I know I have the Victor Meldrew Syndrome but..........

Ebay are only there to reap the profits, a bit like banks, not really to be nice, helpful and cuddly.
In the main I have been able to buy some decent kit from pleasant sellers and also shift some stuff to raise cash for other more pressing and important projects, like a night at the pub, but every now and again meet one of the brain-dead members of society that are not allowed out on their own. I could go on for ages, but just put those instances down to experiance ( it isnt Ebays fault, there isnt an entrance exam ). When I got a sale and the winning bidder says 'I dont want it now' or a buyer complains on the feedback that an Unboxed item came without the box and they are 'Dissappointed' I just ignore it and let it go.
I dont shop at Tesco because I have a grudge, but I notice they seem to manage without my custom. I would presume Ebay would probably survive if I stopped using them too.
 
I have found eBay to be a good resource to buy and sell and have rarely been disappointed, as has been stated they are a for profit business and they have the right to make as much as possible! just as most business's do they find new ways to do just that. You just need to go in with that knowledge and you won't be disappointed..........................Oh and ignore the plonkers.........................
 
As most know i earn most of my living on there and i try not to see how much Mrs T pays a week in fees to them and paypal but occationally i do and most weeks it would buy me a sec hand LGB mid range loco, but that would only get me a shop rent and rates in a back street in our small town and i would have to staff it, also i know i wouldnt sell as much railway as i do so all in all i have to grin and bear it.

Still wondering what has gone wrong that warants this post

Tony
 
I've had the occassional disapointment with ebay but that might be down to my lack of knowledge about what I'm buying. But it is a great resource and the usual "buyer beware" applies.

What I wonder about is people's intelligence. Recently a pair (2 axles) of Bachmann wheelsets went for over £15 which to my reckoning is 2.5 times what you can get them for in the shops!:rolf:

Mick
 
55.5 said:
Am I the only one in the world who thinks that ebay are a load of plonkers????
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Do you mean eBay itself, as in the Company, or some of the "people" (and I use the term in its loosest sense...) that use it?
 
Have to say that I use them sparingly, but as a buyer have got some good bargains. You have to read between the lines of descriptions and ask questions if you're unsure about any details. I've stopped selling as my items are usually not worth all that much, and the amount left after commission is just not worth it.
 
55.5 said:
I have to say that my problem is not with other ebay members but with ebay itself.
I have recently changed my email address and despite all the verification that goes on with ebay when you do this, their system is apparently unable to transfer this information to all areas. Every attempt to use their system to rectify the problem results in my old email number reappearing in my Paypal account.
So here I am.........sold an item and not been paid and some other poor bloke has paid for his item via Paypal and hasnt got the goods. (He's taking it better than I am thank goodness!)
When I finally get someone to talk to, its down to me to sort it out,
What do they take their fees for?
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'Fraid I have to say I too refuse to use ebay after they, the Company, shafted me over fees for an item. It is their totally intractable attitude that says "even if we didn't do what you paid us for, we are still want ,and are going to get, our money". Whose money????????????????????????????
 
55.5 said:
I have to say that my problem is not with other ebay members but with ebay itself.
I have recently changed my email address and despite all the verification that goes on with ebay when you do this, their system is apparently unable to transfer this information to all areas. Every attempt to use their system to rectify the problem results in my old email number reappearing in my Paypal account.
So here I am.........sold an item and not been paid and some other poor bloke has paid for his item via Paypal and hasnt got the goods. (He's taking it better than I am thank goodness!)
When I finally get someone to talk to, its down to me to sort it out,
What do they take their fees for?
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Roly i do understand your frustration and have been there myself but as is the way with all big companies, personal interaction isnt possible when sorting out problems
Although ebay and paypal are owned by the same people they have to be kept seperate because one has access to your money and bank details,
Have you sorted it now if not il get mrs T to help you out she knows the system back to front (i cant get my head round it at all)
Tony
 
Ebay also have a bad habit of changing their system and layout frequently (a bit like a local supermarket) so you can never find things back!
:bigsmile:
 
Must admit never had any problems like that. I use Paypal all the time for the convenience (and supposedly extra protection), however when I first started buying on eBay I always used to send a cheque.
 
Just watch out for the E CHEQUE (both as a seller or a buyer)
Seems to be an accepted method (by Paypal) of paying for something without having the funds to do so.
They then tell one party that it will take x days to clear and the other party that it will take x days +5.
This just sets the Buyer & Seller up against each other because both are waiting,
one for payment the other for delivery.
If as a Seller you state in your listing that you would rather not accept E Cheques your listing is withdrawn.
As Buyer you don't always know that Paypal has paid the seller with an E Cheque until they have.
Hey Ho Rant Over (perhaps)
 
I have been caught with e cheques several times & ebay can never explain why they have done it. They tried again the other day & I spotted it just in time. I changed my payment to credit card. 30 mins later paid for something of wifys & it went through without a problem.
 
Lordraglan274 said:
Ebay are only there to reap the profits, a bit like banks, not really to be nice, helpful and cuddly.
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...I pretty much agree, one thing for instance I dislike about evilB is their way of charging twice through the backdoor of PayPal rather than blatantly saying our fees are 12-15%....

so for that matter here an alternative - currently less turnover (maybe increased use through GSC could change that) & lower percentage (3%) and no listing fee...

(& btw: no I'm not affiliated nor connected with the guys running the website in any way, just came across it recently):
http://uk.ebid.net/perl/main.cgi?go=1&mo=search&category=&type=keyword&words=lgb&go=
 
Round n Round said:
Just watch out for the E CHEQUE (both as a seller or a buyer)
Seems to be an accepted method (by Paypal) of paying for something without having the funds to do so.
Click to expand...

Happened to me once, though the funds were in place.

Another trick - higher priced purchases (eg locos) are diverted to credit card instead of bank account.
I had funds in place, but a purchase of £600+ was charged to credit card, as "policy".
The credit card co. see PayPal as a cash advance, and charge their own fee plus instant interest.
Added £25 to the price.
 
I think "Switcher" has touched on a salient point here - you pays your money and you makes your choices .
I have for the last 5 years been slowly shifting my old collection of model racing cars to pay for this wonderful hobby. As A Tesco delivery driver I could not afford it otherwise.
I have found that there are a number of ways to market the old stuff and hopefully maximise ones returns.
1) Ebay - yes total cost 12-15% (inc PayPal) of the final sale value but you will get to the maximum number of buyers to make that vital "market". You have to do all the marketing work and administer the sale process. Great for most items if you do not know the value of what you have and are willing to let the "market" decide.
2) Specialist auction house e.g. Vectis - They will charge you around 20-25% of the final sale value but they do all the marketing work for you and manage the sale process. You may not get the maximum number of potential buyers making that vital "market" and in my experience the auction house is only interestred in you choicest items.
3) Specialist dealer - If you know the value of your item and are willing to accept the 30-50% mark-up they will want to put on your treasured posession then this can be a way to go.
4) GSC for sale page - No cost but a limited, though deicated, "market". Also, as a newbie, do I really want to get publicly beaten up over the price and my reasons for using this site.
 
Maxi-model summarises the situation nicely and shows why eBay is so popular despite the hassle factor.
When I was selling my 00 stuff I put the good stuff on eBay. The rest I took down to the local model shop. He gave me a lowish price for it, but he had the hassle of sorting it out and selling it on, and it was preferable to throwing it in the bin.

I'm not a frequent seller but on the odd occasion when I sell G scale gear I offer it on the forum first at a somewhat lower price than I would hope to achieve on eBay. After all, I'm saving fees and dealing with people I know and trust. I've noticed that some of our frequent sellers also seem to do this, which is good all round.
 
(Quote)

1) Ebay - yes total cost 12-15% (inc PayPal) of the final sale value but you will get to the maximum number of buyers to make that vital "market". You have to do all the marketing work and administer the sale process. Great for most items if you do not know the value of what you have and are willing to let the "market" decide.
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This is fine till your 'item' gets lost from their site in the vital hours pre sale closure, due to their technical foulup and they refuse to acknowledge responsibiltiy and still insist on full payment, even though the item sold for a fraction of its worth. :thumbdown::angry::thumbdown:
 
I have spent ages trying to close my paypal account as they have been charging me in USD and charging a second time to pay in Sterling, plus when I bought two items from the states they sent a e check whatever that is and if I had walked to the states it would have been faster nigh on three weeks , embarrassing and frustrating, they have removed the option to close your account from the list so if you got one it will not close, not even a two hour phone call will help,added to that, after reassuring my the account was closed , they will not remove the links to your account, so it is impossible to pay with a card, ​
I have gone back to using checks and paypal gets nowt,​
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I dont have any problem with the bay place, and often go for to watch the strange starting prices!!!!
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