I Got Ripped Off .... More Than Once!
Written: Mar 27 '01 (Updated Mar 27 '01)
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The Bottom Line
High Bidder Beware! There are ways that sellers can cheat you - legally.
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This is not an opinion about the general concept of Ebay. It is an informative opinion about how you can get ripped-off - legally, and how to avoid it. There are several ways that sellers have ripped me off on Ebay and gotten away with it.
FIRST, sellers put in their auction that buyers pay 'actual shipping & handling.' When a buyer sees this, they usually have an idea of what actual shipping will be. However, once you've won the auction, the seller will try to charge you a ridiculous handling fee. Since the seller put that buyer pays 'actual shipping & handling,' they legally have not done anything wrong. They are just charging you for handling.
SECOND, some sellers put 'insurance optional' on auctions and prey on the victims that opt not to get it. For example, I ordered a video on Ebay that I won for $5.00. I decided not to get insurance because of the small price. Needless to say, that video got "lost in the mail." It's funny though how it turned up on Ebay a few days later listed by the same seller!
It's hard to prove that you were cheated and it can be very bad for your profile to rate someone else poorly - they will usually retaliate!
THIRD, most sellers on Ebay end their auctions on a weekend or weekday. They do this because this is the best times to catch people on-line. There is nothing wrong with this but this is how they lure people into the bidding war.
Most products that are sold second-hand on Ebay can be bought at other on-line stores brand new and for less. Some sellers buy things when they're on discount at these stores and then try to sell them for more on Ebay by getting people involved in a bidding war. Anyone who's ever bid on Ebay knows how addictive it can be!
FOURTH, beware of 'Buy It Now' items. Sellers know that it is very easy for people to click that button so they can win the product now. Most of these items are priced over what the item would normally go for in an auction.
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Here are some steps you can take to make sure this doesn't happen to you:
-Research every item before you place your bid. Look around in on-line stores & check out past auctions on the product you want.
-Set your price. Decide how much you want to spend on that particular item and don't go over it - no matter who outbid you.
-If the seller doesn't specify actual shipping charges, then email them for that information before you bid.
-Always opt for insurance. If the winning price is only a few dollars and you don't feel like the item is worth the extra cost, then don't bid on it.
-Check out the seller's feedback before you bid. You should be comfortable with the seller before you do business with them.
-Make sure you know what you're getting. If the seller doesn't have an actual picture and the description isn't very clear, then you probably will be disappointed.
-If you're gut instinct tells you not to buy, then don't!
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All-in-all, I've had many more 'good' experiences on Ebay than bad. There are lots of worthy sellers out there, you just have to be careful.
Happy Bidding!
Recommended:
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About the Author
Location: South Carolina
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me: I only write an opinion if I've had ample time to evaluate a product.
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