eBay's house is no longer a safe place for buyers
Please bear with me I know this is long. I don't feel valued or appreciated as a consumer. Buyers spend money out her they make this machine work without Buyers it doesn't work. I’m not devaluing good Sellers, without them it doesn’t work either. I think these recent changes effect the honest Sellers and Buyers alike. I admittedly don’t sell out here, I make money in other endeavors and spend it here, or as I please. Or should I say used to spend it here (at least a lot more than I would hereafter), if this does not concern Sellers then by all means keep using this (EBay’s) platform.
You can have the largest platform and a hundred billion Sellers but if it's not a safe place buy you are just spinning your wheels, Lets face it if you are on Ebay to make money I wish you all the luck in the world, the only ones making money out here is Ebay and the big corps who can afford the competition, They know it is better to Sell lower than not sell at all… Thus the drop shipper was created they share the meager profits but the big corps & manufactures sell more products, everyone makes a little. It’s the buyer that pays the cost customer service is really degraded to nothing , and product info is scarce or just not available, it’s a waste of time to ask questions (some Sellers are drop shippers and either know absolutely nothing about the products they sell and seldom reach out to the suppliers or manufactures to get the specs that should be included in the listing. This creates a hit and mis situation (Buyers need the product so they roll the dice). The Sellers don’t like Buyers complaining (I understand that it takes time to get specs Etc, but on the other hand they don’t seem to mind that a buyer like myself will spend a lot of time cross referencing products hoping that one Seller may have more product info than another, this does not always pan out for the Buyer because pictures that look alike does not always equate to the same products. It’s a crap shoot for a buyer he either pays 2-3 times the price or gambles that the products are the same. Because I research as much as possible with little help from Sellers (most Sellers are actually pretty good at getting back to questions but as a Buyer this too is a crap shoot you waste a lot of time emailing and then waiting for a response that you may not get. I always appreciate the Sellers who have spec sheets and as much info possible, however there are times when a buyer needs a little more detail (most of the time I can find the info I need to make a intelligent decision but even this takes a lot of time even when a seller adds the extra info. At the risk of offending a few people and this is not meant to be racial in any way, but I have found that the lack of info in the listings are prevalent among foreign sellers who often are connected with competitive platforms that are manufacturer or supply warehouses. Either there’s translation issue or an Ebay Buyer is too small of a fish to bother with (again most are respectful enough to at least reach out even though it may take multiple emails to get the answer we need.
Now if you are a Fabricator like myself you often need specialized parts (your buying options are limited). Often if you buy in the US you are buying the same products that are being sold across seas… or an affiliated business sellling foriegn products (I don't see much of a problem with this except it is really dificult to get product info. I do my best to avoid foriegn Sellers because of shipping delays, but I know alot of what I buy comes from over seas evn though it is sold from U.S. based sellers (you just can't get arround it, not that I'm trying to avoid them I'm pretty much focused on availability of the proucts I am looking for. Even U.S. made products are outsourced manufacturing is outsourced, I say tyhis because there are those who will say buy U.S. products. This all adds to Buyer problems of not getting the proper product info needed. And it unfortunatly opens doors for dishonest Sellers to falsely advertise, after all who cares when all that is necessary is that the product last for 30 days yippee we just spent $200 to $1000 on a product that fails 31 days later (thanks Ebay). And a buyers (Ebay’s prescription – remedy) only option is a 10% - 20% markup for insurance. How about Ebay starts addressing the issues. How about Ebay start dealing with the scams and Sellers who intentionally violate transparency policies, misrepresent their products, intentionally lie in their listings, how about competing and matching other companies Price Matching, 90-Day Returns, Replacement Warrantees (Life Time or Applicable). Ebay can automatically track purchases, track listings if the sellers list a warranty make them stand behind it if they send the wrong item how much does it matter if a buyer does not install (find out) for 30 days. If it’s the wrong item it’s the wrong item, if it’s returned in the same condition or in a failed condition within 90 days does it really matter? The buyer did not get what they paid for. I have a set of brakes I purchased about 45 days ago I have not even open the box yet, I have snow on the ground (no shop) and it’s been freezing temperatures, there is no way for me to compare the parts without tearing into the project.
I’m a fabricator as well sometimes you have to wait for other parts to come in before you can even start the project. NO I CAN’T ALWAYS WAIT for all the parts before ordering on Ebay. It’s not always a visual inspections that confirm that a product is ok. It can be a simple defect in a relay that you buy ahead of time that once you have everything else built that fails. It happens, for most of these I don’t complain. I have started ordering several of the same products to have on hand (but now they just sit on the shelf till I find a use for them)… So the argument of if it’s important enough you buy locally to save a head ache the problem is they are selling the same products so you can’t get around it. Plus if you do find a product made in the U.S. you will find the components are outsourced. You can’t trust U.S. Made products either so you do research and roll the dice.
So for the Poster(s) who says there is no reason that it should take more than 30 days to inspect or use the products in most cases involving a tea cup, jewelry, or clothing etc this would be a correct assumption (baring gift items which can be embarrassing if they fail plus I don’t know anyone who waits till the last minute to buy a gift especially on the internet). There are cases where 30 days just is not sufficient PERIOD. This is why I look for items that have warrantee(s) and I pay extra for them, Why because EBAY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO LOWER THE PROTECTION PERIOD TO 30 DAYS. This is especially true for higher dollar items or items that take time to install (setup). If we are talking automotive parts they are (or should be comparably) the same as what you find at the local auto parts house (I must say that Starters, Alternators, Air Conditioning Units (or other select items) will generally last up to 6 months before failing or problems accrue. Or and then it may take time and troubleshooting (eliminating other possible causes for a system failure) Anyone who knows half of anything about mechanics or fabrication knows that it can take months of trouble shooting to resolve a mechanical issues in a car, Often you just have to throw money at it till the problem is fixed. You do all this assuming that the main part you bought months ago on Ebay is good. This is before you find out the new component has failed or never worked right from the beginning. But you paid more for the component an extended warrantee (or lifetime) only to find out that the Seller never had intention of honoring the warrantee. And even though they listed it and you bought it for the warrantee Ebay will not intercede.
Let me explain it this way. Let me assume you have a car, you are driving it and all of a sudden it starts making a noise… You know as you describe it to your mechanic “it kind of sounds like the thingamajigger is rubbing on the doohickeyâ€â€¦ And wouldn’t you know it, it stops making the noise the second you pull into the shop. Your mechanic has to start chasing the problem he replaces the belts and then the alternator, and wouldn’t you know after a month or two the problem comes back and he starts chasing again after two more months after replacing the engine and transmission he finds out that the new alternator had a bad bearing or was defective it happens even to the best mechanic but there you are you have a worthless alternator warrantee and you just spent an extra $2000 before discovering you new $250 alternator has gone out or was defective. But you want to know the kicker is that you discover it was your fault because you trusted a Seller on Ebay’s wounderful platform. Now it is true that just about any mechanic will not buy on Ebay (it becomes a waiting game) He would rather buy locally because he will mark it up 20% and it doesn’t matter if you bought the same part at the same store he will not guarantee it, chances are if he bought it and the part is under warrantee he will quietly replace and tell you it was something else was wrong or just say that his labor does not guarantee the parts. It is extremely rare if your mechanic wont charge you under those circumstances. So if you are mechanically inclined you do your own work with the understanding that if the part is defective its going to cost you more time and money regardless if the part(s) warrantee is honored so you buy parts with a good warrantee and pray that you won’t have to do it again. The only difference between comparable parts bought locally and online if they both have the same warrantee is the initial cost, and the time the parts take to arrive (most are delivered in 2-3 days). Oh and the same part bought on EBAY does not have to honor their warrantee… Because of this most proponents choose to buy locally even though they will pay 2-3 times as much, it’s a matter of preference and should in no way detour or take away from buying from Ebay but it does only because Ebay allows Sellers to get away with it and the Seller has anonymity. This is inexcusable for Ebay especially in the light of the adds Ebay motors are promoting.
This is wrong no matter how you slice it. Ebay is completely worthless unless you are buying nickel and dime products that you expect will fail or be the wrong item when it arrives. And as far as Pay Pal goes they have never helped and always take the same stance as Ebay. From what Ebay has done and the stance they have taken against the buyers they don’t care if Buyers are being ripped off. Yes there are scammers on both sides of the fence this is not a rant on all Sellers there are more great Sellers than bad Sellers on Ebay but it only takes a few bad Sellers to ruin it for everyone. I am a good Buyer I pay and I don’t complain if I didn’t pay for it (warrantees). And before any ones says it “you do get what you pay forâ€. Buyer has a reasonable expectation that what he buys will work and be what he paid for. As a buyer I have a reasonable expectation of getting what I paid for… That is you cannot inspect (test PROPERLY) sealed products, you don’t know what parts are used this is why Buyers need Specs… hear what I am saying! telling me it will handle 20 amps is good but if it’s wired with 16 gauge wire it will fail. Such as the under the sink water heater (Ebay purchase I never complained about because “you get what you pay for†mentality ) that has failed me for the 4th time… works great when its working but I have to keep fixing the burnt out wiring. My next fix will require bypassing the lighter switches to handle heavier wires. I hope I don’t burn down the house….
The bottom line is I am a good buyer I use the buy it now feature exclusively. This saves me and the Seller time, money, and hassle. All I want is Sellers to be honorable and have integrity. There will be problems (it happens), But I don’t want Sellers out here that intentionally deceive Buyers. Are there any Sellers who actually want irresponsible (rip off) Sellers out here? They are no better than Buyers who intentionally scam Sellers. I just want what I pay for (if it’s cheaply made and I break I don’t complain if I don’t think it will hold up, before I use it I contact the Seller and work it out with them, but this is usually if the item isn’t as decscribed. It’s not about getting something for free and it’s not all about getting it cheaper… there are Sellers charging 2-3 times as much for the identical product(s) regardless if its good quality or not… in this case you buy cheap). It’s the Seller responsibility to list their items accurately and send the right product. And if they have a warrantee rather or not it’s a manufacturer warrantee or not they should at least step up to help get the item replaced (See It Though) pass on the contact info to the manufacturer and step up to see the process through. Since it’s Ebay platform they are ultimately responsible to enforce their guidelines and arbitrate for the Buyer to get all that they are paying for (I pay extra for items with listed warrantees) I should not have to buy extra insurance if a warrantee is part of the listing. Again Ebay should not allow deceptive listing practices on it’s platform. There needs to be arbitration to resolve issues involving intentional deception listing practices. I will limit my buying on Ebay till they fix these issues (stick to nickel and dime items like most responders who think Ebay has no responsibility here). Has anyone else noticed that Ebay is advertising heavily for Ebay motors… and people still defend Ebay by saying they are not responsible for allowing deceptive listings… It’s their platform… If you come to my house and I allow another guest to beat you and rob you, would you feel welcome in my house, would you feel safe? It’s my house I own it and it’s my (platform) responsibility to make my guest safe and confortable. I DON’T LET THIEVES AND LIERS IN MY HOUSE, AND IF YOU ARE INVITED TO MY HOME I GARRENTEE AS LONG AS I AM BREATHING NO ONE WILL HARM YOU. Saying Ebay are not the Sellers does not relieve them from the responsibility to make sure the Buyer is in fact receiving the item and all its warrantees and support that is implied and listed. IT IS EBAYS HOUSE IF WE ARE INVITED INTO EBAYS HOME WE SHOULD ALL FEEL SAFE.
This is not just about the inexcusable 30 days protection period which is just another way to rip off consumers. You are not safe no matter what you do. It really irritates me that Ebay is promoting car parts available through Ebay Motors on TV. There is absolutly no incentive to buy parts on ebay almost everyone has a 90 day return policy is it good enough maybe for trinkets, dishes and cloths but LETS GET REAL who wants or would pay $200 - $1000 for electronic equipment or car parts that don't don't support a manufacture warrantee This is really sad.
