From the Nottingham Post:
A TEENAGER has been left fuming after mistakenly buying a photo of an in-demand computer console online.
Peter Clatworthy thought he had paid £450 for an XBox One console on eBay, but actually received a picture of one in the post.
The 19-year-old student, of Bilborough, had saved up in order to buy a limited edition Day One version of the console as a surprise Christmas present for his four-year-old son, McKenzie.
He has now contested the purchase with eBay, which has investigated and stated he should get a full refund from the seller.
Mr Clatworthy said: “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.
“I always buy stuff on eBay and this had never happened before.”
Mr Clatworthy made the purchase on November 28, paying £450 plus £8 packaging.
Despite the listing stating it was a photo of an XBox One Day One edition console, Mr Clatworthy said he’d expected to receive the console as it was listed in the video games and consoles category on eBay.
He said: “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.”
Mr Clatworthy received the photo in the post on Monday, saying: “They’d written on the back of it ‘thank you for your purchase’. I was fuming.”
The XBox One was released in the UK on November 22, with a special Day One edition reserved for those who picked the machine up on its first day of sale.
Since then, there have been reports of people buying empty XBox One packaging via eBay, and paying hundreds of pounds for the privilege.
When the Post searched for ‘XBox One Day One edition consoles’ on the website yesterday, a number of genuine consoles were up for sale.
There was, however, one lot of ‘XBox One Day One edition retail packaging’ which received 80 bids and sold for £7,200.
Mr Clatworthy was informed by eBay yesterday that, as he paid via PayPal, he can expect to receive a full refund from the seller, who has until Monday to pay up.
