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Taking the Plunge
https://mail.karaokescene.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7218		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  maninblack [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:27 am ]
Post subject:  Taking the Plunge
Okay I went and got myself an ebay account. I've never bought anything from there before, and go into this with a bit of reluctance. What I would like to know, are there trusted individuals that you deal with on a regular basis. This account will be mainly used for items that are hard to find, or items that may possibly be out of print or out of stock from our regular sponsored vendors here at KS.
Out of respect to KS Forums, and our sponsored vendors, and other members here on the forums, if you have such information, please send to me in a pm.
As usual, thanks in advance.

James
Maninblack
Author:  EElvis [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
I have been burned there. There are a lot of honest people, but the Dishonest look for places like this to deal.

Beware of any add that says absolutely no refunds. They are probably peddling junk.
Author:  Chuck2 [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Oh yah, you will see some amusing stuff there too like sellers that spend so much time trying to cover their ASSettes that they leave out some very important info about what they are selling.

You'll do fine with the tips you've been getting on previous threads.
Author:  Gilly [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
oooh, the money i spend on ebay:)


Every day is like xmas... the trip to the mail box becomes a VERY exciting one:)

I have had some rare problems, but over all.. ebay is the FIRST site i go to when I start up the computer:) My husband has tried to block it, because I am always buying.. "stuff":) Beer memorabila, toys, jewellery, electronics, you name it:) ALL in my mail box;)


And, you do have SOME recourse with purchases... there are a  LOT f scams.. NEVER deal with someone who tries to get you to buy  OUT of ebay, for some silly reason, OR asks for western money transfer etc etc. Get a pay pal act, and use that, and if it sounds "too good to  be true" it usually is;) Lol, i know a lady that thought she got a GREAT deal on an ipod. GREAT deal... turns out she didn't real the item desciption on the ad clearly... because, she only got the ipod BOX. no ipod inside.. and that WAS what was being sold:) (However, I think ebay did get involved and she got a refund) Read CAREFULLY:) And have fuunnnn spending your money:)


(And yes, I have some well like fave sellars, for you, simply READ and check the feed back people give them. If you are relunctant, only purchase from those with near perfect feedback, and a lot of it:)

AND WATCH for SHIPPING costs! Holy, that can suck ya under:)
Author:  Charmin_Gibson [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Just make sure you never ever buy without reading their sales history, and all their feedback. I've got burned a couple times when I should have known better...... but I just got in a hurry to bid at the last moment, and didn't take enough precaution.

Lots of good stuff to be found there for cheap prices, sometimes stuff you can't find elsewhere. (but I, personally..... stay away from electronics, unless they have an up and running Ebay store)

Biggest tip: Don't ever respond to an email from Ebay, unless it's also listed on your "My Ebay" page. And email they send you will be duplicated there. There is a ton of spoof that comes from places that look like it's from Ebay, asking for personal info. (we actually had a thread about this not long ago)

Good luck, and haha, try not to get too addicted to it, it's easy too. (almost as bad as.... Karaoke Scene)  :D  :wave:
Author:  Charmin_Gibson [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
And I dayum near duplicated Gilly's post, guess we were typing at the same time.  :D  LOL

Her tip about shipping costs..... very true. I've many times paid alot more for shipping than for the product.  :shock:
Author:  Gilly [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Lol, babe, my husband bought a remote control helipcopter (we have a few) a pretty nice one.. and i sniped it from a bidder for 5 dollars. Lol, yeah, seems good... until my husband realized that the item he asked me to snipe had a 60 dollar shipping cost.... DO YOU KNOW HOW LIGHT A HELICOPTER IS?! Lol, and not big. Shouldn't have cost more than 15 dollars. But, you get stuck with it.


A friend of mine bid on something, and won... but turned out the sellar didn't SHIP to where he lives... Lol, he should have read closer, because haha, he had to stick to the contact and buy it anyways.. and never did receive it:)


I don't know whether to stay away from electronics.. but used ones that say as is? Well, if you aren't an avionics engineer (like my hubby) dont buy em. they will more than likely be broken, badly, and not be worth it. And, brand new from an ebay store? Great.. but make sure it is a REAL brand name you have heard of before... and not some junked together piece of crap made by starving children in some third world country.
Author:  Charmin_Gibson [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Yeah, I think much of Ebay is just a matter of personal experience on there, and finding out who & where you yourself like to buy from. I've purchased 2 fiddles in the past, both old ones that people thought were worthless because they had either no strings, or no hair on the bow.... and sheesh, one of them is an awesome sounding fiddle. ($25 , and $20 shipping..... ANY fiddle still in one piece is worth that!!)

But I tell ya, alot of people there know how to take photos that make things look bigger & more sparkly than they do in real life.  LOL

Gilly, every time I see a post of yours, I can't help but notice Skylah, she is SUCH a miniature version of you.  :D

.
Author:  vettelady [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
I've bought over 100 things on ebay including some big ticket items and have only been burned once. My recommendation is to read the feedback from others...the on I got burned on, I didn't bother and there were tons of negative comments...fortunately that was a low dollar item. I also buy the insurance where it is offered...that can come in handy if need be. Most of the items I buy have been from people with a 98% to 100% feedback rating...especially if they've had a lot of sales. However, I have also taken chances on first time sellers though and had wonderful results...their descriptions, photos, etc. were all really good.

Hope your experience is as good as mine - bottom line? read read read!!  Drea :)
Author:  Gilly [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Lol, isn't see a doll charmin? I was going to post a video here of her, dancing:) but didn't know how many people 'round these parts remember me anymore:) She IS exactly like me.. i actually cut her hair REALLY short, and it Soooo suits her.... and, no she doesn't look like a boy, because she has such a GIRLY face.. my husband was shocked when i did it, but, hey, i cut all of MY hair off too:) (it is much shorter now, than my pic here, too:)


Oops, back to your regularly scheduled programming, sorry to switch subjects:)
Author:  lbister [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Lots of good comments here.

I only buy from sellers with 98% or better feedback.  If I was buying something really expensive I would probably go to 99%.

PayPal does offer a degree of protection so I strongly suggest making use of that.  If a seller won't accept PayPayl I think you are best off assuming that there is something wrong.

I echo the comments about the descriptions and photos of items.  It's one thing to buy a CD and quite another thing to buy something electronic.  Unless I can get a complete description of all features and see really good photos of the product I stay away.  

And I require the product photos to be of what I am buying.  I see lots of ads where the photo has been copied from the manufacturer's website.  There is absolutely no way you can be certain of what you are buying if you rely on that.

I've had really good luck.  I have made only one purchase that resulted from what I considered to be a less than truthful description.  When I received it and found out that it wasn't as represented I contacted the seller and he agreed to take it back.  I got my money back and was satisfied that he had treated me fairly.

A word about shipping costs; eBay sellers are allowed to charge whatever they want.  Gilly's comment about paying $60 to ship an RC helicopter is accurate.  Many times a seller will inflate the shipping cost as a way to recoup a loss if the item doesn't sell for as much as expected.  Like everybody else, I'm looking for bargains.  So if my bid is quite a lot less than I think the real value of the item should be I don't mind paying a bit more for shipping.  I look at the total cost and determine what the item is worth to me.  If it's equal to or greater than the total cost, I don't feel bad.

If you  have never participated in an auction before you do need to be aware of a phenomenon that occurs with a lot of people.  "Bidding fever" can set in before you are even aware it's happening.  All of a sudden winning the auction becomes more important than price and before you know it you've over paid big-time.  I decide what I'm willing to pay before I start bidding.  Then I decide my bidding strategy and go from there.  If I get the item great.  If I lose it to someone who is willing to pay more than the item is worth to me I don't worry about it.  Chances are there will be another listed before long.

My only admonition is to be cautious.  Make sure you know exactly what you are buying before you bid and get as much information as you can about the seller.  Ebay can be a great way to buy stuff as long as you don't get carried away.

Larry
Author:  Gilly [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Lol, I am one of those terrible people that watch bids, and bid at the last possible second, and snipe it away from the person who was convinced that it was theirs:) Usually for only a few cents more than their bid...  So, one word of advice.. if you realllly want that item.. WATCH IT! Although, it is hard to win whhen people snipe it from ya.  Actually, i love the buy it now option too... i usually buy odd bits of jewelry that way... no bidding involved, the shipping is always more reasonable (because, they aren't tryign to get back their money by charging too much for it) and you don't have to wait for the bidding to end to get it. I usually buy gifts for people this way, and make the shipping address theirs.

Ok, i will stop rambling. I am temporaily banned (by my husband) from ebay... i like shopping too much:)
Author:  Charmin_Gibson [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Gilly @ Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:31 am wrote:
Lol, isn't see a doll charmin? I was going to post a video here of her, dancing:) but didn't know how many people 'round these parts remember me anymore:) She IS exactly like me.. i actually cut her hair REALLY short, and it Soooo suits her.... and, no she doesn't look like a boy, because she has such a GIRLY face.. my husband was shocked when i did it, but, hey, i cut all of MY hair off too:) (it is much shorter now, than my pic here, too:)


Oops, back to your regularly scheduled programming, sorry to switch subjects:)


Hey, have you viewed that thread where people are posting video clips? (uh.... if it's still here, lemme go check.....)

Yeah, whew, still there.

http://www.karaoke-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7190

You should post one, and have both you and her in it. She's a freakin' doll, and there's no way she could ever be mistaken for a little boy.

I'll watch that thread in case you post one. And no, I don't think most of us have forgotten who ya are, Lmao, but there are alot of new people around.
Author:  Charmin_Gibson [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Oh, one more thing about Ebay.

(kinda) back on topic.  :D

Gilly, my husband thinks I shop too much too, that's just a dang guy thing. I just..... shop on Nascar race days.  LOL

Have you ever bought any jeans from there? I never thought I would.... I'm too picky about trying things on first, then discarding them to try on 50 more pairs, haha... and I do know alot of the new clothing on there is originally ripped off merchandise. But , hey, that's not my prob....... I once got a very cute pair of Abercrombie camo cargo pants for $20. (they were about $90 at the mall at that time)

I wore them out. First the hem was too frayed, so I wacked them into camo capris, then when the knees went too badly (haha, no cracks about why the knees wore out, people, that's my own business  :D ).... so they went to cut offs. Then, I had to finally get rid of them. But my gosh, I loved those pants.

So, to stay on topic................ Maninblack............ You can get a really good deal on Abercrombie jeans sometimes on Ebay.  LOL
Author:  Chuck2 [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
BlueStainedShoes @ Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:19 pm wrote:
So, to stay on topic................ Maninblack............ You can get a really good deal on Abercrombie jeans sometimes on Ebay.  LOL
I'm bettin' he'll be glad to know that. :D

Overall my experience on that site with my mistakes included, I have still saved over 30% total with shipping included over store prices.
Author:  maninblack [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
BlueStainedShoes @ Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:19 pm wrote:
So, to stay on topic................ Maninblack............ You can get a really good deal on Abercrombie jeans sometimes on Ebay.  LOL


Hmmm, don't really think I'm an Abercrombie kind of guy, but thanks for the tip just the  same.

And Gilly, you can ramble on my thread anytime  :doctor:

Thanks to all of you for your advice.
James
Maninblack
Author:  eben [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Ebay rules!!! I even bought my car on ebay motors. Yep, my 2000 BMW 528i was bought from a dealer on ebay and I couldn't be happier. I saved nearly $5k on the car and it was near new condition.

I buy things on ebay all the time and never had any serious problem. Just make sure you read the feedback and look for patterns. Some of them are obvious, like they would have 10 feedbacks from people with zero feedbacks. Scam alert. And always check out shipping before bidding. Never bid more than lowest you can find on the web.

Watch out for things like "B" stock, which generally means it's refurbished. Not it's bad, just to watch for. Watch where the seller is. Often on electronic item from overseas, may not have US warranty on it, even if it's new. If in doubt, ask questions to the seller. If they don't respond back to you in reasonable time, I would be wary of dealing with them anyways.

If you look long enough you can find a great deal on things.
Author:  HHIslandGirl [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
I LOVE ebay. As others have said, it can be very addicting. I collect, so I've set up favorite searches that email me when something new that I might like is listed. I bought my iPod on ebay because I wanted one of the neat pink ones that isn't being made anymore. I made sure to ask the seller lots of questions before making my decision. It arrived in better condition that I expected (used but nearly perfect) and I just love it.
My favorite buys have been on clothes. I bought a silk Ann Taylor sundress for $37 (new with tags) and a Jessica McClintock ball gown for $35 (worn once-perfect condition).
I would echo everyone's cautions about feedback, and add to check where the feedback came from, ie. buyers or sellers. Sometimes, that 99% positive feedback is all from people they've bought from, not people who have bought FROM them.
Author:  Lonman [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
Going to say it again - Feedback!  98% or better, high amount of sales (can tell from how much feedback), when was the last negative & why - was it resolved?  I will never buy from anyone that won't accept PayPal, never send check or money order.  Which means you will probably need to set-up a PayPal account in advance, it's takes a few days to process.
Any email you get from "e-bay" stating you need to upgrade or you account has been comprimised or suspended or other (sometimes quite official looking) are probably fishing scams trying to get your personal info - don't respond!  Like stated, on the e-bay page, there is "My E-Bay", any official email will be duplicated there as well.
If you ever SELL, beware other types of scams stating they will send you OVER the amount of the purchase price in the form of a money order or cashiers check for you to send it overseas.
Author:  knightshow [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking the Plunge
that's PHISHING my man! LOL!

And I've only been burnt twice... I consider that comparible to the shopping I do at the local store! Every now and then you have a bad product, or bad store, or whatever, and have to deal with customer service.
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