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Post by Randy on Aug 29, 2012 9:03:25 GMT -5
I've noticed there have been a high amount of cameras on Evilbay as of late, where the Seller admits the camera was found in a Storage Unit. Most of these ads say, "found in a storage unit, not sure if it works or not"...or "I'm not qualified to say if this is a good camera" ...."I didn't check the camera because I can't find the batteries"... To me this is the latest episode of television's Storage Whores. (my interpretation) People buy up storage units figuring they are going to get rich quick. Let the Buyer Beware....these cameras are way over priced and most of the time they do not work. Not only that, but many of these Storage Buyers have lousy feedback or poor reputations, and most of them have more than one seller account. They are often guilty of "shill bidding" also. To me this is another version of know speculators on the auction site that are out for a quick buck, and don't care about the consequences. Student Camera? Good for Student?....Yes, we have been there before.  |
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hansz
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Hans
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Post by hansz on Aug 29, 2012 9:11:34 GMT -5
Excuses for my Dutch ignorance, but what is 'shill bidding'?
Hans
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Post by Randy on Aug 29, 2012 11:20:44 GMT -5
The seller has another account or has a friend that bids against you to get the price up.
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hansz
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Hans
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Post by hansz on Aug 29, 2012 12:04:46 GMT -5
Tnx Randy, and that sadly happens too often:-(
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Aug 29, 2012 12:05:30 GMT -5
Although most of my collection of over 250 cameras was purchased on eBay over a period of about 10 years, eBay now presents too many pitfalls for me to feel comfortable with it any more.
There are just too many unethical, dishonest vendors waiting to pounce.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Aug 30, 2012 2:44:48 GMT -5
What applies if buying at any auction applies with ebay: decide on a maximum and stick to it. If someone else gets it for 10c more, then so be it - he or she will have overpaid.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Aug 30, 2012 4:31:43 GMT -5
What applies if buying at any auction applies with ebay: decide on a maximum and stick to it. If someone else gets it for 10c more, then so be it - he or she will have overpaid. Dave, Your rule for buying at auction should be regarded as sacrosanct. BUT --- the big BUT........ There is one big difference between eBay and any auction. One may examine the merchandise at any auction. Not so eBay. The minor differences are that the auctioneer at any auction sees the items for sale and has some responsibility for his description. and eBay has thousands of vendors whose credentials can not be checked. Any auction has relatively few vendors and they will become known to the auctioneer. eBay is like buying from a burka wearer. One can not see the eyes, the facial expressions. The biggest hazzard at any auction is auction fever, a kind of mob hysteria. It is not too likely at eBay. Mickey |
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Post by chrissa on Aug 30, 2012 5:48:57 GMT -5
Hello Chaps
Regarding eBay - I have bought a large part of my collection of over 200 cameras and 100 or so lenses & accessories from eBay sellers - I've been a member since 2001 - the rest are from private purchase, swaps and camera fairs before I left UK about 6 years ago. Nearly all of my 80-odd FSU items (cameras, lenses & accessories) have come from eBay with about four failures 2 of which were rectified by the vendor - I don't think that's too bad a record for dealers from the FSU. There are three particular dealers from Russia and Ukraine who have always treated me very well and most of my purchases now come from them.
I have other collecting themes apart from photographic, and I have very seldom been disappointed although a couple of them do stand out - both eventually rectified. I have purchased items from all over the world, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, UK and many European countries.
However you certainly need to be careful. My mottos are: 1 - If the photos are bad: don't touch it, 2 - If the vendor won't answer questions or send more pics: don't touch it, 3 - If the country or it's postal service is suspect: don't touch it, 4 - Read everything on the item page and assess the description and photos very carefully, 5 - Take good note of the seller's feedback, 6 - On expensive items always ask for a tracking number and track online, 7 - I almost always use Buy-it-Now or Best Offer (no chance of "auction fever" and plenty of time to make up your mind), 8 - I always pay by PayPal because of their security and insurance policy and have never had a problem with them in over 430 eBay purchases.
That's all Folks, ATB Chris.
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Post by Randy on Aug 30, 2012 9:58:05 GMT -5
My main purpose of this post is to warn people that there is a new predator on Ebay. The person that buys a storage bin of unwanted items and then tries to sell them not knowing or caring what the condition is. They are only interested in turning a fast buck. I've been selling on Ebay since 1998.
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Aug 30, 2012 11:36:32 GMT -5
Mickey, totally agree, but that just means that what you are willing to pay is set lower for the ebay item (unless from a trusted seller) that it would be for an examined item - perhaps priced as though it is incomplete and/or not working.
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hansz
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Hans
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Post by hansz on Aug 31, 2012 2:34:58 GMT -5
In NL we have an electronic fleamarket site called www.marktplaats.nl where I get most of my stuff. It used to be cheaper than Ebay, but it is recommended that the wares have to be examined before you decide to buy it. As a native this is natural for me... Although the 'big' items are on Ebay (or Westlicht or wherever) sometimes one can get real gems for a very decent price. Most of my 'more exotic' gear like Contax and Contarex are from this marketplace. But even here, prices tend to go up, especialy for lenses thanks to the System Camera surge. Just take a look, if you need advise with the language, say so... Hans |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Aug 31, 2012 9:54:00 GMT -5
Mickey, totally agree, but that just means that what you are willing to pay is set lower for the ebay item (unless from a trusted seller) that it would be for an examined item - perhaps priced as though it is incomplete and/or not working. Dave, You are correct. But I am not, by any definition of the word, a gambler. I have never sold any photo equipment that I bought because of that fault?? of mine. I almost always get what I expected. On the other hand I wont sell something faulty (except my ancient answering machine which is $000,000.00) as I don't want to stick someone else with my error in judgement. I can and have been scammed but never with a camera that I was allowed to examine. I have drastically cut down on my photo purchases now as my "museum" is running out of space. What I do buy is from flea markets, camera fairs and now beeootiful boot sales. Bless the Brits for that invention. Mickey |
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Post by herron on Sept 1, 2012 20:30:42 GMT -5
Mickey, totally agree, but that just means that what you are willing to pay is set lower for the ebay item (unless from a trusted seller) that it would be for an examined item - perhaps priced as though it is incomplete and/or not working. Dave, You are correct. But I am not, by any definition of the word, a gambler. I have never sold any photo equipment that I bought because of that fault?? of mine. I almost always get what I expected. On the other hand I wont sell something faulty (except my ancient answering machine which is $000,000.00) as I don't want to stick someone else with my error in judgement. I can and have been scammed but never with a camera that I was allowed to examine. I have drastically cut down on my photo purchases now as my "museum" is running out of space. What I do buy is from flea markets, camera fairs and now beeootiful boot sales. Bless the Brits for that invention. Mickey I have also cut back on my collecting, now that I have one of every camera I set out to collect (and then some), plus a lot of cameras I never intended to collect. I got most of mine off evilBay, although there were a few garage sale finds and friendly donations along the way. If I am ever so inclined to sell some of the collection (and I have been seriously contemplating it because I am, like Mickey, running out of storage room), my eBay posts will show the actual item (not like some folks who actually try to pass off shots from my web site as their camera in auction), and I will tell all I know about the piece ... especially whether or not it works. Right now, I'm not as interested in getting top dollar as I am in cleaning out the closet and barrister cases! But, alas, the world is full of cheats. As always, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2012 17:20:43 GMT -5
I have often wondered about shill bidding, and how it might be spotted???
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Oct 18, 2012 18:05:01 GMT -5
Shill biding in an auction is using a friend, or accomplice, to make false bids during the progress of the auction, to raise the selling price and catch a bidder who wins into paying more.
In UK law this is a very serious criminal offence, as is a Ring of Bidders who bid together to keep prices low or high, dependant on seller or buyer.
In theory the law applies to EBay, and it is dam difficult to spot, the easiest are the Hong Kong and Chinese sellers who have a low start price, and push it to the real price they want, by shilling.
The only way in a general Ebay sale is the record of past activity with the seller, if is very high it may indicate shilling going on.
A withdrawn item may indicate shilling, as again a large number of withdrawn items on record is an indicator.
Large numbers of bids from one individual may indicate shilling going on.
Many people do not realise this is a Criminal offence in the UK, and get friends and family to bid up an item, very few are caught, I believe Ebay has thrown out several UK members over suspect bidding, but no prosecutions were reported, little evidence would be the issue.
Auctions were deemed special institutions in UK law, important sales and should be totally honest, the law is firm on who can act as an Auctioneer, how the sale is run, and settling debt due to binding bidding.
Ebay appears to have driven a coach and horses through these ancient laws, but they are still there to protect buyer and seller to come via the auctioneer to a bargain that stands in law. You bid... you pay, but on an honest description, fair open bidding and a settlement of the deal.
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