We actually bought our van off ebay, don't be put off, as I said before one bad apple and all that. We shortlisted a few locally and spent a saturday viewing them, discounted the ones that the seller looked a bit dodgy or we didn't generally like them! then bidded on the one we liked, the van we got was the one we wanted, ended up being below private sale book price, loads of extras inc a new £800 awning, water butts etc. I did find a small very small damp patch under the front bunk in the corner when we were cleaning it which annoyed me as i had checked everywhere when we looked at it, I just re-sealed the joints on the outside and everything has been fine ever since. I've seen the same van for sale on a dealers site for £1500more.
As they say you live and learn! But also they say that every dog has its day! and I reckon this guy is more peed off that he didn't get the sale and you saw through it than anything else, he probably reckoned he was a pro at selling things hence the reason he was doing it for a mate.
I have been on eBay for years now, buying mainly but also selling a few bits and bobs. The only slightly negative experience was when I bought a pretty new Monsoon dress for a graduation ceremony, when it arrived the zip was jammed. It took 40 days and several emails to get a refund, even though I had returned the goods, then she had the nerve to accuse me of dity tricks when I posted negative feedback!!
The rest have been positive. Mainly little stuff, but I did buy my trailer tent from a lovely chap in Stoke for considerably less than it is worth.
Hiya, there's an Avondale Pentland 6-berth on E-Bay at the moment, just like ours, starting price £3500 with lots of extras. Looks good, thought you might be interested. Item number ia at the top of my posting.
Good luck with your search, I can only imagine how frustrated you must be.
What a horrible, nasty man. I know it's hard but try not to get scared by him, he wont turn up, he knows you'll send the police straight round if he does. I wish I was closer, I'd lend you my german shepherd!!!!
He'll never sell the van if it's as bad as you say. I hope he's lost loads of money on it.
If he calls again and threatens you I would tell him that his call has been recorded so he would be very silly to persue the matter.
I also think that he must be stupid to actually tell you what he intended to do, if something happens you know straight where to look, if he really was going to do something he would have just done it without word.
Quote: Originally posted by Jake Drummond on 08/7/2009
Are you sure eBay gave out your address?
ebay gives the address of the winning bidder at the end of every auction so that address labels can be printed and items can be posted out. It wasnt an error or security gaff on ebays part. Its standard practice.
Hi, i can understand how you feel as a few years ago we gave a seller a negative for not sending a phone and he claimed he had been robbed by a member of staff.He sent death threats and very frightening messages.Seems he was Nigerian and was raising funds to to help rid the world of all British and Americans and went on about killing the prime minister and the US president.He also tried to bid on one of my auctions so i blocked him and changed my name.We reported all the messages but did not hear any thing and they disappeared from Ebay but could still be trading under a different name.We were also worried that he had our address as his was a box number.
As everyone say i doubt anything will happen but its not a nice experience,hope you find a van soon from a decent seller.
You seem to have done all the right things. Try not to worry too much (easier said than done, I know)
One thing I would do though is take the dates off here that you are away, If the people who are selling were caravanners, they may know of this site and if they read this post and put 2 and 2 together they will have the dates in the month your away. And as you say they have family/friends in Bristol. I used to have the actual dates on until a few weeks ago, my mum was staying a few days with us and while I was on this site she pointed out that maybe it wasn't a good idea to have the actual dates that we are on hols. So I decided to take off the dates we are away, just leaving the month.
I don't actually think they will do anything, keep us up to date though and I hope you find a van soon from someone honest and nice.
------------- After living in my beloved van in Spain for a number of years, I
You've done nothing wrong...did he think you were actually going to buy a heap of old junk...... and for him saying you were a racist this is what that sort always seem to throw at us......
My OH sells stuff on ebay and put his mothers sewing machine on.... neither of us know much about sewing machines and the machine worked great to us.... a lady bid and came round to collect she asked to see the machine working which was fair enough.... now the machine was working but the cross stitch thingy wasn't so she decided not to buy.... Oh exept this and re listed the machine as spares or repairs.... he didn't get nasty and threaten the woman....... so there are some nice people on ebay...
You have done the right thing and reported it...... ebay will most probably strick him off.....which he deserves..
I hope that it doesn't put you off looking for another van...
Thanks again for all your supportive messages, you really are a nice bunch and i'm glad i joined this forum!
I'm back to my old self now, infact we've been laughing about it with our friends. None of them can believe what a wally this bloke was and didn't believe for a minute that he would actually turn up here. The fact he sent an email 4hrs after the phone call threatening with court proved he had calmed down and knew it was a stupid idea to turn up and thought he'd try and hurt our pockets instead. I doubt very much he has contacted ebay regarding this matter because he knows he will look stupid and won't get anywhere.
I am still very dubious about using ebay now to find a new van. Hubby loves it though because there's always a big detailed write up and lots of pics unlike other adverts.
Askill i had a look at that Pentland you were on about and it's identical to the one i wanted. Unfortunately hubby is now being a bit too specific about what he wants and won't go and have a look. He wants a twin axle van about 25/26ft long inc A frame with either long beds at the back that he can convert into bunks, or indeed bunks already in the back...............I can see his search dragging on for a while lol!
I am still very dubious about using ebay now to find a new van. Hubby loves it though because there's always a big detailed write up and lots of pics unlike other adverts
But if they are misleading (or lies) they aren't much good. Find one local you can go and have a good butchers at before you get into buying mode. Even then, be careful, and it's ESSENTIAL you go armed with a damp meter.
Hi, sorry to read about the trouble, if still a bit dubious about using ebay, you could email seller through ebays ask seller question, to view item before bidding. Phone his contact number via mobile.you could also buy cheep mobile and sim pay as you go, and use that for all calls to buyers or sellers.you could also leave car in next street from viewing destination, a bit extreme,but if it gives you a sense of security and peace of mind, its worth a thought.I tend to try and view a couple of items on same day,as they could be hundreds of miles from my home. even if items not as discribed,nothing lost, and you may find some nice places to visit when you eventualy get your van. hope that helps. John.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
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Topic: Getting threats now for not buying van!!
