I recently posted a pile of HO stuff for sale on eBay. I am a full-time N-scaler, and figured the money would be good to reinvest in hobby items I can use. One of the items I posted, new in packaging, had a retail value of $10.89. I started the auction at $4.50, with a Buy It Now price of $6.50. Fair enough, I figured. Well, after a day or so, someone placed a bid for $4.50, which removed the Buy It Now option. A few other people bid, and the item ended up, amazingly, selling for around $15. I got an email today from the buyer. He is satisfied with the item, which is as advertised, but is a bit peeved because he paid more than the retail price . Like I went to his house and forced him to bid $15 on an item that was worth $11. Sometimes, you just can't win. Ray [ March 21, 2006, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Ray H. ]
His fault. Then he complains because he makes an mistake? What's even worse, is realizing the world is overpopulated with such duds. And if you keep on selling, another one will likely win one of your auctions. Be sure and block that guy, so he can't bid again. Boxcab E50
I stopped using E-Bay when I sold an N scale SD60M shell for $50.00 I put in the description in caps "SHELL ONLY NO DRIVE" Well a bidding war insued and when the winner contacted me he said he thought it was a complete engine. The guy was nice about it so I did not make him pay or post bad feedback, but that was the last time I ever sold anything on E-Bay. I don't have time for that kind of trouble. I'll sell on Trainboard and at shows.
Could be a tactic used by the buyer in an attempt to lower the price after the fact. He may have intentionally overbid to secure the win while all the time planning to later appeal to you to lower the price. I'd check his feedback to make sure he has not tried to pull this stunt before. If not, then you just have a very naïve bidder.
If he wants to pay a price higher than the original worth, that's his problem. All you did was put it out there for bid. You are WAY in the clear. This idjit needs to check himself, and make darn sure he's willing to pay more than an item may be worth before he bids so high. AFAIK, nobody put a gun to his head & forced him to bid so high. And mental lapses (a/k/a brain f***s) are no excuse. If he don't like it, he should actually used the kapok in his head & THINK before he bids.
Fortunately, I've never had a problem with a customer claiming he/she overpaid for one of my auctions. Other problems - you bet! But I work really hard to keep my customers happy (and my feedback perfect! ) Ray, I agree with the others that it's the buyer's responsibility to be knowledgeable about what he/she is buying, and how much it's worth. It's not your problem! Oftentimes, a little research done over the Internet will find another store with the same item, and probably at MSRP or a discounted price, too! Don't sweat a customer who finds out he's overpaid. I've done that a time or two myself, and simply write it off to human error. Eventually, they'll learn. Maybe... Pat
Ebay is a great place to look for things you might never be able to get. I beleive sometimes the same things go from 1 dealer to another with a price boost in between. I know things I have looked at and watched have sold for retail or more and some have even become stupid like a single slide from the mid 90s going for 20$ or more. It kind of reminds me of going to the train shows that have been around where you see dealers with the same thing all the time and they by up all the good things before the show even opens to the public raise the price to a good profit and then put it on there table for sale
Well I finally got my negative feedback after 450 positives. Got his $ on a Tuesday, Shipped on Wednesday, negative feedback on Saturday! It was sitting in his mailbox since Friday! Left the feedback without even a mail! Refused to retract and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change that! Only thing to do is wait for positive feedback from buyer and if he burns you you can get him the same. Doesnt help but it feels better!
I've got to admit I've over paid for things in the past but it was intentinal just to get the product but to not know the retail and cry about it latter is just down rite stupid. take it, eat it and shut it learn from the mistake and go on with your life. Oh but wait that takes the crying out of life. Whatcha gonna do rite?????????????????
A first for me on Ebay........... a package just arrived postage due! Geez, I paid $8 for shipping to begin with, and now the seller can't even put enough postage on it?
Think the main problem with this kind of stuff is people just don't PAY Attention to what is is they are agreeing to?? And it ain't just on Ebay either...
I have basically stopped buying off ebay I'd rather buy from known etailers. I have had only a few bad experiences which included purchases never arriving.
I sold an engine to guy who after the auction ended said he didn't want to pay the shipping charges. He thought he paid more than the engine was worth and figured I should pay the shipping. He's been the only"problem" I've had selling or buying on ebay.
Whiner alert!!! Your buyer overbid, it is his problem. He's trying to make it your problem. And he's being the poop in the punchbowl, all for a couple measly dollars.
This is just a note to say that eBay doesn't have to be a negative experience. Recently, I decided to get back into model railroading, and I've spent something like $5K (available from a windfall royalty check) equipping my system through eBay. We're talking about more than one hundred transactions here. I've had nothing but positive experiences. Period. Thanks to eBay, I have a beautiful collection of equipment for my model railroad - a collection that I never thought it would be possible for me to assemble in a relatively short period of time. For eBay bidding and buying, my philosophy is as follows: 1. Know the value of the item. Check the Walthers catalog (online at Walthers online site) as well as leading N scale online retailers. You can also search eBay to learn how much the same item has gone for in the past. 2. Know how much you want to pay. To be honest, sometimes I'm so desperate to have something that I'm willing to pay more than the going price. If I do, I don't feel cheated -- I walked into this with my eyes open. It was worth an additional $25 or $50 -- hell, I'd spend that much in gas just to get to a major hobby store that might have the item (but probably not). 3. Check the buyer's feedback. Go to toolhaus.org and make use of the interesting tools available there, including a utility that displays ONLY the negative feedback a seller has received. As you read the feedback, remember that there are a certain number of people out there who are, frankly, best described as posterior orifices. See what the seller has done to try to put things right. Don't dismiss them out of hand if they don't have 100% positives. Also, research the vendor's recent history. If the vendor hasn't been active all of a sudden recently, and there have been a few negative feedbacks that don't square with the person's record overall, something bad might be going on -- a divorce, illness, etc. Don't bid! 4. Do not bid early. Bid at the last minute. Use proxy bidding to establish the maximum you want to pay. 5. If you win, pay IMMEDIATELY. You get all kinds of good will by doing this! 6. The minute you receive the shipment, give the vendor the best feedback you can. 7. If there is a problem, do NOT post whiny negative feedback. Contact the vendor first and try to work it out! Typically, I receive my eBay purchases within a week of concluding the auction -- often, it's just two or three days. When I order from conventional vendors, I find myself waiting at least a week -- and often far longer -- before they get around to shipping. In sum, don't be discouraged by the horror stories you hear. A little common sense, good communication skills, and a positive attitude are all it takes to have a positive experience with eBay model railroad vendors (who, I might add, are in general -- in my experience -- ethical people who you will genuinelylenjoy communicating with).
