hooray for ebay

[ChrisPy]

I despair of buying kit from on-line chandlers, having experienced several disappointments after placing an order for items listed in their catalogues, with explanations like :

 

we're waiting for new stock,

we've been on holiday,

the post must have let us down.

 

in each case it involves several phone calls and follow-up, wasting time and money.

 

The worst experiences involve a company in the Midlands, and another in Cardiff.

 

 

I now buy through ebay whenever I can. After buying hundreds of items, I have only had a delay or let down on one occasion.

Edited February 8, 2012 by ChrisPy

[David Schweizer]

I despair of buying kit from on-line chandlers, having experienced several disappointments after placing an order for items listed in their catalogues, with explantions like :

 

we're waiting for new stock,

we've been on holiday,

the post must have let us down.

 

in each case it involves several phone calls and follow-up, wasting time and money.

 

The worst experimces involve a company in the Midlands, and another in Cardiff.

 

 

I now buy through ebay whenever I can. After buying hundreds of items, I have only had a delay or let down on one occasion.

I guess that they are not all the same. I have always had excellent, same day, despatch from Puffer Parts, ASAP, and Vehicle Wiring Products.

 

No connection with any company except as a satisfied customer

Edited February 8, 2012 by David Schweizer

[blackrose]

As a buyer ebay is difficult to beat - I just bought a whale gulper for 69 quid.

 

I would only sell on ebay as a last resort.

[Troyboy]

I buy and sell on ebay and find it brilliant way to get rid of items I no longer need and I've picked up the odd bargain . Most buyers and sellers are genuine and by using Paypal as a buyer you are well protected . Having said that I did purchase some counterfeit fuel filters from a Land Rover specialist but got my money back when I pointed it out to the seller . Made in DRC gave the game away somewhat although these days most things seem to be made in China .

[blackrose]

I buy and sell on ebay and find it brilliant way to get rid of items I no longer need and I've picked up the odd bargain . Most buyers and sellers are genuine and by using Paypal as a buyer you are well protected . Having said that I did purchase some counterfeit fuel filters from a Land Rover specialist but got my money back when I pointed it out to the seller . Made in DRC gave the game away somewhat although these days most things seem to be made in China .

 

That reminds me, I once bought a fake blackberry battery on ebay - it wouldn't fit in the phone! The seller gave me a full refund without question.

[ChrisPy]

yes, ebay/paypal allows much better recourse than trying to deal with a recalcitrant on-line shop.

[leeco]

I just sold a genny on ebay for £1040 and here are my fees.

 

Final Value fee £103.93

[cheshire~rose]

I do lots of both buying and selling on eBay and would not be without it. The fees do add up but there are ways to keep them to a minimum if you have a little confidence.

 

A word of warning to anyone selling a large item on eBay that might need to be collected by the buyer - there is a loophole with Paypal payments!

 

Someone bids on and wins your flat screen TV/ Generator/ Chain saw or whatever and pays you by Paypal. They pop over the next day to collect and drive off with the goods. They then tell Paypal that they have not received the goods. Paypal will immediately claw the mony back out of your account pending you providing proof that the goods were delivered to the buyer. The ONLY proof that Paypal accept is a trackable delivery such a Special Delivery or a courier delivery. Of course you do not have that proof and so you lose your goods and your money - if you sell something that the buyer collects then you must INSIST on cash upon delivery - write it in the listing for the item so everyone knows your terms of business before they bid and if they pay by paypal refund it and politely explain the reason why.

Please spread the word about this scam so others do not lose out!

[pistnbroke]

quite true above and never never leave any money in your pay pal account or bank account linked to it ...they onece held $5000 about 3 grand of my hard earned ebay profits for 3 weeks .....always use recorded delivery if sending goods and photograph anybody collecting goods/ demand proof of identity and record number plates

[bag 'o' bones]

I do lots of both buying and selling on eBay and would not be without it. The fees do add up but there are ways to keep them to a minimum if you have a little confidence.

 

A word of warning to anyone selling a large item on eBay that might need to be collected by the buyer - there is a loophole with Paypal payments!

 

Someone bids on and wins your flat screen TV/ Generator/ Chain saw or whatever and pays you by Paypal. They pop over the next day to collect and drive off with the goods. They then tell Paypal that they have not received the goods. Paypal will immediately claw the mony back out of your account pending you providing proof that the goods were delivered to the buyer. The ONLY proof that Paypal accept is a trackable delivery such a Special Delivery or a courier delivery. Of course you do not have that proof and so you lose your goods and your money - if you sell something that the buyer collects then you must INSIST on cash upon delivery - write it in the listing for the item so everyone knows your terms of business before they bid and if they pay by paypal refund it and politely explain the reason why.

Please spread the word about this scam so others do not lose out!

Good tip.

 

Quoting your terms is always a good move. Particularly when selling cars. I always insist on potential bidders to view the car before bidding saves on the 'oh the car has a scratch I want you to knock of 50 quid' chancers.

Edited February 8, 2012 by bag 'o' bones

[David Mack]

I do lots of both buying and selling on eBay and would not be without it. The fees do add up but there are ways to keep them to a minimum if you have a little confidence.

 

A word of warning to anyone selling a large item on eBay that might need to be collected by the buyer - there is a loophole with Paypal payments!

 

Someone bids on and wins your flat screen TV/ Generator/ Chain saw or whatever and pays you by Paypal. They pop over the next day to collect and drive off with the goods. They then tell Paypal that they have not received the goods. Paypal will immediately claw the mony back out of your account pending you providing proof that the goods were delivered to the buyer. The ONLY proof that Paypal accept is a trackable delivery such a Special Delivery or a courier delivery. Of course you do not have that proof and so you lose your goods and your money - if you sell something that the buyer collects then you must INSIST on cash upon delivery - write it in the listing for the item so everyone knows your terms of business before they bid and if they pay by paypal refund it and politely explain the reason why.

Please spread the word about this scam so others do not lose out!

 

There was a piece about just this on Moneybox on Radio 4 at the weekend. A guy sells an item on Ebay and takes payment by Paypal. The buyer then contacts the vendor, apparently just happening to be in his area and wants to collect. Sure enough Paypal then say the goods haven't been delivered and start the debt recovery process. Vendor contacts the police who manage to track down the buyer who admits his 'mistake'. Armed with the paperwork from the police the vendor tries to contact Paypal, but without success. Meanwhile he is being hassled by a debt recovery firm who won't take any notice of the police paperwork. It takes the BBC getting the Paypal head honcho in the studio for interview to get it all sorted!

 

So don't let it happen to you!

 

David

[nbfiresprite]

I do lots of both buying and selling on eBay and would not be without it. The fees do add up but there are ways to keep them to a minimum if you have a little confidence.

 

A word of warning to anyone selling a large item on eBay that might need to be collected by the buyer - there is a loophole with Paypal payments!

 

Someone bids on and wins your flat screen TV/ Generator/ Chain saw or whatever and pays you by Paypal. They pop over the next day to collect and drive off with the goods. They then tell Paypal that they have not received the goods. Paypal will immediately claw the mony back out of your account pending you providing proof that the goods were delivered to the buyer. The ONLY proof that Paypal accept is a trackable delivery such a Special Delivery or a courier delivery. Of course you do not have that proof and so you lose your goods and your money - if you sell something that the buyer collects then you must INSIST on cash upon delivery - write it in the listing for the item so everyone knows your terms of business before they bid and if they pay by paypal refund it and politely explain the reason why.

Please spread the word about this scam so others do not lose out!

 

I would add,demand at least two forms of ID plus proof of pay-pal address (Make a copy). Take picture of the buyer loading the item in to their car or van with the number plate in the frame. They can hardly claim the car was stolen.

 

Firesprite

 

In the office

[Grace and Favour]

I just sold a genny on ebay for £1040 and here are my fees.

 

Final Value fee £103.93

 

If you had sold your Genny via any high street auction house - you'll be paying 14.5 - 17.7% commission, considerably more than eBay's 10%!

[ChrisPy]

I must admit that I have had some poor experiences when selling on ebay, mainly people who are unfamiliar with the process and who decide they don't want to buy after successfully bidding. I have come to the conclusion that it is not worth the hassle of sending goods overseas, either because the buyer does not understand the terms of sale, or demands unrealistically low courier costs based on their home country prices.

On the other hand I have sold things at a reasonable price that I would never have found buyers for in any other way.

[David Schweizer]

I do lots of both buying and selling on eBay and would not be without it. The fees do add up but there are ways to keep them to a minimum if you have a little confidence.

 

A word of warning to anyone selling a large item on eBay that might need to be collected by the buyer - there is a loophole with Paypal payments!

 

Someone bids on and wins your flat screen TV/ Generator/ Chain saw or whatever and pays you by Paypal. They pop over the next day to collect and drive off with the goods. They then tell Paypal that they have not received the goods. Paypal will immediately claw the mony back out of your account pending you providing proof that the goods were delivered to the buyer. The ONLY proof that Paypal accept is a trackable delivery such a Special Delivery or a courier delivery. Of course you do not have that proof and so you lose your goods and your money - if you sell something that the buyer collects then you must INSIST on cash upon delivery - write it in the listing for the item so everyone knows your terms of business before they bid and if they pay by paypal refund it and politely explain the reason why.

Please spread the word about this scam so others do not lose out!

 

Why not just state "Payment on collection preferred" into the Auction description, but whatever you do, do not put anything like "do not use paypal"as the eBay automatic search system will pick it up and remove your listing (voice of experience) I never use PayPal for anything I collect.

 

I must admit that I have had some poor experiences when selling on ebay, mainly people who are unfamiliar with the process and who decide they don't want to buy after successfully bidding. I have come to the conclusion that it is not worth the hassle of sending goods overseas, either because the buyer does not understand the terms of sale, or demands unrealistically low courier costs based on their home country prices.

On the other hand I have sold things at a reasonable price that I would never have found buyers for in any other way.

I have had the same problem with buyers from the US and France, who seem to think they can re-negotiate the price and postage after they have won the Auction. I now remove bids from people in those countries unless they are willing to send me an email agreeing to the terms before the auction ends.

[Thewatchmaker]

I do lots of both buying and selling on eBay and would not be without it. The fees do add up but there are ways to keep them to a minimum if you have a little confidence.

 

A word of warning to anyone selling a large item on eBay that might need to be collected by the buyer - there is a loophole with Paypal payments!

 

Someone bids on and wins your flat screen TV/ Generator/ Chain saw or whatever and pays you by Paypal. They pop over the next day to collect and drive off with the goods. They then tell Paypal that they have not received the goods. Paypal will immediately claw the mony back out of your account pending you providing proof that the goods were delivered to the buyer. The ONLY proof that Paypal accept is a trackable delivery such a Special Delivery or a courier delivery. Of course you do not have that proof and so you lose your goods and your money - if you sell something that the buyer collects then you must INSIST on cash upon delivery - write it in the listing for the item so everyone knows your terms of business before they bid and if they pay by paypal refund it and politely explain the reason why.

Please spread the word about this scam so others do not lose out!

 

Buyer protection does not cover industrial tools,cars etc.

PayPal are well aware that this sort of scam goes on

[steamraiser2]

I bought a Lister FR2M on Australian Ebay for £40. The seller dropped it at the docks for me, his son got all the paperwork sorted for free and it cost £92 in shipping costs to Southampton. £415 to get it across the quay and past customs in the UK! Grr.

[Grace and Favour]

I bought a Lister FR2M on Australian Ebay for £40. The seller dropped it at the docks for me, his son got all the paperwork sorted for free and it cost £92 in shipping costs to Southampton. £415 to get it across the quay and past customs in the UK! Grr.

 

But let's face it, you would have been unlikely to find it if you'd just been reading reading the 'Small Ads' in the local paper.