That's it, I'm done with e-bay

rob love · #1 21-08-15, 05:50

I have a place an hour away that holds the parcels for me on the US side. So I end up paying just the US shipping (often free), $3 for each parcel, and the 2.5 hour round trip.

Doesn't make sense for a single item, but when I time it right and place a number of order at one time period, the savings really add up.

Bill Alexander · #2 21-08-15, 13:37

Ebay started tightening the noose around the casual vendor a few years ago. When the site was originally set up, it was far more "friendly" to use. Then the rules changed, some due to abuses on both the vendors and buyers sides, but most often to increase the profit margin while at the same time lessening the liabilities of ebay. I have basically stopped selling on the site after "losing" two parcels and having paypal claw back the payment. (The buyers in both cases were shrewd and used the rules to their advantage. Even after they indicated to me that they didn't want to pay for p of d shipping. This was a couple of years ago before the changes required p of d.) Left me vulnerable, and I had to go to proof of delivery shipping to protect my sales. But, proof of delivery is expensive shipping.
A fellow had a lot of Cdn army cloth for sale late last winter. It was listed with GPS. The lot was listed at a reasonable rate, about $30 US for the items. The shipping was over $25 and the duties were, IIRC, about $15. This was for about 15 Canadian shoulder titles that could be easily shipped in an envelope. So, the carrying charges were more than the lot... When I messaged the vendor, showing him that USPS quoted significantly less rates, and that the goods in question were duty exempt (returning Canadian historical material) his reply told me to basically f*** o##. So I did. A vendor who does not consider shipping outside GPS, is really limiting their market. Unfortunately, it seems that many vendors are not aware of the charges added to the lots as they are automatically generated based on the buyers location. And, now ebay UK is using something similar to the GPS.
Like Bruce, I am pretty well done with ebay.

Harry Moon · #3 21-08-15, 16:22

Less and less is for sale. Anything in the US I use a US postal outfit and go pick it up myself. Lucky with that as It's not far off my regular routes and once you get the hang of it I almost never get asked to stop for inspection or taxes.
Made the mistake a couple of times as I was in a hurry for something and paid the price to have it come to the door. Ebay out of the UK has been pretty good, haven't felt burned by the shipping charges.
I still use Paypal as it is easy and not much more for the seller to pay than a direct credit card.

David Dunlop · #4 22-08-15, 01:41

Not certain, but weren't eBay and PayPal owned by the same people at one time and didn't they recently sell off PayPal? If so, maybe they are now short cash and tightening up the screws.

I have noticed there seems to be more flipping of items than in past years. Seen it a lot with military pocket watches that get sniped at the last second and within a week you see the new owner flogging it with a significant mark up.

David

Bruce MacMillan · #5 22-08-15, 08:08

I was watching a recent auction for a B2 spy set. The auction was still live and had bidders. The lister closed it saying the item was no longer available.

The same item has now been listed by a different vendor for 4 times the previous price. It seems that ebay has become a place to advertise your wares and then make a deal privately, thus avoiding all the fees.

Mike Gray · #6 24-08-15, 16:52

I agree with the aspect of flipping items. Have seen it happen too often in the recent past now. And, the reserve bid is a killer too. You think you have aced a bargain in a bid, but the item is removed and re-listed. One other thing, there are no measures in place to prevent a vendor from getting a different email account and different ebay account, then bidding up his own item. Just my two cents worth on this. Thanks Bruce.

Bruce MacMillan · #7 24-08-15, 18:11

I followed the new sale for the B2, it had a BIN price of 3500 GBP. It became "no longer available" as well. I calculated by closing the auction and selling privately the lister saved 250 GBP or 520 bucks Canadian. Not small change.

I agree with Bruce P. I think the little hobbyist seller is being forced out and replaced by online marketers.

Is there an alternative? Selling to our peers via groups like this is one avenue but the exposure is small. However I personally would rather deal with the people I know though than try to make mega bucks online. A lot of my radio kit went to friends and fellow Western Command members quite cheap before I relocated. A few Brits here did ok as well.

Bruce