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Author Topic: Ebaying
Sine Ziegler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 225

posted 12 December 2003 11:19 PM      Profile for Sine Ziegler     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I started Ebaying a few months ago and am slowly learning that it isn't all that great and can be quite frustrating. I was wondering if anyone else on rabble feels this way about Ebay.

There are SO many fakes being sold as authentic.

Once you bid on something, you get spammed by other sellers trying to sell you shit off of Ebay which is illegal on Ebay and should be reported. I started reporting the first few but now there are so many I don't have time for it all.

My first purchase was good because the seller communicated with me and wanted to make sure I was going to be a good buyer.

I checked out the Louis Vuitton purses and nearly half of them are fake although a lot of people are selling them as authentic. It's frustrating!

[ 12 December 2003: Message edited by: Sine Ziegler ]


From: Calgary | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
Sara Mayo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3714

posted 13 December 2003 12:14 AM      Profile for Sara Mayo     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Once in a while I browse ebay, usually I'm looking for a specific computer part or peripheral.

I always give up in frustration before actually buying anything.

I've finally come to to two realisations about ebay:

1) ebay is a scam set up by shipping companies to inflate their profits.
Sure you can get some things at a good price, but then add the shipping charges and your "great deal" becomes a rip-off.

2) ebay is worse than shopping at a pawn shop.
You can't trust the quality or origin at all of anything you buy. At least at pawn shops, you get to see and touch the merchandise first, and police try to keep tabs on what gets sold to try to prevent stolen merchandise from being sold through pawn shops. No such checks and balances on ebay. There are lots of outright scams: for a while there was a whole series of legitimate seller accounts hijacked by a criminal who then "sold" Mac laptops for thousands of dollars, never sending the merchandise to the buyers, there are lots of other examples like this. But even more prevalent is the sale of "hot" merchandise. Ebay is the easiest way for theives sell stolen goods, its almost anonymous (match it up with identity theft and its untraceable) and no one is tracking the goods, unlike at pawn shops. And they get much more money for their work.

(Here's an article about police opinions of ebay)


From: "Highways are monuments to inequality" - Enrique Penalosa | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged
skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 13 December 2003 11:30 AM      Profile for skdadl     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Four, five years ago I was checking eBay regularly, watching for particular kinds of collectibles, mainly old Canadian pottery (like Medalta, MHP, etc.).

Back then (sounds ridiculous to call five years ago "back then," doesn't it?), there were fewer people playing but there was more of the good stuff appearing, and it fetched decent prices, comparable to what people were getting/paying at auctions.

I hadn't really followed things closely for a couple of years until I read somewhere last winter that eBay had caused a collapse of prices in the collectibles markets generally, so I started watching again -- and it's true.

I guess because the market became so much bigger, so much more open continent-wide, it became evident to everyone that most collectibles, except for the really rare pieces, are fairly easy to find at any time -- and prices fell. Once prices began falling, people who had the more rare or valuable pieces became reluctant to sell on eBay, perhaps preferring local auction houses.

I dunno -- but for sure everything has been affected. I realize that a lot of what I bought, I bought high, compared to what it might sell for now -- if it appeared. But there is less and less of what I would want or bid for. It isn't fun any more. I still look, just in case -- but it isn't fun any more.


From: gone | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
HeywoodFloyd
token right-wing mascot
Babbler # 4226

posted 13 December 2003 11:46 AM      Profile for HeywoodFloyd     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I keep an eye out for railroad memorabilia. Most of the stuff available is either a reproduction or common items but occasionally there are really great finds.

I found an original 1930's promotional poster that now hangs in my office.


From: Edmonton: This place sucks | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Sine Ziegler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 225

posted 13 December 2003 04:44 PM      Profile for Sine Ziegler     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Ebay is an interesting phenomena isn't it? My boyfriend collects stamps but he wont touch Ebay. He says the whole fun in collecting the stamps is finding an old shop and digging through old things to find the rarities.

I guess if you are ever thinking of something you could you use, even just a peice of something else that is irreplaceable, you might find it on Ebay and it's good that way.

Sometimes Ebay is funny too - the things that are sold on there are comical. Back during Dar Heatherington's peak publicity, I was considering putting her business card up as a joke. I had received it from her while she was running for city councillor.

I think Ebay has gotten out of hand in certain areas, especially handbags.

Oh well, it's evil to be greedy and want a $1000 handbag so maybe the punishment is my frustration and being ripped off by frauds.


From: Calgary | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
audra trower williams
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2

posted 13 December 2003 05:14 PM      Profile for audra trower williams   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Yeah.

My ex bought a copy of the never-published Stephen King story "Squad D" online. For a lot of money. That is my only ebay experience.


From: And I'm a look you in the eye for every bar of the chorus | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
Melsky
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Babbler # 4748

posted 14 December 2003 10:36 PM      Profile for Melsky   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I have a business selling my paintings on ebay. It has been good for me, but I'm hoping to get some other outlets for my work as I don't like ebay's business practices.
From: Toronto | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
mighty brutus
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3148

posted 15 December 2003 12:39 PM      Profile for mighty brutus     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
POSSIBLE SCAM ALERT!!
Over the weekend I received some e-mails purporting to be from E-bay (from whom I have never purchased anything) saying there is a problem with my account & to go the the link provided to update my information. There are some mis-spellings & such that make me really suspicious. Anybody else get something like this?

From: Beautiful Burnaby, British Columbia | Registered: Oct 2002  |  IP: Logged
skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 15 December 2003 12:50 PM      Profile for skdadl     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
mighty brutus, that is a real scam, not just a poss.

As eBay will assure you if you write to them FROM THE SITE, they will never ask you to send identifying information or credit information by email. They will never communicate with you except THROUGH THE SITE.

Yes, that scam has been going on for some months now. The same people, I think, are now trying to do something similar with PayPal. They seem to be warning that your membership will lapse unless you respond to their questionnaire. Ignore them.


From: gone | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
Shenanigans
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Babbler # 2993

posted 15 December 2003 01:13 PM      Profile for Shenanigans   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Wow, I've had nothing but positive experiences on ebay.

I collect a toy from the 1980's and have often used ebay to get my collectible. I always check the feedback of the seller, decide how much I'm ultimately willing to put down and bid at the last moment.

I've never been spammed or solicited by other sellers, however the collector community I'm a part of, is pretty relaxed and cordial. Especially considering a lot of them are under 20! (I feel so old at 25! lol).

I'm sorry to hear of all your bad experiences, I've had nothing but good and have bought about 30 items off ebay.


From: Toronto | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
Alix
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2279

posted 15 December 2003 01:47 PM      Profile for Alix     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've had much the same experience as Shenanigan. I'm looking for a very specific type of book (or occasionally an action figure), I only buy within Canada, check out the feedback carefully, and normally only place the minimum bid. I don't want to get into bidding wars.

But I haven't had any problems. In fact, every transaction has gone incredibly smoothly. And I've never gotten spam.

The best part is that no one else seems to bid on the things I want.


From: Kingston | Registered: Feb 2002  |  IP: Logged
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 27 March 2004 10:10 PM      Profile for Michelle   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
For those of you who buy within Canada, I'm curious. There are some books that I would like to buy, and they're unbelievably cheap (the current bid for the 4 of them is $2.62Cdn and hasn't budged for a day).

What I'm worried about are the shipping charges. What's a typical shipping charge for 4 hardcover books? How do you find out before bidding?

I've never done this before and I'm wary. I may decide not to do it at all, especially after reading some of the bad experiences on this thread.


From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
Sara Mayo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3714

posted 27 March 2004 10:14 PM      Profile for Sara Mayo     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
From what I remember of ebay, the shipping charges are explained on the item's page. Sometimes the seller will give a choice of options, but even if there's just one option the price should be listed. If it's not there, email the seller to ask what s/he'll charge.
From: "Highways are monuments to inequality" - Enrique Penalosa | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged
robbie_dee
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 195

posted 28 March 2004 07:52 PM      Profile for robbie_dee     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Do the "musical" commercials for Ebay air in Canada, too, or do we just get them in the US? One of them features a pudgy, short bald guy singing the merits of buying stuff online. I actually find them pretty amusing. They haven't convinced me to use Ebay yet, though.
From: Iron City | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
verbatim
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 569

posted 28 March 2004 08:21 PM      Profile for verbatim   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've bought a few things on eBay (software, webcam) and been burned once. Being burned taught me to follow the rules that shenannigans and alix do with regards to seller accountability. I wouldn't buy from an unapproved seller unless I knew them personally.
From: The People's Republic of Cook Street | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
The Hegemo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5176

posted 10 April 2004 10:28 AM      Profile for The Hegemo   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've had only good experiences with eBay, but I've also only bought stuff that's not real valuable and that isn't quite as likely to be faked...I mostly buy European hockey memorabilia and other obscure odds and ends. I generally only use it to buy stuff that I would never find in a million years around where I am (like a Team Slovakia commemorative jersey from when they won the 2002 World Championship, for example). I guess I've been lucky, though, since a lot of people do have problems.
From: The Persistent Vegetative States of America | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged
R. J. Dunnill
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1148

posted 14 April 2004 03:50 PM      Profile for R. J. Dunnill   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've used eBay for several years, with no real problems.

It's a wonderful source for unusual and/or obscure items that would otherwise be near-impossible to find.


From: Surrey, B.C. | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged
Bacchus
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4722

posted 14 April 2004 04:07 PM      Profile for Bacchus     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Ive used ebay a lot and even sold stuff on it (U.S. Civil War medical tools and bullits) and only got burned on my very first buy when I tried to get essential oils and was sent perfume oils. The shipping is where a lot of sellers screw you. They do stuff like $8 U.S. per item to ship a DVD and if you buy 2 or more from them they still add $8 each even if they ship them together. I dont bid on anything where the shipping isnt evident and I have a U.S. post office box if they try and jack up the shipping because its canada

But with any of the transactions I have had, the people have been great!

[ 14 April 2004: Message edited by: Bacchus ]


From: n/a | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged

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