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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be so distrusting of ebay sellers?

32 replies

soozit · 27/04/2020 11:51

DH is pressuring me into buying from ebay to save money but I just really don't feel comfortable with purchasing anything from ebay without a warranty. AIBU in being untrusting? Is it even possible to buy a warranty for second hand stuff?

OP posts:
NoMorePoliticsPlease · 27/04/2020 11:53

You are right to be cautious. Look for lots of positive reviews. I would buy anything very expensive. No you dont get guarantees but bad sellers often get bad reviews

IAmLegendaryExtra · 27/04/2020 11:54

I have made 3 purchases on EBay, one never arrived and was sent to the wrong address, the other arrived on time. The most recent was so late that it was useless by the time it was received.

Sparklesocks · 27/04/2020 11:54

I think it depends on what you’re buying and how much you’re spending as that’ll impact the risk? I’ve had mostly good experiences buying on eBay and the positive feedback has generally been trust worthy. I did have one incident where the item didn’t arrive, but I opened a resolution with eBay who ruled in my favour as the seller couldn’t provide proof of posting.

Nanny0gg · 27/04/2020 11:54

Depends what you want to buy.

Original poster
soozit · 27/04/2020 11:57

I've heard ebay are good at handling disputes. But they don't provide warranties for things. Is it possible to get a warranty for ebay items?

OP posts:
Jupiters · 27/04/2020 11:58

Very much depends what you buy. eBay had skewed the system in favour of the buyer tho, they pretty much always side with them (even if it is the buyers fault) as if people don't buy they don't make any money.

ArriettyJones · 27/04/2020 11:58

It depends what the product is.

Second hand clothes, for example, usually fine.

The official outlet eBay accounts of a big name retailer is usually safe.

New electricals, OTOH, I wouldn’t buy through eBay.

I also try to avoid overseas sellers (a lot of Chinese business sellers are on eBay for example) but you have to read between the lines, as they often give false locations on the listing.

eBay is really something to ease yourself into slowly rather than jump straight in.

Hingeandbracket · 27/04/2020 12:03

YABU not to state what you are planning to buy. That makes a huge difference.
As far as I know it's impossible (and would be farcical) to get a warranty on most used items although it can be possible with some cars but only with such strict restrictions and exclusions that it's hardly worth it.

vanillandhoney · 27/04/2020 12:05

I won't buy off eBay unless it's a low price item (eg. less than a tenner).

DH buys a lot on there and most of it ends up being cheap tat and nothing like what was advertised. He hasn't learnt though!

Umnoway · 27/04/2020 12:06

Check their reviews out first. If it’s an expensive electrical item I’d be cautious as obviously there’s no warranty so it may work to begin with then break shortly after. You can always put a claim in through eBay or Paypal to get your money back though.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/04/2020 12:14

TBF you've got a certain among of "cover", in that you can return something if it doesn't work at all or packs up very quickly

Beware of "tracked" deliveries, though, especially with huge sellers. As I've learned to my cost, too many enter a fake tracking number in the hope that ebay won't notice or care, and that they can cover themselves without the inconvenience of having to pay for it

Overall it's probably best not to risk more than you'd be prepared to lose, and that's as a buyer ... personally, after too many bad experiences, I wouldn't even dream of ever selling on there again

redwoodmazza · 27/04/2020 12:16

I think you can get an option to buy a warranty for an electrical item.
I regularly use eBay [and have for very many years] but you do have to be careful.

Check how many transactions they have been in [star ratings] and whether feed back is good.
Avoid new sellers or bad feedback.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/04/2020 12:18

Avoid new sellers or bad feedback

I agree, but excellent feedback's sadly no guarantee either
Unfortunately it's too easy to buy reviews, as a quick google search will prove

RainMustFall · 27/04/2020 12:22

I'm the same, will never buy from e-bay. I heard of a scam where someone advertised a car engine for sale for £2,000 ish whereas in fact what he was selling was a photograph of the engine. That put me off for life plus I hate the scummy people who buy items when there's a shortage, whether that's loo roll or the latest must-have toy and sell it for multiple the price.

Pelleas · 27/04/2020 12:25

It really depends what you are buying. Low value items such as non-designer clothing, books, collectables etc. are normally fine. Tech has a bad reputation.

dontgobaconmyheart · 27/04/2020 12:27

ebay are a selling platform for private sellers so 'ebay' won't be offering a warranty, no. Whether there is one depends on the seller offering one or whether one comes with the product. It is down to the buyer to make sure that they are happy with what they are buying, check that the seller has good reviews, look at photos of the item and the item description and make sure these check out.

I've literally never had any issue buying on ebay. The worst service i've received recently is from high street stores, one of which has taken my money, not sent items a month later still, and has not replied to any of the 6 emails sent to their CS department about it. Obviously not getting what i paid for, or my money back soon/ever at this rate.

Hingeandbracket · 27/04/2020 12:29

OP is BVU by starting another thread with the details of the purchase instead of updating this one.

ArriettyJones · 27/04/2020 12:35

OP is BVU by starting another thread with the details of the purchase instead of updating this one.

What’s up with everyone today?

I’m just trying to get some MN distraction for an hour and every thread is going peculiar Confused

keepingbees · 27/04/2020 12:54

I've bought, and would buy again, items from official retailers (ie Currys, Dyson etc) selling via an eBay outlet. They come with warranty's from the retailer.
Otherwise no. I personally find eBay to increasingly be a hotbed of shite products and dishonest sellers. And trying to sort anything through the eBay resolution centre is a miserable long winded process. It's had its day I think.

ErickBroch · 27/04/2020 12:57

Does this need another post? Same question??

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 27/04/2020 13:08

Wow, way to tar every eBay seller with the same brush! I sell on eBay, I have nearly 2000 positive feedback, not one negative or neutral, some of us are bloody great at what we do. Everything is done in the buyer's favour anyway, so, if for some reason things go wrong, you'd still get your money back. Sellers don't tend to get that luxury even when the buyer is in the wrong or just trying to pull a fast one.
I could do a whole topic on why many eBay buyers are annoying - making derogatory offers, claiming that items have never arrived etc, but, of course, it's always the sellers that you need to be careful of, isn't it?!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/04/2020 13:11

Whether there is (a warranty) depends on the seller offering one or whether one comes with the product

Not quite - warranties often aren't transferable, so one which was originally bought by a private seller's unlikely to be much use to an ebay buyer, even if the item's fairly new

It's true ebay seem to offer an "in house" one buyers can opt into, but if it's anything like the rest of their service I really wouldn't bother

ArriettyJones · 27/04/2020 13:11

but, of course, it's always the sellers that you need to be careful of, isn't it?!

To be fair, OP is a buyer, and is asking about buying on eBay, so everyone is warning her what to beware of as a buyer.

If she was asking about becoming a seller, I’m sure she would be getting warnings about pitfalls of that.

PinkiOcelot · 27/04/2020 13:12

Obviously it depends on what you’re buying and the price. I’ve always had good experiences buying from eBay. Not so much as a seller though.