Ebay for cycling stuff - what's the point ?

[SavageHoutkop]

I would expect if someones had the bike from new they would include the manuals and proof of purchase in one of their pictures too.

You'd also expect the sales history of the seller not to be only bikes (unless they are a second hand bike dealer!)

 

[Andrew_P]

It is the wild west still but much more controlled than it was say 3-4 years ago. The cost of sale even for high volume sellers is around 12% inc PayPal. But rule braking is still rife on the site

They have recently started to tamper with the default search yet again and in certain cats Auctions are not rising to the top based on finish time, if they spread this across the site their will be loads of bargains for those in the know.

 

[freecyclist]

Ebay have put their fees up so high you can hardly blame sellers for trying to maximise their returns.

 

[vernon]

It's still possible to get bargains off Ebay.

Less than an hour ago I got a model stationary steam engine and boiler at around 50% of the going rate which represents a substantial saving.

 

[brokenflipflop]

I dare say antiques roadshow and eccentric type stuff you can get a bargain if you're an enthusiast and you know your onions.

But run of the mill gear sold by thieving scroats and professional Ebayers I've found to be a rip-off.

My first sentence sounds a bit rude but it wasn't meant to.

 

[apollo179]

Really? If that is so, and you have evidence to the fact, you should report him to Ebay as shill bidding is not permitted.
Ebay will then take action.

Sorry but i dont see what is so wrong with schill bidding. Nobody forcers anybody to bid at gunpoint. All this consumer protection is marvelous up to a point but surely there comes a point where the consumer has to mtfu and take responsibility for there actions.

 

[lozcs]

Gumtree's good in some ways

Last week we had about 20 people turn up at our work throughout the day for an interview for a job that didn't exist.

Took us a while to work it out but turned out somone had advertised a job on Gumtree and then told the candidates they were invited to interview but they must pay for CRB checks. Some of them had paid over £100!!!

 

[Gixxerman]

Sorry but i dont see what is so wrong with schill bidding. Nobody forcers anybody to bid at gunpoint. All this consumer protection is marvelous up to a point but surely there comes a point where the consumer has to mtfu and take responsibility for there actions.

OK so you don't see anything wrong with shill bidding.
However, Ebay do.
It also breaks European Union Fair trading laws as illustrated in this article.

 

[apollo179]

OK so you don't see anything wrong with shill bidding.
However, Ebay do.
It also breaks European Union Fair trading laws as illustrated in this article.

I dont dispute that shill bidding is wrong as prescribed by ebay rules and European Union Fair trading laws.
I was saying i dont see what is so wrong with schill bidding. Nobody forcers anybody to bid at gunpoint. All this consumer protection is marvelous up to a point but surely there comes a point where the consumer has to mtfu and take responsibility for there actions.
This just seems another concession to people avoiding taking responsibility for themselves.

 

[400bhp]

Buying stuff off Ebay is absolutely fine.

You just need to be sensible, check sellers/buyers and don't be greedy (which applies to buying and selling).

Set yourself some rules:

Only buy items off ebayers with lots of feedback. If they don't have much feedback ask why/get an address (which you can request off Ebay), ask lots of questions about the item.

Agree in advance what the highest price you are prepared to pay. Bid early, set your max and forget about the item until the deadline. If you don't win there are plenty of other similar/same items come up.

 

[400bhp]

I dont dispute that shill bidding is wrong as prescribed by ebay rules and European Union Fair trading laws.
I was saying i dont see what is so wrong with schill bidding. Nobody forcers anybody to bid at gunpoint. All this consumer protection is marvelous up to a point but surely there comes a point where the consumer has to mtfu and take responsibility for there actions.
This just seems another concession to people avoiding taking responsibility for themselves.

You have a point and to some extent I agree.

However the price something should be sold at should be determined (largely) by supply and demand.

If demand is broadly faked then an item will sell more than it would have sold for under fair circumstances. The buyer may still be happy with the price he paid for the item, but would have been happier to pay the correct, lower price.

Generally, the above affects things at the margins (e.g perhaps items sell for 10% more than they would have otherwise) but the seller is creaming that margin unfairly.

 

[MarkF]

2010 Sirrus Sport (lovely white model), 300 miles, few minor scratches to one side of down tube, otherwise mint. Lock, computer, bottle & cage, Specialized pump, rear light and Topeak touring rack.

£200, collected this morning, thank you Ebay.

 

[doog]

2010 Sirrus Sport (lovely white model), 300 miles, few minor scratches to one side of down tube, otherwise mint. Lock, computer, bottle & cage, Specialized pump, rear light and Topeak touring rack.

£200, collected this morning, thank you Ebay.

nicked ?

(I know....you did all the checks

)

To be fair stolen bikes rarely go on ebay whole, just in pieces.

 

[MarkF]

nicked ?

(I know....you did all the checks )

To be fair stolen bikes rarely go on ebay whole, just in pieces.

Owner was like Fatty Arbuckle and had bought himself a leccy commuter.

He listed it at £250 (CHEAP!) "Buy it now"on Sunday, I saw it, thought about it for an hour and it was gone, apparently sold within 2 hours of being listed. The sale fell through, why? I don't know and don't care, but Sirrus Sports were now on my mind. Boom! There it was again Monday morning, I offered £200 cash in his hand in one hour..........and the deal was done. Walked to his house, 35mins, and rode happily home.

 

[StuAff]

Four out of my last five bikes have been off eBay. Very happy with both the bikes and the prices I paid. It's fine as long as you're sensible, shop around, make sure that the price you're prepared to pay is a good deal...