posted on December 15, 2000 07:25:34 AM new
Hi all, I've been ebaying for about 2 months now and have some observations to share (pet peeves actually).
My main areas of interest are books and stamps. Book descriptions are generally fine, but what's goring my ox is the desriptions for stamps. I'd say that less than 10% of descriptions are accurate. For instance, almost everybody describes their stamps as Fine or Very Fine regardless of the condition (glad they include pictures!). Many are described as Superb, which on a good day may be Fine. Salesmanship is one thing, but misrepresentation is another. They are using grading terminology as puff words and it is very misleading. Caveat emptor indeed.
This concerns me because what if I look at auctions that are out of my specialty? Based on my experiences with products I do know, I'm am very dubious about the descriptions of products I don't know.
And another thing, if your description has L@@K or LQQK or more than one ! in them, I won't look, unless it's something I really, really, really want. Man, I find those annoying
This next one is less a complaint than an observation. I have bid on less than half of the auctions I've wanted to because the seller won't ship internationally, which is certainly their right. Many of these include 0 and 1 bid auctions where I would have paid more than what was realized. Oh well.
That said, I've enjoyed my time on ebay and reading the posts here. I've met some very nice people who have been very helpful to a newbie. Ebaying can be a lot of fun!
posted on December 15, 2000 07:52:36 AM new
Hi, firstover!
I know nothing about stamps; I sell mostly books.
I try to keep in mind that the auction may be read by expert book collectors as well as the person who knows nothing about book description terms, but is just looking for something they want to read. So I use a combination of common-sense terminology and the terms used by professional booksellers.
Unless you have dealt with a seller before, and know they use the terms correctly, it is probably best to assume they MAY not know what they are doing (or don't care). Many sellers sell a variety of items, and just use terms they have seen in other auctions, whether they know the exact meaning or not. If you suspect that an item may not measure up to the description, ask if the seller will email you an additional scan of it.
posted on December 15, 2000 08:11:53 AM new
Your observations are accurate,firstover. That's eBay!
It's the same for everyone. Despite the smoke and mirrors, it's still a lot of fun. Knowing what to look for in a listing refines the enjoyment. Regular reading of the information provided here can sharpen your skills real quick.
Despite the obvious failings, you're still apparently among the eBay faithful. I guess it's not all that bad.
The international shipping thing comes up fairly often. Your participation in those threads may sway someone to reconsider their policies.
Every stamp and book you've ever lusted after will eventually pass through eBay (hopefully sitting with no bids at a fair price). That alone should serve to keep you looking.
