[SLA]

Have any of you used Ebay to buy or sell anything? Was your transaction successful?

There are a bunch of good deals at Ebay...especially in the wholesale lots...but I am not sure if I should buy it. It seems kinda risky if you do not receive anything or maybe you don't get the items you expected...Or it is all damaged...

Should I buy?

[mikewheaton]

There is never complete safety, but I'd say in general eBay is not much of a risk. I don't remember the details - but I know that they offer some coverage on undelivered purchases, so that sellers don't rip off buyers. Pay by credit card if you can, it's much less risky than a money order or check.

I've purchased through eBay several times without any trouble.

Good luck!
Mike

[Harry]

I've never bought anything off of Ebay, but I do have an account with them.

Generally speaking, Ebay is safe to use. I know alot of people who've used it to get good deals and they've all been completely satisfied.

Just make sure you know who you're buying the merchandise from (by this, I mean look over their reviews and only buy from those with positive feedback).

[Steve]

If you know anything about marketing eBay is probably the best example of Perfect Competition.

[guitarizt]

For me it depends on the item I'm buying, the feedback the seller has, and who left it.

I just go with my instincts and I haven't got ripped off yet, but it's definately a bigger pain selling stuff than buying (nonpaying bidders, people who don't leave feedback). I think I've got like 120 postive, 1 neutral, and 0 negative. I stopped leaving positive feedback first when I sell things. I wait for the buyer to leave positive before I do because of the neutral. The buyer didn't read the description. =(

[LucasK]

Ebay is pretty much the "real market price" (althugh minus postage and risk). Problem is, if you can't sell your products quick, there is a risk the price could decrease (people won't bid as much). Mainly for the software market.

I used to buy computer games from this store (rare ones, stuff like Fallout, OPART, etc), and re-sell on ebay.


I'm not really doing it anymore, because I never got too much profit from it. The negative aspect of ebay is that people tend to view your goods as "old", even if it is brand new. But it is a cheap startup.

[nacho911]

I bought a credit card machine on ebay once. I was a little paranoid about being ripped off, so I bought it from a local seller. After I won the auction, I told him I wanted to pick it up at his house. After he gave me his address, I knew he was legit. I got a super deal on it too.

[SLA]

Hmm...has anyone here bought one of those wholesale lists on ebay? Are these authentic?? It's only like a few bucks...but still...do they provide actual links?

[mikewheaton]

In my exerience, the wholesale lists aren't even worth a couple bucks. It is simply a list of links and occassional addresses that are outdated and the majority don't even work. I've heard that there are a couple "real" wholesale lists for sale online, but you're probably looking at more like $50-$100. It's well worth it if put to good use.

Mike

[ericesquire]

eBay makes me happy sometimes (when i'm selling junk that i just need to get rid of) and it makes me SOOO angry other times - you can't compete with them. Most of the pucts there are cheaper than wal*mart. In my opinion, eBay is really hurting ecommerce as a whole. It's making it very hard for other web sites to startup because it is common knowledge that someone on eBay is selling the same thing you are and all they want to do is make $1.00 on the product and $1.00 on the shipping, regardless of if it is a $5.00 product or a $5,000 product. It's a joke and it's hurting a lot of people.

[guitarizt]

Originally posted by mikewheaton
In my exerience, the wholesale lists aren't even worth a couple bucks. It is simply a list of links and occassional addresses that are outdated and the majority don't even work. I've heard that there are a couple "real" wholesale lists for sale online, but you're probably looking at more like $50-$100. It's well worth it if put to good use.

Mike

The problem is finding good ones. And then everyone else has the same idea you do. And like ericesquire said the competition is fierce. You definately need your own niché.

[Aletheides]

My mom and grandmother sell on Ebay. Ebay is really low risk compared to other auctions. You just want to make sure you read the feedback of the person that is selling.