Purpleheepster From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Jan 2005, 62 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 629 times:
I'm considering buying a lens from ebay but while I've purchased before I've only bought quite small items that would not hurt me too much if I had problems.
I'm now looking at an item costing hundreds of pounds and I'm scared I'm wondering if I should just pay that bit more from a dealer I know and save the stress.
So how much have you spent, were you scared and how did it go?
ABfemme From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 617 times:
Probably the Conservatory furniture £300 - that was from a UK furniture company on Ebay rather than a single seller. Did buy some new binoculars from a guy in Germany for £70 without any problems.
If I was considering spending hundreds on an item I would try and make sure that the seller was genuine - check out the feedback from others carefully - BEar in mind there is a small risk that your transaction will go wrong, but I'd say this is a rarity - If the item is considerably cheaper on Ebay then I'd go for it.
ManuCH From Switzerland, joined Jun 2005, 2299 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 602 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
About $800 for an optometrist lens kit (yes, I have other strange hobbies besides aviation). And I've sold something for $1400 (my old Apple Powerbook).
I can second the other comments: look at the feedback section of the seller. Scams will be quite evident. And don't trust sellers who are listing the same item more than once with the same description saying it's "used but in good condition", especially if from China.
Itsjustme From United States, joined Apr 2004, 2587 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 577 times:
Looks like I have the record, so far. $10,200 on a classic car. 1967 Firebird in PA (I live in CA). The sale went perfect and the car was delivered to my driveway 4 days later via an auto transport agency.
Leigh pilgrim From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 392 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 573 times:
The most Ive ever spent wss 195 on a portable TV/DVD player, it was a gamble but one that paid off, the product itself is brilliant, but I probably wont do it again, theres a lot of dodgy people out there that spoil the show for everyone else, and its too much of a pain to sort things out if/when they go wrong
PanAmerican From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 383 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 561 times:
I once bought a flatscreen monitor for about 600 bucks and had no problems...
However, please take the time to check out the seller very carefully. Especially his feedback from and for others, other items sold by him, items sold as well as purchased by him. Some eBayers get all their feedback from $0.01 articles without shipping costs (mostly ebooks) so it is very easy and cheap to get lots of positive feedback quickly! Just make sure the seller isn't new or has changed ID too often...
If you use PayPal for payment you also have a buyer protection for a certain abount, I think $500... So in case your item doesn't ship and the seller disappears you get your money back.
Good luck
IAH777 From United States, joined Mar 2008, 0 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 558 times:
I'll likely be dropping +/- US$800 in the coming months on the 18-200mm VR Nikkor and will definitely be selective about the seller. Keep in mind that you have some protection through PayPal.
Sean377 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 1191 posts, RR: 52 Reply 12, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 517 times:
I bought my EF70-200mm on ebay (£375 new) but I was able to pick it up locally and pay cash. Not sure whether I'd have bought it from a powerseller in Hong Kong. I'd have probably paid the extra to buy it locally. My last purchase was for a £750 lens and I bought that from a UK retailer rather than ebay.
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man... Landing is the first!
AeroWesty From United States, joined Oct 2004, 15634 posts, RR: 66 Reply 15, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 504 times:
I bought a used laser printer for around $275 about 4 years ago. It had retailed for around $2500 2 years prior and was pretty loaded with real PostScript, a fast print engine, low print count and extra trays. Even though the guy didn't have a lot of feedback, it turned out he was selling all the stuff his parents had bought him for college. He had it professionally packed and even tossed in an extra toner cartridge that would have cost me over $100.
Still runs like a top, so I guess I got a really great deal!
Dan2002 From United States, joined Dec 2002, 2049 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 481 times:
Bought a Peavey amp for $130, I was the only bidder, and it retailed for around $300, so I thought something was wrong at first. Got it a few days later, worked perfectly and still does today.
A guy asks 'What's Punk?'. I kick over a trash can and its punk. He knocks over a trash can and its trendy.
AirframeAS From United States, joined Feb 2004, 9973 posts, RR: 31 Reply 20, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 426 times:
This is nothing but I'll get to the point real quick: I bid on a US Airways Heritage Pin that was for employees only and I won it for $25 USD. I could care less about the $25 but that's besides the point. Not only I won it, the seller decided to sell it to some other eBay member and never informed me of that plan. I had my money order ready for shipment, lucky I didn't send it after I found out that he had goofed up. Yeah, right: goofed up? BS! It was also a good thing I hadn't filled out the money order yet, so I just deposited it back into my account.
The dude still gave me positive feedback for his stupid mistake. As someone mentioned earlier: the trick is the seller. Its all about the seller.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
IFEMaster From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 402 times:
$3900 for a '59 Gibson Les Paul, but total expenditure over 5 years is probably in the tens of thousands. Of the many hundreds of purchases and sales I've made on Ebay, I've only ever had a problem with 1 purchase. It's pretty safe if you cover your ass as a seller, and don't buy from sellers with poor feedback.
$275 (inc. shipping) for a rare Thalia CD. May not sound much, but bear in mind it was only one CD, and the amount was more than half my monthly salary at the time. And it wasn't even for me, it was a gift for one of my best friends. Crazy, I know...
Yes, I had my reserves, considering the amount of money and the fact that the sale involved international shipping. I had purchased internationally before with no problems, but never spent more than $15.
Excellent, the item actually arrived earlier than expected and in perfect condition.
This will sound repetitive, but check the seller's feedback carefully. Also, ask any questions you may have re shipping, forms of payment, etc. before bidding on the item.
Good luck!
Carmen
Your dream of flying starts here...
26 YWG: About $95 CAN on Oakley Snowboard goggles. Saved me a small $200.
28 Molykote: Some of my larger purchases on ebay: $10,700 - 1998 Lexus ES300 (65k mi) (Sep 2005) Actual auction price was $9,000 but total price reflects taxes/fee
29 Molykote: I assume this is a reissue or a really beat original Les Paul?
30 IFEMaster: It was an original that was somewhat beat up, but not in bad condition at all. The guy was an idiot - he didn't put a reserve on the item, started bid
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From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Jan 2005, 62 posts, 
I'm wondering if I should just pay that bit more from a dealer I know and save the stress.
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