Ebay Idiots.

bazster

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

Ebay has been crap for about the last 7 or 8 years, completely different to what it was when it started.

I can't understand why anyone would use it now. Members sell things that are about double the price one can find in a shop!

It's bizarre.

I couldn't agree less.

Firstly you can get loads of stuff on eBay that you simply cannot get anywhere else. I buy lots of small engineering bits and pieces (stainless steel nuts and bolts, raw aluminium, and so on and so forth). On eBay you can get this stuff in small quantities at sensible prices, elsewhere these things can generally only be got from wholesalers in huge quantities or with enormous delivery charges.

Secondly, the service you get from eBay sellers is almost invariably much, much better than you get anywhere else. The eBay feedback mechanism is the most transparent ratings mechanism anywhere on the web, and in terms of encouraging excellent service it works very well.

Thirdly, obviously not everything on eBay is cheaper than elsewhere, you still need to shop around if it's a mainstream item that is also available off-eBay!

lovinituk

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

Ebay has been crap for about the last 7 or 8 years, completely different to what it was when it started.

I can't understand why anyone would use it now. Members sell things that are about double the price one can find in a shop!

It's bizarre.

I sell things that you can't get in the shops.

There are some things that are more expensive than in the shops but then some people will pay extra to have it sent to them if they can't or don't want to go to the shops.

There are plenty of things that are much cheaper than you can buy anywhere else. I buy all my packaging via ebay and it is much cheaper than any shop and its much cheaper than all the packaging wholesalers around me on the industrial estate where my office is.

iharding

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

Ebay has been crap for about the last 7 or 8 years, completely different to what it was when it started.

I can't understand why anyone would use it now. Members sell things that are about double the price one can find in a shop!

It's bizarre.

Depends what you're buying and selling. In 415 transactions over the last 10 years I've only had two that were less than perfect as a seller: The buyer of a mobile phone who bid and won several of the same model from different sellers on the same day, then presumably only paid for the lowest priced. After two weeks with no communication I reported him as non-paying, wrote a polite response to the negative feedback he left me and re-listed.
The second case was a battered and well-used, but working, laptop - honestly described as such and with detailed photos in the listing. The buyer went ballistic at me about the condition, so I responded by opening a damages claim with Parcelforce as clearly from his description the condition had deteriorated significantly after it left my hands. Strangely enough, after they asked him to make the laptop available for inspection I never heard anything further :-)

Apart from that, no problems, a lot of bargains, and plenty of cash in return for some unwanted possessions.

Ian

lovinituk

DCFC79 wrote: »

Bit extreme but there you go. Ive no prblem with what VH did, id be annoyed as well if id gone to pick up an item and the buyer wanted to ask for more money. £12.50 is about for petrol, wear and tear of tyres etc and time wasting.

Sigh! I thought this was done but now you've commented that you condone theft, I assume you think the following is just as acceptable...

lovinituk wrote: »

Tell you what - Comet were a day late in delivering my new washing machine and cost me inconvenience - I'll just pop down their store and nick something in return! Sound ok to you?

*edit* Strange! Where did DCFC79's post go?

trukdiver

Velcro_Hotdog wrote: »

I won an item on eBay last month and went to collect, the item was glass and to big to post. Won the auction with a bid of £12.50 iirc which was a bargain as new the item costs £60.

When I got there to collect the seller demanded £20 as he forgot to add a reserve. :mad::mad:

A few years ago, I won an auction and paid right after it ended. The seller contacted me and complained that it was a reserve auction and my bid wasn't high enough and I should have waited to see if she accepted my "offer" before paying (this was an auction!). She then sent me a paypal payment from which she had deducted the listing fee, FVF and her Paypal charges, for wasting her time.. (about £10 less than Id paid her)

When I didn't accept the payment, she opened a dispute and eventually escalated to a claim - trying to force me to accept less than a full refund. Before the case was closed, she left negative feedback complaining I'd paid too soon..:rotfl: (it was in the days when sellers could leave feedback)