Anyone in here willing to exchange a few off-line emails with me to provide some insight onto buying on Ebay?

I've never bought anything from Ebay and I have a few questions about it.

If you're willing to help, plse reply to this note and then send me an email through my profile giving me your home email address.

Thanks,

 

I buy stuff on eBay all the time- rarely a problem. Why don't you e-mail me (through my profile) your specific questions and I'll be glad to answer them.

 

Thanks, I will.

Sometime this evening or tomorrow morning.

Again, thanks.

 

Depending on what your looking for, ebay shouldn't be a bad experience. I try to stay away from things that pring in the big money because unless I see it first hand, I am not willing to risk it.
Do your homework!
If your looking for parts, make sure the seller has the right info. If your not sure, ask via emails. If the seller seems wishy washy or refuses to reply, make note and find a different item.
Feedback rating are useless. Most people with huge numbers are career ebayers and just because one has a low number doen't mean they are going to rip you off.
Talk to the seller. This is the best advice I can give you. If they want to sell it, they are willing to "sell" via email or phone.

 

Any Canadians in here that buy much from the USA on Ebay?

Anything I (fellow Cdn) should watch out for or be aware of?

(I have bought stuff from American mail order places so I undestand the brutal UPS fees, etc.)

Thanks,

 

If your into guns only go to:

www.gunbroker.com

www.auctionarms.com

 

Ebay is good (if you have a Paypal account or the like). Some people hate Paypal, and some just only accept money orders. I don't like Paypal (never did like the idea of a transaction of money through a credit card via. my computer) so I only deal with checks, money orders, etc.

 

I like Paypal because it is easy. In the winter when I sell, I usually list a batch of items at a time. Maybe 10 or 12 usually. And since I work too, i have to find time to take care of the shipping. I like paypal because it gets all the items through the pipeline much more quickly and when I have to wait around for a week or two for money to show up then that is another trip to the P.O.
Last spring I was listing my last batch for the season and was trying to get ready to leave for a couple months so I listed all the items as Paypal or credit card only and I still had two people insist on sending payment through the mail. I have never had a problem with personal checks.

On buying the main thing to remember is that it is pointless to start bidding when the item has several days left to go. The best way to do it is use Auction Snipe. For just pennys they will enter your maximum bid in the final seconds. Not only do you not have to sit at the computer waiting and bidding, but you will never get caught up in auction fever and pay too much.
Also stay away from items with poor pictures and any vague or lacking info. And poor pictures combined with the seller proclaiming ignorance of the item is a real red flag, although I have actually got a couple real good deals from people that really didn't know anything about the item and didn't have good pictures. And condition wise most sellers can't resist grading up one on the scale from what an item really is.
Also the sellers that throw a whole bunch of buzz words into the description, that really have nothing to do with the item, tend to annoy me. I realize it is a way to get your item to come up on a lot more searches but it is a device of a sleazy seller to use words that don't actually pertain to the item. Knife listings are notorious for this. An item description for a Case knife that has the words Buck, Schrade, Western, Kabar. would be an example.
When selling, I prefer to have all my auctions end in the middle of the week and late in the evening when people are the most likely to be home.
Also be aware of shipping charges. Some items seam cheap enough but they charge a hefty"handling charge" that they don't tell you the amount until after you win the auction. If they say they charge a handleing charge but don't say what it is then ask. I usually charge a dollar or so just to cover the cost of tape and packing materials but I say so in the listing. I also round off (higher) the shipping charges to the nearest $.25 on my quotes. I used to give people more options but in an effort to streamline the shipping and quoting I now only use Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. Insurance is still optional. And I don't lie about anything for Canadians so they can beat customs.

 

So where Ebay talks about paying directly through them, they're talking about Paypal because they own Paypal?

To pay for an item using Paypal, it costs me nothing, but it costs the seller a percentage of the transaction value?

There is no Ebay fee on the buyer? Only on the seller?

Do most sellers ship by UPS or USMail? From the USA into Canada, you're pretty much looking at a minimum bill of about $40. from UPS for freight and getting it through Cda Customs. Any Cdn buyers use the Mail much?

 

Canadian mail and U.S. mail aren't exactly bed fellows. Use the UPS if you have a choice

 

I use Canada Post & USPS & taking only Postal Money Orders for payment.

Some stuff can cost $10 when you get it (Canada Customs fee)

 

Still want response to these questions -

So where Ebay talks about paying directly through them, they're talking about Paypal because they own Paypal?

To pay for an item using Paypal, it costs me nothing, but it costs the seller a percentage of the transaction value?

There is no Ebay fee on the buyer? Only on the seller?

Mil1ion,

Why don't you like Paypal?

Thanks,

 

Correct on all questions, no cost to the buyer that I know of. It is just like using a credit card, the merchant foots the bill.

 

Paypal takes a % of the money send to you as a seller.
I can remember the % offhand.

I don't care for paypal or UPS after the shipment to the states last November.

I lost most of the purchase price than I figured.

UPS damaged the item then wouldn't accept repsonsiblity,then Sent the parcel to be destroyed.

So I got my money & the buyer who initally had the item had it taken from him & then was detroyed.

UPS will never get another Cent out of me until they settle my claim.


With a Postal Money Order I can have the parcel all wrapped up and ready to go when the money order arrives.
I take the parcel & the money to the post office.
The PO cashes the money order & I pay for the shipping with that.
Easy, Smooth as silk.

Sometimes faster than UPS because it isn't help up at customs very long.....like UPS is.

 

Thanks one and all.