BEFORE you buy a receiver on eBay. Get the R00# from the receiver. Most reputable sellers usally post them in the ad. If its not there ask the seller for it. Get that receiver number and call Dish and have them check the number to be sure there isn't a balance on the receiver. If there is a balance, you will have to pay it before they will activate it. A lot of sellers on eBay sell receivers with a balance knowing full well it can't be activated, and usally once you buy it your stuck with it becuse nobody else is going to buy it from you with a balance due.
All of our receivers are eBay purchases. When I purchased the last one, just before the Christmas Holidays, it turned out to be a leased receiver - even though the seller sent me an R# in advance.
When Dish Network refused to activiate, legitimately on their part, I contact the seller, via the eBay messaging system - only way to protect yourself, and he shot back a string of profanity that would have made my mother proud.
I gave him one more chance to correct it and he still refused.
I then opened a PAYPAL dispute. While a PayPal dispute can take up to 60 days, by the time they get done with the waiting periods between contacting the seller and waiting periods after each step, it does work, SO LONG AS YOU PAID WITH PAYPAL and ONLY CORRESPOND VIA eBay and PayPal's mail system.
It took close to 100 days, but I got 100% of my item cost, plus shipping, plus pre-paid return shipping, from PAYPAL BUYER PROTECTION - because I followed the PayPal rules and used their communications system exclusively.
If you CALL the seller, if you use regular e-mail, if you use snail mail, you blow your opportunity to take advantage of PayPal Buyer Protection.
- ALWAYS use only eBay or PayPal communications.
- ALWAYS pay only with PayPal.
- NEVER contact the seller directly.
- NEVER give the seller your e-mail or phone number. No matter how much they jump up and down; no matter how loud they scream; no matter what excuse they use; always use the eBay or PayPal communications channels - they are there for YOUR PROTECTION.
- If a seller contacts you outside the eBay or PayPal system about a dispute; if they offer to charge a lower price if you pay with a check or a credit card processed outside of the PayPal system; if they THREATEN YOU; or if they are abusive in their correspondence, REPORT THEM TO PAYPAL or EBAY - IMMEDIATELY!
If you abide by the PayPal rules, the system works - it just takes time because they have to cover their proverbial butts and make certain a dispute is legitimate. While your evidence of wrongdoing, on the part of the seller, may be irrifutable, they need to make the case for themselves that the seller cheated you so they are not sued by a seller.
Finally, remember that the eBay ratings system is very effective:
- I ALWAYS leave very POSITIVE FEEDBACK for good sellers. If it was a good transaction between you and them, they deserve it;
- I review the comments in the feedback and, if the comment appears to be or no substance or bitchy on the part of the purchaser, will ignore negative feedback left by that purchaser. As a general rule of thumb, however, I never purchase anything from anyone with less than a 98% positive reputation, and;
- I ALWAYS leave NEGATIVE FEEDBACK if there was a problem with an order which the seller refused to resolve.
