[amethyst]

THE SAGA OF THE INFLATABLE REINDEER

Way back in the mists of time, I bid upon (and won) an inflatable reindeer, signed by Meat Loaf.

I had an upper limit of what I was prepared to go to and I stuck to it, it's for charity ~ right ??

Before I put a bid on, I emailed the seller and asked how much the postage would be and was told that it would be no more than $30 - $60.

So, I thought, it's for charity, what the heck, i'll go for it. I won the reindeer with a bid of £51.

Imagine my surprise, shock and horror when the invoice comes and they try and charge me £105 for postage !!!!

I send off emails with copies of their previous quote for postage and packing and hear nothing back, I email again and again ~ still nothing.

In January I get an email from ebay saying that the seller has opened a dispute on this matter becuase I haven't paid them (insert swear words here). I respond with the same email the seller sent me quoting the $30 to $60 postage. The seller then sends me a revised invoice for £81 which I pay for via Paypal on 26th January this year.

Still with me?

So, I wait for a month ~ nothing. I contact ebay and have a long winded email from the lovely Mandy who is so patronising I want to hit her, stating that as the auction ended over 60 days ago, there is nothing they can do, have I tried contacting the seller etc etc.

I wrote back pointing out that I realised that it was over 60 days since the auction ended BUT it was only 30 days since I paid for the item. Apparently that doesn't matter.

I have tried contacting the seller, but as they are now no longer a registered user, they are not replying to my emails. I've contacted Virginunite and i've contacted auctionwire (the people who set the auction up). Still nothing.

My next plan is to try and contact Paypal to see if I can get my money back.

If this is charity, they can stick it

I wonder if I should write to Richard Branson

ames xx ~ reindeerless