A1Techbooks ripoff eBay scam artist strikes again! This time, it refused to give full refund on damaged book! Fairfield New Jersey Internet

Dear Consumers,

Please beware of the scam artist under the name 'A1Techbooks' who claimed to sell 'textbooks' on Ebay. On Nov 21, 2003 I ordered a textbook thru the internet. The seller under the name "a1techbooks" listed the textbook I wanted on eBay (half.com). The problems that I have are the followings:

1) The book arrived very late. The order was placed on Nov 21, but the book didn't arrive until Dec 10, more than 2 weeks. Ebay's promised deliver time was 10 days.

2) The book that came wasn't the book I ordered. I ordered a "textbook" which runs about 880 pages long. The book that the seller sent me was merely a "students study guide". There is a BIG banner of the phrase " Students Study Guide" written in blue font with yellow highlight across the top of the front cover. This student guide is only less than 200 pages long and is a "summary" of formula and outlines from the textbook. There's no explanation, no example, no problem set, ...etc. I cannot use this. This is not textbook. So the seller sent me the wrong book.

3) This student study guide book arrive in damaged condition. When I opened the filmsy envelope, there was a big folded line on the front cover. On eBay, the seller advertised this book as "new book" in "new condition".

4) After I got the book, I immediately notified the seller about all the problems I had with this book. (I contacted via email because this seller didn't have telephone number.) There was no response, absolutely none! I just repackaged the book and shipped it back to the seller. I paid about $3.50 to have this book shipped back to the seller.

5) Although the seller gave me some refund, the refund amount was incorrect. The total amount I paid was $40.33. (The book cost $34.04, the shipping/handling to my address was $2.79, the shipping/handling back to the seller is $3.50.) The amount refund was $27.39. The amount that was missing is $12.94. I sent email to the seller again and again and again asking him to justify the amount of refund he gave. I never heard anything back. I tried to contact Ebay, but there were no information on how to file complaint with Ebay. Their only policy is to resolve the problem with the seller, which I have tried many times but failed. Such policy is only created to protect the seller, not the consumer like me.

6) I found the "a1techbooks store" website. The mailing address is actually matched with the seller's address. I read the store's policy and found that the store will refund shipping/handling fee if the return is due to the store's error.

So, I think I'm qualified for the missing amount of the refund of $12.94. The seller sent me the wrong book, misadvertised the condition of the book, was insensitive to customer's problem, was negligent to respond emails, and gave me incorrect amount of refund. These are all the seller's fault. If the seller behaved a little bit more professionally, I wouldn't get in to this mess. I don't even know if the store actually exists or some kind of scam to make quick money out of eBay.

So, in closing, please be on the look out for this seller. Avoid engaging in any transaction with this seller at all cost. Because you never know when it will strike again! In the meantimes, I am still working on disputing this transaction with my Visa card company. Wish me luck!

Eric
Madison, Wisconsin
U.S.A.