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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Whatsnewpussyhat · 21/08/2020 17:21

They really should allow all reviews for sellers. Good and bad.

GingerBeverage · 21/08/2020 17:29

I did this too for my wedding. Next time I would just hire it - there any plenty of lovely vintage china hire shops.
But I also found some at car boots. I would never buy without inspecting - ebay is full of liars.
And as for selling - they take 15% (inc paypal) now, far too much for the effort. It's just geared for cheap tax-avoiding chinese tat now.

Craftycorvid · 21/08/2020 17:30

I both buy and sell on eBay and have mostly had positive experiences - one cardi’ that turned up shrunken and wearing its previous owner’s hair, otherwise fine. I have a rule that I only sell things in a condition I’d consider buying them in, which is to say clean and pressed and properly wrapped. I have had a couple of obvious business sellers hoovering up my stuff, clearly with the intention of selling it on 🤷‍♀️ As long as I’m paid, I consider it a bit of an annoying occupational hazard.

QuarantineDream · 21/08/2020 17:30

@achillesratty

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.

I had a similar experience last year and it's really, really put me off selling, having bought and sold on there for years. He also sent me a threatening message after I left a false positive feedback (which he obviously then got deleted). It was also a designer item - there's something about second hand designer clothes that seems to attract scammers.

It boggles my mind why eBay changed the system so buyers can get away with anything with literally no consequences.

It's a shame because the theory of eBay is fab - reduces waste, and you can find literally anything (I recently replaced a missing piece of a toddler toy after trailing through preschool toys on the site).

flirtygirl · 21/08/2020 17:37

Ebay is more of a faff now but still okay. I sold my unused portmeirion years ago on ebay and it sold really well but I don't think I'd buy china from ebay, as couriers and royal. Mail take the pics. I'd look out for more local item to collect though.

I've had decades of ebay bargains now and my house looks fab, so many brand new item at 75 % cheaper, so I won't give up on ebay, just have to take it all with a pinch of salt.

Mum2154 · 21/08/2020 17:56

I’ve never liked eBay. Glad I’m not the only one.

NonsensicalWitch · 21/08/2020 18:08

There are a lot of fake Pandora items for sale on eBay, just to warn people. My former colleague used to have a Pandora charm bracelet and her DP bought her some charms from eBay which were obviously fake when they arrived.

I once bought an old dress, which was actually a bridesmaid dress from a shop where it had allegedly been a sample. When it arrived it looked nothing like the pictures and was so grim, dated and old fashioned with small tears all over it, I just thought "you bought this at a car boot or somewhere and have sold it on". It also came wrapped in a bin bag and they had charged me something like £15 postage and packaging Confused. I did get my money refunded, but they were really shirty about it and all "it's a high class item, so make sure you donate it somewhere nice" etc. I was like, if you pay me £15 I'll post it back to you. No response. Grim fuckers.

Also had people claim never to have received items, and they just sounded so like they were lying in the way they worded their messages. Obviously, I had to refund, but you know.

I've refunded people in the past, with very little bother at all, but I knew this one was trying it on. Always for signed for.

Also had someone ask to return a dress because she didn't suit it Hmm. It wasn't expensive so I just told her to keep it, and just kept the postage, but really.

Oh and we bought a pushchair from there for dc and the man was so arsey that we had "got a real bargain there - it cost x amount new". Massiveky took the hump because we'd won it in an auction and he expected it to go for loads. It hadn't. I think I may have been one of two bidders.

I've gone right off it tbh and cancelled my account not long ago.

toconclude · 21/08/2020 18:08

Currently wearing a skirt of a brand not sold in shops here but which I love. Ebay ftw. I'd avoid buying breakables, though have had some in the past that were well packaged and fine...

purplecorkheart · 21/08/2020 18:12

Rarely use ebay now. I do have an alert set up for one type of item but it is very specialised and tends to be business sellers who know their items. Never sold on ebay as it really is not worth the hassle.

speakout · 21/08/2020 18:13

Such an interesting experience!
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!

Almost poetic!!

I sell on ebay- £50K a year. almost no problems.

BlackberrySky · 21/08/2020 18:16

I think it depends what you're buying. I have never bought anything breakable and have generally been OK with things arriving as described. In fact the last thing I bought was a ski jacket described as "lightly used". It arrived beautifully packaged and was like new. That was a nice surprise.

speakout · 21/08/2020 18:21

Lots of people on ebay have a positive buying experience.
I have 10000 feedbacks and 100% positive from buyers.
So obviously a lot of people don't agree with you OP.

CallarMorvern · 21/08/2020 18:22

I love eBay. It's not as good for clothes as it used to be, I used to get fab clothing bundles for DD years ago. But I still love it for lots of things, I always price check with other sites, as sometimes it's not the cheapest. This month I've bought a second hand backpack, car mats, pens, watercolours and ink cartridges. I've found most sellers to be honest, although I only buy these days, I sell via FB (but that has its issues too).

Reclinehard · 21/08/2020 18:25

I only ever search for used items to avoid the tat and have had all positive experiences so far.

WorkinWomansBlues · 21/08/2020 18:28

Oh nooooo!

I’ve just started listing all my beautiful vintage summer dresses/ cocktail dresses etc that I’ll never fit in again...

Am I in for a horror?!

AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings · 21/08/2020 18:51

If you live anywhere near London you can have all my vintage china from the loft from our wedding!

TheGreatWave · 21/08/2020 18:57

I have just been royally scammed on eBay (along with many many others) it is all sorted without too much grief. However it won't put me off. I try to filter down to UK only but it doesn't always work.

I get all-sorts, last few items have been a tablet case, a Nintendo ds game, headphone cable, bolts for flat pack furniture, broom head, DVDs, anything really. Most of the time so I am not having to wander around a shop.

purpledagger · 21/08/2020 19:14

I have been buying stuff on eBay for about 4 years now and have been happy with the vast majority of my purchases. But then, I wouldn't buy anything that I could possibly be unhappy with.

As a buyer, I do think that some sellers are unrealistic about what items will sell for. For example, I'm eyeing up something that sells in the shops for £100 and the cheapest BNWT is £75. It's not enough of a saving for me.

DianaT1969 · 21/08/2020 19:31

This is a timely thread. I was about to spend time putting a lot of new and nearly new stuff on it. I had forgotten how awful some of the buyers are and how eBay sides with them. I'll save myself the grief and give it to a charity shop.

AriettyHomily · 21/08/2020 20:19

I don't know anyone who uses eBay anymore it had its day years ago.

Yesterdayforgotten · 21/08/2020 20:23

I haven't had any problems with ebay but I so check the seller rating and reviews below I buy. Lately I have been having issues with Amazon's third party sellers; they are appalling and Amazon love to say oh it's a marketplace seller so nothing we can do!

Yesterdayforgotten · 21/08/2020 20:24

do and before Hmm

nildesparandum · 21/08/2020 20:26

I have not dealt on e bay for a long time now.
Reason being I found it to be a thieves paradise.

vanillandhoney · 21/08/2020 20:28

I use eBay and have never had any issues. I do check seller ratings and things like that before I buy, though.

Recently I've gotten some engraved dog tags, a baseball cap, a dog-walking belt, some scented candles and some clothes - all arrived within 2-3 days, great condition too.

FloreanFortescue · 21/08/2020 20:36

It's awful now it's just full of Chinese shit. It used to be good.