Sellers (generally China) offering items they don't actually have in stock?

[fli-invent]

Just wanted to give a warning to buyers.  Reality of Ebay. 

Many China based sellers are actually brokers or drop shippers.  They do not actually have stock of the items they have listed.  Once you place your order, they contact the actual person that is supposed to have that item, and then that other person drop ships it to you.

Thats all ok except:

  - Some of the actual sellers do not keep inventory numbers up to date, so you will order an item, and then after a relatively long time (1 or 2 weeks), the seller will tell you the item is not in stock.  I only use highly rated sellers, and so far they always refund.  But if you need that item, you just wasted weeks.

 - You dont know where its going to ship from; it ships from where ever the actual seller is located.  No relation to the Chinese city listed on Ebay.

 - Some times confusion can result if they are complex items with various options (like industrial electronics parts), because the Ebay seller does not actually have the item or knowledge of it.  All your information is second hand.

Also, they do not admit this.  If you contact them the stock response is some version of "we are getting it from the warehouse, then it has to be tested and packed before shipping".  They will never tell you they are a broker and do not actually posses the item you are buying.

Seems to happen more with expensive items.  I assume the low cost items the actual sellers do have dozens or hundreds in stock, so the low cost stuff usually ships same day. 

Also, I have seen this reported by other buyers.  Its kind of a well known thing if you buy enough stuff from China.  Just in case you think its only me.

Also, high rating of the seller does not prevent this.  If the seller has a high rating, then you will get your money refunded if the item never ships.  The reason is, Ebay buyers will always leave positive feedback unless their money gets taken.  Even me, as long as they return the money, I give positive feedback.  Try to read the feedback reviews, for me I will write in the review what ever problems occured.

I do continue to buy from China.  Why?  For the items I buy, mostly surplus Industrial Electronics, there is much more available in China.  Because they now have way way more factories over there than here at home.  No, my items are not 'made in China', they are 'used in China', at the factories.  Most of the things I use are American, Japanese or Gernan companies industrial electronics parts used in factories. 

And the modern reality most of those factories are and still are located in China.  Dont believe all you read in news about 're-shoring' of factories.  If you check the trade deficit USA to China, it continues to get higher, not better.

By the way, I have Never seen this behavior from USA, Canada or Europe sellers.  The broker thing is ok, its just an irritant that they dont tell you the truth.  So if you are using the item for work or business and its delayed by weeks, well,,,

[mudshark61369]

@fli-invent,

Most experienced ebay users know all about the problems associated with buying from China, and avoid those sellers when ever possible. The inexperienced members probably do not visit these boards, until they have an issue, so your warning may never be seen by them.

"I have Never seen this behavior from USA, Canada or Europe sellers. The broker thing is ok, its just an irritant that they dont tell you the truth. So if you are using the item for work or business and its delayed by weeks, well,,,".

Yet you keep buying from China based sellers, knowing they may not have items in stock, or have lied about the item location,  Fool me once...

[fab_finds4u]

It's  just not China. My pet peeve is in vintage guitars. You can search on eBay for a certain model,  and find it, and search Dr Google and find 4 for sale on non-eBay sites using your pictures and serial number exclusive to your guitar, and all those sellers  are in Japan.  Of course they listed it for $1,000-$2000 more than yours, and you know your price is spot on. Then if and when they get a sale they buy it from me and I ship it. Then mysteriously those other ads disappear.  

I really don't  care if they get a sale and they use me to dropship because I'm getting what I ask,  but it bothers me their buyers don't look on eBay for the best price. Or if they are maybe they think I'm the scammer ripping off the ad from Japan.  It's  messed up. 

[kensgiftshop]

It's not just sellers from China.

There are sellers all around the world that dropship.

If they have a lot of new items listed, they are probably dropshipping.

[khetzel]

I hate dropshippers.  I avoid them like the plague.  Last time I got bit was several years ago.  And I will say every time I ordered from one, I did not realize it at the time of ordering.  I have gotten better at sniffing them out.

Last time like I said was years ago but I needed let's call it a $30 part.  Listed all over eBay for $8-10 but of course several week delivery timeframe.  Here I find one seller in the USA, red white and blue all over his listing, located in USA!  USA warehouse!  Fast shipping!  Only $15!  

SMH I did fall for it, and he was just a dropshipper took my money sent $8 to China made me wait.  

Never again!  I really detest dropshippers lol.

[monsterd]

Just curious, what categories do people see this the most in?

I know in Switch/Modules there's a bunch. 

Also, you can tell where they're located you just have to click their profile and then about but still not very helpful from a results/listing page view. 

[kingred69]

Hello

Sellers, often from China, may list products they don't actually have in stock to attract customers. This practice is sometimes referred to as "dropshipping," where sellers take orders but only fulfill them once the product is ordered from a third-party supplier. This can result in delayed shipping times, customer dissatisfaction, and potential issues with product availability. It's important to verify product stock and seller reliability before making purchases.

[mudshark61369]

@monsterd,

"Just curious, what categories do people see this the most in?"

Almost any category you can name have sellers who drop ship in them.  Drop shipping itself is not an issue if a seller uses a reliable product source, but the only way to tell if they do is to check their feedback profile page making sure to click on the See classic view button then click on the numbers of neutral and negatives in the box to read only those comments.

If the seller is located in China they are a drop shipper and they are the most problematic sellers on this site.

[kh-laura]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.