Has ebay become a rip-off?
Moderator: maddog986
Has ebay become a rip-off?
In the last couple of months, I had two bids I was winning canceled by ebay because of the seller breaking the rules, In the one item I won, the buyer took my money and never shipped anything (paypal got back my money). I've had one sucessful transaction out of six.
I've purchased a few items from ebay several years ago, but now geez, automatic bidding and ebay hiding the name of the bidder, makes it seem like a total rip-off. I find a item I want, no one has bid on it(zero bids), I bid on it on the last day at the last minute and I lose because of automatic bidding or any item I bid is out bid by an automatic bid from what looks like the same hidden name b****b [8|]
It seems way too easy for any seller to setup other ebay accounts and have them automatic bid just to jack up the price or stop the item from selling too cheap.
So has ebay become a total rip-off?
Are there better sites besides ebay?
I've purchased a few items from ebay several years ago, but now geez, automatic bidding and ebay hiding the name of the bidder, makes it seem like a total rip-off. I find a item I want, no one has bid on it(zero bids), I bid on it on the last day at the last minute and I lose because of automatic bidding or any item I bid is out bid by an automatic bid from what looks like the same hidden name b****b [8|]
It seems way too easy for any seller to setup other ebay accounts and have them automatic bid just to jack up the price or stop the item from selling too cheap.
So has ebay become a total rip-off?
Are there better sites besides ebay?
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
Well it costs that person money if they win their own item over 8% now so I wouldn't think price jacking to be too prominent of a thing many people would do, they would just keep losing money. I'm sure it happens though and yes it's very easy for a person to get two three or several accounts on ebay. Ebay doesn't tie the accounts to addresses which they should. As long as you have different credit cards or bank accounts with different names you can make all the ebay accounts you want.
Speaking of ebay I just found this lil tidbit on there while browsing for deals.
I decided to remove the links and I will get with Erik in the morning when he's online. Might as well not give these gawkers/lurkers any free information like this. As much as I would like some of those I know when things are a ripoff and theivery or pirating.
Speaking of ebay I just found this lil tidbit on there while browsing for deals.
I decided to remove the links and I will get with Erik in the morning when he's online. Might as well not give these gawkers/lurkers any free information like this. As much as I would like some of those I know when things are a ripoff and theivery or pirating.
WE/I WANT 1:1 or something even 1:2 death animations in the KOIOS PANZER COMMAND SERIES don't forget Erik! and Floating Paratroopers We grew up with Minor, Marginal and Decisive victories why rock the boat with Marginal, Decisive and Legendary?
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I know at one time it was reported that 50% of all software and CD/DVD's listed on ebay were nothing but copies.
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I've only had one problem in fifty or so transactions; a copy of EU3 turned out to be the (legit) Russian version which while actually having an English language option turned out to be unpatchable. I paid so little I didn't bother to pursue it. Maybe twenty of those transactions were for software and I've yet to see a copy. Feedback is still a very good guide, although not as good as it once was. In particular sellers are far too reluctant to give it on payment, instead waiting for you to tell the world how nice they are.
My bidding philosophy is as follows. One bid when I first see the item up with a max of about 75% of the amount I am actually willing to pay for item. That's usually enough. If it isn't, I'll look at the bidding pattern.. if seems legit (two or more other bidders) I'll bid 100% of what I'm prepared to pay if that is sufficient, otherwise I let it go. I'd never buy high value items on e-bay (generally books, CD/DVD and games only).
'Buy it now' usually has some good deals. Good prices, no fannying with auctions and again feedback is a pretty good guide.
My bidding philosophy is as follows. One bid when I first see the item up with a max of about 75% of the amount I am actually willing to pay for item. That's usually enough. If it isn't, I'll look at the bidding pattern.. if seems legit (two or more other bidders) I'll bid 100% of what I'm prepared to pay if that is sufficient, otherwise I let it go. I'd never buy high value items on e-bay (generally books, CD/DVD and games only).
'Buy it now' usually has some good deals. Good prices, no fannying with auctions and again feedback is a pretty good guide.
- Monkeys Brain
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
ORIGINAL: pad152
I know at one time it was reported that 50% of all software and CD/DVD's listed on ebay were nothing but copies.
Hey, my friend just told me to look for live jazz and blues music dvd's on ebay...
Any tips? Also is it possible to get listings printed from ebay - you know but just artist so that he can choose what he wants not that graphical crap (yes, I want to save printing ink lol).
Any other advice about buying those dvd's?
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I have bid som five games recently from ebay uk and all were perfect even though one cost only like 3 pounds (full boxed wing commander 4). My best found sofar has been kilrathi saga worth up to 150€ from finnish ebay. I payed only 15€ for it for the seller didnt know the actual value.
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- Marc von Martial
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
The problem is not with eBay, the problem is with people wanting to rip of other people. They will always find a way.
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
ORIGINAL: pad152
Are there better sites besides ebay?
Depends on where you live and what you're interested in.
Locally we have a very successful second-hand website - 1 million+ items - it even has wargames - and for me it has all the advantages of eBay and none of the disadvantages.
- All sellers live within a 100 km radius, so picking up larger items yourself is possible and mailing is cheap.
- No bidding, the seller sets the price - but I usually make him an offer for as much as I'm willing to pay for it so for me that's the same as bidding without the tension and uncertainty. There's the old AH Up Front for sale right now, asking price 55 euro, I think I'll send him a mail offering 40.
- Payment can be done through regular bank transfers offering security for both seller and buyer without any extra costs.
And for books there's Amazon
Short : for me eBay has had it's day
Greetz,
Eddy Sterckx
- pvthudson01
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I havent had too many issues with ebay, but you do have to watch and look at the seller feedback and see what people are saying. I recently ordered some Warhammer 40k mini's and have yet to get them, but I was the dummy that placed a bid on a seller with 0 feedback
Matrix Member since 2003!
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I never use Ebay.
Regards,
Grell
Regards,
Grell
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
Ebay is fine...it's people that don't use common sense and bid without thinking or heaven forbid, actually carefully read the auctions.As in anything in life...I mean anything..there are always a few bad apples. No auction site or online retailer for that matter will ever be perfect so deal with it.
I have bought over 500 items over the years and never not received an item(some were slow) and never received a bogus item. General rules I follow...they have to have at least 50 feedback(prefer over a hundred) if under 100 they have to have a 100% feedback. I will not bid on anyone who's feedback isn't at least 99. something percent. It isn't that hard to keep that and I have by selling and buying so expect them to have it too. If you are buying software and all they are selling is a disc...run! Don't just check the feedback...read them to see the comments. Really read the auctions...most bogus ones have certain wording to get around saying it's the real deal. It's just common sense. It's it's too good to be true it usually is. As for last second bidders...that is just smart( I mean gheez it's an auction place, not first come first serve). Why would you bid early? You have a better chance at getting something cheaper if you wait till the end. It's not always automatic bidding some people just put stuff on their watch list and wait until the end and then just bid if it's still within their price range. Good strategy really.
The thing I like about ebay is where else are you going to find so many things in one place like that. Especially anything over a few years old. If you like spending gas money the please feel free to travel all over hell looking for some things.
I have bought over 500 items over the years and never not received an item(some were slow) and never received a bogus item. General rules I follow...they have to have at least 50 feedback(prefer over a hundred) if under 100 they have to have a 100% feedback. I will not bid on anyone who's feedback isn't at least 99. something percent. It isn't that hard to keep that and I have by selling and buying so expect them to have it too. If you are buying software and all they are selling is a disc...run! Don't just check the feedback...read them to see the comments. Really read the auctions...most bogus ones have certain wording to get around saying it's the real deal. It's just common sense. It's it's too good to be true it usually is. As for last second bidders...that is just smart( I mean gheez it's an auction place, not first come first serve). Why would you bid early? You have a better chance at getting something cheaper if you wait till the end. It's not always automatic bidding some people just put stuff on their watch list and wait until the end and then just bid if it's still within their price range. Good strategy really.
The thing I like about ebay is where else are you going to find so many things in one place like that. Especially anything over a few years old. If you like spending gas money the please feel free to travel all over hell looking for some things.
- Marc von Martial
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
Yep common sense is the key to many things in life, unfortunately many people do not use common sense when they deal with any kind of online activities [;)]
I always bid in the last few seconds. It is smart to do so. It got me some really nice bargains already.
I always bid in the last few seconds. It is smart to do so. It got me some really nice bargains already.
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
ORIGINAL: Hertston
In particular sellers are far too reluctant to give it on payment, instead waiting for you to tell the world how nice they are.
This will shortly no longer be an issue. Starting in May, sellers will no longer be able to leave feedback for buyers.
I thought about this for a while and wasn't sure whether it would be a good thing, but a recent experience I've had shows it is.
I bought a diecast model. The listing stated it was "MIB" (Mint in box), both in the header and within the listing. It stated this more than once. Several previous buyers had bought the same model, under the same exact listing.
When I got the thing, the model was indeed brand new, but there was no retail box included. I contacted several of the previous buyers of that same model and listing and, of the ones that responded, they confrimed they also had not gotten a retail box.
Apparently, the manufacturer shipped the item without a retail box, which is what the seller (as well as some of the previous buyers) told me after I contacted him/them. In other words, this seller thinks that because the manufacturer shipped the model in a cardboard shipping box insted of a proper retail box, that he can advertise it as "Mint in box".
Sorry, but that is not the way it works. On ebay, the term "MIB" or "Mint in box" refers to the item being in a traditional retail box, as it might be displayed on a store shelf - not a cardboard shipping box. This cannot be questioned or argued.
Now the thing is, why couldn't he have just stated that there is no retail box in the listing?
He didn't because he thinks by doing so, the item would receive lower bids - even though that is the way the manufacturer shipped it.
Some of the previous buyers of the model stated to me that they didn't care that there was no box. That is besides the point as far as I'm concerned - I want a proper retail box, not a cardboard shipping box, especially since the item was advertised as "MIB".
This seller unquestionably deserves negative feedback for misrepresenting the item. He has yet to leave feedback for me, quite obviously because he's afraid of a negative and wants to retain the option of retaliation. I have 90 days to leave feddback and will wait until early May to see whether I can still leave it then, provided he can't retaliate.
It is because of questionable sellers like this that ebay is changing the feedback procedure.
This seller is typical of many of the so-called Power Sellers who deliberately use misleading - or downright false - wording in their listings to try to fool buyers.
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
Man that's gonna open up a can of worms then for those buyers who just bid for either jacking up the price or bid and never pay for the item. Being able to leave seller feedback was how we put a stop to most of this practice or at least bring it to a crawl. I can see them coming out of the woodwork now just to abuse the fact they can't get negative feedback any longer.
WE/I WANT 1:1 or something even 1:2 death animations in the KOIOS PANZER COMMAND SERIES don't forget Erik! and Floating Paratroopers We grew up with Minor, Marginal and Decisive victories why rock the boat with Marginal, Decisive and Legendary?
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I give feedback to buyers after they pay me. If they are honest folks, they will oblige and leave me feedback whether I do so first or not. If they don't oh well. I will still continue to buy and sell @100% approval ratings.
The few bad apples won't spoil the ebay tree for me.
The few bad apples won't spoil the ebay tree for me.
It doesn't make any sense, Admiral. Were we better than the Japanese or just luckier?
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- Charles2222
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
ORIGINAL: Gem35
I give feedback to buyers after they pay me. If they are honest folks, they will oblige and leave me feedback whether I do so first or not. If they don't oh well. I will still continue to buy and sell @100% approval ratings.
The few bad apples won't spoil the ebay tree for me.
I like your Stooge WITP. I'm sure that must be an american torpedo[:D]. Actually the inscription might be better said: War in the Pacific - The Stooges Against Japan.
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
It is because of questionable sellers like this that ebay is changing the feedback procedure.
I agree.
I have been doing ebay transaction since ebay had only a few thousand members and most people didn't know what it was. It isn't the same as it used to be.
I have had a seller guarantee in the item description that the item will ship out via priority mail within 24 hours of payment, and then I didn't receive it for over two weeks. I had paid him more because I had needed the item within one week. He said, "Too bad, if you leave me negative feedback, I'll trash your rating."
I had another seller who would not honor his own posted combined shipping rates. Again, he held my rating hostage and was about as rude as any person I have ever talked to.
I have had many fine transactions, but the rules were in favor of the seller in so many ways that it was simple to rip people off. I still use ebay, but buyer beware must be considered with each transaction.
RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
haha charles, perhaps you are right.
It doesn't make any sense, Admiral. Were we better than the Japanese or just luckier?
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I've bought a lot of things off eBay and have never been ripped off. I'm pretty careful about what I buy and always check on the seller's rep and location. I never buy cd's, dvd's or anything sealed in shrink wrap. I also don't buy from anyone listing excessively high postage. If it's an item I have questions about or feel nervous about I always send an email. If I don't get a response then I don't bid.
There is a slight learning curve to effectively bid on eBay, especially if it's a popular item. Auto-bidding is not very effective unless you are willing to list a very high maximum bid. I will sometimes sit up late at night and make last minute bids if it's something I really want. You have to remember, eBay is not a store, it's an auction. If it's a popular item, you pretty much have to be there live at the end of the listing time in order to have a chance to get it. I've won several items by making bids just seconds before the time runs out. Having a cable or fast-DSL modem is a necessity. A fast refresh rate is essential to winning against aggresive bidders. And one more bit of advice... I you really want it, be prepared to pay dearly for it. As I said, it's an auction. The quick and determined bird gets the worm.
There is a slight learning curve to effectively bid on eBay, especially if it's a popular item. Auto-bidding is not very effective unless you are willing to list a very high maximum bid. I will sometimes sit up late at night and make last minute bids if it's something I really want. You have to remember, eBay is not a store, it's an auction. If it's a popular item, you pretty much have to be there live at the end of the listing time in order to have a chance to get it. I've won several items by making bids just seconds before the time runs out. Having a cable or fast-DSL modem is a necessity. A fast refresh rate is essential to winning against aggresive bidders. And one more bit of advice... I you really want it, be prepared to pay dearly for it. As I said, it's an auction. The quick and determined bird gets the worm.
“You're only young once but you can be immature for as long as you want”
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RE: Has ebay become a rip-off?
I don't think so. I had dial-up until about a year ago and I did plenty of last-second sniping before that.ORIGINAL: Dave Briggs
Having a cable or fast-DSL modem is a necessity.
During those final minutes and seconds, refreshing the entire screen is not necessary because there is a smaller Refresh button within the listings that just updates the time and price.