eBay, Selling, Buying and Issues.

[Bob]

Early 2014 I won an auction for a documented group of Soviet awards (incl an Order of Lenin.

Aside from the awards and the documents, it was also advertised as containing "Copies of official research from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian
Federation, including award card (fully confirming his awards), and one citation."

Shortly after payment I received the awards and the documents but without the research.

Since then, I have been repeatedly reminding the (well known) dealer that the research is still due. It was claimed to have been lost in the office and that it would show up later. Reminder after reminder has been sent. Each time a polite email back, but no result. I've dismissed the option of returning the goods and then getting a refund (which, in a way, is insulting... I paid upfront and did not receive the full set... so my trust should not be in doubt as opposed to the trust of the dealer...).

Finally I've urged him to get new research... which normally should not take that long.

Two years have passed... still no research... now what to do?

[Bill Garvy]

This is what I would do: I would not purchase any additional items from this vendor, I would leave objective feedback regarding the facts of the transaction, assuming the auction site allows you to do so, finally, I would have the item researched at my own expense utilizing the abundant and eminently affordable research resources now available, and write the rest of it off given the set contains an Order of Lenin. At my age it isn't worth the time, aggravation and additional expense of further action against the vendor.

Can't get blood from a stone, just my opinion. . .

[CtahhR]

As Bill says, research it yourself. It's a lot cheaper than it was and "the site" is the right price all the time.

If the research turns out that the seller was making up the original research then you should take actions a bit further.

[Pobeda45]

I tend to agree, cut your losses and get new research. The unfortunate part of buying and selling any kind of collectibles is that you do get burned sometimes. I've bought several fakes (coins as well as medals) and also have had sellers renege on promises etc. At the same time, there have been some fantastic deals in there too...so I'd like to think it will all balance out in the end.

[Auke]

I agree. Nowadays it's easy, fast and relatively cheap to have research done. Tell as many people as possible about this dishonest dealer, never deal with him again and just redo the research.

[Bob]

Thanks for the feedback

To be clear, this was not an eXxx auction, it was with one of the major US based dealers... almost two years ago exactly and I am sure you can guess who organizes auctions in January with lots of Soviet items...

If getting research was so easy, you'd think that the dealer would have gotten it himself by now - if not out of guilt or a sense of customer service than at least to get me off of his back. He offered to pay for it for me to get it but that's - in my eyes - turning things around... I already paid him to send it to me...

Will trigger the research now... will be nice if it turns out that the archives actually generate something...

[RedMaestro2]

Originally Posted by Bob

Thanks for the feedback

To be clear, this was not an eXxx auction, it was with one of the major US based dealers... almost two years ago exactly and I am sure you can guess who organizes auctions in January with lots of Soviet items...

If getting research was so easy, you'd think that the dealer would have gotten it himself by now - if not out of guilt or a sense of customer service than at least to get me off of his back. He offered to pay for it for me to get it but that's - in my eyes - turning things around... I already paid him to send it to me...

Will trigger the research now... will be nice if it turns out that the archives actually generate something...

Bob, from what I've heard, this dealer has little to no credibility left. As others have suggested, the simplest course of action is not to buy from him again. I hope the research works out for you.