Thread: eBay sellers, don’t you just love them

I have viewed items from that Bulgarian myself Scarface but I haven't seen anything even remotely reasonable in price. I can't believe he actually sells anything but I guess it doesn't hurt to try.

I think that's why you guys don't make your living on ebay. For a successful business you have to factor in all expenses. Do you know how much it costs to run business in Bulgaria?
It's true you can probably avoid paying most/all taxes, but you have various expenses such as:
- general protection (pay the mafia)
- protection from unnecessary investigations (pay the police)
- protection from unfavorable outcomes of investigations (pay the lawers/prosecutors/judges)
- protection from items being lost in the mail (pay the post office)
- protection from items being delayed/lost at customs (pay the customs people)
Then you forget that all these items have to be first stolen so you have
to pay for this too (although it is cheaper than the other costs). And this is only to cover the basics.

It's interesting to see the stuff he's already sold.

Originally Posted by Jonedangerousli

So he went from overpriced by $272 to under priced by at least $25, LOL.

I like the "part of history" phrase...hehehehehe

Originally Posted by Scarface Germany

Mr. Black is quickly becoming a professional !


That other guy from Bulgaria seems to be a little insane????
It´s not the first time I have rofl by checking out his auctions.
Auction number 180151147415 for example

I guess he is well known all over the world by now for keeping up the value of good shaving equipment and other old rubbish?

$4,500!!!!!!!!

Advertising art can bring in some bucks, but this is only around 2 feet across and damaged. World-renown brand name, but it isn't Coca-Cola. $200, tops, on a good day.

I like the way many things are "Imperial" or "Royal"....

I guess he only has to sell a few items to make it worth his while. Funny.

Greg

A lot of razors and hones being sold on eBay are not what they are described or pictured to be. A lot of folks use one picture over and over again on eBay and you are probably not going to get the stone or razor pictured. In the hone business I see folks putting stones into old boxes and selling the hones as "vintage" and they are clearly not even the stone that is pictured/named/described on the box. I've seen this with belgian stones, thuringian stones, escher stones, and japanese stones. The person may be deliberately lying or they may not know any better! The buyer has to beware!

Anytime anyone tells me that "it's really old" or "they don't make them anymore" and doesn't offer any substantial information beyond that, I know they're an antique or "old things" dealer who have noticed a trend and are cashing in. If they're selling "as is" then you're stuck with the razor or the stone.

BTW, I have been taken in by all of the above examples and speak from experience!

Howard
www.theperfectedge.com

I noticed that the other day at an auction site where some guy was advertising straights as "BRAND NEW" even though they were out of the box, without any tags and were very rusted. The rules for that site are that when advertising as new or brand new the goods must come in original packaging, with manuals etc.
I remember on Lynn's DVD he showed a brand new straight which was old but still had labels etc.
I got taken in once too, something advertised as brand new, and when I got the goods, well lets just say that feedback I gave was quite colourful.

Everything on auction sites are buyer beware. Don't trust anyone. Always ask for more pics ask questions and so forth, if they don't comply, then don't buy.

The feedback system there is screwed up, as well. Many sellers wait until the buyer leaves feedback and then leave matching feedback, which is totally unfair. IMO, the buyer is obligated to pay for the object on time -- period. If that is done, any negative feedback us unfair. The seller, on the other hand, is obligated to provide the item as described (within reasonable limits) in a timely manner and reasonably deal with any disputes. Many sellers overhype their items, and thus open themselves up to negative feedback. Allowing them to leave negative feedback for the buyer is unfiar.

That practice just drives me buggy! I have run an eBay business for the last 2.5 years or so, and the way I look at it, the buyer's obligation is to pay as agreed, Period. If he or she does that, that's when I leave feedback. Like you say, the practice of holding someone "Feedback hostage" is unfair, and gives a false impression to the community. Sellers who are unable to resolve disagreements without relying on the threat of retaliatory feedback need to find a product they can stand behind a little better.

Of course, the new seller ratings give a little bit of an opportunity to say what you REALLY think. Someone who can't keep their numbers above a 4.5 average or so speaks volumes!

Sorry 'bout the rant, but like I say, that one's a sore spot for me (and by the way, giving feedback upon payment has netted me a 100% positive rating, with 2050 positives, 4 neutrals and zero negatives in 2.5 years!)...

-Michael

I totally agree with u on the feedback hostage .. BUT I always sell my items ( computer stuff) AS-IS . I describe as best as I can. I always put in the description as-is please bid accordingly. there's a shipping calculator on the auction as well.. I never leave feedback for buyer until I get feedback from buyer.


If I were to leave feedback for buyer when payment is received, dow do I protect against the buyer that just doesn't read the auction details in full ? You've already given feedback as seller and now you're hostage to the buyer and must try hard to please them for fear of negative feedback... worst case scenario, refund in full... but after payin shipping, paypal fees, ebay fees... it can a quick losing proposition...

Originally Posted by Zennmaster

That practice just drives me buggy! I have run an eBay business for the last 2.5 years or so, and the way I look at it, the buyer's obligation is to pay as agreed, Period. If he or she does that, that's when I leave feedback. Like you say, the practice of holding someone "Feedback hostage" is unfair, and gives a false impression to the community. Sellers who are unable to resolve disagreements without relying on the threat of retaliatory feedback need to find a product they can stand behind a little better.

Of course, the new seller ratings give a little bit of an opportunity to say what you REALLY think. Someone who can't keep their numbers above a 4.5 average or so speaks volumes!

Sorry 'bout the rant, but like I say, that one's a sore spot for me (and by the way, giving feedback upon payment has netted me a 100% positive rating, with 2050 positives, 4 neutrals and zero negatives in 2.5 years!)...

-Michael

here is another interesting listing for way more than it's worth:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Lot-of-H-Boker-He...QQcmdZViewItem

All the razors look in awful shape with tons of hone wear. Some of the scales are fancy though and if the whole bunch was selling for 15$ it might be nice to re-use some of those scales...