The six golden rules of ebay discussion area

superscotsman

Also, ebay is no more full of risk than any other kind of trading. You will find swindlers in any form of human activity, and I do not see why ebay should be any exception.
A friend of mine sold a load of goods to a firm that had just called in the receivers. He went round to collect his stuff, and was told in no uncertain terms that if he touched them they would call the police and have him arrested. He went to see his lawyer, who told him that he was perfectly entitled to recover his goods. When he went back, his goods had vanished off the face of the earth and he could find nobody who knew any English! No ebay involved here.
The world is full of trickery.

veronarona

Item: Alpine media player One-day listing

Description

The following information is from Alpine: This uniquely versatile Mobile Media Station features our PulseTouch Display — giving you comprehensive control over your audio system, navigation, and even DVD menus simply by touching the display. It also has a front panel display, letting you operate it even with the monitor down. Moreover, it plays just about anything you’d care to put into it — including CDs, DVDs, CDs or DVDs with MP3 or WMA files — and is packed full with advanced control and customisation features. Complete control, fingertip convenience — you’ll love it. * Play a wide variety of media: DVDs, CDs, MP3 and WMA discs * Use the PulseTouch Display to fully control your entire system by simple fingertip action. Even operate DVD menus by simply touching the screen * Hook up your iPod to enjoy your whole portable music library * Add a multi-channel processor and make all sound settings via the PulseTouch Display [MMS Audio Processing] • Bass Band Width Control • Media Xpander (MX) • Factory Preset EQ • Bass Focus • Bass Center Frequency Control • 4ch Adjustable Digital Time Correction • 3-Position HP/LP Digital Crossover • Treble Center Frequency Control • Bass Engine Plus [MMS DVD/CD/MP3 Features] • MP3 Text Information Display (ID3 Tag) • Sub Display • MP3/WMA Decoder/Playback • M DAC • CD Text Display and Scroll • DVD-R/DVD-RW, CD-R/CD-RW Compatible • Direct DVD Menu Control • Disc Title Memory *please note this auction is for an ebook on how to buy this item very cheap. [MMS Power Specifications] • NAVI MIX • NAVI RGB input • 1 AUX AV Input an Output • 2V Performance Voltage Pre Out • 3 Preouts • 50W x 4 High Power Amplifier • 7" TFT Wide LCD Monitor [MMS Other Highlights] • Dual Illumination (R=Green/Red, RB=Blue) • Data Download • Ready for iPod • Amplifier Link (for 05) • Vehicle Display Interface • OEM Steering Remote Control Ready • Dual Inputs • Pulse Touch Display Wide Media Playback This Mobile Media Station delivers full compatibility with all commercial media formats. So as long as you’ve got one of those “shiny” discs—audio or video—you know you can bring it to your car and play it. THE FOLLOW ARE REVIEWS: This unit features our advanced BioLite Display, providing outstanding brightness and resolution for optimum visibility in any lighting condition. It also lets you download custom settings for the head unit from our special i-Personalize website and even change the opening message display. • Operate your system with Alpine's unique, easy-to-use GlideTouch bar • Connect your iPod to hear all its songs through your car system, with control and display on the head unit • Use Bass Engine functions to fully customise the sound in your vehicle • Use MediaXpander to make your compressed music sound like CDs • Play MP3 and WMA discs • Control your head unit via steering wheel remote control and get information on your vehicle sub display [CD-Features] • MP3/WMA Decoder/Playback • CD-R / CD-RW Compatibility • Zero Data Mute (0 bit Mute) • MP3 Text Information Display (ID3 Tag) • Regulated 1-bit DAC • CD Text Display and Scroll • Disc Title Memory (18 titles / 8 letters) [CD Connectivity] • Ready for iPod • Versatile Ai Link • Vehicle Display Interface • OEM Steering Remote Control Ready [CD Power Specifications] • 4V Performance Voltage Pre Out • 50W x 4 High Power Amplifier • 3 PreOuts [CD Display Performance] • Dual Illumination (for other buttons in White/Red) • Multicolor Illumination (for 4 buttons) • Biolite Display with Background Animation [CD Audio Processing] • Media Xpander (MX) • Factory Preset EQ • 7band G-EQ or 5band P-EQ choose • 6ch Adjustable Digital Time Correction • 3-way or 2-way Digital Channel Divider • 6-Position HP/LP Digital Crossover • Bass Engine Pro [CD Other Higlights] • Data Download • Remote Control Included • Glide Touch • ISO Connector Ready • Rotary Encoder Volume Control • Max Tune PRO Tuner Sponsored Links Alpine Car Radios Car radios at low prices All brands delivered in 24 hours https://www.pixmania.co.uk Alpine Car Stereos Free Information and Resources About Alpine Car Stereos https://www.Alpine-Car-Stereos.big.com IFI RF & TWT Amplifiers The Power of Choice DC-40GHz CW/Pulse TWT Solid State https://www.ifi.com Car Stereo Installation Nationwide Car Stereo Installation We Come To You. Try Our Prices! https://www.WeCanFit.co.uk Cheap MP3 Car Stereos Sony CD Players Supplied & fitted at home or work from only £109.99 https://www.audio4less.co.uk > Display all top links about Alpine CDA-9855 R on the web More details Instructions Very Helpful / Very Easy to Understand Security Measures Excellent

Buried in there is "this auction is for an ebook on how to buy this cheap". The seller made the bidders' IDs "private" so no-one could be warned, but when experienced eBayers noticed they dove in and bid it up from £300+ to £1000+.

Re P&P

If it's clearly stated upfront you can't complain, though many sellers make a tidy profit on it and save £££ in fees. However, I've reported a Power Seller for selling TV remote controls @ 99p Buy It Now with a choice of (approx) £15 or £20 P&P depending on what model is selected. Clearly against eBay's rules, but eBay seem happy with it and so is the seller, nothing was done.

veronarona

Lollypop_3

As a fairly new e-bayer I was sceptical about the scams and false descriptions the site is often accused of hosting.

I had a very bad experience when I bid on my first purchase for a watch shortly before Christmas. It was only £30 but the seller who also had no feedback history and was a private seller rather than a trader did not answer the questions on my e-mails properly about when the watch would be posted and by what method. Instead she basically just messed me around despite sending her more than the postage she asked for to ensure that it was sent by a secure delivery method as requested. When the watch didn't arrive long after she'd cleared my cheque, she simply told me that the watch had been sent out but returned to her and that I had given her a wrong address. This raised alarm bells immediately because I gave out my correct address including postcode and all Special Delivery items are sent to the nearest post office holding office they're not returned to the sender. I didn't believe she sent me the item in the first place. I then e-mailed her and insisted she return my cheque and postage costs within the next two days or else I was going to the police and would take out a small claims action against her. It was a bit over the top for £30 but it worked and I got my cheque within two days. In some ways she got her come uppance because she actually left me very good feedback when she'd first received my money and before she supposedly sent the goods. However I did not give her reciprocal good feedback though and had no intention of doing so despite her request after I had got her money back. In my view, she had mucked me around, disappointed me by not sending me the watch in time for Christmas, and I was in no mood to be conciliatory even if she did send the money (which was probably only due to the threat of court action anyway).

This experience didn't put me off though. I actually wanted a watch badly and saw a lovely one on the site for £200 - solid 18 carat gold Omega from what seemed to be a reputable seller. You must be asking - are you mad?

This time I did things very differently though. This time I only bought from a reputable seller with plenty of guarantees of money back if the goods weren't as described and I paid via PayPal not cheque and I studied the description carefully, e-mailed the seller with any questions and confirmations before winning the item and asked for a contact number when I won the bid and before sending the money. I never did this with the first seller and only relied on e-mail correspondence throughout - a huge mistake in my view. This was given out unhesitatingly and I actually telephoned the seller - a very good move. The seller sounded very reputable and even gave me an alternative contact when he was away during the time the watch was due to be sent in case I needed to speak with him again about any problems with non-arrival. This marked the seller out as very trustworthy.

I got my watch very quickly. It was carefully packed and a new strap was put on it (not the one photographed) and the old strap (the one in the photo) included too which was a bit worn as the photo showed) which still had the Omega buckle attached which I could arrange to have transferred to a strap of my choice or the one already put on the watch. All requests were answered truthfully and the watch was exactly as described. In fact, to this day I've had great pleasure in wearing it and it keeps perfect time too.

I think direct telephone contact with seller is a critical step for buyers to develop a proper instinct as to how they may be treated or how trustworthy they may be. It's not foolproof of course, but just relying on e-mails is much too anonymous and even normally honest sellers might be tempted to rip someone off around Christmas time if they can get away with it. I would suggest that buyers should be wary if telephone number requests are refused or ignored.

Lollypop_3

Some readers have commented on the extortionate p&p stated with the goods on sale. However, I think that most p&p asked for is reasonable considering the trouble and expense the seller needs to go to to buy jiffy bags and bubble wrap etc. I'd rather pay more pp for secure delivery method than risk the item being sent 1st class (or not at all) with no insurance or proof that it was sent in the first place. That's precisely what I did with the seller named in my post above (not that it did any good). However, if I hadn't asked her for secure delivery method she could well have contacted me to tell me that the pp did not invite proof of sending only first class delivery. Then where would I have been when I needed to demand my money back? It would simply have been her word against mine that they weren't just lost in the post. If the goods had been sent and were not as described or damaged before sending she could also have claimed that rough post office handling had been responsible for any scratches or damage.

A buyer's judgement should inform them what is reasonable p&p and what is not and they should make their choice accordingly. Clearly a pair of earrings with £7.99 postage is ridiculous but for a coat or large boxed item it wouldn't be.

Most shopping channel items also charge around £8 pp too, even for small items, so e-bayers are not unique in charging these high sums. Best to be safe than sorry, with the benefit of insurance against loss or damage, even if the seller does make an extra quid or two extra to boot.

wizzasmum_2

I have recently been attempting to get a bargain from ebay ID user containerclearancecompany It seems though, that this company is bidding on it's own items to up the price. As soon as a bid is put on, or the item becomes a watched item, up goes the price. All the spoof bidders are single names with the addition of 4 numbers. I have reported it to ebay but so far the only feedback I have received is that often people will bid for several items from one seller. What a rip off - Beware!
Sue

hilary1

My tip would be to watch out for the sellers who keep their feedback private. I also read feedbacks if its under 100% as you normally find this on cds and dvds and the feedback will usually say that its copies that are being sold.

Also re postage. A lot of sellers make their extra money from postage and reclaim their fees this way. My son paid 75p for postage for a dvd this week which is fair but some charge ridiculous amount to make extra money. One example is Oreal bid 99p postage £5. Speaks for itself really.

Watch out for the sellers charging 'add 5% for paypal'. This is illegal on ebay.

badvoc_2

firstly, sorry about this, im new to it all. but with regards to the ebay things being bought elsewhere then sold on ebay (Dell printers) has anyone noticed a week or so ago, ebay had loads of "sim cards" on sale, Pay As You Go, with 300 free txts a month. They were O2 ones..... Well i have an O2 sim card, the same one that was on sale at ebay..... they were being offered (up to 4 per person) FREE to all O2 users, via their web site. It's obviously an incentive to get more people to use O2 but it's a good deal. Im just very saddened to see that someone has taken it upon them selves to make money off a genuine free offer, I hate to think of the money they must have made from them. Lets hope they get no joy from their ill gotten gains.

karendb

This thread caught my attention as I've been buying and selling (just my own unwanted stuff) on Ebay for quite a few years now. I have no problems actually with sellers charging a huge amount for postage. The reason sellers do this is because they don't get charged commissions on the postage and if they are trying to make a living, the commissions can be crippling - especially as they often have to pay both Ebay and Paypal fees when sold, on top of the original listing fees.

The key as a buyer is to take the high postage into account and bid accordingly. I can't see what all the fuss is about if you get your item for the total price you're happy with.

What I object to is the seller stating that returning goods is at the expense of the buyer and trying to enforce this even when the goods have been checked for compatibility before buying, or are faulty. This is wrong and quite different in my book from a buyer wanting to swap for a different size or colour etc.

Potential buyers should be aware of all the sellers terms and conditions. If you're unsure, ask before you bid. Otherwise, don't bid. Simple.

tightbstard

:money: Anyone ever tried to alert EBay of suspected fraud? I have and it is nearly impossible. I saw PC projectors for sale originating in China, they retail at around £800, Here they were for £60 brand new, plus £40 P&P. therre were about 10 different sellers with the same ad. I checked out the feedback of every one of them, all had 12 rating and each feedback was within minutes of the previous. the whole thing was obviously contrived and a scam. I attempted to alert Ebay to it but there system does not cater for it. finally I put all the details into, police federal officer link, as I had no other way. It takes quite a time and thought to follow all their stupid links and pre concieved ideas of what they assume a person should say. anyway the end result was an email telling me that as i was not a police officer/ federal officer then my report would be ignored. Sorry but EBay is duplicitous in all the scams and cons that go on. they would rather not deal with them and if you are suckered in then they make money from the deal, as they own/ run PAYPAL, thereby gaining a percentage of each transaction. Further warning, on recieving miss sold/ described goods, the purchaser loses even if they uphold your complaint, as the goods recieved have to be returned at the purchasers expense. and only the purchase price refunded, double postage fees and still PAYPAL retain some of your hard earned. do yourselves a favour, remove EBAY from your favourites. Go on do it now

deeloughran

This is not true, i myself told Ebay about 3 items of the same seller, and the very next day sent me an email thanking me and banned the seller from Ebay, the form is very simple to fill in, all you have to do is fill in the item number, don't know what form you filled in, i have 252 feedback on it, with just 2 problems, one just an abusive seller but still recieved my item, and one who scammed me 20 pounds, but overall it has been a very good experience! and with Paypal now setup you can be more secure as it is a protection as you will be refunded up to 500 pounds for your item!