Why I buy as little as I can on eBay

[drkenb]

As a seller, I dramatically reduced my sales on eBay several years ago because of eBay's fees.  I think it is shameful that they take fees on S&H as well as on state sales tax.  For our items, eBay's fees inflate the cost to customers by an average of 18-26%.  I have also been reducing my purchases on eBay for much the same reason - eBay's fees inflate the cost of goods considerably, so I prefer to go to fill_in_the_blank.com for my purchases.  eBay is the very last place I look to for items.

But there is also another, equally-important reason I don't buy on eBay: the dishonesty of sellers.  I can't trust the sellers on eBay, period.  In example: I recently needed to purchase some EPROM computer chips.  I found several sellers on eBay (located in China) who were advertising NEW ORIGINAL chips.  I purchased from two different sellers.  Winds up that both sellers were the same individual.  OK, no real issue in that... except the seller was selling USED - and very obviously used - chips.  I reported this to eBay as fraudulent activity, and I just received a response from eBay telling me that they "investigated" (b.s.) and did not find any eBay policy infraction.  So you may advertise your item(s) on eBay as NEW ORIGINAL when you are really selling used items.  Kinda makes one feel real good about shelling out money on eBay.

Honestly, I have NEVER had this sort of problem on any site in the US.  Amazon, Etsy, eBluejay, Walmart, Target, Lowes, Home Depot - you name the US site, never an issue.

Unfortunately, I cannot same the same for Chinese sites such as TEMU and Aliexpress, but that is another story for another place.

Back to eBay... I used to purchase a LOT off eBay, but the past few years it has gotten so bad that I simply don't even bother anymore - not worth the aggravation and time.  I would go as far to say that the inflated prices on eBay would be worth it IF I were assured that the sellers on eBay were honest and that eBay was actively working to ensure that.  From where I sit, eBay is not.

[12345jamesstamps]

I look at the eBay seller ID in feedbacks and if it saids 'China'...you as a buyer know where it comes from.

Imagine all the items that come from China sold at Target, Walmart, etc.

And 60 % of sellers on Amazon are 3rd party sellers so your item still might come direct from China.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

How did you report this "fraudulent activity". If it was not under the Ebay Moneyback Guarantee as an "item not as described claim" you wasted your time and Ebay's time.

Ebay does not deploy judges to answer complaints which may or may not be as fraudulent as the activity you reported. The do not investigate. They rely upon statistical algorithms which analyze for patterns of order defects.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@drkenb wrote:

"So you may advertise your item(s) on eBay as NEW ORIGINAL when you are really selling used items."

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Is this not what you are complaining about? Unless you're an authorized dealer (Revopint), the same argument can be made towards you. No?

[eburtonlab]

So you may advertise your item(s) on eBay as NEW ORIGINAL when you are really selling used items.

If you purchase an item as new that turns out to be used or otherwise "not as described", you can return it at the seller's expense for a full refund using eBay's money back guarantee.

A user just reporting a listing, however, will not accomplish much unless the listing itself obviously violates policy. eBay cannot just examine the listing alone and determine that the seller is delivering used parts unless the actual buyer is willing to file a return case.

Avoiding purchasing items from sellers registered overseas unless those sellers have demonstrated a solid reputation for delivering exactly what was described can help you to avoid having to invoke the money back guarantee in the first place.

[fbusoni]

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@drkenb wrote:

So you may advertise your item(s) on eBay as NEW ORIGINAL when you are really selling used items.  

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@drkenb 

Not if you want to stay in business.

The problem with my fellow Americans who buy on eBay is -- as I have found over 25 years of selling here --that they are generally cheapskates.  

Overseas seller's know that and price their garbage accordingly.    ("Real" Morgan silver dollars direct from China, for example -- such a deal!!  And boy do they sell like hotcakes! )

I imagine that these sellers know that they will not be on the hook to return your money.

[bonjourami]

Wow, your feedback left is a sea of red, why do you continue to buy from China?

[glorybells]

You’ve been on eBay 22 years, and you’re just now figuring out not to buy from China?

At best you’re probably going to get counterfeit items.

[roccotacodad54]

   " I found several sellers on eBay (located in China)".

You already have the answer to your problems............