Thread for Bay Sellers to Avoid?

[AirColorado]

I've seen suggestions in the past here about the desire to have a thread where we at least pass on bad experiences with fleabay sellers. It looks like I'm about to be taken for about $50 and while admittedly angry, was also thinking that it could be beneficial for all of us to know some of the more not-so-trustworthy sellers there. I'm not suggesting a list, but maybe posts about specific sellers and their actions that could potentially save a member some money. I'd think it would be simple factual information and allow the buyers to make their own decisions about those sellers.

Any idea if we have that yet, or, if it might be worthwhile? I guess as long as its simply supplying facts that all can use to draw conclusions it would be fair. I'm so frustrated with this seller and it would have been a simple matter for me to have avoided this had I known about his "policies".

[persco]

I like this idea. There are many unscrupulous sellers on the 'Fleeb'. A recent experience I had was looking at a very nice looking Boker for sale. There were a few bids on it, but I thought it was strange that all the photos were of the razor closed. I sent him a message asking him to post photos of the blade. He replied that ebay policies wouldn't allow him to post photos after the item was originally put up for auction, so I asked him to send me photos of the blade... He did and this was what he sent me.











What bothered me so much was that he was so obviously trying to hide from bidders the fact that the blade had a massive chunk out of it. Needless to say, I passed on bidding. But someone bought it (?).

s.

[avatar1999]

Sounds like a good idea. I'm inclined to disbelieve the seller that said he wasn't allowed to add more pictures after the auction was started.

Many times I've asked for more pictures, and sellers have added more pictures to the auction. Seems you were correct, and he was trying to deceive people.

AirColorado, I saw your post before about what was going on with that seller. Did it state in the auction description that it would be sold "as-is"?

If not, I would open a ticket and dispute it. Just because that seller thinks he is right, doesn't make it so.

[JimmyHAD]

This topic was brought up before and if IRC one of the mods pointed out that if a poster starts 'bad mouthing' an ebay seller on a public forum there might be legal ramifications. Add to that the 'your word against mine' aspect.

I think if an ebay seller was someone to avoid I would post the link to the auction rather than the seller's name. Then explain the problem without specifically saying 'avoid this seller'. This way I am telling it like it is with a concrete example and not 'slandering' an individual. Readers of the post can draw their own conclusions and of course see who the seller is. If the problem is bad enough I will also leave negative feedback on ebay but it has to be egregious for me to do that. YMMV.

Also with razors some of these people selling on ebay haven't got a clue as to what it is they have. I recall a gal selling a straight with a large chip at the point and in her description she said that she thought it was probably made that way.

[thebigspendur]

Its one of those things that at first glance seems to be a great idea that would benefit many however when you look more closly it can have a very dark and ugly side to it and it can't be policed once started.

The official policy here is that we don't review sellers. If we allowed you to tell people about "bad" sellers we would have to give the bad guy equal time to defend himself and additionally in your mind you might have some perceived injustice which someone else may have a different opinion of and your post here could cause a vendor to loose business and his income and you could be wrong. Additionally people could use that forum to cause damage to someone because of some trivial or made up issues or use it as away of getting back at someone.

In the end its a very bad idea not to mention legal issues.

[stimpy52]

grumble, grumble , grumble. I'm sure you're right... I just get tired of the cheaters winning all the time. I wanna horse-whip 'em.

[nun2sharp]

I agree with Jimmy, but another thing we could do is to PM our buddies and they can pass along info as well, kind of a disorganized "phone tree".

[joke1176]

It sucks getting burned on a razor, and it happens to everybody at least once...

BUT, you shouldn't buy a razor without good pics. Period.

If you do, you are gambling and we all know how that usually ends up.

That being said, if you are careful and still get screwed by an intentionally unscrupulous seller, ebay should be able to remediate that without too much headache. ha ha ha.

[ScottGoodman]

If a thread was called "Ebay Opinions" and I were to post something along the line of: "I was unhappy with Henkels SR purchased from shooter007", there would be no legal issues at all. Problem is that someone would want to go into detail on down the line...that is where problems arise. The last Ebay SR I purchased, a Henkels, was polished by someone who got carried away with their buffer. Edge had deep waves. We all know we are taking a gamble. I agree with us giving NEGATIVE feedback on a seller who was trying to rip us off. I don't "think" this guy was trying to rip me off, but I'm somewhat gullable on the "I didn't know...".

It's a great idea, but I'm just not sure if it would work in a public forum. It may not count, but that's my .02

[DPflaumer]

It's true that everyone gets burned at least once. I don't even both to bid now if I can't see a full, clear shot of the blade and edge. I won a razor a month or so ago and the edge was obscured in a shot (I know, thats a warning sign) but I got it for $9 shipping included. When I finally got it 3 weeks later, the edge had a pretty decent chip out of it. Not your standard chip though, more like the was purposely dulled or filed. Gotta love that ebay.