Ebay is not always a great way to buy

[nonuffin]

In the past 6 weeks I have bought some real lemons on ebay.

I bought a pair of rare Systemdek manufactured speakers and when they arrived the courier had done a nice number on them. One speaker has two top corners bashed in and one of the tweeters had decomposed. All that remained of the tweeter was the front plate with a hole where the driver should have been, the diaphragm was floating inside the cabinet on the end of the connecting wires and the magnet had dropped down inside and rolling around the bottom. The tweeter is built with a plastic shell with four equidistant barbs holding the magnet to the front plate and two of the barbs had broken off. I had more chance of swimming the Atlantic that finding an original replacement, so I have chucked in a pair of ribbon tweeters in which sound very good actually. The other undamaged speaker decided to let go of a speaker terminal while I fitted biwire jumpers and the bass driver makes some funny noises. Seller hasn't been helpful. £130 down the khazi.

I bought a pair of Philips speakers with super bass WOW layout and the seller said there was tons of bass. I can't get any more than a few grammes, never mind tons.

Next was a 5 litre pump up garden sprayer that barely manages a dribble, no sign of any spray at all and the pump piston leaks fluid constantly. Chinese made rubbish.

Finally, this week I bought 2 LED ceiling lights and should have been delivered on Friday. Postie comes and goes, no parcel, so I check ebay for the tracking number. Greeted with a message from ebay saying the seller's account has been suspended and if I had already paid there should be no issues with the transaction regarding delivery. I copied and pasted the royal mail tracking number on the RM website and that number does not exist. Great.

Ebay, you can keep it :steam:

[Minstrel SE]

Hi

I dont know how long you have been using ebay but its generally ok when you toughen to the things that arent right and complain hard for a refund.

In the first case either the seller or the courier has let you down so youve had damaged goods arrive. It looks as though you are already resigned to your fate and made modifications but you should have refused to accept them or demand a refund from the courier insurance or the seller.

I was quite soft when I first started but you have to kick up a real stink when you feel done over.

There can be an issue with distance selling and I generally learnt which products ebay is good for and the areas to avoid. Anything that really relies on bomb proof packaging is an area of concern. Ive seen planty of turntables etc but wouldnt even consider it unless I can collect

If any product does not work as you have been lead to believe you have a case for faulty goods. You may lose return postage in some cases but there is a returns policy and with a strong case you are covered by third parties

In over 1800 transactions I can only think of about 40 that went really wrong in some way and many of those was nothing major to lose sleep over. Yes Ive had clowns send me a box full of broken bits but they wouldnt get away with it now because im very savvy when it comes to ebay.

People try it on, goods are not up to standard and some couriers can be a disgrace but that all needs to be weighed up against the many benefits of online shopping.

The benefits far outweigh the times something has gone wrong. I can usually sort the errors and there is only a handful of people that have really done me over for relatively small amounts because I have a strict limits on the value of online transactions.

[Len Co]

You have to accept it's a bit chancy on eBay, private sellers do not generally have the packing materials or expertise required for transport and some are just out and out crooks. Some of course are excellent but as I say it's a risk. Feedback often gives insight, look for returned items that are resold later etc. Look for someone who is obviously picking up every bit of hi-fi they can find and passing it on. Without wishing to appear snobbish, badly written or minimal descriptions put me off too. Also if you collect you may have trouble claiming for a defect as you are mean't to thoroughly test the item at collection and refuse it if not up to scratch - virtually impossible with some stuff. I still ebay, but very carefully.

[narabdela]

I manage fine buying and selling on ebay, but I've been doing it since the year dot, and I've learned how to negotiate all the pitfalls and jump through all the hoops.

Experience is everything. I wouldn't have laid a finger on those speakers mentioned in post #1.

[walpurgis]

I've been having issues with idiots who can't collect on time. I sell something and very clearly stipulate 'collect within seven days' and then get fucked around!

I have one supposedly collecting some speakers today finally after nearly two weeks! If he turns up.

The last two 'collect' buyers were just as bad or worse. One, I cancelled the sale and refunded after nine days because he wouldn't contact me to arrange collection despite several messages from me and the bastard left negative feedback. That was 'planethifidotcodotuk' by the way, so if you know him, give him a really hefty punch on the nose from me.

[Spectral Morn]

I always instruct how to pack, and request they pack that way. If they refuse to follow my guidance I walk. To date I have had only one bad situation which I was unable to sort out with the seller, but was able to get the item sorted elsewhere, it needed checked out regardless. Very large items that need specialist packing and original packing usually best and if you can't collect then walk.

Re the speakers anything packed well can survive most transits and handling, I assume it was poorly packed.

[andyrlb]

I know the feeling [emoji849][emoji849]and it’s not just eBay !! Some real twats about and only they matter .


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[alphaGT]

I sold a motorcycle on eBay, sold to a guy on the other side of the country. It was clear he was to collect it. He sent me a cashiers check, and I mailed him the title. A month goes by, no word. I write him but no response. Another month goes by, still nothing, I wrote him twice, nothing, not one peep. After the third month I sent him a message stating that in Virginia, there is a law that says any vehicle abandoned on my property for 90 days can be retitled and sold! You bet I got a response that time! And a man was around to collect it within the week.

I bought a pair of speakers on eBay, they arrived one busted up big time! There was a fork lift tong hole right through it! A man from UPS came around and inspected it, and left. A week later I hear from the seller that they told him it wasn’t packaged right! He had also paid extra for insurance. I couldn’t talk to them, even though it was at my house and I paid for it, only the shipper could talk to UPS. So I sent photos of the fork lift hole and said it didn’t matter if they were in a safe! They reluctantly paid off, but only half, since one speaker wasn’t damaged. Like what do I want with one speaker? So I told the guy, when he gets it back, repackage and ship it to me and I’ll pay half the shipping. He gets it back and says it didn’t look that damaged in the pics, apparently they ran over the thing with a truck to make sure it could not be repaired! But he shipped it back, and I repaired it anyway, and veneered both of them good as new! So what is shipping insurance for anyway? To protect you from the shipping company? Who basically says we are not responsible for the condition of anything we touch, unless you pay extra, and then are crooked as hell about paying off anyway! I’m not even going to get into how Fed Ex bent the fin on my Krell. It gets me too worked up.

Russell

[walpurgis]

It's not a good idea to piss people off.

The chief exec of the shipping co is likely to have a nicely isolated big home. Perhaps somebody might camp in the outlying land with a decent rifle with sight and make a hole in him.

Stranger things have happened.

Right or wrong. I'm a believer in 'personal' retribution. But! Only if well and truly deserved.

[alphaGT]

It's not a good idea to piss people off.

The chief exec of the shipping co is likely to have a nicely isolated big home. Perhaps somebody might camp in the outlying land with a decent rifle with sight and make a hole in him.

Stranger things have happened.

Right or wrong. I'm a believer in 'personal' retribution. But! Only if well and truly deserved.

I have resolved to never buy speakers any farther away than I am willing to drive and go pick up. Most components are easier to pack and protect. yes they get banged up too, but stand a better chance of surviving the journey.

I’m not that worked up by cheating shippers, but I did have a list of doctors and lawyers that were skating on thin ice! No I wouldn’t have killed them, but perhaps some serious injuries were in order? Like an old movie quote, “if you kill’um, they won’t learn nothin’”. But I have cooled over the years and I’ll leave vengeance to the Lord.

Russell

[Macca]

The Lord has got his work cut out if he's going to follow up on every incident of couriers smashing a parcel. I suppose in this day and age he could just outsource it.

[Pigmy Pony]

Mrs pony has had the odd problem with buyers and sellers alike on ebay.

On Sunday, with a few items she wanted to sell, she decided to advertise them on Facebook. One of the items, a Hindu wall plaque made up of a swastika with Ganesha featured in the centre, quickly generated a lot of interest. One person offerd the asking price (it was only £15), and as his avatar was a swastika, she thought he was perhaps the most deserving.

He arranged to collect it in person the following teatime (Monday).

He arrived at the arranged time ( I was still at work). He immediately showed more interest in Mrs P than the artefact, and asked if she was married and would she like to go for a drink with him sometime. She politely declined.

After he left she did some checking on him on Facebook as he seemed an unlikely person to want this item. She found lots of anti-German discussion between him and other individuals. None of this made any sense. Not a Hindu and not a Nazi either it would seem.

Then yesterday he messaged her with comments about what he would like to do to her, and even sent a picture of his dick! Missus has reported this to Facebook (I've no idea how they would deal with something like this). I think she needs to contact the police as it's unlikely that this is the first time he's done this kind of thing.

A big concern is that he lives in Coppull, which is only about 4 miles away.

Ebay not looking so bad now eh?

[RobbieGong]

Mrs pony has had the odd problem with buyers and sellers alike on ebay.

On Sunday, with a few items she wanted to sell, she decided to advertise them on Facebook. One of the items, a Hindu wall plaque made up of a swastika with Ganesha featured in the centre, quickly generated a lot of interest. One person offerd the asking price (it was only £15), and as his avatar was a swastika, she thought he was perhaps the most deserving.

He arranged to collect it in person the following teatime (Monday).

He arrived at the arranged time ( I was still at work). He immediately showed more interest in Mrs P than the artefact, and asked if she was married and would she like to go for a drink with him sometime. She politely declined.

After he left she did some checking on him on Facebook as he seemed an unlikely person to want this item. She found lots of anti-German discussion between him and other individuals. None of this made any sense. Not a Hindu and not a Nazi either it would seem.

Then yesterday he messaged her with comments about what he would like to do to her, and even sent a picture of his dick! Missus has reported this to Facebook (I've no idea how they would deal with something like this). I think she needs to contact the police as it's unlikely that this is the first time he's done this kind of thing.

A big concern is that he lives in Coppull, which is only about 4 miles away.

Ebay not looking so bad now eh?

Sincerely sorry to hear this Steve,

Just too many weirdos out there, worse the sheer front and boldness of some of them beggers belief :(

[Len Co]

Definitely need to inform the Boys in Blue in my view. The man is a pest and a danger to any vulnerable female.

[Pigmy Pony]

Thanks guys, my thoughts too. Anita is quite tough and doesn't take any nonsense, but apparently he was a big bloke, and there are future 'victims' to consider.

[spendorman]

Around 800 purchases on ebay, I can only think of two that were bad, seller packing very badly, and denying it.

About 12 years ago, I bought my Spendor BC2's, the seller made me a cuppa when I went to pick them up. We sat chatting, his wife went out shopping, over an hour later his wife returned, and said that I might as well stay for lunch. I'm still friendly with them.

Also years ago travelled miles to pick a pair of KEF Cadenza's, the family were having a tea party in the nice big garden, I was invited to stay.

Bought a used PC, it came with a bit of damage caused in transit. Thought that I could straighten out the metalwork, but asked the seller if I could try. He said that he'd sent a replacement and I should keep the damaged one. I said the damage can be sorted, he said that I paid for an undamaged one and that's what I should get. New one came, was OK. Straightened the damaged one and that worked, offered again to pay, no was the answer, sent him half by paypal.

[mikmas]

Been using eBay since 2001 and have to say I think it's improved considerably in that time. Only been ripped off twice and both times were in the first few years ... in the days before Paypal took off and transactions were not really protected by anything other than the feedback system and good will.

In more recent years, any time I've had a problem with a purchase it's been settled pretty quickly and amicably. Also had no problems with selling photo/audio gear - only wish more buyers would bother leaving feedback :rolleyes:

Would say that I avoid buying big items if collection is not an option - but that's more based on horror stories I've read on this and other fora than actual bad experiences.

[Minstrel SE]

Its not really ebay we are having a problem with...its people.

Some people are on planet zog and you are going to cross paths with them sooner or later. Its sods law that something you really want is often owned by a complete nutter. You see them in the street and surprise surprise you are going to get them on ebay from time to time

Some people will just lie and tell you what you want to hear. Others just dont care at all and they will take your money and not give a flying **** if you liked the item. Enough people havent got a clue how to pack things so the transaction was doomed from the start unless you get involved and instruct them how you want it done without sounding too patronising :)

I just wont have people in my home unless some rapport has been built up beforehand. The last guy we didnt have a clue about was a slightly aggressive chavvy type with no real manners. He had us hunting around for change and it was all very awkward and unpleasant. I vowed never again!

Another bloke wasnt paying after a bid....I googled his address and it was a neglected place with graffiti on the walls and a scrapyard in the garden...Ok its not good to judge but it gave me some idea what he was all about. The point is I wouldnt necessarily choose to deal with people like that but it can be so random.

Thats why I dont sell too much there now. Its like having a shop where problem customers can leave a nasty post it note on the door for a year...and in many cases they know your address....great eh!

Ebay is fine and most people are fine if you know the warning signs. I work on the basis thats if its a Quad valve amp you will be dealing with someone of quality. Then again if their other listed items are hoodies and worrying tat.... steer well clear :)