eBay

warren689 · ‎12-29-2018

What is up with all these people lately who won't pay? Best offer and bidders won't pay. Maybe it's time to can both options and up the prices so I don't have to deal with this. anyone else noticing a lot of this lately?

magicjohnsonsvariety · ‎12-30-2018

@equid0x wrote:
@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:
The point is though, even if there was a magical way to stop the winning npb, there's no guarantee the underbidder would pay either.

A sale's not a sale 'til there's cash in the bank (not even then when you think about easy returns).

I'm a firm believer that there are a hundred ways a buyer can screw you up worse than not paying.
I second that belief.

I'd rather a buyer just not pay then get something he really doesn't want, mess around with it for 2 weeks and then return it on my dime.
IMHO, online auctions ought to be just like real auctions... no returns, exchanges, or refunds. Nobody goes to a real auction expecting to return anything. Why do it here?

I go to real auctions and while it's true, most, if not all sales are final, the big difference is that I can test, say for example, an antique radio in person.

However, on ebay, the buyer is taking the sellers word for it that it works.

equid0x · ‎12-30-2018

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
IMHO, online auctions ought to be just like real auctions... no returns, exchanges, or refunds. Nobody goes to a real auction expecting to return anything. Why do it here?

Because this isn't a real auction; the buyer can't actually inspect the item, or hold it in their hands. There are items here that are inaccurately and poorly described, and there are questions that a buyer will never know to ask. If there are measurements, they may be wildly off. I have received items with as much as a 6 inch difference in the measurements.

The listing pics may be photo shopped or angled in such a way as to conceal damage. I remember an item I bought that had twelve pictures of every angle, except the one where there was a 2 inch rip. Some think no returns means you are stuck with it, sucker. Buyers may ask the seller questions, only to get answers that are false. If you point this out after the SNAD is received, you may be told the seller didn't look.

Due to all these things, buyers need the protection of the MBG for recourse.

I'm not sure what physical auctions you've been to. The ones I have been to(and there are many) you can look but can't touch unless its something large like a car or piece of machinery. If you see something you want half-buried in a pallet on the auction floor, you can do all the looking you want, but touching or pulling anything from the lot for inspection will get you kicked out. The only other exception I can think of is when there are table lots of smalls boxes of many tools or small parts. They might let you dig a little but it is generally frowned upon to be picking anything up or taking it out of the box.

equid0x · ‎12-30-2018

@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@equid0x wrote:
@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:
The point is though, even if there was a magical way to stop the winning npb, there's no guarantee the underbidder would pay either.

A sale's not a sale 'til there's cash in the bank (not even then when you think about easy returns).

I'm a firm believer that there are a hundred ways a buyer can screw you up worse than not paying.
I second that belief.

I'd rather a buyer just not pay then get something he really doesn't want, mess around with it for 2 weeks and then return it on my dime.
IMHO, online auctions ought to be just like real auctions... no returns, exchanges, or refunds. Nobody goes to a real auction expecting to return anything. Why do it here?
I go to real auctions and while it's true, most, if not all sales are final, the big difference is that I can test, say for example, an antique radio in person.

However, on ebay, the buyer is taking the sellers word for it that it works.

I've never been to an auction where you can plug anything in yourself. I have seen auctions where, if the items are sold individually like power tools, the auctioneer's assistant may plug it in and demonstrate the items functionality while the bids are coming in.

I have been to car auctions where you are allowed to open up and look all over the car, and even some where you can start the car, pull it forward, and back, but thats it. Normally, such exceptions were stated right up front(signs, hecklers) before you entered the area where you could do this.

magicjohnsonsvariety · ‎12-30-2018

@equid0x wrote:
@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@equid0x wrote:
@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:
The point is though, even if there was a magical way to stop the winning npb, there's no guarantee the underbidder would pay either.

A sale's not a sale 'til there's cash in the bank (not even then when you think about easy returns).

I'm a firm believer that there are a hundred ways a buyer can screw you up worse than not paying.
I second that belief.

I'd rather a buyer just not pay then get something he really doesn't want, mess around with it for 2 weeks and then return it on my dime.
IMHO, online auctions ought to be just like real auctions... no returns, exchanges, or refunds. Nobody goes to a real auction expecting to return anything. Why do it here?
I go to real auctions and while it's true, most, if not all sales are final, the big difference is that I can test, say for example, an antique radio in person.

However, on ebay, the buyer is taking the sellers word for it that it works.
I've never been to an auction where you can plug anything in yourself. I have seen auctions where, if the items are sold individually like power tools, the auctioneer's assistant may plug it in and demonstrate the items functionality while the bids are coming in.

I have been to car auctions where you are allowed to open up and look all over the car, and even some where you can start the car, pull it forward, and back, but thats it. Normally, such exceptions were stated right up front(signs, hecklers) before you entered the area where you could do this.

Obviously, local auctions are going to have different rules. But if an auctioneer wants to get top dollar, and most do, then bidders need to know if something functions properly.

Not a problem if your buying a Griswold skillet, but certain electrical items and watches won't sell very high if potential buyers are not allowed to test it.

Now...for more common items this might be accomplished with a simple "works" sticker affixed to the item, or by leaving a neon sign plugged in and lit up, a clock running, etc.

True that an auction wouldn't want 50 people plugging in and unplugging a power cord, so generally items that need to be are already plugged in.

But yes, some things they will also test just before bidding starts, like power tools.

I've never been to a car auction or a storage auction....both of which have increased risks, but people that go to these are fully aware of the risks.

However, your average consumer doesn't want risk, they just want what they order.

equid0x · ‎12-30-2018

@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@equid0x wrote:
@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@equid0x wrote:
@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:
@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:
The point is though, even if there was a magical way to stop the winning npb, there's no guarantee the underbidder would pay either.

A sale's not a sale 'til there's cash in the bank (not even then when you think about easy returns).

I'm a firm believer that there are a hundred ways a buyer can screw you up worse than not paying.
I second that belief.

I'd rather a buyer just not pay then get something he really doesn't want, mess around with it for 2 weeks and then return it on my dime.
IMHO, online auctions ought to be just like real auctions... no returns, exchanges, or refunds. Nobody goes to a real auction expecting to return anything. Why do it here?
I go to real auctions and while it's true, most, if not all sales are final, the big difference is that I can test, say for example, an antique radio in person.

However, on ebay, the buyer is taking the sellers word for it that it works.
I've never been to an auction where you can plug anything in yourself. I have seen auctions where, if the items are sold individually like power tools, the auctioneer's assistant may plug it in and demonstrate the items functionality while the bids are coming in.

I have been to car auctions where you are allowed to open up and look all over the car, and even some where you can start the car, pull it forward, and back, but thats it. Normally, such exceptions were stated right up front(signs, hecklers) before you entered the area where you could do this.
Obviously, local auctions are going to have different rules. But if an auctioneer wants to get top dollar, and most do, then bidders need to know if something functions properly.

Not a problem if your buying a Griswold skillet, but certain electrical items and watches won't sell very high if potential buyers are not allowed to test it.

Now...for more common items this might be accomplished with a simple "works" sticker affixed to the item, or by leaving a neon sign plugged in and lit up, a clock running, etc.

True that an auction wouldn't want 50 people plugging in and unplugging a power cord, so generally items that need to be are already plugged in.

But yes, some things they will also test just before bidding starts, like power tools.

I've never been to a car auction or a storage auction....both of which have increased risks, but people that go to these are fully aware of the risks.

However, your average consumer doesn't want risk, they just want what they order.

Okay, I've been to so many auctions I can pretty much assure you that the auctioneer could care less whether what you buy works unless its some specialty auction like southeby's.

The whole point of auctions is to assume the risk. The items sell for bottom dollar because the buyer assumes the risk. Maybe they find a gem and maybe the bid on **bleep**. The auctioneer doesn't care!

I've never seen a live auction with anything pre-plugged in. Like I said, maybe you'll find one with an assistant with an extension cord. For sure nothing was plugged in until the first bid went out.

I mean there are different "grades" of auctions. You can certainly find, say, a classic car auction where they're going to drive that car and rev the engine right on stage. But for more "consumer" items? Are you kidding? Theres no testing time or outlets or anything else.

You ever watch that old series with Gallery 63 or whatever in Atlanta? They're all freaking out on the one show because they can't get the auctioned wurlitzer to work and they know they'll get less for it if they can't show it working? That's exactly what I'm talking about.

I believe it was a recent southeby's auction by the guy with the painting... as soon as bidding was done, he sent some cell signal to shred the painting? You think the auctioneers knew about that?

I'm sorry but I have a hard time believing any statements about how auctions work if people are making claims that there are all kinds of testing and warranties going on. There are NOT. Go to an auction, any auction, and see for yourself.

magicjohnsonsvariety · ‎12-31-2018

Like I said, auctions are all run by different people who have different policies. I wouldn't attend an auction that acts shady about what they are selling.

Of, course, I think it helps to live in a very small town where everyone knows the auctioneer personally, and therefore a trust is established.

But on ebay, you're bidding on strangers auctions, so there needs to be some level of consumer protection.

At live auctions, it is solely dependent on the buyer to either test it or be willing to take the risk if bidding goes low enough....but on ebay items are "advertised", and there are rules and even laws when it comes to advertising....and false advetising.

castlemagicmemories · ‎12-31-2018

Patrons can decide if they want to buy sight unseen at an auction, and take that risk. They are aware of the risk in not being able to see, but still, they are physically close to the item and can see it~it isn't photo shopped or creatively and deceptively arranged. Here they may inadvertently receive what they thought was a an item in excellent condition, only to find that is not the case. Asking questions before buying may not yield any useful or true answers, the seller may just want a sale or won't be bothered to actually look at the item. What is acceptable at an auction may not be acceptable to online buying.

Having said that, there are many good sellers that don't indulge in such behavior.