

I've had this happen to me once before a few years back; I share your frustration as I know what its like-
I'm a collector of Rare stuffed animals- and basically got a broken up set (All complete w/ tags etc)- and got them for like 100 dollars less than they were worth- seller went on this whole "They were lost in the post" thing and refunded me and asked if I'd cancel the transaction (I didn't agree of course) cus not long before that the same plushies but instead of all three seperated into 3 different auctions were together but the background was the same and the sellers account name and location were pracically the same. They told me it wasn't them that posted it but I knew better-
They wound up selling them all together for like almost 200 dollars when I'd bought them all seperate for 6 bucks free shipping individually- :/

So this isn't uncommon on ebay- it happens ALL THE TIME- theres alot of sellers who have double accounts- and when they figure out how much something is worth AFTER committing to a sale- they'll pull this kinda stunt to get more money- think you're sadly the victim in this sort of event and its VERY frustrating.
Sorry this happened to you :/

No doubt its the same listing, sticker damage is exactly the same. We should all email the seller offers for $20-$25 for it. Then perhaps he'll contact you and complete the original sale.