Reply to: Have you ever bought or sold anything on eBay?

[Shimano105]

My PayPal account was hacked a few years back and the address was changed.

They alerted me so I immediately unlinked my bank account. Items turned up at my address (even though the hackers had changed it) which I refused to accept, obviously.

PayPal threatened legal action because they could not take money from my account. This after they assured me cash would not be taken. So why did they not send the police to the changed address?

Very dodgy, trust no one and only your instincts.

[EternalOptimist]

So I have one remaining shop. Which I plan to close in April next year(or sell if someone is dumb enough) then it's back to perm for me next year where I can concentrate 100% with hopefully a job in Singapore/Hong Kong or the US & CUK won't hear from me for another five years.

if you need any help and support mate

[MarillionFan]

Out of interest, with regards your current shop in Hampshire, why did you go for a bricks and mortar business and not implement it completely on line?

With your IT background, I would have thought that would have been the way to go.

Cant be asked

[Aman]

I've never used it and I'm not keen on using paypal.

[d000hg]

What's the danger with PayPal? Just that you have no direct connection of the cash with the goods bought?

PP makes it safer for buyers, because they are quite happy to grab the money back for you when it'd be a real problem going direct.

Sellers aren't always so happy, PP is said to discriminate for the buyers a lot.

[Clippy]

That already exists. Loads popped up and then disapeared a few years back.

I have two Ebay shops which do 20k a year between them.

Turnover. Profit averages about 25%

It's a numbers game. I've been working on automating Excel to bulk load into Ebay as opposed to using their tulip turbo lister, so I can advertise more.

Correct. I have a business model and agreement from a major wholesaler to advertise over £1M worth of stock. At an expected return of 3-5% per month the logistics is horrendous, coupled with a 20% margin it seems like a lot of effort to make the same or less than contracting.

Saying that though for others what a fantastic business

Out of interest, with regards your current shop in Hampshire, why did you go for a bricks and mortar business and not implement it completely on line?

With your IT background, I would have thought that would have been the way to go.

[TimberWolf]

In that case you've no real protection... they heavily push everything through PayPal much more than they used to.

What's the danger with PayPal? Just that you have no direct connection of the cash with the goods bought?

[blacjac]

Once sold an old MP3 player that was worth around 40 quid I reckoned.

It went for 120!

2 new ebay users got into a bidding war on it about 10 mins from then end, I thought they'd back out of the deal when they realised they'd paid around 3 times what it was worth, but nope, paid in full and left positive feedback

That was about 6 years ago now though, very rarely use the site now as it's become too full of scammers when selling and you just can't get the bargains you used to on the stuff I buy. I've even seen some stuff 2nd hand stuff on it go for more than the price new...

[d000hg]

As it happens that is exactly what I did when I bought a car off ebay

In that case you've no real protection... they heavily push everything through PayPal much more than they used to.

[mudskipper]

I buy a few bits and pieces - mostly parts for my son's motorbike.
Sell a few bits and pieces too - sometimes just stuff I want to get rid of, and sometimes for the sheer entertainment factor of seeing how much someone will pay for your tat - although the postage thing is hassle.

Best sale was over £30 for some free MaccyD's coke glasses.

Not a heavy user though - still under 100 transactions, and I've been a member for years.

[vetran]

saved myself £2000 on Bricks. £500 on Slabs. £500 on bits of bath furniture.

Love eBay but you have to be choosy.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Better for the buyer, because you didn't just bung some guy a bunch of cash in an envelope.

As it happens that is exactly what I did when I bought a car off ebay

[d000hg]

Better for the buyer, because you didn't just bung some guy a bunch of cash in an envelope.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

In the last couple of years I have bought 2 cars and 1 motorbike on Ebay. No issues, same as buying from the paper but with better cover on the financial side of the transaction.

Better how and for whom?

[Scrag Meister]

In the last couple of years I have bought 2 cars and 1 motorbike on Ebay. No issues, same as buying from the paper but with better cover on the financial side of the transaction.