Post by loudest143 on Jan 19, 2008 12:56:01 GMT -5
Someone asked about how to get the deals on ebay.... I've been shopping on there for a number of years, got 118 positive feedback, and over 170 auctions won. I used to collect vintage matchbox cars,and have bought from sellers on every continent. I've had great luck with only a handful of 'complicated' auctions.
I've gotten what I paid for each time. You should interpret that as "I've not always done my homework, and bought something that wasn't exactly what I wanted." I've always given honest feedback, and only twice was it Neutral. Never gave negative feedback, never needed to. Never been screwed, stiffed or taken to the cleaners, either.
Here's how I avoid the pitfalls of the big yellow auction site.
Research: Know how much retail for the item is for what you're bidding on. Also, see what the 'going price' on ebay is. Don't pay too much, ever. There will be 20 more identical items posted for sale the next day. Take your time searching for what you want, you may find a gem in a category you didn't think to look through. Know what the item looks like, check the manufacturer website. Pictures say a thousand words.
Sellers: Steer clear of auctions with no pictures, new sellers (under 10 items, if you're buying a common item), and auctions that just don't look well put together, ala craigslist. I think if you really wanna sell something, you will provide the correct photos of the item to get your asking price.
Questions: ASK QUESTIONS!! I ask all kinds of questions about items, if something is unclear, or not posted, like measurements of exhaust bolts. I also judge the seller by their response, and response time. You can tell who knows what if they can't answer your question. I based my last purchase on how questions got answered, as the seller could tell me what I needed to know promptly and correctly.
Combine Items: Find a seller that has what you want, and see if they combine shipping costs. I've saved tons of cash by buying from one seller. (I combined my fan, variator, and intake from one seller. It took me 3 weeks to find someone who had what I wanted. Worth the wait for me.)
If you have concerns about the validity of an auction, trust your gut. Report it to ebay, and they will send their sopranos to speak with the seller. I've had one dispute, which was easily solved through ebay. It was a communication issue, and the seller had lost his internet connection due to down lines.(weather related) Wasn't even a big deal, in the end.
I have recently purchased the following...
race fan: $6
racing variator with weights $20
chrome intake $20
tuneable exhaust $75
grand total $151 (after shipping costs)
How much did you pay for the same items?
Just wanted to share my experiences, as that's what these here forums are for, right?
**EDIT** These are my experiences, and in no way represent this website, it's owners or moderators, nor should be viewed as policy by this writer or any staff or members of Scoot Dawg. In other words, if you get taken, it's yor own darned fault.
loudest143
*-doesn't pay retail.
I've gotten what I paid for each time. You should interpret that as "I've not always done my homework, and bought something that wasn't exactly what I wanted." I've always given honest feedback, and only twice was it Neutral. Never gave negative feedback, never needed to. Never been screwed, stiffed or taken to the cleaners, either.
Here's how I avoid the pitfalls of the big yellow auction site.
Research: Know how much retail for the item is for what you're bidding on. Also, see what the 'going price' on ebay is. Don't pay too much, ever. There will be 20 more identical items posted for sale the next day. Take your time searching for what you want, you may find a gem in a category you didn't think to look through. Know what the item looks like, check the manufacturer website. Pictures say a thousand words.
Sellers: Steer clear of auctions with no pictures, new sellers (under 10 items, if you're buying a common item), and auctions that just don't look well put together, ala craigslist. I think if you really wanna sell something, you will provide the correct photos of the item to get your asking price.
Questions: ASK QUESTIONS!! I ask all kinds of questions about items, if something is unclear, or not posted, like measurements of exhaust bolts. I also judge the seller by their response, and response time. You can tell who knows what if they can't answer your question. I based my last purchase on how questions got answered, as the seller could tell me what I needed to know promptly and correctly.
Combine Items: Find a seller that has what you want, and see if they combine shipping costs. I've saved tons of cash by buying from one seller. (I combined my fan, variator, and intake from one seller. It took me 3 weeks to find someone who had what I wanted. Worth the wait for me.)
If you have concerns about the validity of an auction, trust your gut. Report it to ebay, and they will send their sopranos to speak with the seller. I've had one dispute, which was easily solved through ebay. It was a communication issue, and the seller had lost his internet connection due to down lines.(weather related) Wasn't even a big deal, in the end.
I have recently purchased the following...
race fan: $6
racing variator with weights $20
chrome intake $20
tuneable exhaust $75
grand total $151 (after shipping costs)
How much did you pay for the same items?
Just wanted to share my experiences, as that's what these here forums are for, right?
**EDIT** These are my experiences, and in no way represent this website, it's owners or moderators, nor should be viewed as policy by this writer or any staff or members of Scoot Dawg. In other words, if you get taken, it's yor own darned fault.
loudest143
*-doesn't pay retail.
