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Hi, I'm David and I'm a sailboat addict. I jest, but only a little. I currently own an IP31 that is going on the market soon and just recently picked up a cheap salvage boat that's worth repairing. I’ve owned several other boats and to be honest I’d be better off if I’d just kept the first one. (If this sounds familiar, you might be a boat addict also :)
I haven't yet, before this ordeal, bought a boat from eBay but I'm familiar with boat charities as I helped my mother donate her boat this past year through Boat Angel. She was a sad ole girl but had plenty of life left in her for someone who was handy and wanted that type of boat. We talked with the good people at Boat Angel several times *on the phone* throughout the process and had an excellent experience with that.
*will become clear further down*
So I have an eBay alert set up that emails me daily with new sailboat listings. (Doesn't every boat addict?)
I was pretty shocked when I saw my dream boat pop up there. A few years ago I used to race on a J34c. It was loads of fun and just one of the best performing boats I've ever been on. I'm friends with the previous owner of that boat and I'm well aware of the value of one in good condition. To see one listed so cheap on eBay really was surprising. I thought there's got to be something wrong with this. The pictures look good but they are old. And there's only four of them. But the listing stated everything is good aside from needing rudder repair. I investigated further and the location was on a small lake in Wisconsin. So it's absolutely going to require trucking. This was also in February and it was 2° there at the time. I factored all of these into why the bid is so low and decided I could deal with that. I waited to bid until the end of the auction. And I won it. $1055 plus the $399 doc fee so $1454 total.
You've got to admit she's a real beauty. Love the flag blue hull.
Unfortunately 'too good to be true' applies here... Keep reading.
You can imagine the elation I was feeling. I knew she has to be in pretty bad shape but I didn't care. This is the dream boat. And if it's absolutely fit for the scrap heap, maybe I can get my money back in parts.
Within a few hours of winning the bid I received an email which appears to be their standard invoice. I received another one the following morning Even though I had done as they asked and replied that I am willing to pay for the boat. It's very high pressure, pushy along with threatening to list me as a non-paying bidder. But you can read that for yourself. Screenshots included below.
It was quite a red flag to send a certified check to an individual person. But as they say, they've got a money back guarantee and great feedback on eBay. Plus eBay has their own Vehicle Purchase Protection. (Still hoping that works out because I haven't seen a dime yet. We're getting to that…)(p.s. I did finally get the money back. Yay!)
**Click to open full invoice**
**Click to open full 2nd email**
So I think it's needless to say, I sent the money (or you wouldn’t be reading this). I emailed photo proof of the check and the envelope and gave them the tracking number. The next day I got the following email with the owner's name and number. (This was the first I'd heard or seen of "Boats for Veterans" at this point and I didn't pay it much mind.)
I gave him a call and we had a pretty good talk. It was obvious that he loved and had taken very good care of the boat. I was ecstatic at the prospect of it being in good shape and not a complete scrapper. At some point in the conversation he asked me, “So you're a veteran?” I told him no, I'm not. He said he was a little confused, that he was under the impression he was donating his boat for veterans to use it. I was really pretty shocked that he didn't know it had been put up on eBay. I explained to him that I had bought the boat off eBay and that I assume the money goes to veterans. (Which I am currently suspicious of) He said well if that's the case that sounds like a good thing. I asked the location of the boat to make arrangements and he gave me a contact at the marina. The person at the marina was surprised by all this and had no idea the boat was donated at all and would have to get back to me. I spoke with that boat owner again and we texted back and forth some. Everything was amiable and I was riding on a pink cloud.
**Click to open full owner details email**
The pink cloud didn't last long...
I woke up two days later to two missed calls and a few texts from the owner. His text stated he can't get a reply from “boats for veterans” to find out what's going on and that his son-in-law works for a non-profit and looked it up. They couldn't find anywhere that determined that boats for veterans is legit and they think it's probably a scam. And for all he knows I'm in on it. And so he said the deal is off.
I'm going to finish (and continue) this saga out in a time-line for hopefully better clarity.
2/16/25 - Won auction, received invoice
2/17/25 - 2nd email, made payment
2/18/25 - Received owner details and made contact with him.
2/20/25 - Owner backs out. Of note, I did find out from him then that he never signed over the title as we had done with Boat Angel. (so what is the $399 doc fee for again?)
I called the number of boats for veterans website, which states "live operators 24/7" and got what everyone else seems to get. A message stating they are busy and will text for your boat info and I hung up.
2/21/25 - As I was writing an email to request a refund, I received a call from a private number. It was really weird. I answered it and heard "Hi B___ (my middle name), I'm Ashley from Boats for Veterans returning your call". I never gave them my middle name and neither does eBay have it. I asked "you're also with boat liquidators and one dollar boats (onedollarboats)?" "Yes" I told her I blame them for the boat deal going bad and if they had responded to Mr. P (owner) he might have not backed out. I urged her to contact him and prove to him they are legit and if they can get him back on board I would still like the boat, otherwise a refund is due (obviously they didn't succeed or likely didn't even try). I asked for a phone number to contact someone as they are slow to respond to email and ebay messaging and was told "I can't give you a number, just email to all 3 addresses." (I have only seen 2)
I sent the email stating same as above and gave my address for refund by check and also giving my girlfriend's venmo for refund that way. I would be fine with either.
2/25/25 - Order cancelled on eBay. eBay messaging and email sent requesting status of refund.
Received a reply that day that refund is in the queue.
I replied asking for a timeframe. No response.
2/28/25 - Asked for update. Received reply stating refund has been processed and usually takes 5 business days to receive.
3/7/25 - Asked for update and tracking number. No response.
3/8/25 - Asked for update and tracking number. No response.
3/13/25 - Contacted the eBay Motors department to start the process of filing a claim under their Vehicle Purchase Protection program
3/14/25 - Received email from eBay's insurance agent and jumped thru the hoops they requested. Also sent onedollarboats a message that I have escalated.
3/18/25 - Requested update from insurance company.
3/20/25 - eBay message from onedollarboats stating "Hi, we apologize for the delay in getting back to you. Your messages were routed to our spam. We will follow up regarding the status of your refund" Uh-huh 😑
Received message from insurance company requesting that I obtain and send a copy of the cashed check from my bank. I did so.
3/24/25 - I request an update from the insurance company.
3/25/25 - Reply received from insurance company, posted in full:
Hi David,
Thank you for providing a copy of the signed check for us. That works for your proof of payment requirement.
I have tried to reach this seller several times without a response. I will send a request to eBay to review the seller for possible action until the issue is resolved.
Let’s see if that prompts a response.
Thanks,
J*****
Also got an ebay message from "onedollarboats": "We can refund you via Venmo immediately, do you have a Venmo account?" I give them my girlfriend's vemno (the same one I gave them on 2/21/25, by the way) and do you think I have seen any money? That's right. NO... I mean, c'mon. What the hell? Let's dangle little breadcrumbs of hope then snatch them away. Unbelievable!!
3/26/25 - I told them they will regret it if they do not send my money today. (Yes, I was angry 😬)
3/27/25 - I did not get my money. This website is born! I hope they do regret it.
Requested update from insurance company.
3/31/25 - Requested update from insurance company.
4/2/25 - Requested update from insurance company.
4/3/25 - Reply from insurance company: "Boat Liquidator claims they reimbursed you via check."
I replied that they are lying and you should try to get hard proof a check. We had a few more back and forth emails.
We received Venmo payment of $1454 later in the day!!
No idea what the insurance company said to make it happen (and they wouldn't tell me) but it's done finally!!
If you've read everything up to here, you've read a lot! My apologies it is long. I went into detail so people will understand the possible ordeal they might be facing dealing with these people. A month and a half of trying to claw my money back and them lying and gaslighting throughout. So much for " We will immediately refund the entire invoiced price to the purchaser."
They are screwing over people. Given the one post where they wouldn't respond when asked about 501 status has me thinking they don't do anything but line their own pockets. They are taking advantage of people's generosity and leaving buyers holding the bag when it comes to dealing with paperwork. Isn't that what a doc fee is supposed to be for? They're collecting $399 per sale for nothing.
I am interested in hearing your stories dealing with boats for veterans / onedollarboats / boatluquidator. Good and bad! Click the button to email me and let me know if it is ok to post your story on this website!
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