Console Buyers Beware: Teen Gets Suckered Out of $735 on eBay for an Xbox One Picture
We maintain that people are inherently good, but you know what they say about a few bad apples. This being the holiday season, you have to wary of the world's miscreants looking to prey on your goodwill and generosity, such as that guy walking around the parking lot claiming he's out of gas and asking to 'borrow' $20 probably (Psst, he's not really out of gas). This holiday season also happens to coincide with two major console launches -- Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 -- and as is always the case, a shortage of units has gamers shopping on eBay at inflated prices. If you're going to do that, be sure to read the auction carefully.
A 19-year-old gamer in the U.K. is making headlines because he forked over £450 (around $735 in U.S. currency) for what he thought was an Xbox One console, which he had saved up for and intended to give to his 4-year-old son. Instead, he paid a hefty price for a picture of an Xbox One.
A photograph is worth 1,000 words, or in this case, $735 on eBay if you're not paying attention.
How does this happen? It's the usually the result of being over anxious. The seller, who didn't have any negative feedback, stated in his listing that the auction was for a picture of the console and not the console itself. It's a common scam -- the auction itself looks like you're getting one thing, but if you don't read carefully, you could end up with just a box or, in this case, a photograph.
"It said 'photo' and I was in two minds, but I looked at the description and the fact it was in the right category made me think it was genuine," the teen explained to Nottingham Post.
Peter Clatworthy, the teen in question, disputed the auction with eBay, which sided in his favor. That means he should be getting a full refund, so kudos to eBay for doing the right thing here (let's be real, there's no demand for washed out photos of Xbox One consoles, and the seller was hoping for an inattentive buyer like Clatworthy). However, let this be lesson if you plan on shopping on eBay. Even in best case scenarios where eBay rules in your favor, it's still a hassle. Be sure to read the auction carefully, folks.
A 19-year-old gamer in the U.K. is making headlines because he forked over £450 (around $735 in U.S. currency) for what he thought was an Xbox One console, which he had saved up for and intended to give to his 4-year-old son. Instead, he paid a hefty price for a picture of an Xbox One.
A photograph is worth 1,000 words, or in this case, $735 on eBay if you're not paying attention.
How does this happen? It's the usually the result of being over anxious. The seller, who didn't have any negative feedback, stated in his listing that the auction was for a picture of the console and not the console itself. It's a common scam -- the auction itself looks like you're getting one thing, but if you don't read carefully, you could end up with just a box or, in this case, a photograph.
"It said 'photo' and I was in two minds, but I looked at the description and the fact it was in the right category made me think it was genuine," the teen explained to Nottingham Post.
Peter Clatworthy, the teen in question, disputed the auction with eBay, which sided in his favor. That means he should be getting a full refund, so kudos to eBay for doing the right thing here (let's be real, there's no demand for washed out photos of Xbox One consoles, and the seller was hoping for an inattentive buyer like Clatworthy). However, let this be lesson if you plan on shopping on eBay. Even in best case scenarios where eBay rules in your favor, it's still a hassle. Be sure to read the auction carefully, folks.
