The Blog of Hope

I have been trying to come to terms with the fact that I was scammed on eBay but I am just not good with letting go... So I have been researching other avenues that I might take to get my money back. While doing so I ran across this blog post that gave me a bit of hope.

Bits NY Times : eBay tries to buy a little more love

Seems eBay is in the process of changing its buyer/seller protection policies. I called eBay and the girl on the phone was no help but I did get a hold of someone at Live Help that actually lived up to the name. She told me that there had been some changes that were going to be made but they had not given them anymore info beyond the fact that changes were coming down the pike. I wrote a few other emails hoping for more info but for now this little blog gave me a flicker of hope.

Nikon D50 Tip #1 : File Number Sequence

The Nikon D50 is a low priced but very capable digital SLR. I have owned my D50 (Takara) since I purchased it in late January after breaking my first D50 that I had since November of 2007. Yes, it seems I am rough on cameras. But this little workhorse has kept up all the way. Now there have been issues along the way and one of my biggest complaints was that the D50 was not capable of continuing the file sequence once you cleared your SD card. I like to keep all my photos in one place and then move them when I get the time. Well after much searching on the forums and asking many people questions I had just given up. But there is a way!

If you go to the menu and select the Wrench tab you will see a CSM/SetUp Menu. Select this menu and then select Detailed. Once you have done this, go back to the Wrench tab and on the second page there is now a new listing called File No. Seq. If you select on you now have file numbers that will roll from card to card.

I was more than happy to have accidentally stumbled upon this little bit of heaven and hope that it helps someone else as well.

Happy shooting!

Consider Yourself Scammed

A few weeks ago I found a Nikon D80 on eBay in the last few minutes of the auction. Seeing it at a good price with only minutes left I did not bother to do the usual reading of feedback or checking of the listing. I put in my bid and with 45 secs left I was the highest bidder... Wow! within a minute I had the email from eBay stating I had won! Woo hoo! Upgraded my D50 to the D80. Excited as can be I listed my D50 on Craigslist and could not wait to get my D80.

Well a week goes by and nothing... Then 2 weeks go by and still nothing. I decide to write an email via the eBay system, to the seller, requesting a tracking number. Nothing... now I am getting worried. But still have hope that it could happen. Then a friend of mine sends me another listing for a Nikon D80 from the same seller. My heart sank! So I went to Paypal for a dispute of the transaction. Paypal says they will try to get your money back and they have a $2000 insurance on purchases made on eBay US. I then went to eBay and gave the person negative feedback in hopes of keeping others from bidding on this persons items. It seemed to have an effect on the listing but still someone bid the item up to $400.

Now the wait. It takes 2 weeks for Paypal to act on a dispute. They send emails to both seller and buyer and hope they can settle it this way. Well on July 19th they still had no response so they pulled all the money the sellers account had in it and transferred it into mine. A whopping $0.53!!! Now we are talking. but wait it gets better. I decide to review what I am to do next and find deep within the Paypal policy the information on insurance coverage. Section 13.8 states:

13.8 eBay Items Eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection. Every item on eBay (except Live Auctions and vehicles) that meets the above requirements is eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection up to $200.00 USD (Basic Tier Coverage Amount), but items are only eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection up to $2,000.00 USD (Top Tier Coverage Amount) and should be identified as eligible items in the eBay listing if:

1. The seller's eBay feedback rating is at least 50;
2. At least 98% of the seller's eBay feedback is positive;
3. The seller has a Verified Premier or Verified Business Account in good standing;
4. The listing was on an eligible eBay site (eBay.com and certain other eBay sites self identified as such)
5. PayPal is listed as an acceptable payment method; and
6. The seller is a PayPal User from one of the following countries:

Now my heart is in my stomach. I looked back a the sellers account and it did not meet but two of these requirements for the $2000 insurance. All this to say...

eBay is a scammers paradise, especially with bad policies like this. MJF and I have been selling on eBay for years and just went over 50 feedback as of late. This policy stinks and may need some rework. Needless to say I am steering away from large purchases on eBay from now on.

$609.48 later... LESSON LEARNED!

Oh yeah and... AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Day 1

Well after reading Shawn Oster's Blog I was inspired to start my own. I do not figure this will be as techie or as smart as his but will be a place that I can talk about day-to-day events and share some experiences.

Most of it will probably turn into things I am trying in my new found hobby of photography. or simply chatter about my day. Anywho, let us see how we fair.