> Ebay used to be an easy way of getting rid of stuff you no longer needed,
> and getting a few quid for it, and a place to buy a similar bargain that
> someone else wants rid of.
> Now its gone far too commercial, with people making a business of selling
> cheap tat on there, safe in the knowledge that the buyer has practically
> no
> comeback, when he receives the item and discovers it is not the quality he
> expected. Unfortunately there are so many out there with the attitude 'its
> an auction, therefore its cheap' who just automatically bid till they win,
> without ever making any check on what price they could have got it for
> elsewhere.
>
Sounds to me like your glass is half empty and not half full.
Take a look at feedback, it's what it's there for, if a seller acts as you
describe they get crap feedback and you don't buy from them.
There are many items I have not bid for as I wasn't happy about the seller,
it takes a few moments to check this actually having a look through their
feedback.
I've had two occassions where I wasn't happy with goods, both were settled,
one amicably, the second via Paypal who held in my favour and refunded all
my payment.
The only advice I give is pay by credit card for everything, if you ever get
treated badly the threat of a chargeback against the seller usually sorts
out any problems quickly.
Every time I see Ebay dragged up on Watchdog or similar programs I never
fail to be astonished by the stupidity of people who are claiming to be
defrauded. Usually having paid for goods by Western union or bank transfer
without having met the seller or seen the item, this is gross stupidity on a
similar scale as sending the seller cash in the post, any normal person with
a modicum of intelligence just wouldn't do this...yet there sits Nicky
(****) Campbell trying to blame Ebay for the public ignorance in general.
There is an emourmous amount of rubbish for sale, and most of the time I
tend to buy new items rather than used, basically if I'm about to buy
something and I've had a look in the shops and had a search on the internet
I always take a quick look on Ebay to see if anyone happens to be selling
whatever it is cheaper....use it sensibly it will save you money, go in with
your eye's shut and you'll lose money or get stiffed.
This week I bought a brand new Berghaus Jacket that I was about to buy in
Blacks at £189.99 - internet price £170.00...Ebay price £97.50 including
postage for an unwanted Christmas pressie with all the tags still fixed and
basically brand new....exactly what Ebay was designed for.
Alan M.
