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Original poster

Can someone educate me in the wonderful world of Ebay

41 replies

mosschops30 · 01/05/2006 16:09

Have never used it but have been lurking over a few items that are reasonably priced. I dont know where to start though so I need some e-baying tips and also:

how do I know I will receive it?

how do I know what is written is true e.g. 'brand new'?

what if something arrives and is a wreck and not like the picture at all?

TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
mosschops30 · 01/05/2006 18:32

\link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUINNY-ZAPP-BRIGHT-ORANGE-FUNKY-3-WHEELER_W0QQitemZ7763228954QQcategoryZ66700QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\this}

\link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7763508234&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1\and this}

both have a couple of negative comments, so is that a definate no-no. Just wondered if they have a lot of good ones, do you ignore the odd bad one?

Sorry tamum, but I dont want to be making a huge mistake

OP posts:
Original poster
mosschops30 · 01/05/2006 18:46

and i still dont know how to find what other bids for the same item have ended at?

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 01/05/2006 18:48

I haven't checked your links, but if the seller has plenty of feedback and only one or two negs, that would be fine. Look at the overall percentage - for instance I would avoid anyone with a couple of negatives / neutrals and say only 100 positives. But if they had 1000 feedback in total, everyone is going to make a mistake / run into a nutter at some point.

The total feedback should be pretty close to 100% positive, though. A seller who is getting less than that on a regular basis is being a bit shoddy - not many people leave less than positive feedback anyway, as they are scared of receiving it in return, so feedback profiles are usually skewed towards the positive anyway.

FrannyandZooey · 01/05/2006 18:49

Do your usual search for the item, then look at the tick boxes down the left hand side of the results page. There's a tick box saying "completed items". Check this and then click search again. You'll see all the items that have sold recently, with their final prices.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 01/05/2006 18:51

so is 94.1% a def no-no? maybe thats why they are selling it so ridiculously cheap

thanks will try and search now

OP posts:
tamum · 01/05/2006 18:56

The 94.1% one I wouldn't risk myself. Only one negative, but the comment would put me off. I wouldn't be bothered if it was a really cheap item but not for something like this. The 98.6% one I would trust- one neg, and she's clearly had problems making contact.

(FandZ, I explained all that about finished items!)

tamum · 01/05/2006 19:01

Sorry, should have said- the 98.4 seller does have another neg, but it's from a "no longer a registered user" and looks like it can be discounted.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 01/05/2006 19:01

thanks I have searched now and all of them seem to go for about £100, I would probably pay up to £70 for the ones I am looking at

thanks for all your help tamum Smile

OP posts:
Skribble · 01/05/2006 22:32

First one looked an Good seller, the second one Baby Value didn't look as consistant with negitive and neutral feedback, with feedback mutally removed.

BTW I use library photos but I am lovely and genuine, the ones I use from the suppliers are much better and professional looking than ones I take.

tamum · 01/05/2006 22:35

Would you use library photos for used items though Skribble? I would be wary of that, I must admit.

Skribble · 01/05/2006 22:50

No i use my own pictures for used stuff, apart from a jacket I used a googled picture along with my own as it showed the colour better. The flash kept making it look far too light. I made it clear in the description what was what.

tamum · 01/05/2006 22:52

That's fine then- I just meant that I would be wary of shop-soiled stuff, or used things, that just had images lifted from the web. It is also a known trick of the Western Union brigade, but they are usually very easy to spot in any case!

busybusybee · 01/05/2006 23:00

Mosschops - I had a thread called "How can I win on ebay?" a couple of days ago - really good advice from MN including about auction sniper

I won my first auction thanks to mn

busybusybee · 01/05/2006 23:03

Tamum - what is the "western union brigade" - I feel I need to be enlightened!

tamum · 01/05/2006 23:06

:) I mean all the conmen who use eBay as a big scam- they typically have photos of highly expensive things like laptops nicked off the web, very low feedback, and want paying by Western Union. I think it's banned now, but it was a good way of getting the money untraceably and then never sending the goods (because they never existed). Mainly overseas-based, too. There you go, educated :)

jamsam · 02/05/2006 14:48

i can always give you a demo busy...but it would mean cups of tea and biscuits..lol

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