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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 153
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | I'm sure many have had less than favorable experience using eBay, either as buyer or seller.
I once won an auction for an old Takamine solid wood beater. Paid immediately using PayPal. A couple of days later, my money was "refunded" to my PayPal account. When I checked into why, I discovered that the seller had listed the guitar twice and the auction that closed a day later than mine got him more money, so he cancelled my deal.
I complained, more on principle than over the guitar itself, and the seller left negative feedback on my account. Although I complained to eBay about this, the negative feedback is there to this day.
If you're allowed to have a monopoly, I think you should be required to possess integrity. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I've not had a bad experience, 1 slight misrepresentation, but that's all out of 150 deals. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| first one this week, tho not a horror story..
was bidding on a songworks little lanilei reverb unit, and was offered 2nd chance for 80 plus 20 shipping as it didn't meet the reserve.
legitimate offer, and good price so I bought and paid.
seller e-mails me and tells me he wants 150 for it or no deal.
we'll see what happens.
did have a mis-represented OLD legend with grovers that I bought... needed a ton of work so sent it to the factory to be refurbed as a trade to an ex-member here... still wondering what happened to the legend, and he's no longer around.
just as well.
Glenn |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Caveat Emptor. It's not eBay, it's everywhere. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I've never had a single issue. By and large, I think they run a pretty good system.
Are there some bad sellers and bad buyers out there? Of course. How could it be otherwise? But they are by far in the minority. Most eBayers are honest and want to do the right thing.
And your parting comment ("If you're allowed to have a monopoly, I think you should be required to possess integrity.") suggests to me that you don't understand how eBay works. You realize that you were buying from a third party, not eBay, right? In your situation, how was it that eBay lacked integrity? |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i've had 186 positive eBay transactions and 0 negatives both buying and selling. my days are probably numbered... |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | I got screwed buying my daughter a diamond wedding necklace. Bought it within 15 minutes of signing on. Auction was ending, checked the store website. BUT, the guy selling had less than 10 feedback, most of them 2 dollar deals. I finally got my money back but was out the $50 shipping (another sure sign). If you follow the rule of dealing only with blue stars or better and close to 100% positive, you can rely on the feedback leverage to be sure you get what you think you're getting. But make sure you study the description. Most of the time it's like the rest of the marketplace, you get what you pay for. On Ebay, maybe you pay a little less and it's more convenient, but you have to be smart. An example, I'm up on the '87 and I've had some email conversation with this guy, I think he's a little flaky. So, it won't break my heart if one of you guys outbids me. Nuff said. John |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Once again , Buy NEW !!!......from a reputable dealer , Quality COSTS !!!...unless ye do not want quality , warranty etc. etc.,....
Vic
..unless , of course it`s from a Cherished member here... :) |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think ebay provides a wonderful service to the world. In addition to facilitating commercial relationships that benefit millions of buyers and sellers from all corners of the globe, don't forget that ebay is a company just like any other and provides employment for several thousand people (perhaps some OFC members). Large numbers of people (perhaps some OFC members) own ebay stock and many have profitted handsomely from the companies financial performance. And ebay provides a community for many thousands of merchants to make a living through their ebay-stores. Ebay has opened up vast selections of merchandise to buyers just like you and I, products that would be otherwise unobtainable to us. The beauty of it is that your use of ebay is optional. Nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use ebay. If you truely believe they are evil, they suck, etc. then simply stay away.
Dave |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Yeah, what Dave said.
Except for a few issues as a seller (like fees constantly going up, bad support, non-existent documentation and an apparent inability of their programming staff to communicate with each other and/or apply any kind of system-wide standards to their file transfer system) it works pretty good.
It's the auction site you hate to love. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My experience so far, for comparison...
I have a 69 score outta 89 transactions (or so)...
I've bought one crappy [misleading description] Ultra, which I fixed-up and re-sold... And the buyer was happy!
I've had one guy claim to have destroyed a guitar during shipping  ...
I've had one guy act inattentively, and we mutually canceled...
I've sold seven guitars and one amp.
I have bought dozens of guitars, amps, effects, accessories, strings, straps, t-shirts, jackets and swords.
I can't complain... But I'm sure that I won't be happy with the increased final fees.
And I still LOOK everyday!
You pays your money, You spins the wheel, You takes your chances... |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | "products that would be otherwise unobtainable to us." Yeah, I love it as a buyer. Got WCC tourney tickets last year when they were sold out without braving the streets. Usually beat the crap out of antique stores on collectibles like Hummels or coins. Sometimes you can't buy new... Like where do you find a new flying lady hood ornament last made by Packard in 1942, or a WA-1 carburetor. Or a Nakao last made in 1992. Can't be done I'm afraid. Bought a 1938 Philco radio. No new available. On balance, it's a great, fun way to feed a habit, addiction, whatever. AND.........they deliver. You get to sit on your a--. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | All my personal experiences have been fine except for one that worried me initially but turned out OK.
John <>{ |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Buyer Beware...
Seller Beware...
Most any "$h!t" between the two are:
Unasked questions by Buyer
OR
Unanswered questions to Seller...
Even then...
If YOU make additional effort... most issues can be resolved. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| I am not sure how, but I am positive this thread is going to turn into a discussion about ebay.
So let me help,
#1-Ebay can be useful......
#2-It totally sucks to know your funding what should be considered a Monopoly, and just know you more or less on your freekin own when it comes to dealing with problems............
#3-There are crazy and very stupid people in this world, and they know about ebay, so be as careful as you can....feel free to retract a bid if needed, feel free to cancel bids and block some bidders.
#4-Only thing worse than an asswipe buyer, is an asshole seller................
#5-Email/call AL with all your Ebay questions! He loves this subject. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 58
Location: west | I'm sure many sellers have had the experience with the pschyo buyer. The one where you as the seller did everything possible to please but the buyer was intent on leaving a negative; maybe even left the neg before the item arrived. They're out there.....
One experience I had was pretty unusual. I bid on and won a very nice Larrivee D-02. I paid for it with PP and everything was going smoothly. The seller was to ship the next day. The next morning I got a call from the seller. He lives in a warmer area of the country and was packing the guitar out in his driveway just in front of the garage. He had the guitar boxed up but had run out of tape, so he took off for the store to get some more tape to seal up the box. While he's gone the trash truck comes by. The trashmen were very helpful and liked the guy. When the guy returns home with the tape the guitar box was gone. He remembered seeing the trash truck in the area and contacted them and found out they indeed had picked up a large box from the driveway along with the rest of his trash. They opened up the back compactor of the trash truck and found the box....crushed flat. He sent me pictures of the crushed guitar, I'll see if I can find them. I was really kind of shocked... He returned my money that day. The good thing to come out of this was that my Larrivee search continued and I found a mint L-03K and snatched it up. But I still feel sorry for the guy........ |
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Joined:
December 2007
Posts: 96
Location: europe | Originally posted by HumblePie aka Solid Top:
Once again , Buy NEW !!!......from a reputable dealer , Quality COSTS !!!...unless ye do not want quality , warranty etc. etc.,....
Vic
..unless , of course it`s from a Cherished member here... :) BUT IF YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING OLD ? |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | After well over 250 transactions, 100% positive feedback rating of 189, all as a buyer, I have had no bad transactions, although I did encounter one young seller who acused me of purposely breaking his poorly packed bakelite sign. After some dialogue, he apologized, we settled, and I repaired the sign. I agree with Tupp. This is a world-wide yard sale where buyers can find sellers and sellers can find buyers for anything and everything. As a seller, I prefer Craig's List. There is no cost and I can meet the buyer personally. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by Northcountry:
#5-Email/call AL with all your Ebay questions! He loves this subject. please don't do that.
as a budiness man e bay is a necessary evil. Although I have to cringe when I see people even on this message board, talking about ads by newbies with flashy videos etc. funny I have been shipping stuff mail order since some time in the 80's. amazing what the public percieves as valid.
all together now
"ooooooohhhhhhhhh shiney!!!!!!!" |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Ok...
"ooooooohhhhhhhhh shiney!!!!!!!" |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 153
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | After posting this I read Al's comments about "policy" and feel I shouldn't have opened this can of worms. I, too, have over 100 transacitons and 100% positive feedback with the one exception noted above.
Not long ago I bought a "Martin D-18 style" dread, Chinese manufacturer and described as ALL SOLID WOOD (that's why I bought it). It had virtually NO solid wood so I went to sell it and the listing got pulled by eBay for "keyword spamming". I used the exact same description the seller used only I was honest about the materials. Now I'm stuck with this thing. How do you describe a Martin D-18 copy without saying what it is? I had bidders too and I'm SURE they knew what they were bidding on. Heck, I included closeups of the headstock and the soundhole label and described the guitar as NOT being a Martin guitar - several times.
Still, this is not an "Ovation" issue so the original post was not appropriate. It's interesting how many people actually have positive things to say about eBay though.
I agree - BUY NEW or USE EXTREME CAUTION!
Last comment - Since I can't find a willing trade partner, I'm probably going to "sell" my mint 30th Anniversary CL. Let me know if anyone is interested. Thanks. |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | 256 buys and sells over last 5-6 years, zero negative feedback left or earned, two less than stellar transactions, scammed once by eBay lookalike, lots of lessons learned.
Just know the parameters. I think many people who perceive they're getting screwed are backhandedly screwing themselves. Take it from me, you WON'T find a real Gibson Dove on eBay for $200 thinking "this could be real and the guy doesn't know it."
You might find my three rules for eBay useful: Never buy a car there; never buy anything FOR a car unless you know EXACTLY what you're looking at and the true worth of it. And just know what you're looking at and for. I recently got a very good deal on an Ovation Legend that needed some Mothership work. Even when Mom completes the estimated $400 worth of work, I'll still have a Legend for about the going rate or a bit less, and it will be like brand new. In my book, that's a bargain. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | Three very bad trips with ebay. Bought a guitar, sent the money, never received it. The situation was not resolved. I had my identity stolen 2 times. I found out I was selling high end cars when I received numerous phone calls from around the nation. My e-mail was messed up and had to switch to hotmail. It took two months to straighten things out. I had followed all of the rules, had a 100% feedback and was very careful, but...
Never again! Music stores and garage sales for me.
Scott |
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Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Atlanta | Some guy won an auction of mine and almost immediately retracted his bid, after the auction ended. Asked if he could do it, said he made a mistake, etc etc... I was kind of fed up at the time because someone else on another auction placed a bid, then asked to retract it for some reason, but at least before the bid was over. So I was a little pissed off and left the guy I mentioned above neutral feedback, just stating what had just happened. I didn't give him a hard time retracting his bid, I told him OK, but somehow I felt like it needed to be documented. You're supposed to place your bid ONLY when you're sure you are going to stick with it! He left me negative feedback saying "after a problem let me feedback without send an email... dangerous....no good". I thought it was a bit much. He was 100% responsible and he gave me a negative feedback even though I made no problem accepting his request??
That's only once though and I'm up to 131 feedback. But this one still pisses me off... |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | Just for balance, three years ago I bought a car from a broker on ebay and saved a bunch. It's the best car I've ever had. I admit I was lucky. Still have it. Great mileage, lots of power, love it. Some guy in SoCal traded it in and the broker picked it up. No sales tax. Had it shipped. But make certain you buy Carfax for 30 days if you plan to buy an ebay car. Better yet find one w/i 200 miles or so and go look at it. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Anyone ever heard of Inferno House Music Group?
Aubrey Clark?
Ripped me for $1700US
The only thing worse than a crook is a so called religious crook.
Al I apologise if that's out of line.
AJ |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by AussieJames:
Anyone ever heard of Inferno House Music Group?
Aubrey Clark?
Ripped me for $1700US
The only thing worse than a crook is a so called religious crook.
Al I apologise if that's out of line.
AJ james I agree |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | A religious group by the name of "Inferno House Music Group" shoulda thrown up all sorts of warnings. Maybe ya shoulda read the ad backwards?
I've got a theory about a possible way to leave negative feedback without repercussions, but I haven't tried it. I'm not sure about the workings of the feedback system, so I may be way off the mark here.
I don't think you can leave feedback after 90 days from the close of the auction, can you? I know you can't view the auction items in the sellers history. What if you left a negative just before the 90th day expires? It would have to be very well timed, and ONLY if the B@$7@rd deserves it.
If you CAN leave feedback after 90 days, just ignore my ramblings and carry on. (nothing new there, then!) |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Won't matter in a couple of months, sellers won't be able to leave negs anyway. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
Won't matter in a couple of months, sellers won't be able to leave negs anyway. I've never left a negative... But you can leave a back-handed positive...
Hit the Positive button, then type...
"Tried to Cheat me, Slow as Molasses, Not Responsive to email... THIEF!"
Yeah... Or hit the positive, and just type "THIEF"
that's better... :rolleyes: |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | From what I hear sellers won't even be able to leave a comment... I wish they'd just go to a buyer rating system as they're doing to the sellers. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Well hell... If I cannot leave a comment, and I can only leave a Positive dot... What is my motivation for leaving ANY feedback? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | just 2 people bid and refuse to complete the transaction today.
this is insane |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4070
Location: Utah | My beef with eBay is their political correctness and the legal things that they won't allow to be sold/bought. (Trying hard to stay away from politics, so I'll leave it vague).
All my transactions, about a dozen, have gone well, both as buyer and seller.
Also had a great buying experience on the For Sale section here. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Ebay probably comes under the category, in some respect, of a commercial business/enterprise. So they are required by intra-state law to adhere to a political/legal standard as a result. There isn't always free speech in the 'marketplace of ideas' these days. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4070
Location: Utah | Steve, I'm not talking about "adult" stuff. They won't carry anything at all to do with the shooting sports, and that even includes non-functional items or components to make ammunition. There are plenty of federal and state level laws governing the transfer of firearms, which requires licensed dealers be involved and federal background checks run.
EBay seems to be worried about being brought into a lawsuit in the event that something is bought legally and then used in a crime. Which would be akin to suing the Chevy dealer because the drunk driver was in a Chevy when he hit and killed a pedestrian. If that Chevy was bought through eBay would they be sued? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | You cannot buy/sell nunchaku or shuriken (throwing stars) but I can buy Samurai swords... [got two}
Including WWII trophies from china, but I doubt I would send them any money...
Oh... Tasers too... |
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eBay SUCKS - Add your horror story!