Ebay What Do You Think

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Originally posted by Senta@Oct 13 2006, 02:46 AM
And may be will try e-bay again.

As has been suggested, Vera, be sure and check the feedback on sellers before you order anything. I wouldn't buy from any seller who has less than about 98% approval.

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Originally posted by ethanedwards@Oct 13 2006, 03:43 AM
A lot of my suppliers have stopped using PayPal, because of fraud!!

I only used Pay Pal once in the 5 or 6 years I shopped on ebay.

I'm very reluctant to give out the number of my bank account, or even my credit card, over the internet as there are thousands of hackers out there trying their best to learn those numbers so they can clean you out. When at all possible, I pay for stuff I order on the internet with a postal money order.

I strongly suggest that anyone who shops on the 'net install anti-virus and anti-spyware software on their computer to prevent identity theft.

Hi,

I am fortunate to have two neighbours,
who both build, install and service computers,
and another neighbour, who is a British Telecom,
Broadband specialist.
Each one of then, refuses to shop on the internet!!!
Supprised!!!, well perhaps , not.

They cite, this, the percentage of fraud on the net is quite small,
but increasing at an alarming rate!!
Saying that a small percentage of billions of transactions,
is however, very big!!
They also say, that sooner who later,
you will get caught in the net,
and it probably won't be until you wake up,
the next day, that you find you've been had.

Negative, perhaps, but I think wise to be cautious!!
Who am I, a mere mortal, to disagree, with PC experts!

Your neighbors are smart, Keith, and know what they're talking about.
But you don't even have to be shopping to get your identity stolen. I've read that if you happen to click on the "wrong" link, spyware can be installed on your computer that will enable identity thieves to record your keystrokes, which let them know your passwords, the numbers of your credit cards and bank accounts, etc.

The internet is probably one of the most wonderful inventions ever but can also be one of the most dangerous to your financial health if you don't take precautions.

Hi Jim,

Of course you're correct about installing spyware etc.
On my PC, I have 3 Anti-spyware,
and 2 anti-virus systems.
I run them all on smart scan every morning,
and a full scan, once a week.
When I first ever ran the Spyware,
it picked up and eradicated, hundreds of 'spys'
However the odd ones still show up,
so if you're not on your guard, the blighters are there!!!

Keith and Stumpy, you make good points. Whether one buys or sells, or just accesses the Internet, it is certainly imperative to have anti-virus software (some bad stuff can come via e-mail), and a good anti-spyware program as well. Adware is another thing to be diligent about, if for no other reason than it can really bog down your computer.

I know there are PC experts on both sides of this issue, some who never do financial dealings on the Internet, and those who feel it is quite secure, providing you have taken proper precautions. For sure, you want to be sure you are connected to a secure server (usually indicated by https, where the "s" means it is secure). Depending on your browser, there is often a little icon in the status bar at the bottom, in the bottom right on mine, where there is a little closed padlock, which also indicates a secure server. I would never do any financial dealings without those two indicators.

Mrs. C

A few years ago I sold Two Aircraft on E-Bay and Some Left over Small Gas Turbines that were used in Drone Aircraft at 29 Palms Test Site Before the went to Computer Simulators because it did not Cost as much! It was a MESS!!!

The People that finally bought the thing came to my place to do the deal. This was for larger amounts of Money, but they can do this on smaller things also.

Mrs. C is correct Be Careful there are a lot of BOOGY-MEN out there that Know how to get into the E-Bay Site!!!

Chilibill

Hi All

Some good information shared in this thread. With regards to Ebay I have heard that there are 'Trading Assistants' on the site who sell your intems for you at a fee, does anyone know anything about these assistants, are they any good?

Robbie

Those of you still buying high-dollar items on Ebay need to read [url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2570050,00.html] this. [/url]

I doubt any of this goes on for lower-priced stuff but you never know.

I stopped buying from Ebay sellers about a year ago because one of them took my money but didn't send me the book I ordered (it was a Buy Now transaction).

That and worse goes on... I've been selling and buying on eBay for over 6 years now. I try to be very careful on what I bid on and I never set a bid price too high. I'm gotten ripped off three times now. The first one I reported to the authorities and he was arrested for selling fake merchandise. I've had about a half dozen people kicked off or suspended. The latest one I am looking into going to the authorities since eBay won't help me track the person down.

I've found one way to avoid paying to much and to avoid a bidding war. If I find something I want I simply set up a bid to go through about 5 seconds before the auction is over. It's called sniping, some members frown on it but I have gotten into a few fake bidding wars just because the seller wanted more money for the object and like the article mentioned they would have friends bid on it for them. Sniping prevents that... they don't see my bid coming until 5 seconds before the auction is over, then it's too late. They are stuck with my bid. If they try to withdraw the item then they get in trouble with eBay. I look at it as a protection from being taken by one of these shill auctions. I don't use eBay as much as I used to. Too many thieves and jerks.

Good points here....I will either wait to the last five seconds to put in my max bid, or put in an early bid for what I know its worth, and/or what I am willing to pay. If they want to put in a fake bid, guess what? They will experience a fake win, and have no sale. I will not do the bidding war thing. This approach punishes the seller, as they still have to pay ebay the listing fee, and then they have to re-list it. Bottom line is, the buyers, if they exercise discipline, still have control...if they follow these principles:

1) Decide what an item is worth based on research.

2) Bid only what its worth, and if you don't get it at that price...so what! Another will be fore sale soon.

3) ONLY bid on items from sellers with excellent feedback 99% and up.

4) Never buy anything from overseas (OK, maybe Canada and the UK, but not Asia)

GSP

You can't always trust the high feedback members either. I just got ripped of by one and reported her, they kicked her off. Some people after time get to feel we owe them something for some reason and take advantage. I would add to that list, only people that accept PayPal. Others that don't use that excuse to make you wait sometimes 2 - 3 weeks to ship your item. And complaints to eBay for most things, is a waste. I get those spam emails all the time tell me my account was hacked and to verify my info. I wasn't born yesterday... those are all hoaxes trying to get your data.

Here's another place to be very, very careful of. Amazon auctions or third party sellers. I ordered 4 HP inkjet cartridges, for my Business Inkjet 2800dt, from the place Amazon was set up to send the order to. I received the cartridges is a smashed padded envelope. If you've ever ordered from Amazon, they pack their stuff really good. This place ANTOnline wouldn't even talk replacements or shipping insurance. They left me out to dry for $120. Fortunately, Amazon has a new A-Z guarantee and paid my claim. If you buy from Amazon, make sure the item says: Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. If it doesn't, you could get taken. And avoid ANTOnline all together.

I think the really important thing with ebay is to read each auction CAREFULLY, everything. Do read the feedback. I have noticed that most of the time, negative feedback is from relative newbies (low feedback numbers themselves), so I take that with a grain of salt. However, if folks with feedback in the hundreds are leaving negative feedback for a seller, I pay more attention to that.

GSP offers some good tips as well. Research, research, research - what an item is worth, and how available it is.

It is all a learning process, but hopefully some of this advice will help.

Chester

I have not used ebay for over six years now. Been taken a few times (thankfully never for a fortune) met my share of shill dealers/liars and jerks, and decide never to buy from ebay again. Whoever said it is right though (about ebay not handling up on complaints from buyers) I let them know about a dealer selling original vintage photographs - who I bought and paid for, two Heinrich Hoffmann PK presse fotos from, and never recieving my photo's. And then this jerk made two complaints about me to ebay saying I did not pay for the items - though my US Postal money orders had been cashed. I had my proof in the name of two reciepts, made copies of and was going to send to the proper person/people at ebay to see. I never recieved a reply-nor any contact info. I did nave two strikes against me that ebay never correcte, and I simply just quit their site.

Epier is even worse--especially in shill dealers.

I know people have good and bad experiences on eBay. For the most part my last 7 years have been about 98% positive. But you do run into a bad apple now and again. I am suggesting something here that we do on most torrenting sites. We call it the named and shamed list. Any of you that have done business by selling or buying and have had a bad experience this would be an ideal place to post that experience so others can be warned about bad auctions or members. On torrenting sites we use the named and shamed section for exposing cheats and other less than credible users.

My recent experience with a buyer with the User ID of: dmkaraoke05 is one I won't forget. Without getting into details all I can say is sellers & buyers beware.

And if you ever need help with a problem over there let me know... like I said above, I've been active on there for about 7 years. I have gotten my entire Frankling Mint collection over there recently.

Recently, I've received numerous emails that purport to be "warnings" from ebay. I strongly suspect they are phishing expeditions, designed to elicit confidential information from me. Since I never reply to unsolicited emails from unknown sources, I've placed all such emails on my blocked email list.

I'm not talking about those kinds of warnings which are actually called phishing. I am talking about someone which whom I had an actual transaction with and was dishonest, rude and threatening to me. You you actually read my first post I said "My experience with a buyer..."

Quote from DakotaSurfer

I'm not talking about those kinds of warnings which are actually called phishing. I am talking about someone which whom I had an actual transaction with and was dishonest, rude and threatening to me. You you actually read my first post I said "My experience with a buyer..."

You mean like that Uffdaboy person?

I am thankful that my experiences on ebay are such that currently I have no names to which to give a bad report.

Stumpy does make a good point, however, about emails that look very "official" and as if they come from ebay. Only once did I get suckered, and as soon as it happened, I signed onto ebay (the REAL one) and immediately changed my password. Anytime I get what I consider a suspicious email, supposedly from ebay, I immediately forward it to [email protected]. Every one I have forwarded has NOT been a legit email from ebay.

DS, I think you have a good idea to share our experiences here, regarding particular sellers and buyers. I know I usually think to check feedback before I bid.

Mrs. C

He was difficult also... just kept buying stuff... :teeth_smile: