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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think eBay is a load of rubbish

75 replies

yesterdayschild · 21/08/2020 15:11

I have been buying vintage china for my daughters up coming wedding so have been buying on eBay. Sorry I ever did now. In the last 3 weeks I have had 7 tea sets described as perfect arrive with chips and cracks, 5 teapots arrived smashed, 7 cake stands arrived smashed. All arrived filthy dirty wrapped in some disgusting packing such as, a filthy dribble stained pillow, a stinking duvet, pizza boxes still with food on them, a pair of old ladies trousers, filthy foam rubber and horrible broken up polystyrene. What is the matter with people! When I ask to return I have been accused of breaking them myself, called a filthy liar, a skank and a bitch!

OP posts:
The80sweregreat · 21/08/2020 15:33

It used to be good , but been hi jacked by people just out to make a fast buck.

Dh has a great rating and takes care to clean everything he sells ( motorcycle parts mostly) and the packaging is correct and travels well ; had a problem once with something he bought and was accused of all sorts which was not true at all. The man accused him being a liar and it really upset him. Took a while to sort out. He hardly uses it now as it said it's not worth the hassle unless you can go to buy it from them and it's worth his while doing so, not too far away. That seems to work , but it means he can't buy as much and is reluctant to sell anything now as well in case it happens again.
It is a sad you've been a victim here op : some people have no shame at all.

Original poster
yesterdayschild · 21/08/2020 15:36

Well I will not be using eBay again. I have since found a wonderful online china shop and everything has been spot on from them. eBay can take a long walk off a short cliff.

OP posts:
achillesratty · 21/08/2020 15:48

I used to sell a lot on Ebay but I hardly bother now. The end for me was when I sold a brand new, still tagged Fendi silk dress and three weeks later the buyer claimed it wasn't the shade of blue that she was expecting and wanted her money back. I said no, she had three weeks to check the colour, she went to Ebay and they refunded her without question and took the money from me.

I got back a worn, stained dress that absolutely stunk of B.O. Ebay were not interested and I couldn't even leave feedback to warn other sellers as you can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers.

The system is a joke, the have sellers who say they are in the UK but actually in China, you report them and Ebay does nothing as long as they get their fees they don't care.

The80sweregreat · 21/08/2020 15:51

It's a rip off site these days.
People just out to scam you.

WoodenFox · 21/08/2020 16:19

I used to buy loads from there but finding more and more of the stuff I want is coming from China with lengthy delivery times.

My DH bought an expensive bit of pottery from there a few years back. It was wrapped in an Asda carrier bag and brown paper. No strong box or bubble wrap. It was in small pieces by the time it got to us!

MadisonMontgomery · 21/08/2020 16:26

I find it very hit & miss now, as others have said a lot of stuff is tat from China, or if you buy second hand things don’t come in great condition.

Borderstotheleftofme · 21/08/2020 16:28

I use eBay a lot, as does DH and can honestly say we have always been really pleased!

I only use sellers rated 99% or above, I mostly buy plants and clothes, usually the clothes are from China despite the seller lying and claiming to be from the uk but I have no complaints about the quality at all.

1Morewineplease · 21/08/2020 16:34

I’ve stopped using eBay.
So much of their stuff is cheap imports and descriptions are often inaccurate.
It’s become a cheap way of offloading tat .

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 21/08/2020 16:38

Buying on eBay must be the most fafftastic way to be buying vintage china. We did this for our wedding and sent to town in our local charity shops and boot sales. You can see what you’re getting, it’s dirt cheap and there’s no postage costs.

PigletJohn · 21/08/2020 16:41

If you want to buy china or glass, you're better off collecting it locally. Even though this will reduce the number of purchases. You may though get a better price as a lot of buyers can't be bothered to collect.

You can't trust people to be careful

Some are, some aren't

I've even collected stuff that the vendors had chucked in a box and cracked things themselves.

If you're buying from a dealer, you can reasonably expect them to do a good job of packing, but read their feedback. Obviously they will seek to maximise their profit.

MaskingForIt · 21/08/2020 16:42

I love eBay and buy two or three things every week. I have only ever had one item not arrive (rubbish seller, successfully used the dispute mechanism), and one thing arrive broken, which was promptlynand apologetically refunded.

I think as with many things in life you just have to use a bit of common sense. Check the seller’s ratings and comments, look at the photos properly, and remember that is is cheaper than real shops for a reason.

Washimal · 21/08/2020 16:48

I buy regularly buy vintage clothes on eBay and have generally been pleased with my purchases. The only time I can remember being let down was when a dress arrived covered in pet hair and stinking like a teenagers sweaty PE kit that's been left in their locker for a whole term. Such a shame as the dress itself was beautiful and perfectly fine to wear after a wash but it was the lack of care and consideration that irked me.

I wouldn't buy something delicate like China from there though, some people just won't give enough of a shit to take the necessary care with packaging once they've got your money unfortunately.

IveSeenThings · 21/08/2020 16:51

The standard of other people's "excellent" just doesn't match up to mine, I find. I would never sell anything on eBay unless it was utterly immaculate but I have looked at things that are clearly bobbled or misshapen that are described as 'perfect' or 'excellent', and one can see that they truly aren't. I tend to only buy new things these days, e.g. a picture frame from a retailer or last season's bras from a lingerie company etc. I never buy stuff from China because the sizes/quality don't match up to UK standards, and there's no way to return.
It's a shame, because I have a whole load of lovely, immaculate Boden and gap boys' clothes that I would like to sell on there, but I don't have the time to be faffed around if buyers decide to pull a fast one.

botswanabanana · 21/08/2020 16:53

I do still manage to get some bargains, but they are a bit few and far between.
For little, new, things, its sometimes cheaper than Amazon.
The good thing is you are totally protected as a buyer on eBay.

NonsensicalWitch · 21/08/2020 16:53

I used to get some really nice things on there. Now, no, I end up disappointed more often than not tbh and actually have wasted money by not chasing a refund and then just recycling the rubbish item. It would be cheaper to buy new for me in most cases, as the net saving doesn't cover the wasted money.

So, no, YANBU.

IveSeenThings · 21/08/2020 16:54

I have bought crockery on eBay, but only when it was collection only, so I knew there's be no problems with shipping. It was about twelve years ago though.

keepingbees · 21/08/2020 16:56

I hate eBay. Rarely buy these days but have been left disappointed many a time. Issues take an age to resolve, and yes lots of scammers and some very unpleasant people on there.
Have a look round the charity shops if you can. Loads of reasonably priced china and they need the support at the moment.

belvoirbeaver · 21/08/2020 17:00

I hate it now. I don't buy or sell often enough so I always seem to show a 0% rating because I've not used the site for 3 months.
I sold a few items at the start of the year and none of the buyers left me any feedback.
I sold some boots last year, I was quite clear in the advert that the boots were worn, that they had some scuff marks on them and I took several photos of them at different angles and showing the wear and tear. I got negative feedback because they "weren't as described" 🙄 I really have no idea how I could have made it clearer.

I've given up on it to be honest. There's plenty of other sites with a similar USP these days.

notsodimwit · 21/08/2020 17:04

EbayHmm I bought a large beautiful China Christmas plate, the kind you put your cooked turkey on and the seller sent it out in a large jiffy bag... It was mangled when it arrived to me! Took ages to get my money back! Why do sellers not pack items up securely?

TheVanguardSix · 21/08/2020 17:06

I've been active on eBay for years- about 15 or 16 years now. It's not what it was years ago. I'm amazed by what people charge for any old tat. It's like nobody does their research before they sell (i.e. that bike brand new is cheaper than your secondhand, rusty POS). Also, it's just flooded with Made in China garbage.
It's ok if you're a collector and you know your sellers (who tend to be in Europe/the States. It's a niche area).

You can put some beautiful stuff on eBay and nobody's willing to pay their worth. They want that Boden collection of clothing in mint condition for a pound. I mean, the point is, you're getting a bargain, but it ain't for free. People want it for free. I find I've had too many weird buyers. There are a lot of 'buyers' who buy to sell on in their own eBay shop at inflated prices. That can get a little weird and full of conflict and angst. Not all negative feedback is fair. And then there are the sellers with rave reviews and you wonder how many friends and family members have helped inflate the seller's reputation (usually I wonder this when I open up a giant turd of a purchase! 100% feedback. Reeeeally? Hmm).

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 21/08/2020 17:06

A bit like some cities, there are parts of eBay I spend a lot of time in, and some which frighten me a bit! I tend to only buy from business sellers (and if buying fragile goods then only from ones I'm familiar with!).

I wouldn't buy, say, a phone on eBay (too risky) and I don't sell personal things on there (I do sell a couple of thousand items a month, but through my business). But it doesn't feel like one homogenous place to me, more like series of districts, each with a different feel.

echodot · 21/08/2020 17:14

@yesterdayschild

Well I will not be using eBay again. I have since found a wonderful online china shop and everything has been spot on from them. eBay can take a long walk off a short cliff.
Go to a local antique shop/market They normally have cheapish stuff there
Thebreadsouth · 21/08/2020 17:15

I've just won an item on an auction. I'm trying to pay for it but they won't accept my card (metro bank mastercard). I've used the same card with Amazon and a million other places so on the strength of that I'm with you op.

Maverick66 · 21/08/2020 17:19

@yesterdayschild charity shops are great for vintage china

Anordinarymum · 21/08/2020 17:21

eBay is much like the rest of the world.. some good - some bad. I have bought some bargains recently and am looking forward to a delivery of a Pandora bracelet this week for an unbelievable bargain price of £5.00 plus postage.
Yay !