My experience with Ebay (ebay.co.uk)

Member Name: katyboo123

Product:	ebay.co.uk
Date:	12/11/09 (397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You can on occasion pick up a bargain or a discontinued product

Disadvantages: Bitchy community and people trying to take you for a fool

I have been using Ebay for a good few years. I have fits and starts. I have been known to scour second hand shops for vintage clothing and sell it on Ebay at massive profits. Most recently I bought a vintage flapper hat for £1.20 and sold it for £40. But I am becoming tired of the nasty back biting community on there, and I am beginning to steer clear of the site whenever possible. Here's my experience.

Scenario 1 - Me as a buyer
The Pink Tickets
I wanted to go and see Pink in Concert so my partner used my Ebay to find some tickets. I had front block tickets to go back in April which I bought for the face value, but I had had to part with them because I bought them jointly with my Ex, so neither of us could decide who should go and we sold them splitting the proceeds. My partner found a pair of tickets for £140 - at the very highest and most rear seats in MEN Arena. The tickets had a face value of less than £40 so about £60 on top of the ticket value. We didn't get paid until 16th of the month, so we asked the girl to hold the tickets for us until then prior to clicking on buy. She agreed to, and on the 16th I text her asking for her paypal email address so I could send funds, or alternatively her sort code and account number to deposit the cash in to (I don't have a cheque book and postal orders would have cost me another £10). She said she didn't need to give me the paypal address as it was on Ebay and that she would not give me her personal account details for fear of fraud. Now I know, as I work in finance, that you cannot fraudulently withdraw money with only a sort code and account no, unless you have a signature or card for the account with a pin. But fair enough, I thought, and so went on to pay through paypal. For some reason I couldn't connect with the purchase to my paypal, so I text her again asking for her direct paypal email address to just send the money. She would not give me it.

It took me about 15 texts to get the information from her regarding her paypal account so I could transfer funds. I sent the money immediately and then I got a text off her saying that the paypal account she had given me was wrong. She needed me to change it. I rang paypal who explained that I couldn't just change the payment, I would need to cancel it and then resend the money to the other account. So I did, and I was told the funds would go back in to my bank account within 7 - 10 days. This meant I was £140 down, no tickets, no more money to make another payment and I was 7 days away from the concert. Oh and there was a postal strike imminent.

The seller text me when I advised her about the situation saying well you need to make payment, you agreed to, you need to make it today or you wont get the tickets. So I responded and said, I wont be making payment until the money is refunded, hopefully that will be prior to next Thursday and I will drive and collect the tickets from you. But if I do not get refunded I cant buy the tickets Im sorry I don't have that type of money to give you again. To this text I received a call from her husband. He was going mad at me, shouting, citing Ebay rules when you commit to buy, saying he would be reporting me, and I said excuse me, it's not my fault that your wife gave me the wrong paypal details and you know what he said? She didn't - I said well thankfully I have kept all correspondance which I will forward to you now to show you that she did. And then, he hung up. Needless to say I got a very apologetic text later on from his wife about his behaviour.

Finally on the Tuesday prior to the concert I got a refund. I paid immediately and the seller sent them to me guaranteed next day delivery at no extra cost. A sigh of relief could be heard from both of us. Hilariously I then got Negative feedback on a 99.9% positive record. How petty and immature. I hope they are reading this.

Scenario 2 - Me as a seller
The New Rock Boots
About 6 years ago I saw a pair of New Rock boots in a little gothic shop in town. They were £150 and there was no way I could justify spending that amount of money on one item of footwear. I tried them on though :o) and they looked beautiful - steel heel, leather, velcro straps up the side, really funky and alternative. I don't dress that way, but I knew they would look perfect with skinny jeans or leggings and a shirt dress. I harped on for them for weeks if not months. Eventually my then partner bought me them for Christmas. I wore them for New Years Eve and after an hour I couldn't walk - they crippled me! I was gutted, more so I wouldn't admit it. So I put them in their box that night and never wore them again - telling anyone who cared that I was waiting for a special occasion or night out to wear them.

A few months ago I decided to sell them on Ebay. I first had a look to see if they were worth it, there were several pairs of used boots in worse condition than mine selling for around £80. I thought fab, that will help me out with Christmas Shopping. Mine had been worn once, the soles actually looked new. I am a vigilant Ebay photographer, with me you get every angle, close ups, pictures in and out of box (which still had the paper in it protecting the boots). I listed them with a buy it now of £50 stupidly. It wasn't what I wanted but they sold quickly within a few days. The guy lived locally, so I offered to drop them off for him at no extra cost.

I turned up at the house and he came to the door. He said do you mind if I take a look at them just to check their quality (despite the pics being so great). I said no of course not, and proudly presented him with the near perfect / new boots. No I don't want them thanks and door shut in my face! I was absolutely furious! I went back to my car drove home and contacted some of the watchers who had emailed me questions, but didn't manage to get a sale.

A few days later I had a negative feedback. Off this guy. Saying item not as described - very worn - avoid!. I couldn't believe it. I later sold the boots for £70 which I was delighted with and I got positive feedback saying they were beautiful.

To summarise:
Ebay is full of bargains, but also full of people looking to make a big profit out of you (probably you included if you are a seller too). Becareful, do your research and beware of bitchy people on there. Don't go out of your way for people because it just doesn't help and make sure you stick strictly to the Ebay rules on communication, posting, etc. I have been burnt by people not following rules and regulations and I will be avoiding Ebay for tickets particularly in future - over priced and more hassle than the concert was worth!

Summary: Becareful x