to think I should be safe buying on ebay?

[ginghamstarfish]

Advice needed from experienced ebay buyers please! Seen a handbag, says new with tags, buy it now price is less than a quarter of what it is elsewhere. Says 8 available. Seller has 100% feedback, but only 16 ratings, and those are for buying - I checked them. I'm very tempted to order but is there any risk to me as a buyer? Obviously it seems it may be a fake (it's a brand name but not designer type) in which case I can report and get refund ... is there any other reason I shouldn't buy? TIA

Sounds like it's likely to be a copy. Sellers often rely on a photo and so long as they haven't used words like genuine or original etc then that's the loophole. If you want to make sure then ask the seller a question (there's a link on the item page) all the emails get copied to eBay, so of when you get the item it's not as described you're within your rights to have it refunded.

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

I google the brand and model name and it look absolutely genuine (unless the photos are copied). I wouldn't even mind if it was a copy as long as it's still leather and good quality (it's less than £30) but ebay would frown on that I think! Good idea to ask seller a question, thanks, will do that.

If they have put the brand name in the listing and it’s a fake eBay will refund

What brand is it? You could probably get it authenticated on Purse Forum — they have experts on the various brands and you post the eBay link on the forum and they will check it out for you (all for free!).

I got a Mulberry bag authenticated this way before purchasing it from eBay.

eBay doesn't allow counterfeit sales even if advertised as such, so if they are fakes, do report it!

Here is the link to Purse Forum by the way
forum.purseblog.com/threads/authenticate-this-master-thread.953007/

So whats your actual AIBU?

The bag will be a knock off at that price, you know that you've said you're happy with that so long as the quality is good. So are you wondering whether it is safe to buy from someone with 16 feedback as a buyer? Well you have to have a feed back minimum of 10 before you can start to sell.

Some of the counterfeits are very good, but for example might be made from dog leather if made in China!

I would be wary of no seller feedback if the item is very expensive, though if you pay by Paypal you should be covered in the event of non-receipt or the item being not as described. As long as you don't mind the possible hassle of having to make a claim, there shouldn't be a risk.

Bear in mind that with fake items, the one in the picture often isn't the same one you receive, so its 'looking genuine' isn't necessarily a good guide.

I sometimes sell my original LVs and Mulberry when I get bored of them and usually make at least 60% back. I sold a Bayswater a few.months ago that I paid about £1200 for in 2009 and got £774 for it. People will pay for genuine, well cared for bags with paperwork. I bet these are either from China or someone's been on holiday to Istanbul and brought some back.

Or maybe stolen? What sort of price are they normally?

Ah just saw your second post. So normally £120-150?

If it's for example a Radley bag, it could be old stock, previous season/s.

Also be wary of the seller using a 'stock' photo or image from the genuine brands website.

I'd ask the seller is it a genuine or fake bag.

I would be wary too, as I wouldn't want to support something dodgy. If I am going to buy a PU bag I want to know, also to know where leather (from any animal and described as leather) originates.

I have seen copies of bags sold on Ebay at auction where people have bid high thinking they are genuine because they are not described honestly.

I would rather buy a PU bag than a fake 'brand' that is made of animal skin.

Look on TKMaxx if you want a genuine bag at a lower price.

Thanks all! I'm just a bit baffled as I thought Ebay were tough on fakes so to see a listing like this where the item could easily sell at double or triple the price just made me wonder if there's any other kind of dodge it could be ... seller would have your Ebay ID, Paypal ID, name and address so wondered if there was some new kind of scam I don't know about!

eBay are not remotely tough on fakes - you can easily get knock off Pokemon, bags etc. I would assume this is a copy and the photo is likely a stock one.

If its not what you expect open a return selecting not as described and they have to send a returns label whether they are a business or not. They can't refuse and if they don't reply after i think 7 days ebay will force a refund without needing to return it