Ebay:

admin

This is not a welding related topic at all. However many consistently bash and degrade ebay citing sellers, or the site in general. Seldom do I see positives applied to them but negatives are aplenty. Human psyche I suppose. That being said, I'd like to share a few positive experiences I've had.Just today I received a full refund for a Mack NOS speedometer and shipping costs I'd purchased from a gent which was misrepresented. I've been around automobiles all my life and know the difference between something which is actually NOS, (New Old Stock) and something that is simply "dolled up" for a sale. Screwdriver pry marks, torn bezels, scratched paint etc. are indicative of something in less than perfect condition and never used as in this instance. One has to be careful on other avenues such as Craigslist, but ebay actually has some very good protections built in to cover you if something is amiss.Last year I'd purchased a 12VDC starter solenoid for a Delco 40MT starter and never received the part. I followed the procedure and was sent a full refund on this transaction also with the seller eventually being banned. I'm quite certain that does not happen overnight but it did in this instance.Another time I purchased a low mileage 350 Mack engine with fresh overhaul and actually witnessed it running on a support stand prior to hauling it to the shop. With the purchase I received a receipt which coincided with the seller's description and timeframe of rebuild. After installing this engine into a truck and discovering very low oil pressure, I dropped the oil pan and found the pump screen almost plugged solid. Not only had the engine not be overhauled, it had bearings rolled in and two journals were already spun but not yet knocking, (crankshaft was shot). It wasn't long before it would have come apart. This coupled with a seller whom would not even entertain my calls resulted in an "opened case" in ebay. As this settled out, I was out the cost of the 450 mile trip to evaluate and transport the engine, but the complete selling price was refunded and the seller being banned. The seller was to pay for shipping the engine back but nobody ever picked it up from the shop and I still have it. It is slated to be installed into my B model welding rig in the spring after it received a good "freshening up", and runs perfect. I'd be interested in hearing any positive stories if you'd care to share concerning online vendors. Far too much negative in this world we must exist within. I really don't look at Craigslist much because to make a distant purchase one is basically elevating the level of "trust" to a person whom they've never met with little recourse is something doesn't go right. Thanks,SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:I've had very good luck on ebay - I normally buy new stuff there though, not used.I've had a couple used items over the years not work out, sellers and I were able to work it out without going through ebay.I am very picky about what I buy used through ebay.I use craigs list with very good results too.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:The way I see it, if you buy something on eBay, thru Paypal, you have buyer protection.You can't get screwed!!Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:While I haven't dealt much with eBay in the last year due to moving the next state east, I have had very good experiences with purchasing on eBay. Where else is one going to be able to come up with a clapper box mount on a first series Logan 7" pre-WWII metal shaper? Such an impossible object that nobody else was even interested in bidding on it, so I got it for the initial bid.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopThe way I see it, if you buy something on eBay, thru Paypal, you have buyer protection.You can't get screwed!!
Reply:Ebay is my friend.  I buy and I sell there.  No real problems that ebay hasn't been able to settle to my satisfaction.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:I am Ebay big time ,have somthing like 1,200 plus positive feed backs  I have purchased from around the world with no problem ,selling now that is something else  ,Was screwed by a so called welder in Colorado said he really needed the Contour tools I was selling and he  would send me a money order . I emailed him about payment after I had sent the stuff and and his response was HA HA should have gotten paid first.  Always  an A$$ Hole some place. Now I only take paypal and don't ship until paypal clears
Reply:ebay sides w/ the buyer naturally.    It's in there best interest.     There policy for the seller isn't even in reality.   Ebay makes the site incapable of for the seller to leave neg. feedback.  Thats why everyone has beautiful track records  Even if I list an item, "as is", ebay will force me to take it back for whatever reason the buyer gives.    Also, the buyer can buy my item, not pay me for it, ruin my auction, and I can't comment on there track record.     I got so sick of being jacked around w/.    What I've done to counter react this nonsense, I write in my ad " due to ebays unrealistic policies, buy bidding or clicking to buy, you are also entering into a real life legal contract w/ the seller, in the county in which the seller resides in, and you acknowledge that notice of legal proceedings can be succeesffuly served to your registered ebay adress, and buyer also agrees to pay/ be responsible for all reasonable costs of seller to locate buyer if legal services are unsuccessful at registered address.     Needless to say, I find it difficult to sell on ebay.   But I put an end to having my efforts wasted.   I've sold some tractors, and engines, etc. w/ success.     I even had an old man from out of state, pay me in full $3500. upfront for a backhoe, and trusted me to put it on a truck a month later.      Ebay is a great place for the buyer, but not the seller.     It sounds like you have legitiamte reasons for your returns, but many take advantage of this.
Reply:Agreed. Great place to buy, terrible to sell. Just Google ebay scams. they're all sellers who were scammed. believe it or not, it's a fairly common practice for people to replace their broken tools this way. your tool breaks, you buy a new one off ebay, then take pictures of the old tool in the packaging they sent you and viola! Ebay sides with you and you got a free replacement! I like to think most people are above those kinds of things, but sadly I hear it happening far too often. If I have something to sell, 9 times out of 10 I'll sell on Craigslist for cash, even though in many cases I would get twice as much selling on ebay.
Reply:Appreciate the responses guys. I've not sold much on ebay, but certainly use this venue to purchase far too many things. Usually when I purchase something I'm getting it paid for on short order and have good feedback to show for it. Should the occasional problem arise, I try to be fair with the seller but look closely and evaluate, (in their favor) the way the purchase was represented before deciding upon a course of action. Through the years I've purchased many items which have been over rated by the seller, yet never pursued for any type of corrective action. Sometimes it's best to pick your battles and the aforementioned items were "gross" misrepresentations, or all out fraud, which were dealt with.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:I used it for a couple of years going both ways, buying and selling. Only had a problem buying twice, once with a woman from California and the second time with a guy from Ohio. She took longer to Refund than he did. After not really using it for a couple of years, I finally started to sell again, finding the new format is a little harder to use. I'm selling everything either used stating I believe it will work (As Is, Where Is) or NOS. Strange is how the NOS seems to sit but people keep buying the used stuff? I'll sit on their money for a month, if they don't want a return, then I'll consider it a done deal!I do go to local Auctions occasionally to buy stuff or sell where I find the Auctioneer "assumes" you understand the rule of "No Returns".
Reply:eBay is not the issue. They are simply the marketplace for sellers and buyers to find one another.The problems arise when a seller mis-represents the product (NOT eBay's fault). It is caused by simple human greed and/or stupidity.The problems we've experianced on eBay predate The Internet by several millennia. Even The Code of Hamuabi lists the potential punishment for someone that builds a faulty house.So, bashing eBay is like blaming the president for the latest tsunami. Makes you feel good? Yeah. Realistic? Hardly!Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:As a full time seller on eBay my experience as of late is that as an honest seller you have very little problems.List the items with accurate descriptions and good photos and things work fairly well.I have more issues with people who agree to purchase the item and never follow through with the payment.I dislike the feedback system as a seller as you can not leave Negative feedback for a deadbeat buyer.I sell items that I could never sell on CL and get exposure worldwide.The fees between eBay and PayPal are a bit high but I still get more than if I sold at a garage sale or tried to list all of my items on CL or elseware. I also do not have to deal with some of the dumbass people who seem to lurk on CL and are unable to read the description or terms posted in my adds.My .02 that's all.Lincoln Idealarc 250Millermatic 200Big *** O/AHypertherm 45AHP Alpha TIG 200XA very large bag of Hammers
Reply:i think ebay has already seen its best days, and are getting desperate,   There is more competition for them now, like amazons, and similar sites, etc.     Kinda funny how ebay started.   I believe ebay stands for east bay.   I think there was a husband and wife, living east of the SF bay,that wanted to trade and collect pez dispensers.   Yeah, those little plastic things w/ a head on them that you eat candy out of.   Anyway, apparently theres like a cult of people that are into this, like there is star wars dolls etc.   They started selling and trading amongst oneanother on ebay site, and I guess, other people started asking if they could stick other things on there.  I guess after that, this husband and wife had some brains, and made a deal w/ some big wig marketers or something, and sold out i think.   All this started from .25 cent candy dispensers from the 1970s.
Reply:I have about 140 buys on there with 3 problems with sellers, one was a gross misrepresentation because the seller was clueless but he did refund purchase price and shipping. One would never answer to any contact but did come thru after a month or so. The 3rd one kept using the excuse her dog was sick but finally did ship the drill bits.
Reply:I have been using Ebay for years with no issues.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:I was looking for Golf Cart Mirrors for my tractor and there were dozens of different sellers to choose from, I bought from a seller that had mounting brackets pictured in his ad assuming the brackets came with the mirrors.....Wrong!!!!I contacted the seller, he said he was sorry that the add misrepresented the product and that the mirrors did NOT come with the brackets. He has offered a refund if I want to return the mirrors or a partial refund if I keep them.  I told him I would take the partial refund, now I'm waiting to see how much he offers.I give him credit for resolving the issue but, pain in the a** for me because I would have bought from somebody else & got what I wanted, now I have to fab my own brackets!Last edited by Underdog57; 02-08-2015 at 04:00 PM.Reason: SpellingEverlast PowerArc 300
Reply:I bought supplies for my shop and tractor parts.Found some old Ford auto parts.When EBAY made paypal the only way the only way to pay for stuff I quit buying.Had good luck buying welding supplies.Bought 40 pounds of stainless welding rod, paid an average 3.00 a pound for it, shipping included.Bought empty shot shells for reloading until Ebay stopped listing gun parts.Made about 130 buys before I quit.Most sellers were private partys with reasonable prices.Ebay has changed for the worst.Snipe bidders were a big problem.Most sellers were easy to buy from ,most took checks or money orders.All good things come to an end.
Reply:I use Ebay quite a bit. Looking for vintage items that are in good condition or better than new is what I look for. Also it gives a pricing basis when I get quotes for new stuff. I hear you on the snipe bidders. It still comes down to what you and they are willing to pay. Sometimes I bid something up to my limit and see a piece of junk go for less than new. Go figure. It all comes down to knowledge. I buy vintage mountain bike parts. Some go for peanuts.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:I've used ebay for quite a long time.  I have never really been screwed after over a hundred or so purchases and one or two sales.My experience has been positive.I really have no idea what I am doing.Two Shop Cats (not Bobcats...real cats)Miller DialArc 250 AC/DCScratch-Start TIG SetupMIG 175Plasma CutterO/A
Reply:I have about 200 transactions on eBay, probably half buying and half selling, and while I've had a couple annoying transactions here or there (delays, getting wrong item, etc), it's been overwhelmingly positive. As a buyer I'm able to find difficult-to-find things, and as a seller I'm able to unload stuff that I'd have no chance of selling locally. eBay buyers tend to pay a lot more than local buyers, too, so even after you consider the ~15% total fees (eBay + PayPal) it's still usually better than CL.
Reply:I have sold over 2,000 items and purchased over 300 items in the last 14 years and NEVER have I lost one dime on Ebay.  It is my go to search place to find about anything on the Planet.  Usually it is the only place I have to search.  If I need info regarding an Item I simply ask a seller of items in whatever category that matches my question and they direct me to a proper source.  I am a HUGE Ebay supporter.  It has improved over the years and protects both buyers and sellers with a very fair arbitration system.  The buyer will usually get the benefit of the doubt in every case.  If anyone has had a problem online I would bet that it was not with Ebay.Thanks and Give Ebay another chance,David FlandersAAAIMAUTO
Reply:Great place to buy. It's the first place I look and I've found a lot of great stuff there, and at very reasonable prices. I rarely bid on an item. If it doesn't have a Buy It Now, I simply look elsewhere. At least for nominal purchases for my business, etc.Not so much to sell tho..... Sure, it works for some ppl and I've sold plenty of stuff there in the past. I just don't feel it's worth the risk anymore for my particular circumstances and merchandise.Their "Money Back Guarantee" is essentially their answer to Amazon and other online sales outlets selling mostly new commodities to customers. This guarantee is meant to build credibility and trust in your purchases there, and that if someone does buy something with an issue, they will not have to deal with lengthy, drawn out disputes with only partial resolution. For high volume sellers moving low priced goods, this promise of customer satisfaction will likely have little effect on their business in general.For the small time guy like me, moving used, low volume but generally high dollar electronic items (items that do carry some risk of inherent failure, or worse, failure due to improper operation), such ironclad guarantees of customer satisfaction could spell a financial death sentence if one was to have to honor a couple of big number back to back 100% refunds over a short period of time, due to unfortunate circumstance.When people entirely unfamiliar with my business can make decisions that a devastating effect on me financially, offering me little to no recourse, I feel this is simply a risk I cannot afford to accept. Again, eBay is great and I use it regularly. I've made some excellent business relationships (and even friendships because of it). That said. If you choose to sell anything there, be very aware of the terms and conditions you will be bound to and if that's something you can reasonably accept or not.IMHO of courseLast edited by 7A749; 09-20-2015 at 03:39 PM.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948