For only £450 ($735), Peter Clatworthy, a 19-year-old student of Bilborough, Nottingham, United Kingdom, thought he was going to get an Xbox One. He didn’t.
Instead, Clatworthy ended up paying the hefty price on eBay for a picture of the new video game console.
The console was intended to be a surprise Christmas gift for his four-year old son, McKenzie, Clatworthy saved up enough money to buy the limited edition.
“I’ve had to make a joke out of it because I was that angry. At least we’ve now got something to laugh about in the years to come,” Clatworthy said.
“I always buy stuff on eBay and this had never happened before.”
Mr Clatworthy made the purchase on November 28, paying £450 plus £8 ($13) packaging.
Although the listing stated that it was a photo of an Xbox One Day One edition console, Clatoworthy expected he would receive an actual console, as the listing was placed in eBay’s video games and consoles category.
“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.”
“I looked at the seller’s feedback and there was nothing negative. I bought it there and then because I thought it was a good deal.”
“It’s obvious now I’ve been conned out of my money.”
Last Monday, Clatworthy received the photo in the eBay posting; it had a little message on the back of it.
“They’d written on the back of it ‘thank you for the purchase’. I was fuming.”
With the help of eBay, Clatworthy ended up getting a full refund, and the seller of the picture was banned from the internet auction site.
According to the Nottingham Post, an eBay spokesman said: “The seller has been banned from eBay. We have also contacted the customer directly to arrange the refund as promised.”
“We don’t allow listings which mislead.”
On November 22nd, the Xbox One was released in the UK with a special Day One edition for those who picked up the console on its first day of sale.
Like most new video game console premieres, there have been misleading sales all over the internet where people wind up with packaging or pictures of the machine.
(Images via YouTube)
