Re: Is eBay finally having its collar felt?

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 11:32:38 +0100, "AndyW"
<Andrew.whitelaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"MM" <kylix_is@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hg7p641ttil0vl0ib7h3msf2shce413c6r@xxxxxxxxxx
I have yet to experience eBay, either as a seller or a buyer. I have
read too many negative stories that continue to keep me well away from
this company. It seems maybe that I was wise to do so.

As a regular user of Ebay I have rarely found a problem although I do
realise that some people have experienced some serious problems.
Buying off Ebay is like buying in the real world: if someone offers you a
'brand new genuine rolex' for £20 chances are that it is not a real one.
Ebay is stuffed with fakes that are very very obviously fake, anyone
gullible enough to buy a 'genuine' Vuitton handbag for £8.50 and then
complain that it is a fake is probably the sort of person who buys branded
perfume from a bloke on the high street and then complains that it does not
smell right.

I have only once bought knock-off merchandise, I bought a gameboy game that
was a copy, very clever copy that was only detectable because of the
slightly off copying of the documentation and the non-Nintendo screw on the
cart. It helps that my missus works in credit card fraud (detecting not
perpetrating) and I got my money back.

You hear the negative stories because that is what makes the news. 'Man buy
bargain lampshade' is a non-story. 'Man pays £10,000 for fake Monet painting
on Ebay' is a story.
If you can walk the high street, stroll through a market and pop into a pub
without being conned buying some knock-off gear, a stack of towels at
inflated 'bargain' prices or buying some poor 'drunk' bloke's genuine rolex
(because his is drunk and run out of money for beer) then you will probably
do fairly well on Ebay.
I'm not saying that switched on people don't get stung I regard myself as
being fairly switched-on but I got stung buying stuff from Dixons.

Andy

It wouldn't be the counterfeit goods issue I'd be worried about, but
not getting paid. Or sending an item, only for the recipient to swear
blind it never arrived. I just think I'm well off out of it. I think
people have their eye on eBay now, and have had for a very long time.
There was even a BBC Watchdog investigation back in 2007.

MM
.

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