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[FortNinety]

I remember a time when eBay was simple to use. Now it's WAY too complicated.

For example, I just sold an item and want to ship it to the person. Problem is, I can't figure out the recipient's mailing address. There's just way too many option that lead to no where. I suppose I could get the info by "creating an invoice" but that leads me to paypal, and I don't want to pay for postage via paypal, I just want to take it the post office! This over automation of shit has gotten out of hand. Maybe I could have had the address mailed to, but perhaps I didn't click a certain preferance for it to happen beforehand.

Everything, especially the act of selling used to be so simple, clean cut and dry. I don't give a shit about stupid templates, and I'm certain no one else gives a rat's ass about it as well. When was the last time you bought a movie because the seller has some stupid Hollywood related clip art on the border, or the listing was in bold, with a box around it, with a cherry on top. No I buy something cuz its a cheap! Period.

Speaking off, why is buying/selling anything video game related such an ordeal? I deal with all sorts of goods and NEVER have problems with anyone, unless its a video game. Those who sell are always extremely lazy when it comes to shipping things on time, and forget about buying anything used, because everyone treats their media like total shit, with scratches all over the place, and often caked in sticky residue that I don't even want to think about. As for selling, no one wants to pay what they owe and are always filled with transparent excuses.

I remember a time if it was just a few nice folks just selling and buying extra, useless junk. Now you've got all these jack-asses with their eBay stores that claim to make a living off them. The best is when they pander and beg for feedback, when they themselves never leave any! If I wanted to deal with an impersonal, insincere, jack-assed salesman like attitude, I would have gone to Best Buy or GameStop directly.

Please excuse this LJ-like rant. Guess I'm just really frustrated with a needlessly messy auction right now...

 

[PhatSaqs]

I think Ebay is great if you're using Paypal. Getting the shipping address is easy through there as well.

 

[tmdorsey]

On the topic of Ebay, I just purchased a very expensive item ($400) from a foreign seller(UK) who has no feeback. Before you think I'm a dumbass, the purchase was made through Paypal so I think I have some protection.

My question is just incase this guy shits me, how hard is it to dispute charges and purcahses through Paypal/Ebay?

 

[FortNinety]

I think Ebay is great if you're using Paypal. Getting the shipping address is easy through there as well.

The thing is, I do use PayPal. I just don't want to use it for everything, like shipping.

 

[FiRez]

I can't use ebay
f***ing paypal not listing my country.

 

[Mr. E. Yis]

For example, I just sold an item and want to ship it to the person. Problem is, I can't figure out the recipient's mailing address.

Um....Email them and ask? On the auction page, there should be a link somewhere that says "send this member a message". If there isn't on the auction page, just click their name - send message. Or if you got an email saying you sold the item, see if the person's email is somewhere in it.

 

[RedDwarf]

You can go to Paypal for the address if they've paid that way without having to actually use them for anything. I never do anything with them regarding shipping, just address gathering before I head off for the post office.

 

[PhatSaqs]

You can go to Paypal for the address if they've paid that way without having to actually use them for anything. I never do anything with them regarding shipping, just address gathering before I head off for the post office.

What this man said. Just go click on the "Ship" button next to the buyers name and just steal the addy info.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

On the topic of Ebay, I just purchased a very expensive item ($400) from a foreign seller(UK) who has no feeback. Before you think I'm a dumbass, the purchase was made through Paypal so I think I have some protection.

My question is just incase this guy shits me, how hard is it to dispute charges and purcahses through Paypal/Ebay?

When you bought it using PayPal they probably asked you if you wanted added protection on the deal, or if it was offered for that transaction. You probably said no

It's easy to get them to freeze his PayPal acct. but it may not matter if he took the money out. But don't freak out yet, give him a little time.

 

[Discharger]

On the topic of Ebay, I just purchased a very expensive item ($400) from a foreign seller(UK) who has no feeback. Before you think I'm a dumbass, the purchase was made through Paypal so I think I have some protection.

My question is just incase this guy shits me, how hard is it to dispute charges and purcahses through Paypal/Ebay?

Be careful with this one. I ordered an item from someone in the UK a while ago, and never heard anything back. When I tried to get a refund from paypal, I found out their policy only covers the first 30 days, so if the package is going to take longer than 30 days to get there, you should cancel it or find the item from somewhere else. It's funny because the guy was very communicative about it right up until the 30 days passed, then he didn't return a single email. Left negative feedback on both ebay and paypal, but I didn't get my money back. Sucks, but I'll only make that mistake once.

edit: This was close to a year ago - I don't remember any protection option when I set it up, otherwise I would have taken it

 

[FortNinety]

Um....Email them and ask? On the auction page, there should be a link somewhere that says "send this member a message". If there isn't on the auction page, just click their name - send message. Or if you got an email saying you sold the item, see if the person's email is somewhere in it.

My point is that all the info you needed used to be included at the end of the auction in one handy-dandy page. I don't know why the hell eBay changed this.

 

[FortNinety]

You can go to Paypal for the address if they've paid that way without having to actually use them for anything. I never do anything with them regarding shipping, just address gathering before I head off for the post office.

Very good point. I tried it and it worked. Thanks!

But all my bitching about eBay still stands (especially the stuff about how annoying it is to deal with video gamers).

 

[tmdorsey]

Be careful with this one. I ordered an item from someone in the UK a while ago, and never heard anything back. When I tried to get a refund from paypal, I found out their policy only covers the first 30 days, so if the package is going to take longer than 30 days to get there, you should cancel it or find the item from somewhere else. It's funny because the guy was very communicative about it right up until the 30 days passed, then he didn't return a single email. Left negative feedback on both ebay and paypal, but I didn't get my money back. Sucks, but I'll only make that mistake once.

edit: This was close to a year ago - I don't remember any protection option when I set it up, otherwise I would have taken it

30 days for something to ship from the UK? Is that standard????

 

[Nikashi]

Before they pay, the buyer's zip code will be shown on the listing page so you can calculate shipping. Once the payment is marked as sent, you can view the actual ended listing, and click 'View Payment Details'. That will show the buyer's full mailing address. All the functions you need are on that ended listing, actually, "In one handy dandy page".

 

[Teal'c]

I'm scared of Ebay now. With the Bidpay frauds and what not I'm just steering clear of it all together. Unless I'm looking for something very rare, or old, I'm not looking. I use to go there a while back when you could still find good wholesale deals on games and get nice used carts for the N64 and gameboy for a good price. Now half of them are from Hong Kong and Pirated. You can't trust ANYONE. Ebay needs to do a clean sweep and somehow straighten up its act. Its gone way overboard, its TOO big....for me at least.

 

[Nikashi]

I'm scared of Ebay now. With the Bidpay frauds and what not I'm just steering clear of it all together. Unless I'm looking for something very rare, or old, I'm not looking. I use to go there a while back when you could still find good wholesale deals on games and get nice used carts for the N64 and gameboy for a good price. Now half of them are from Hong Kong and Pirated. You can't trust ANYONE. Ebay needs to do a clean sweep and somehow straighten up its act. Its gone way overboard, its TOO big....for me at least.

Don't use BidPay or ANYTHING Western Union based on eBay. EVER. Use a credit card through PayPal, because in case of fraud you can file a claim through PayPal which can work a lot of the time, and even if you can't, you can do a payment reversal on your card, so the chance of getting totally ripped off drops quite a bit.

If the seller doesn't accept PayPal, that's a warning sign, IMO.

 

[Synth_floyd]

I don't use ebay to sell stuff anymore. Way too complicated and there's the ebay fee and paypal fee and you have to pack it up and ship it. Eh. For buying stuff though it's alright.

 

[ChrisReid]

I remember a time when eBay was simple to use. Now it's WAY too complicated.

How is it harder to find someone's address? I never had a problem finding people's addresses, but if you don't understand the eBay interface, you could just email the winning bidder like we used to do back in the day. That was the only option available back in the late 1990s, and they haven't taken that away.

 

[madara]

I remember a time when eBay was simple to use. Now it's WAY too complicated. .

I absolutely agree. I remember a time when you could actually make money on Ebay! Before crazy fees, inane rules and 1000 other copycat sellers if you actually find something that sells well yet is not mass listed yet. It totally kept me off the street thru 96-98, now I be luckly to break even of thing I think to list.

 

[BobbyRobby]

My question is just incase this guy shits me, how hard is it to dispute charges and purcahses through Paypal/Ebay?

Don't worry, you'll get your money back if they don't send it.

I sold a pair of shoes for a friend that ended up at $150 to someone in Hong Kong. I sent them out, and the guy claimed he never got it about 10 days after I sent it. Paypal took my money, and decided in favor of the buyer with no investigation whatsoever. They ask for tracking number, but that service is not offered when shipping overseas.

 

[Macam]

eBay blows. It was good for about 3 years, but right around 2000 or so, it just became a giant clusterfuck, akin to an online Wal-Mart. Sniping software, insane rules, dodgy peddlers, an insane amount of illegal goods cluttering up search results....frankly, I'm surprised eBay is doing as well it is, although apparently auctions make up a far smaller percentage of their revenue and their car business has been booming.

I'm part of the goodcow army: Amazon fo' life!

 

[BobbyRobby]

Fuck!

I'm selling a sealed copy of Elemental Gimmick Gear. One person was the high bidder. Another bidder repeatedly made bids until he outbid the high bidder. Then after doing so, cancels his bids. Now the auction is set to end tomorrow with a much lower price, and many of the watchers already stopped wathcing it because the price got high.

This is the second time its happened in the past month.

 

[LM4sure]

Ebay rocks. I just sell shit for fun and to make a little profit as well. It keeps me entertained. I always have to be making money...or trying at least.

 

[FortNinety]

Okay, I got another problem: I bought some stuff for a guy (video game related items, of course) about a month ago and still haven't received anything. I exchanged emails with the guy but at this point I don't think he gives a shit or anything. So what can I do aside from leaving negative feedback? What's the process of reporting somebody? Can I possibly get my money back from PayPal, even if I didn't get the protection thing they offer? Just wanted to hear from others that might have gone through the same ordeal to see if they have any insight. Thanks in advance.

 

[Nikashi]

Fuck!

I'm selling a sealed copy of Elemental Gimmick Gear. One person was the high bidder. Another bidder repeatedly made bids until he outbid the high bidder. Then after doing so, cancels his bids. Now the auction is set to end tomorrow with a much lower price, and many of the watchers already stopped wathcing it because the price got high.

This is the second time its happened in the past month.

Report the bidder for an invalid bid retraction. You can only retract your bid if you made a typo or something, and even then you have to bid the amount you meant to enter.

 

[Nikashi]

Okay, I got another problem: I bought some stuff for a guy (video game related items, of course) about a month ago and still haven't received anything. I exchanged emails with the guy but at this point I don't think he gives a shit or anything. So what can I do aside from leaving negative feedback? What's the process of reporting somebody? Can I possibly get my money back from PayPal, even if I didn't get the protection thing they offer? Just wanted to hear from others that might have gone through the same ordeal to see if they have any insight. Thanks in advance.

I would definitely at least try to file a claim through PayPal, as well as report the seller to eBay using the Item Not Recieved process:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/inr-snad-policy.html

 

[MC Safety]

I went to purchase a DVD from a seller on Ebay. I didn't know, however, the dude was just a pirate with a burner, churning out the same DVD and selling it multiple times in multiple auctions. The guy also had the nerve to want to charge $18 for shipping one DVD in one jewel case.

Ebay didn't give a crap, despite my protestations. For my part, I was surprised at how godawful hard it was to simply file a complaint. Finally, I bit the bullet, told the guy I wasn't paying for a pirated DVD, sent the thing back to him, and canceled the credit card charge.

I got negative feedback and learned a lesson in the process. Don't trust anyone.

 

[Wafflecopter]

I've only bought two items on it. Planescape: Torment and UT2K4 with money orders. Torment came in a fucking jewel case minus the manual, and UT2K4 came in very good condition with the manual but in the absolutely ginormous box I didn't think they sold games in anymore. I was going to purchase Killer 7 for 35 flate rate off a user who has a positive rating of 99.2%. After looking at his responses to the negative point claims and seeing how much of a shiteater the user was when things went wrong, I decided to just go to Gamestop and buy it.

 

[evil ways]

I frequently use Ebay to purchase stuff and I've never had any big problems besides packages taking 2-3 more days to arrive than they should, also the usual seller charging $5 for Priority Shipping then when I get the package a week later it says First Class $1.49 or something. I usually use it to fill holes in my toy, game and DVD collection, especially if it's an imported or out of print item.

The only negative feedback I have is from when I won a 12" RAH Snake figure for $138 buy it now, and shipping was specified on the auction as $20 from a New York seller, which I know was a bit high already but decided it was still a good deal. I get an invoice from the guy saying the total was $173, $15 more that what the auction stated for USPS Priority Mail. I told him there was a mistake since the auction said $20 and I was in the United States, then he comes back saying that's the actual shipping quote from the post office.

Knowing that I am right and the guy is trying to screw with my wallet, I searched the web for any online retailers that were selling the same figure, and used the package's height x width x depth & the actual weight information they provided to calculate the shipping. Even after adding 2 extra lbs. to the weight and enough space to fit the package on a large box the total for shipping was around $16. I send that info to the seller telling him that I will not pay more than the $20 stated in the auction and the next day I find a negative feedback stating I was a non paying bidder. Fuck him. Oh yeah and Ebay didn't do shit about it either, I just got a response saying that payment and shipping disagreements should be resolved between the seller and the buyer.

Turns out a few weeks later I found the same figure at a small local comic & import shop that had just oppened for $148, just $10 more than the auction.

 

[Wafflecopter]

Ebay is merely a portal in which you use to find the items. You're not their customer, but the customer of the one you choose to purchase from. They honestly don't give a rat's fuck if something goes wrong with your purchase, which is a damn shame.

 

[FortNinety]

Great, another ordeal.

I purchased an iPod cable from some guy for $6. They looked brand new in his pic. (it has the plastic cover over the Firewire plug and was still in a coil with some plastic). Seemed like a really good deal. But shipping was $7 (including insurance, that's more than the item, I know), so I assumed that this seller was going the extra mile with the packaging, which I always appreciate.

About a week later, I get the cable in a plain manilla envelope. Guess how much he spent on shipping? A whopping sixty cents! Plus the cable was not the one from the picture; the cable I got was obviously used.

So I emailed the guy saying that I was both mislead and rip-offed, and he offered a refund, but minus the price of shipping. So I left the guy negative feedback and told him that I would report his ass, and he in turn left negative feedback (though he didn't have anything to say other than repeat his offer publicly, minus the not covering the shipping part).

But my question is this: I can leave a response to his reply, but am unable to find the option ANYWHERE. Can someone please show me where it is? I know its a numb question, but I have to ask.

BTW, this is probably my last eBay transaction for a while.

EDIT: NM about the replying to feedback, I found it. Like I said, eBay's shitty layout is far too cumbersone to be of any use. Too many useless options.

 

[Killkernal]

I rarely buy from eBay anymore unless the seller has very good feedback and the shipping is at least reasonable. It seems like anytime there's a decent deal on a game or CD, the shipping is around $5 if not more. It's especially frustrating if I know the item is shipping First Class.
I charge a flat rate shipping fee for all videogames/CD's and anything can be shipped with a good amount of padding in a bubble-mailer for under $2 First Class. If the seller is charging much more than that, you're already getting scammed.

 

[Tarazet]

I rarely buy from eBay anymore unless the seller has very good feedback and the shipping is at least reasonable. It seems like anytime there's a decent deal on a game or CD, the shipping is around $5 if not more. It's especially frustrating if I know the item is shipping First Class.
I charge a flat rate shipping fee for all videogames/CD's and anything can be shipped with a good amount of padding in a bubble-mailer for under $2 First Class. If the seller is charging much more than that, you're already getting scammed.

Money is money, it doesn't matter if it's coming out of the item or the shipping. If you really don't like it, there's a way to make the main auction listing display the shipping cost right next to the price (do a search, then down the left side at the bottom of the Search Options panel, choose "Customize options displayed above").

 

[vatstep]

I'm currently dealing with a phantom bidder. I tried to sell my PS2 and some things on here, but it didn't work out. So I put it up on eBay and within six minutes, someone "bought it now". 1 feedback-rating guy. Since I was still sitting at the computer when it sold, I e-mailed an invoice expecting to get something back, at least letting me know when he planned to pay, etc. Nothing. Almost 48 hours later, still nothing and no sign of payment. And he's still bidding on other items, so it's not like he hasn't had computer access. Aren't you supposed to make contact if you're not paying with PayPal? I'm really impatient here.. I have a feeling the guy is just not going to pay, and I don't want to wait a whole week like eBay suggests.

Also, I only have a personal PayPal account, not business/premier, so I can't accept any payments other than ones that come from bank accounts. 3 out of my last 8 auctions, people used a credit card ANYWAYS even though I clearly stated in the auction details, in bold, that I would not accept them. One of the guys was nice enough to send a money order, but the other two, I never heard from again. Seriously, fucking idiots. Do people even read? No wonder so many dumbasses get scammed - like at PS2 launch when people were just selling THE BOX and there were legit bids.

Edit: I re-listed my PS2 and it sold. I stated TWICE, IN BOLD, in the auction details that I was only accepting PayPal, and the guy who won wants to pay with a money order. What the fuck is wrong with people?