Most likely user error. Find someone that knows how to use eCash well and have them help you out or show them the process you did twice with failure.
Discussion
Yes, I'm perfectly willing to accept "user error" as the reason, though I'm pretty good at dealing with new tech and instructions. I'll try it again another time.
Just to update. I have just watched BTC Sessions video tutorial on eCash and have successfully done test transactions. The steps he outlines are different than the ones I took previously - and it works!
If interested, I can recommend the video:
Awesome! Glad you got it to work!