posted on September 10, 2001 07:23:03 PM
Yaarrgh! So many threads complaining about sellers charging "handling" fees, sellers with TOS's stating AS IS and not refunding merchandise that is obviously defective, gold vs. gold plated, shoddy merchendise, a crack in the pot......etc., etc., etc.!
I just want to say that for me, eBay is a buying adventure, a box of chocolates, yeah, you never know what you're going to get. I buy on whims, I buy on whimsy, I buy when I'm bored or if I've just got to have it.....but if I want a new computer with a warranty, it's off to Circuit City for me!
People, people, don't jump on my case, but I think some folks need to lower their expectations when they come to eBay! Get real, you are taking a risk when you bid on an auction from the hinterlands of cyberspace! If you can't afford to get burned, don't bid.......or if you have to have that fabulous vintage Havilland Limoges Steiffel widget, e-mail the seller first, establish a relationship, even PULL THE CONTACT INFO !!!
I buy and sell, low end and high end. I have sold some VERY high end collectibles....the buyers and I have always exchanged phone numbers, chatted and double checked references until we both felt comfortable with the sale. Even then, I myself wouldn't (couldn't!) buy anything for a price more than I felt I could lose. I hope for the best, but assume the worst, and believe me, I have received some REALLY CRAPPY merchandise, but it's never been worth the hassle to quibble about a few dollars lost on eBay.
The thrill of the auction partly lies in the risk, I think. If you can't deal with the risks, go to the store, or if you live out in the boonies, buy from a reputable on-line catalogue.
My teenage kids have often seen something on eBay (car parts, speakers, etc.) and asked me to bid. Sometimes we go ahead and bid, but oftentimes we have comparison shopped locally, and after deducting shipping costs and factoring in the fact that the local items will be warrantied and returnable, they have often conceded and passed up the eBay "deal".
Well I've run out of steam on THAT rant!
That's my current opinion, but I've been known to change my mind!
posted on September 10, 2001 08:36:24 PM
Thanks Sadie. I just realized you started the thread about BooBoo Amerikka.....that was great! Pretty much summed up all the problems that are kvetched about here on good ol' AW. Don't know why I continue to find the "same old same old" fascinating reading....but I do!
