Re: Ebay Questions

[JimboMGA@domain.elided]

Don,
the most important (and often overlooked) currency on Ebay is "Feedback". 
Researching feedback is really your best protection.
A good guideline is to only deal with a seller on Ebay who has good feedback, 
and lots of it.
That way you can tell that the seller is oriented toward smooth transactions, 
happy customers, good feedback. 
You do have some recourse through Ebay to force a seller to deal fairly but 
it is a huge hassle. 
There are thousands of good Ebay sellers who are very willing to deal fairly 
with bidders who will do the same for them.
If you want to minimize your potential for getting burned;
1) find the item you want
2) click on the sellers feedback link (the number right beside the seller 
name at the top of the auction) Avoid sellers who have the little sunglass i
con next to their name.
3) read down the list of feedbacks. If there are fewer than fifty in the last 
year or if there is any bad feedback, forget that seller all together.
4) if the seller passed the minimum feedback standard, click on the top 
couple of auctions listed in the feedback list to see what this seller 
usually deals in. This can give you a good idea if this seller knows anything 
about what they are selling.
These steps should help you avoid getting burned. Ebay is a great market but 
like any fleamarket, part of the cost is factoring in the occasional bad 
transaction. I've been stung on Ebay only once (for just a little money).
When trying to buy car audio stuff, there are many many sellers (feedback 
will steer you to the sellers who are interested in smooth transactions). 
When you buy Alfa parts on Ebay the feedback guidelines get a little blurred 
because you are often dealing with a seller who has very little history (ie. 
some Alfa owner parting out a fetta he's had parked behind the garage for 12 
years).
Lastly, there are some escrow services available on Ebay. I've never used 
these, but they look very useful for the big purchases, they do charge for 
the service.
I hope this is of some use to you Don.

Jim Oiler
1991 164L (carries lots of Ebay purchased Cameras and the like)

In a message dated 2/1/2003 2:02:04 AM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

> Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2003 06:32:20 GMT
> From: doncoulter@domain.elided
> Subject: Ebay Questions
> Greetings all,
> I'm thinking about bidding on some audio equiptment either on ebay, or on 
> another auction website( audiogon). I'm really apprehensive about putting 
> out large sums of money to a private seller, without knowing of any 
> recourse. Are there any ways to insure that I get the material sent to me , 
> and that it's in good shape? I've thought about COD, paying with a credit 
> card through Paypal( does fraud protection work here?)
> B.S. suggests paying with a postal money order making it a federal issue if 
> they skip town. 
> Any proven suggestions?
> Thanks ,
> Don Coulter
> 86 & 74 Spiders 
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