I paid, but I did not receive anything

[ytakeda]

I won the auction at eBay for Camcorder at $770. I sent money order to the seller next day. I did not receive any acknowledgment about the receipt of payment for 20 days, and I finally received seller’s e-mail with tracking number of USPS. After 15 days I still had not received the item. Seller wrote me that the item was lost, and he did not insure. So I could not make sure that he really sent me the Camcorder. I requested the refund, because I did not receive anything for $770 that I paid. He accepted to pay refund by e-mail, but I have not received any money as of today. I sent the seller e-mail many times to request refund, but response is very slow. He sometimes sent the e-mail saying that he would pay within one week. Can I sue him to pay me back? It has been almost one year now. Can I also request possible interest and fee for lawsuits? Please help me. $770 is very big money for me. I live in Georgia, and the seller lives in Illinois.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

The costs of litigation would be far in excess of your $770.00. Chalk it up to experience, and buy locally. Never buy anything over the Internet - - especially when there's more than one State involved.

IAAL

 

[ytakeda]

Lawyer in which state should I contact?

Thank you for your suggestion. I have two more questions.
1) Lawyer in which state (I am in GA, and he is in IL) should I contact?
2) Are there any time limit I can sue about this case?

Thank you for your attention.

 

[LegalBeagle]

Did you log a complaint with EBay?

If $770 is big money to you, then the amount you are about to pay an attorney for a case you may not win, will far exceed the initial loss.

 

[Xjudge]

Go to Ebay and thoroughly review the information in the Safe Harbor program. If it is determined that the seller was fraudulant in the deal, they will assist you in obtaining a refund. Go to http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/index.html for more information.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Go to Ebay and thoroughly review the information in the Safe Harbor program. If it is determined that the seller was fraudulant in the deal, they will assist you in obtaining a refund. Go to http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/index.html for more information.

My response:

Yes, of course.

However, in the meantime, this poor guy is out over $700.00, and without any assurance at all of ever seeing his money again.

A consumer has far more control of a situation when that person buys locally, and stops using the Internet as a toy and some sort of safe thing to use. There are more unknown and never seen crooks on the Net than you can shake a stick at. At least, with a store, a consumer can take that store to Small Claims court in their own home town.

Stop using the Internet to make purchases !

IAAL

 

[ytakeda]

If I win...

Thank you for your suggestions. Yes, I contacted with eBay, and they will pay "insurance" $170. But still I owe the seller $600. I understand that the money I will pay for lawyer is very expensive. I have not brought this kind of thing to lawsuits, so I don't know about it at all. If I win, should seller pay the fee for the lawsuits or usually I have to pay? Sorry for such a naive question. Generally lawsuits for $600 is just a waste of money???
Still I am thinking lawsuits, so I would like to know if I should go to the lawyer in GA or IL? And is there any time limit?

Thank you for your help.
ytakeda