[FS: General] Buyers beware II - Cameras on eBay

A

alohype

Veteran
Be very cautious when buying camera through eBay. About 2 months ago I was searching for used fs700, C300 or C100 on ebay uk. There were few listings emerging with description: "contact me for more info" and e-mail provided. Seller had many feedbacks (abt 100-200) so it was looking legit. After e-mail sent I've received extensive description and pictures of the camera that was looking pretty solid. After quick google search I found out that it was identical description from listing in completely different country months ago. Also listing on eBay disappeared pretty quickly and this guy was only contacting me through e-mail. He was keep coming back to money questions when I was asking for more details. I guess someones eBay account was compromised or it was specially build up to do scams. Just to add photo on his google+ account was looking like a photo scanned from passport, google+ account was also established just few weeks before. His name and e-mail was: Martin John ReaD johnreadm@gmail.com, but like I'm saying this can be legit guy that passport was stolen from him and someone is impersonating. Also there can be many more eBay accounts and e-mail, just be aware.

Watch out for disappearing listings from guys that want to finish transactions outside eBay! Always google search for user, his e-mail, descriptions, serial numbers.

It's very well known to do it but it's worth to repeat.
 
A few months ago I saw the same exact thing on eBay. I found an FS700 for sale for like $3,500 USD and had the same "email me" in the listing. Too good to be true. I think the listing disappeared shortly after.
 
Just a heads up, for EVERYONE:

ebay and paypal are GREAT about buyer protection. It's almost impossible to get scammed through them.

Only caveat is you have to USE them. Do not contact buyers outside of ebay. Do not pay through anything except paypal, through certified ebay transaction. Common scams are trying to get you to buy it outside of ebay, for a discount (i've heard they'll tell you they want to skip ebay's fees, so they'll cut you a deal if you do it outside ebay) or something similar. Always do everything through ebay/paypal and you'll be fine, as soon as someone asks you to do differently, drop them and report them.

(note: for you buyers out there, because scammers do this, don't ever attempt to take the sale off ebay, even for legitimate reasons. You will get dropped and reported)

edit: I've bought plenty of gear, even my c100, through ebay, never had a single problem.
 
Furthermore, on that note, eBay/PayPal's buyer protection is now too good in that any seller can easily be screwed, for ANY transaction. All the buyer has to do is claim that they received an empty package and they get refunded (and get to keep the item).

I will probably never sell on eBay again for these reasons unless I just can't get an item to sell anywhere else.
 
austinmartifilms said:
Furthermore, on that note, eBay/PayPal's buyer protection is now too good in that any seller can easily be screwed, for ANY transaction. All the buyer has to do is claim that they received an empty package and they get refunded (and get to keep the item).

I will probably never sell on eBay again for these reasons unless I just can't get an item to sell anywhere else.
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I also agree that eBay is very buyer oriented, and for a simple, economic reason. Unless the transaction goes through, eBay doesn't get paid.

I've stopped selling on eBay because of this.
 
I listed my HMC150 on my local Craigslist. A few week later I noticed an eBay listing that used my pictures and descriptive text copied from Craigslist.
eBay makes it virtually impossible to report such a fraudulent listing. I hope whoever won the bidding actually received a camera.
 
austinmartifilms said:
Furthermore, on that note, eBay/PayPal's buyer protection is now too good in that any seller can easily be screwed, for ANY transaction. All the buyer has to do is claim that they received an empty package and they get refunded (and get to keep the item).

I will probably never sell on eBay again for these reasons unless I just can't get an item to sell anywhere else.
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Yeah that's what I've heard, I don't blame you... although I think it's slightly more involved in that when you file a claim, it's still pretty easy for the buyer to scam the seller. I imagine this is something ebay is working on, or they'd go under pretty quick when everyone stopped selling.

ParrotEyes said:
I listed my HMC150 on my local Craigslist. A few week later I noticed an eBay listing that used my pictures and descriptive text copied from Craigslist.
eBay makes it virtually impossible to report such a fraudulent listing. I hope whoever won the bidding actually received a camera.
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Don't fret too much about whomever won. I bought a computer recently, was told it had shipped, no tracking info, missed the estimated arrival date. Sent the seller a message, no reply. Since ebay a message inquiring, they told me the seller has deleted their account and refunded my money.

It was annoying, but that's it. I don't know why the seller thought I would just say "Oh well" to a couple hundred dollars, but that's what happened. It's pretty easy to get a refund.
 
David Saraceno said:
I also agree that eBay is very buyer oriented, and for a simple, economic reason. Unless the transaction goes through, eBay doesn't get paid.

I've stopped selling on eBay because of this.
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It's not so good for (honest) buyers these days either. I have only ever bought and I'm pretty much done with ebay now. The business has been mismanaged to engender a bad culture, it's been going steadily downhill in the last 12-18 months. It was always a nightmare to deal with ebay admin. Ebay fees were always a rip off. But the campaign ebay has waged against private sellers in favour of stores over the last 2 years has meant the quality of private seller has gone downhill dramatically.

It has become pointless paying for express shipping since most sellers don't mail for days if not weeks. I currently have one (probably my last ebay purchase with a private seller) who has not responded to contacts me let alone posted the item in over 2 weeks now and I am not looking forward to the paypal dispute. It was to be posted through ebay global shipping (biggest legitimised scam on the internet) so I expect it will be a double fight to get my shipping refunded for a service that was never used. Bad experiences used to be 1 in 100. Now closer to 6 in 10 at last count. There are a handful of long established sellers that I still have good experiences with and any future purchases will be exclusively through them.

It's easier just to buy direct from manufacturers and established internet businesses now. Prices are about the same these days anyway. Other than for Lanparte/Tilta and a handful of other chinese brands there's no bargains to be had anymore. Forum marketplaces are now the best places to buy 2nd hand. When you can find someone willing to take less than 90% of new cost on their well used item and has more than 3 posts anyway. All my best experiences in the last 12 months have been in the marketplace with established users here.
 
You guys are depressing me. I'm trying to unload my XL2 on ebay right now. It has "sold" twice. . .once to a guy in Mexico, when I specified US shipping only (though I didn't realize you had to change several account settings to make that really work), and once to some other guy. Both times, neither buyer ever paid or even answered my messages/emails. But guy in Mexico refused cancellation. Finally got my disputes settled, this is 3rd time it's up.

Yes, that's what sellers tell me on the message boards, it's a buyer's world and without high feedback, a seller is unlikely to win a dispute (I don't even have 100 transactions to my name).

Maybe I'll take the cam down if it doesn't sell this time. Is Amazon any better? Maybe I'll try on here. Craigslist still freaks me out. . .dealing with strange humans in person, 0 accountability, etc.

Is it really so bad even for BUYERS???? What about the old rules for judging sellers (registered a long time, good feedback/high feedback/selling similar items often/in US if you're in the US etc. etc.), do these not apply? Yes I realize accounts can be hacked but I don't think that's really happening as often as people make it out?
 
At the end of the day ebay works (or doesn't) on trust. Buyer protection isn't even worth the hassle unless you're talking big bucks. Ebay's processes are the furthest possible thing from transparent. Even when they rule in your favour you never why or how. They won't speak to you on the phone other than to tell you they won't speak to you on the phone. At least that's been my experience.
 
Josh Bass said:
You guys are depressing me. I'm trying to unload my XL2 on ebay right now. It has "sold" twice. . .once to a guy in Mexico, when I specified US shipping only (though I didn't realize you had to change several account settings to make that really work), and once to some other guy. Both times, neither buyer ever paid or even answered my messages/emails. But guy in Mexico refused cancellation. Finally got my disputes settled, this is 3rd time it's up.

Yes, that's what sellers tell me on the message boards, it's a buyer's world and without high feedback, a seller is unlikely to win a dispute (I don't even have 100 transactions to my name).

Maybe I'll take the cam down if it doesn't sell this time. Is Amazon any better? Maybe I'll try on here. Craigslist still freaks me out. . .dealing with strange humans in person, 0 accountability, etc.

Is it really so bad even for BUYERS???? What about the old rules for judging sellers (registered a long time, good feedback/high feedback/selling similar items often/in US if you're in the US etc. etc.), do these not apply? Yes I realize accounts can be hacked but I don't think that's really happening as often as people make it out?
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I really don't know what EggBornSon is on about, ebay is fantastic for buyers. Craigslist is actually great for sellers-- you never have to give a name or anything, you get cash, then you leave. For all the buyer knows the damn thing could fall apart in twenty minutes and they'll never be able to find you again.

I've looked at selling on amazon a few times... they seem the fairest for both parties out of everyone, but on the other hand amazon takes some pretty hefty fees.
 
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