Reply With QuoteIts been a dead selling platform for years in my opinion, too many scroats and chancers on there for my liking.
I still idly browse eBay now and again for old cameras and watches, but it's becoming an increasingly pointless activity in the last year or two to the point of absolute uselessness now. Almost nothing is actually for auction, with most items posted as 'buy it now' at ridiculous prices. I had look for Longines Ultra Chron watches just now - 168 results, 4 auctions. And even those have too high starting bids, so are also useless.
I wonder what happened? The volume of transactions must have dropped off a cliff, so it can't be good for eBay either. Where do we, as watch nerds, go now?
Its been a dead selling platform for years in my opinion, too many scroats and chancers on there for my liking.
Haha yes.
Agreed, the whole proposition has changed. It’s just a sales platform for business now and inferior to Amazon.
Ebay has become a marketing outlet for dealers unfortunately. Years ago it was about people trying to move stuff on they didn't want anymore and there were great deals to be had. Those deals are few and far between now. They still exist but you'll be hard pressed to find them. Last time I did a search, the first 20 items or so were just Chinese tat with bad feedback scores. Not really worth the effort anymore.
I do still use it for bits and bobs but prices are becoming silly for bog standard stuff so the chances of getting a bargain are disappearing.
It's probably to do with eBay policies killing all protection for sellers with no recourse to appeal, leaving the door wide open for the feckless, so why would the individual risk listing anything?
I sold an item last Wednesday, told the buyer I could post on Friday because I was in the office on Thursday.
Posted on Friday via 48 Tracked and on Tuesday the buyer opened a mediation request with ebay because the item hadn't arrived. As a result, eBay has frozen my funds until the 'dispute' is resolved.
And the thing still hasn't arrived today, but what can I do? I have until Friday to resolve it. Madness!
Last edited by Onelasttime; 5th July 2023 at 22:19.
Ebay was nice but nowadays I would never consider selling anything on it and I only buy if no other options available
Just sold (by auction) £400 worth of film and old digital cameras. First time I’ve used in a couple of years but all went well.
I closed my account last year. I sold a few items and 2 of them arrived, the tracking was provided. The buyers complained they had not arrived and eBay refunded both times despite my best efforts. They just side with the buyer the end.
I will NEVER return to eBay.
And the fees are now a joke, but not a funny one.
Sent from my iPhone
Really? I've had the same issue twice and ebay sided with me. However, you do need to add the tracking number on the order page when you post or ebay will side with the buyer even if you have proof of delivery.Originally Posted by Mrbarry
Every two weeks ebay offers 80% off final value fees for items listed that weekend.
It's been my experience that selling watches can be a nerve wracking trial. Buying can be okay, assuming the asking prices aren't insane which they too often are, sadly.
However last week, I was delighted to acquire a new in box, unused Lamy 2000 fountain pen for £50 less than the average online retailer price. Bargains can be had but not necessarily in the watch world.
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
I dunno. MrsV has clocked up enough for 2x new chanel 255 handbags through her ebay empire since covid. She's been emptying the loft of kids clothes toys and books and there have been bidding wars.
Personally i haven't got the patience.
I can’t be arsed with all the packing and hiking off to the Post Office and the endless queues and only one window open, so if I list something it needs to be over £100 to make the effort worth while. Charity Shops and regular tip runs are a more successful way to get rid of shit these days.
Never ever sold anything on eBay. Am I unique?
I bought a watch battery on there for 99p with free postage today. Only the second thing I have ever bought on eBay, and the first was sh1te.
At best it is an online flea market that I have never been interested in.
I bought most of my watches on eBay, but nothing for a long time now. Never sold - it always seemed a much riskier proposition. I probably overpaid for a few things and got a few nice things cheaply, but you're taking the same risks nowadays as a buyer without the chance of getting stuff cheap, so I just don't think it's worth it.
I sold about £100k of obsolete ( to me) IT equipment last year on ebay .
Maybe 100 or so sales . Prices from £200-£1500.
Apart from a few timewasters who would ask 200 questions bid and then not pay it was smooth.
I had two returns from people claiming the item was faulty … they weren’t and were QC’d and resold to happy buyers .
I had one item go missing with RMSD , refunded buter , opened dispute with RMSD and heard nothing until the item showed as delivered three weeks later and I had to chase the buyer to return it or pay for it , he had conveniently forgotten to tell me the £1000 item had turned up.
I don’t use anything other than RMSD , tracking is provided through ebay , images of serial numbers are sent to the buyer on dispatch .
Never lost money apart from the postage on the timewasters ; maybe 3 troublemakers out of 100 .
Follow the rules get tracking and you should be fine .
RMSD will collect for free
I sell quite a bit on eBay and whilst it’s not always problem free, the vast majority of sales are trouble free.
Using eBay postage systems ensures items are tracked and labels can be printed at home or, if using EVRI, at one of their many drop off points.
I’ve just sent a set of Jaguar alloy wheels to Germany, I don’t know of any other platform where it would be so easy to sell worldwide or post worldwide without all the customs hassle; eBay GSP deal with all of that, at the buyer’s expense, I just have to post to the uk depot. Once there, the item is considered delivered so my responsibility ends. It’s a great system.
No need to go to PO. Buy the post online and they will come and pick it up at your house for free....
Closed my account way back,not worth the worry dealing with chancers.
All as above #metoo !
I think most people just use Facebook marketplace to shift things now, last time I checked on ebay for something it was just companies selling and hardly any individuals.
I don't touch eBay anymore. I got stung about 2 years back by a common scam.
A buyer made up a story about the car part I sold being damaged on arrival, eBay refunded him without asking me my version of events and I was asked to pay to return the broken part. The photos supplied by the seller of the damaged part clearly showed it was a different part to mine, stickers in different places etc and he was trying to swap a bad part out for free, but ebay weren't interested so stuff them.
I use security stickers on certain parts to prevent this happening. Strangely to me, it seemed only to be headlights that buyers said were damaged on arrival; it stopped happening once I started using security tags.
You’ll always get those who try it on but the vast majority of buyers are decent, honest people. I don’t use Facebook so don’t have access to marketplace but I would think that would be worse.
Fees are fine if listed during a weekend fee deal.
All depends on what you're selling. We've got a loft conversion starting in 2 weeks and we've had to clear out 9 years of stuff from us and the two kids.
Marketplace works if you just want to give stuff away but i've had multiple items that we couldn't get rid of on marketplace that then sold for goodish money on ebay. Right now i'm selling trainers, a broken (!) robot hoover, cycling stuff and old electronics on eBay with great success.
I just wait for an 80% off fees offer and if i can post it, it goes on eBay.
Great to justify buying things you don't need.
I also buy trainers at least once every 2 months on ebay and I can count on the fingers of one hand how many issues i've had.
I wouldn't sell a watch there though.
Difference with FB marketplace is it's risky for the buyer not the seller, complete opposite to eBay in that sense. There's no recourse for the buyer if the item isn't as described or doesn't turn up (outside of perhaps PayPal / CC, but most people require PayPal friends & family to avoid fees).
I used to sell my old mobile phones on eBay but I wouldn’t trust it anymore so I just sell to cex now less money but it’s hassle free
So in summary, lots of people who don’t sell on eBay saying how bad it is, whilst those that do sell on eBay are saying it’s ok.
That seems to be pretty much it Dave yes. I've averaged selling 10 or so items a week for over twenty years. In that time (very roughly about 10,000 sold items) I've had two parcels not arrive, and one buyer trying to scam me which failed. By far the biggest problem is time wasters like non paying buyers, but that's just a nuisance with no money or goods lost.
Saying that, with the odd exception like the screenshot I posted above most of my stuff sells for only single or double digits, so the temptation for the scroats probably isn't there in the first place.
I asked a few questions about a rolex bi metal datejust 116203 and never even got a reply. Asked three times. Firm in Hatton Garden area. Not really the fault of Ebay. Firm answered my initial enquiry and then blank. Would have been happy to have travelled down to collect and have a nice few days holiday but no reply. I'm going to have to spend this pile of watch purchasing cash elsewhere. lol. It's their loss.
Last edited by johny; 7th July 2023 at 15:51.
I have been a ebay member for about 22 years now. During a totally insane period of ‘flipperitis’, I could hardly keep a watch for a week. I sold a load of decent watches from my collection, see examples at the end of this post. My point is that I never had a single problem with any buyer, they were all decent and I thought what a great platform it was. Gradually about 15 years ago I noticed that the level of ‘scrotery’ was on the increase and I stopped selling on there and never sold again and as time passed I realised my decision was right. Now I would not sell a heavily used ball-point pen on there and it is a shame it has deteriorated to it’s current level.
I wince looking at my selling prices now, but at the time they were fair.
Perfect watch,perfect delivery,perfect communication:perfect sender.Thank you T.
IWC Mark XV withTHE bracelet PLUS IWC strap & Deployant (#140110221251)francis_6f (31)
£1,411.00More than a year ago
ReplyGreat service, highly recomended
IWC cal 88 in 9ct gold. Recent full service, Fine watch (#140114570027)M3G238hiQNW@Deleted (unregistered)
£985.00More than a year ago
ReplySuper Ebay seller. Excellent goods and service. Hope to deal again. THANKS
Eterna-Matic. Pristine. Immaculate.Very Rare. Stunning! (#140109534617)dublojono (1572)
£200.00More than a year ago
ReplyAs good as it gets! 20 of 20 stars to an Ebay gentleman I sincerly recommend
Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Lady, Croc strap & deployant. (#140091689607)carlfredrik72 (404)
£970.00More than a year ago
Replycompletely trustworthy and honest seller; no hesitation in doing further busines
Ulysse Nardin San Marco Chronometer. Blue Enamel Dial (#140095555783)camper123sailing (394)
£1,020.00More than a year ago
ReplyFabulous. Great items, good comms and fast shipping. Excellent. Many thanks
PATEK PHILIPPE. NEW WATCH BOX, WALLET AND OTHER ITEMS (#140081486443)430181617@deleted (unregistered)
£200.00More than a year ago
ReplySuper Seller -Grade A
Meade ETX-90EC Astro Telescope in PRISTINE condition. (#140062545687)georgendah (2497)
£295.00More than a year ago
ReplyThe Best esaler !!! Always a great pleasure to deal with you Tom !!! Thx.
Eterna-Matic 1948 Reveil in SS / 18ct SOLID GOLD BEZEL. (#140057300061)rld_1zLfS1K@Deleted (unregistered)
£450.00More than a year ago
ReplyNice item, received safely with thanks.
(#140041824989)harwood04 (private) More than a year ago
ReplyExceptional ebayer, pleasure to deal with. Fast and safe delivery. Many thanks.
(#140035251645)220407576@deleted (unregistered) More than a year ago Immaculate Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control sold to a first-class buyer! Thanks! An absolute pleasure to deal with
(#140031060344)jhaworthred (631) More than a year ago A mint IWC Fliegerchronograph sold to a really pleasant and appreciative buyer!
Last edited by KavKav; 7th July 2023 at 21:30.
I use it for secondhand books, not least because I *hate* Amazon.
Sometimes for other bits and pieces (spare parts, DIY or craft stuff etc). Either way, nothing more than a tenner or so.
High-end, big ticket stuff? Not any more, not for years now.
On the rare occasion that there's something in between those two categories (a two or three digit figure) and an auction then I set a snipe and leave it well alone. If I win, good; if not, no matter.
The thing I miss most of all is that the payout used to go to my paypal account (which my wife doesn't have access to) and now it goes into my bank (which she does). So my secret trading / slush fund has gone. How G&D is that?! :-)
Recently sold £400 worth of motorbike bits and old playstations that have been hanging round for years. No issues, took advantage of the £1 max selling fees, money payed into your bank account so dont get scalped by Paypal fees.
The alternative was specialist forums, FB Marketplace and the charity shop - eBay was much less effort IMO
Still buy off there too, yes some prices are nonsense but bargains can still be had but you have to do some digging, recently picked up an unused Onoto fountain pen for 50% less than a new one and a set of brand new Givi panniers from a retailer for £200 less than if I had bought them in one of their retail store - only issue was ripped packaging that ended up in the recycling bin anyhow.
Years ago I sold a pair of headlights via eBay and the buyer claimed they were broken on arrival. I asked for photos of the wrapping (I'd packaged them up VERY carefully) but she said it was a garage that ws going to fit them and that they'd thrown the packaging away...
I told her I wasn't going to refund in that case and then I spoke to eBay about the situation, they agreed with me and I never heard anything else...
Apart from that incident, I've been using eBay for 18 years, got 100% feedback (873) including cars, watches, etc and over £70k in sales - last one was a £4495 item and the final value fee was £1.00.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Or to put it perhaps another way, it sucks for buyers and it's ok for sellers?
IME it’s been ok for both.
However, I’m not buying so much on there nowadays as Amazon Prime’s next-day delivery suits me more.
R
Union-busting, tax-dodging, anti-competitive Amazon? No thanks. It's cheap because someone else is paying the price.
Not at all - loads of protection for buyers on eBay.
I make no mention of buyers, my post only refers to those who sell on eBay and those that say they don’t.
I make no mention of buyers, my post only refers to those who sell on eBay and those that say they don’t.
Is anyone actually still getting the 80% off fees offers anymore ?
I did not get one for 6 months so closed my account with them.
Yes, probably about once a month or so.
I do get them quite regularly but can’t be bothered with the hassle and risk.
Wonder if it’s based on how often you visit the site. I usually have a look probably at least once a day.
I used to sell on eBay very occasionally, but that post from last year about someone doing the same thing with an old iron put me off for good.
Every fortnight.
Same here. i wonder if it's to do with how often such a promotion leads to you selling something? I save stuff up until the promotion comes up so the data will suggest that i'm very easily influenced by it.
Probably the same with me.
Really interesting to read all these discounts on selling fee offers. Never ever got one from ebay. Must be a US/UK thing I assume?
I’ve been on eBay since January 2000.
I do still buy stuff from it, and sometimes sell stuff - usually without major issues.
What I don’t like is that it has shifted away from being an auction site to essentially an Online classifieds site.
I don’t like the limits they put on postage costs, or thd all too often exorbitant fees. They also offer little protection for the seller so you have to send everything by RMSD of Sogned for at the very least.
I do like the sheer range of stuff on there though.
It’s a shame eBay no longer has any real competitors…
So clever my foot fell off.
Just sold an item & posted today, will report back later.
The postage label the system populated was long way out, down £4.
Got to PO & it didn’t cover postage, trying to cancel the postage on site, minefield.
Finally voided postage & corrected down another £3.
Awaiting the scammer next.
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