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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a bit fed up with Ebay!

31 replies

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/01/2009 13:59

Why do sellers always stretch the truth...bought a highchair on there, the seller claimed they were £110 new (the current version did), when we got it it was a model from about 10 years ago!

Then I bid for a float vest and the seller claimed it had "only been used once on their holiday"..failing to realise that I could see they had bought it the year before from someone else on Ebay, who had used it!

Today I got a girl's top which they claimed had cost £8..but they had left some of the sale ticket on and it was stamped with a big "S", so they obviously didn't pay the full £8.

Just makes me GGRRRR!!!

OP posts:

SmallShips · 29/01/2009 14:04

Some people certainly try it on, on there.

I don't like it, i get addicted to bidding on girls clothes.

Original poster

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/01/2009 14:05

I thought it would change when you couldn't give a negative to a buyer in retaliation, but people can still leave nasty comments with a positive which I think puts buyers off being honest!!

I think I just have a big ego and don't like being taken for a mug!

OP posts:

oldraver · 29/01/2009 14:06

I recently saw a link for a pushchair that the seller claimed was brand new.... well it was 10 years ago when the model came out

tigerpawprint · 29/01/2009 14:31

Er, because people are trying to make money from it and a lot don't care exactly how!

There are those who go round the sales purely to find items for selling on. If an item is described as having "all tags and labels removed to prevent returns" it was probably to disguise the fact the tags and labels have been marked for sale purposes.

Technically if an item is described as being used "once during our holiday", that is not necessarily a lie. Probably they could say they have never used it and an item still be old, or third hand.

There was a thread on here a while ago, someone was asking if they could advertise books for sale on Eby then order them in directly another internet suppier (ie their price was at a profit and they never carried any stock) and would people be annoyed to receive their book direct from a book supplier?

(Well, yes, if the buyer then went on the book supplier's site and realised they could have got it there directly themselves for £5 cheaper!)

Tamarto · 29/01/2009 14:36

YANBU ebay sucks, either someone hacked my account and bid on items or seller gave bad feedback for items that were paid for. Ebay decided in order for me to have the privilege of using their site i have to provide enough id for them to become me.

As i am very aware how crap their 'security' is i declined.

I have no idea how the scammers manage to open loads of accounts as my partner couldn't even open one without it being linked to mine

Original poster

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/01/2009 14:41

Sorry, I didn't literally not know why they stretched the truth (note I didn't use the word "lie" either), I was quite aware of why they did it, and it was a rhetorical question, suppose I just wanted to have a rant..maybe it would have been better in chat!

OP posts:

tigerpawprint · 29/01/2009 15:06

I'm not being funny with you FFTM, BTW, I completely agree with you - there's lots of scamsters out there.

I have got really fed up with all the truth-bending too. It got to the stage I was almost surprised and grateful if I received an item, as described, on time, clean, appropriately packaged and just fine, really.

One of my worst p*ss-take seller buys was a Next suit described as new without tags. It came covered in dog hairs and stank of cigar smoke and stale wardrobe, was crumpled/creased to glory (stuffed at back of cupboard kind of creased, not just transport-creased) and worse of all, it was a style from about 1996 (boxy jacket and tapered trousers). I mistook "new" to mean "bought within the last year" (or even decade) rather than "newly dug out of stinking wardrobe".

I paid £30 thinking I was getting a bargain too as I had a new job but couldn't afford lots of brand-new work clothes at that point in time.

Fools and their money eh...

Lemontart · 29/01/2009 15:10

y I don?t buy from ebay anymore unless it is a shop selling through ebay and the goods are BNIB. Too many bad buys, particularly from secondhanders. If I am buying secondhand now I go to charity shops where I can see it for myself.
Ebay has gone downhill I reckon.

nappyaddict · 29/01/2009 15:13

This is why I mostly only get second hand stuff off MN now.

Original poster

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/01/2009 15:14

tigerpp - I know you weren't, I just read my OP and realised it could have been interpreted as if I was the most naive person on earth!

OP posts:

Bucharest · 29/01/2009 15:14

Definitely gone downhill, you have to be careful even with the shops...I bought some "BN and sealed" Neals Yard bath crystals and yeeees, they were sealed- but not with the original seal, and when I opened them, they smelt absolutely foul and were a weird grey colour and damp. Obviously somebody had poured some washing soda crystals and a bit of food colouring in a jar.....

Original poster

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/01/2009 15:18

Wow, Bucharest, that is outrageous!

OP posts:

happywomble · 29/01/2009 15:20

Oh no! Don't say that! I've just put a few things on Ebay. Mainly children's Mini Boden stuff and have described it honestly.

I think it would be a pity if Ebay just turned in to shops selling new things, rather than individuals selling good quality second hand items.

Often I buy my DD too much stuff and some of the things I sell have literally only been worn once or twice. Therefore if you only buy the new stuff you might miss out on a nearly new bargain!

Or maybe you are referring to adult clothes? I expect is harder to find adult clothing in good second hand condition.

Original poster

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/01/2009 15:20

happywomble - it needs more honest sellers like you!

OP posts:

mileniwmffalcon · 29/01/2009 15:22

i think its perfectly possible to buy on ebay without getting skanked if you know what to look out for. people make too many assumptions and that's what leads to trouble. make sure there are good pictures (those pictures that look like they're taken underwater are still about!) and read the description carefully - if anything crucial is omitted (e.g. condition of the item) then you have to ASQ to make sure you have all the info before you bid.

if you get something you're not happy with contact the seller (politely!) and return if not as described.

i think the problem with ebay is the number of people selling poor quality new items, rather than the good quality second hand stuff that gets a new lease of life. i've bought and sold clothes and household bits and pieces on ebay for nearly 10 years and it's been a life saver. it never used to be possible to sell unwanted stuff on for a reasonable amount (i.e. more than 20p at a car boot etc.) and now i can refresh my wardrobe every year at minimal cost, reselling old stuff to fund the new.

you just need to keep your wits about you and accept a small percentage of duds - maybe 1 in 15 items i buy isn't quite what i expected, but that's easily outweighed by the 4 or 5 in 15 that are better than i expected, beautifully packed and a total bargain.

Webstermum · 29/01/2009 15:59

I bought a dress on e-bay described as bnwt but when it arrived it clearly was not new and had no tags. Seller refused to give me address to return it. Ended up going to paypal to resolve dispute & the dirty rat left feedback saying I had kept the dress for 3 weeks, worn it & then returned it! Don't buy anything off there now as sellers can't be trusted

MorrisZapp · 29/01/2009 16:14

I've had nothing but joy with ebay for years. Sure, there are scammers out there but you can usually spot them - always check feedback.

I'm so hooked on ebay I actually grudge paying full price for most things now, and treat shops as viewing galleries for items I will later buy cheaper online.

Btw, it's normal when selling priced, tagged goods to refer to the original price as the pre-sale price, not the reduced one.

It was the original price. Anyway, us girls will simply have to get over our obsession with what things used to cost - it's how much they're worth to us right now that matters, regardless of it's 'original price'.

I bought a lovely Ted Baker bag in John Lewis for £110, reduced from £160. I have never used it and the tags are still on it. When I come to sell it on ebay I will say it's 'RRP £160', which is exactly what it is.

mamadiva · 29/01/2009 16:33

You can normally sniff out the rats on Ebay of course there are th few which probably put the odd white lie in but mainly feedback speaks volumes.

I have bought a few things on Ebay which I love! I have bought clothes for myself and DS I even bought my Maclaren XT and a Deluxe Mothercare booster seat from there and both were in original packaging not stated and were in lovely codition hardly evenused, the XT is 3 years old but if it weren't for the different wheels no one ould know.

Maybe I have been lucky but I think that the bad ones seem to be far outweighed by the good.

mamadiva · 29/01/2009 16:34

You can normally sniff out the rats on Ebay of course there are th few which probably put the odd white lie in but mainly feedback speaks volumes.

Maybe I have been lucky but I think that the bad ones seem to be far outweighed by the good.

notcitrus · 29/01/2009 18:27

Touch wood, I've only had good experiences on Ebay - only problem has been bidders based outside the UK failing to mention that fact, so then I have to go find the cost of postage (OK, I could cancel their bid and point out the 'UK bidders only' bit, but they've often been the only bidder, and so far they've never complained when I add a bit to p+p for the hassle).

It's amazing what people will buy if you describe accurately, in detail, and can spell. Although some stuff just doesn't sell because there's so much - newborn baby clothes for example.

tengreenbottles · 29/01/2009 19:05

I sell loads of stuff on ebay and am always shocked by how much people are willing to pay , mind you i always describe everything accurately ,any flaws etc and start the auction at a low price . I sold some little white company pjs and when i went to post them realised they had a tiny hole in them ,so i gave the person a total refund and sent the pjs .Often i send extras too,if i have something nice in the same size. However i have bought things that have been very badly described and thought Hmmm when they arrive .

ninedragons · 29/01/2009 21:06

I'm pissed off at the moment too.

I bought a little Persian rug described twice in the listing as silk. Parcel arrived yesterday and I could tell from the weight of the package that it wasn't silk. There was a label on the back that said 100% viscose.

I emailed the seller to tell him I was returning it for a refund, and he sent me a really rude reply saying "Yes it's viscose but people call it silk. Surely you didn't expect to get a silk rug for 40 pounds". I am going to wait until I've got my refund and leave him a really nasty negative anyway.

mileniwmffalcon · 29/01/2009 21:16

if it didn't mention viscose in the listing you'll get a paypal refund for not as described 9d.

as an aside, i love viscose (aka rayon), it's a natural fibre derived from wood pulp and it has a wonderful sheen and drape in clothing. and it doesn't have the slightly icky ethical thing that silk does.

BigusBumus · 29/01/2009 21:19

I am also a huge buyer and seller on eBay. I bought most of DS1s nursery stuff brand new (£100s of pounds) and then sold it on eBay when i got divorced. But met new partner and had DS2 so had t get nursery stuff all over again. Got the lot from eBay: cot, pram, everything! Fantastic, all from Mammas and Pappas, Little white company etc and got it all for about £150!

My children look very expensively dressed in Mini-Boden, Joules etc but no-one knows they are in 2nd hand stuff, and when they grow out of it, because its such great quality i can re-sell it and get my money back!

My best buys are always Clarks first shoes. So many people buy brand new first walkers when their baby can't walk and sell them on eBay when gorwn out of. For both my sons i have taken them to Clarks, had their feet measured and got the exact right size, never walked in shoes on eBay for about 99p! (They are £26 in shops).

I go occaisionally get the odd thing that i think should really go straight to the charity/rag bins though...

xtc · 29/01/2009 21:20

please don't leave a seller a neg after they've refunded.

seller's are getting a hard time on ebay atm.

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