Ebay - more trouble than it's worth?

[zara_backdog]

Never had a problem with Ebay, however it is Hubby who buy's and sells worldwide and does not come probelems normally, then again he does sell to a specific audience ( anyone who buys a cassette tape for 40 quid must be 'specific').

You are always going to get the odd person who complains and most people bid expecting a bargin.

People will buy anything off there, what someone else says, if you are clearing out 'junk', the stuff you would normally chuck - you can make the money on the P&P.

Paypal is a rip off and I have had problems using it, however Hubby seems OK with it, luck of the draw I suppose.

[Pogle]

I buy stuff and have had no real problems, but I don't bother selling - its too much hassle and I'd rather give any useful unwanted items to charity.

[xoggoth]

We sell low cost new stuff on there, no problems to date, although profit is negligible and may stop soon.

Hey! Perhaps we should have a CUK used items market. Anyone want a family size tent?

[SueEllen]

The stuff I've tended to sell on ebay has been more specialist electronic stuff so you don't get the idiot claiming it was broken and trying to rip you off.

Also if you try and charge a lot for postage you will get some people who will demand that they come and collect it.

It amused me to over hear someone I use to work with informing all the people around London that he was driving down to collect the item he had won and when would they be in? The sellers would try and do everything to prevent him but it didn't work as he had family and friends around London who would collect it on his behalf at any time of the day.

You also will get those who will try and dispute the postage costs, and those who will leave negative feedback that you are rip off merchant.

Saying that I now find myself buying more off businesses on ebay not private sellers as their postage costs are more reasonable and they tend to deliver items in the timescale they say. (I've had private sellers who could be bothered to post the item until I mentioned I hadn't received it they seem to forget about postmarks.)

I now tend to get rid of my junk via freecycle which has it's own problems or give it to one of my mates who knows a number of charities who will use stuff like old printers.

[d000hg]

I've bought and sold a bunch of stuff, my 100% satisfaction shows most people aren't idiots if you don't mess them around. Not to say you shouldn't be careful, but in general it's not something to worry about.

[threaded]

http://reviews.ebay.ca/Motorcycles-a...00000001641695

[expat]

I buy stuff and have had no real problems, but I don't bother selling - its too much hassle and I'd rather give any useful unwanted items to charity.

Sample costing for an item I have to get rid of: SLR from 1970s (I bought it recently for £6 for fun, because I had almost bought it for a week's pay in the 1970s).

1. Check out Completed Items: 40% don't sell, 60% sell for $1 - £15.
Estimate £4.

2. P&P: set it to £5, that just covers postage, and I must have some bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard around here somewhere.

INCOME £9 (est: min £5).

3. 10 mins to wrap it, 20 mins to post it.
I call that work, so it's worth say min £15 net.

4. Post it: £5

COSTS: £20.


Result: charity shop.

[EternalOptimist]

One of the oddest things that happened to me with one purchase of a HP voltmeter was that it turned up with the range knob wrecked... the thing worked ok with a different knob so I wrote it off to experience... didn't cost much anyway. Didn't complain.

About 6 weeks later I had a communication from the Post Office about a damaged parcel I'd received (i.e. the meter).

I'm still trying to work out what scam the seller was attempting.

strange one. He already knew you ohm address, presumably there were enough postage amps on the package ? I wonder watt induced the post office to contact you ?

[Ruprect]

We sell low cost new stuff on there, no problems to date, although profit is negligible and may stop soon.

Hey! Perhaps we should have a CUK used items market. Anyone want a family size tent?

Maybe!!! Have you got a link to a photo?

[Archangel]

I don't know... I never complained to him or them... and the bits of broken knob weren't in the packaging so he'd obviously done it before packing the thing up... some sort of insurance scam?

whoosh.