eBay - a site for finding just about anything you want (ebay.co.uk)

Member Name: chrisc92

Product:	ebay.co.uk
Date:	01/07/09 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Genuine sellers are friendly and offer a first class service

Disadvantages: Bidder beware - there are still a lot of rogues on the site

I've been a member of eBay since 2002, with over 250 buyer feedbacks and 100% record - well it shows that now, but it did say about 99.3% a couple of years ago.

There are a number of items that I used to bid for on eBay - computer hardware (components), software, cds, dvds and the most used was buying Littliput Lane houses for my former wife's collection. I have also sold a couple of items for my former stepson which I was persuaded to do. Still they were sold that's the main thing.

The bidding process is quite simple, you can either buy now (if no previous bids have been made) or you can enter a maximum bid that you're willing to pay. The biggest issue I found (unfortunately) is that a number of items have only a handful of bids and if you enter your maximum in too early there's a sudden interest just minutes before the auction closes. I wish I could believe it with some sellers, but from my observations it certainly looks like they have friends etc deliberately upping the price.

The best thing about them is that someone somewhere always seems to have what you want.

Of the genuine sellers I find them all very friendly and the selling, bidding, payment and delivery process is very smooth - even though I preferred payment by cheque. This unfortunately is where my problem is with eBay - too many con artists. This is some of my experiences:

Star Wars dvd - illegal copy (so poor that the picture on the case and centre of the disk were clearly printed on a poor quality printer)
Microsoft software - illegal copies
Microsoft software - genuine, but not for general release (ie for educational/business establishments only)
Cds - again copies
Delivery of wrong product after a month of non-stop e-mails
Delivery of completely smashed Lilliput Lanes due to poor wrapping - which the seller wouldn't admit to - despite my photographs to prove it
Seller not providing items
Items delivered without the extras they stated
Complete lack of communication from some sellers

It does appear that eBay are a little hotter on sellers these days, and they now have seperate areas for actual trade customers.

My experience of selling is limited, but I did not like the idea they held both my credit card and bank account details for payments which are based on statements that are sent out. Hence why I didn't want to sell anything.

I still occasionally look on eBay for the odd components, but I certainly am much more careful with the auctions I bid on.

Of the sellers of the items I mentioned above they were all reported to eBay and none are still members of their site. My rating I'm afraid is based on the total experience of the site, not of the genuine members.

This is one site that is really at your own risk unless you buy from a registered trader in which you do have rights. Happy (careful) bidding!

Summary: Before bidding research the sellers and if you're not sure don't bid