What is it with EBay, why is it full of maniacs?

[martin mrt]

I'm trying to sell my Merc E280 CDI at the moment, I bought it off my mate and I have just had an unpleasant and unexpected bill arrive in the post today so I need to get rid of it sooner than expected to pay the bill before SWMBO finds out. no big deal really as its a nice car but not really "me"

Anyway, it's a W211 that's done a fair few miles, 200k+ and I've started it around £3000 cheaper than the cheapest one on sale at the moment, given the history, colour and spec I'm hoping it will sell for a bit above the starting price but I'm
Not expecting miracles,

So far I've had an abusive call as I ended the auction early for someone who turned out dodgy, eBay emailed me about suspicious activity, and now I'm getting offers of below the starting price, what the bloody hell is up with people?

Anyway rant over, just wanted to vent off some frustration,

[Needa308GT4]

you must be new to eBay?

[neilski]

eBay.... You will never find a more wretched hive of scum & villainy.

[martin mrt]

Sold my T5 Transporter on there, and quite a few parts recently with no issues, however it seems like the Mercedes attracts a "different" audience.

Bonkers really as its a fantastic buy at Mondeo money

[Ricey01]

neilski said:

eBay.... You will never find a more wretched hive of scum & villainy.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251088445254&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123#ht_1927wt_922

Boooo hiss!!

[DonkeyApple]

neilski said:

eBay.... You will never find a more wretched hive of scum & villainy.

True but I've been sourcing special parts for my 2 door Rangie project and I've met some brilliant and interesting people though it.

[ewan221]

neilski said:

eBay.... You will never find a more wretched hive of scum & villainy.

I raise u with gumtree

[martin mrt]

ewan221 said:

neilski said:

eBay.... You will never find a more wretched hive of scum & villainy.

I raise u with gumtree

Had too much hassle in the past with gumtree, hence why I chose ebay

[jaik]

martin mrt said:

So far I've had an abusive call as I ended the auction early for someone who turned out dodgy[…]

That's never worth doing. The only way I'll end an auction early is with the cash in my hand. Any serious buyer will be fine with that.

[Needa308GT4]

BUYING on ebay is great.

Selling, as a private seller? Nightmare.

I listed a garden statue for auction, big bold letters COLLECTION only, from East Sussex.Need suitable lifting equipment/transport

First message. "Would you arrange postage (postage??? It's best part of 500kgs???) to Suffolk?"

"No"

[martin mrt]

jaik said:

martin mrt said:

So far I've had an abusive call as I ended the auction early for someone who turned out dodgy[…]

That's never worth doing. The only way I'll end an auction early is with the cash in my hand. Any serious buyer will be fine with that.

I realise that now, I guess I'm a little too trusting. Won't be doing it again

[martin84]

Ive bought and sold on ebay for years - never cars though, so cant comment specifically on ebay motors - and most people are fine. Maybe around 2 or 3 percent have caused me some sort of bother, you always get the odd tt.

Its a bit too easy to get on Ebay IMO, for example to sign up to sell on Play.com as a PlayTrader (which will just be books, DVD's etc) you have to wait about four days as they run all sorts of checks on you.

[Fox-]

Is it the one in Aberdeen? Looks awesome. Love cars with stories like that, used properly. Bet it's better than most of the 100k milers.

Shame it'll be bought by some fool who won't be able to afford to look after it properly.

[Negative Creep]

martin84 said:

Ive bought and sold on ebay for years - never cars though, so cant comment specifically on ebay motors - and most people are fine. Maybe around 2 or 3 percent have caused me some sort of bother, you always get the odd tt.

Its a bit too easy to get on Ebay IMO, for example to sign up to sell on Play.com as a PlayTrader (which will just be books, DVD's etc) you have to wait about four days as they run all sorts of checks on you.

I find that for purchases Playtrade is far more reliable, and cheaper, than ebay

[Justin Cyder]

Sold a bit of computer kit last Friday on Ebay at 7pm. Got an email from the buyer on Sunday morning complaining that it hadn't arrived.

[martin84]

Negative Creep said:

I find that for purchases Playtrade is far more reliable, and cheaper, than ebay

A common theme for certain enterprising individuals on Ebay is to advertise a DVD box set for example at £5 more than you could get it from Amazon/Play etc, you pay the Ebayer, they buy it from another outlet and just type in your address instead of their own.

Always pays to look around

Playtrade is generally pretty good, as I said its hard to get on there in the first place. I had to give all sorts of details, bank details, proof of address, had to consent to a credit check and numerous other things. Ebay doesn't do any of that.

[Disco You]

It's a cheap Mercedes...ask yourself " Who buys cheap mercedes?"

[Negative Creep]

martin84 said:

Negative Creep said:

I find that for purchases Playtrade is far more reliable, and cheaper, than ebay

A common theme for certain enterprising individuals on Ebay is to advertise a DVD box set for example at £5 more than you could get it from Amazon/Play etc, you pay the Ebayer, they buy it from another outlet and just type in your address instead of their own.

Always pays to look around

Playtrade is generally pretty good, as I said its hard to get on there in the first place. I had to give all sorts of details, bank details, proof of address, had to consent to a credit check and numerous other things. Ebay doesn't do any of that.

Not sure how that scheme would work if the seller encloses a receipt! Zoverstocks in particular sell dvds and games at silly cheap prices, but the annoying thing about Play is that you can't browse by seller

[McSam]

martin84 said:

A common theme for certain enterprising individuals on Ebay is to advertise a DVD box set for example at £5 more than you could get it from Amazon/Play etc, you pay the Ebayer, they buy it from another outlet and just type in your address instead of their own.

Always pays to look around

Playtrade is generally pretty good, as I said its hard to get on there in the first place. I had to give all sorts of details, bank details, proof of address, had to consent to a credit check and numerous other things. Ebay doesn't do any of that.

That's fine, right up until eBay charge 10% final value fees and then screws you for a further 4% via PayPal - nowadays you have to be able to pull out a pretty huge margin to make it worthwhile.

I think eBay's failing is always going to be that it's specifically designed to be universal, user-friendly and safe for buyers. That's how it's popular and how it is never reputed as a "dodgy" place to buy things from, and to be honest the vast majority of those I've dealt with through eBay - buyers and sellers - have been absolutely fine and buyers in particular are generally impressed by you being a functioning human being. It does, though, mean that any dodgy prick can set up shop.

[krisdelta]

Justin Cyder said:

Sold a bit of computer kit last Friday on Ebay at 7pm. Got an email from the buyer on Sunday morning complaining that it hadn't arrived.

What? You didn't immediately package it in fluffy unobtainium, load it into your helicopter and deliver it on a velvet cushion within the hour? You're not doing it right