eBay advice/reliability

[Megamaniac]

Since I don't do much searching "in the wild" as I abhor garage sales, I was wondering:

 

Is eBay a pretty relaible venue? Do people generally know what they are doing with their sales on eBay? Reliable 99% of the time or more like 75%?

 

The reason I ask: I saw a Ladybug cartridge for the Atari 2600 today. I find it hard to believe AA wouldn't know about this hidden gem, so I'm sure it is a colecovision game.

[Room 34]

Once you learn to tell the clueless sellers from the smart ones, it's good.

 

My rules generally are:

 

1. Never bid on an auction with no pictures. (Pictures help you to determine the condition of the games, and also help avoid the "can't tell the difference between 2600 and CV carts" seller conundrum you described.)

 

2. Never bid on an auction without a fixed, predetermined shipping cost. (You don't know what you're getting into... also, it takes longer to complete the transaction because the shipping needs to get worked out before you can pay.)

 

3. Never bid on a non-PayPal auction. (My personal preference for the convenience of PayPal beats out the fact that it costs more as a seller to accept payment this way.)

 

4. Seller must have a reasonable amount of feedback, at least 99% positive, without a bunch of recent negatives. (Self-explanatory.)

 

I have built most of my collection through eBay and have had very few problems... the few auctions that DID go sour usually did so because I didn't follow one of the 4 rules above.

[Jasoco]

I've won many auctions and have gotten exactly what I was expecting. You gotta know the good from the bad.

 

Follow Room 34's rules.

 

1.) Pictures are always good. But only if it's a picture of what you're getting. If it's stock, don't bid unless you think you can trust them...

 

4.) ...like if they have enough POSITIVE feedback. One seller I trust completely, jillygames, doesn't have a camera, but you always get what is described. She uses stock pictures, but is good about telling you defects or blemishes if you ask.

 

2.) I like auctions that tell you what you'll pay for shipping. If you think the cost is reasonable to you, go for it. If there's no preset cost, email and see if they can calculate for you.

 

3.) I go for PayPal whenever possible. I have won a couple auctions that did require MO. The SNES Tester was one. I only bid because I knew I'd never see it again. But other than those few rarities, always go for PayPal. Don't trust the idiots who don't like PayPal or charge YOU to use it. They're pussies who just can't put up with PP charging them for using it. Pussies. Wimps. Idiots. Fuck them.

 

Anyway.. good luck!

[UK WOMBLE]

3.) I go for PayPal whenever possible. I have won a couple auctions that did require MO. The SNES Tester was one. I only bid because I knew I'd never see it again. But other than those few rarities, always go for PayPal. Don't trust the idiots who don't like PayPal or charge YOU to use it. They're pussies who just can't put up with PP charging them for using it. Pussies. Wimps. Idiots. Fuck them.

 

Thats a bit strong , aint it ?

 

Paypal is a tool that benefits the buyer more than the seller. I have to pay to receive money through paypal, and then if I want to pull it into my bank account i have to pay again ! It's expensive.

 

Paypal is there so the buyer gets their goods quicker, only other benefit is for overseas transactions.........

 

If you sell a low value item and theres a risk its gonna go for a pound or something low at auction, why take the chance of the paypal fee meaning it actually cost you to sell the item ? On a BIN auction I agree, there should be no paypal fee, as the seller knows already how much the listing and other fees are costing them and can figure it into the price.

 

Just my opinion for what its worth.....

 

Si

[Room 34]

As a seller I think it is perfectly fine to tack on a small "handling" fee to recoup most of your losses through the eBay and PayPal fees, especially when the item isn't selling for much anyway.

[Jasoco]

3.) I go for PayPal whenever possible. I have won a couple auctions that did require MO. The SNES Tester was one. I only bid because I knew I'd never see it again. But other than those few rarities, always go for PayPal. Don't trust the idiots who don't like PayPal or charge YOU to use it. They're pussies who just can't put up with PP charging them for using it. Pussies. Wimps. Idiots. Fuck them.

 

Thats a bit strong , aint it ?

Not that I can see.

[UK WOMBLE]

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UK WOMBLE wrote:  

Quote:  

3.) I go for PayPal whenever possible. I have won a couple auctions that did require MO. The SNES Tester was one. I only bid because I knew I'd never see it again. But other than those few rarities, always go for PayPal. Don't trust the idiots who don't like PayPal or charge YOU to use it. They're pussies who just can't put up with PP charging them for using it. Pussies. Wimps. Idiots. Fuck them.  

 

 

Thats a bit strong , aint it ?

Not that I can see.

 

OK