Avoid ebay seller JungleBeaks101!

[nofearengineer]

A couple of months ago, I bought Bitty a forage toy.

I know many people like these, but frankly, mine was a piece of junk.

The rear threaded part broke off the very first time I tried to install it on her cage.

No biggie, right? I thought I would message the seller, and see if they could help me out.

Dear junglebeaks101,

The very first time I tried to put the toy on my bird cage, the threaded plastic part on the back snapped off (one of the four sections) when I tightened the plastic nut. I did not tighten it very much at all...it just snapped. Can I get a replacement "bracket"? (the straight piece on the back with the "screw" on it)

Hi,
I am sorry to hear this, we have sold many of these and never had this problem before. We actually test them before they go out to ensure they work properly and to make sure they are not cracked broken etc.

However, can you please send me a picture of it where it is broken so that I can send it to our manufacture/vendor to see if it can be fixed.

Thanks,
Tania

I sent a link of the picture to her, and waited several weeks for a response.

Dear junglebeaks101,

I sent you a link to the picture.

Have you figured out if there is any way you can help me out?

It was a pretty expensive toy, and I never even got to really use it.

Their reply:

Hi,
I have not heard back from them yet, however, I did realize that all you need is the back piece that attaches to the unit, which has the entire threaded wheel you need so I will go ahead and send you that piece and have my vendor replace it for me.

I am not sure if the post office is open Monday because of the holiday so it will go out either Monday or Tues.

Take care,
Tania

That was 3 weeks ago...nothing arrived. So I sent another message...

Thanks. Did you ship it? It hasn't arrived yet.

No response at all. And I don't anticipate one either. It appears this was all a stall tactic until the time period I could leave negative feedback had expired. I would encourage all board members to not do any business with this seller.

 

[BluBird]

I tend to avoid eBay all together I don't trust any of them there all junk.

 

[Abzeez]

You can report the seller to ebay. My boyfriend has had to do that in the past.

 

[darkling]

Yeah, go to Ebay directly and show them what you showed us. You may get your money back at least. When it comes to customer service, Ebay is all about the buyers.

 

[suebee]

ok not sure if rules are the same in your contry, but go to paypal if its a business seller, you have the right to refund, as long as you prove you returned product, think its 45days or 60 days for feedback so you have been uber patient! but was the seller private of business?? as if you fund your payment with your credit card you may be able to claim on that!

report seller still but if to much time has gone by, ebay won't help

i only use paypal for ebay purchases as it gives the best protection

act fast you may have a few days left

 

[mtdoramike]

I buy most of my birds toys on ebay and know going in that due to the price, you have to take the good with the bad. I can't believe that you really expected a refund or replacement on a $5.00 item, which probably cost more to ship than it was really worth. It looks to me like the screw was over tightened.

But if the seller said they would send out a replacement and didn't then that isn't good business practice. I'm sure you paid by Paypal, so file a Paypal dispute.

 

[Spiritbird]

Hey Norf. Rosie had that same toy but not from an e bay seller. It also did not last.
The threads of the screw thing no longer worked and it would fall off the cage. Don't remember who I purchased it from.

 

[mtdoramike]

Folks don't realize that most of that stuff is made in China and sold by most retail outlets like pet shops, Flea markets and yep, ebay.

 

[nofearengineer]

Mike, I didn't "expect" anything for free. If you read the messages, they offered. The thing cost me about 25 bucks, so it was worth at least asking.

The design of the threaded bit is to prevent over-tightening. That's the reason for the 4 slots in it.

I'm an engineer...I know stuff breaks...bad units exist in every batch. But dishonesty has no place in my world.

Anyway, they played it perfectly, the time for the paypal dispute expired. They took advantage of my willingness to believe they would come through.

If they had, there would have been a corresponding great review and positive feedback.

It's their loss...I buy a lot of stuff (too much really). It just won't be from them anymore.

 

[wibitywab]

I try to avoid Ebay too. Amazon is much better, and I've never had a problem with them!

 

[Abzeez]

Regardless you can still contact ebay about them, or paypal. Even if the time is up you still have proof of dishonesty.

 

[nofearengineer]

Well, as a man of my word, I will update this. Yesterday, my replacement part arrived in the mail.

So yes, they did finally send it to me. A month late, with no communication in the interim, but here it is. Kudos to them.

It will probably break again, but I won't make any more hassle about it. The next one I will probably just try to make myself. That way if it breaks, it's my own fault.

 

[wibitywab]

I'm happy that it came, but I try to avoid Ebay anyway, so I probably won't be buying anything from this seller....