[Az-Geocaching] RE: Ebay

[Robert & Linda Smith]

I have to agree with Bill on this issue.  While I have not bid or sold 
but a handful of items on EBay the transactions I've been involved with 
so far have been good.  There is one exception, and it is not really 
EBay other than the fact that Ebay now owns PayPal.  I had a very bad 
experience with PayPal and to this day will not use their services.  In 
fact I got an email from EBay this other day from the President, it was 
a blast to any and every one, and he invited comments to his email box.  
I think I will take my issue with PayPal up with him.  My most recent 
buy was as Bill described, I placed a bid that was as high as I wanted 
to go and I got the item.  I have bid and not been the successful bidder 
and that's OK, I'll look around some more.

Your mileage may vary....

Bob Smith, Team Petite Elite

Bill Nolan wrote:

>I have usually been able to find anything I wanted at a bargain price on
>Ebay -- eventually.  If you are in a hurry, you may want to make another
>choice, but if you aren't, keep trying.  I don't want to waste a lot of time
>and angst on the bidding process, so when I see something I want, I just go
>ahead and bid what I am willing to pay.  Sure, sometimes someone comes along
>and outbids me right at the end, but I don't care, because I have already
>bid what I was willing to pay, and I'm not going higher anyway.  If I don't
>get it, I just bid my price on another one.  As long as my price isn't
>totally unreasonable, I will win one eventually.
>
>There is a difference of opinion on sniping (bidding at the last moment).
>Some swear by it and believe that you get better prices that way.  Others
>don't think it makes any difference, except the psychological satisfaction
>of trying to "snatch" something at the last moment.  Do it if it makes you
>feel better.  There is no evidence one way or the other as to whether it
>works.  One person will tell you it does, and the next person will tell you
>it doesn't.  Scientists are rightfully very skeptical of this kind of
>evidence, which is called "anecdotal."  I can tell you that I don't think it
>helps at all, but that is no more meaningful than someone else telling you
>that it is the only way to go.
>
>If you buy on Ebay, do pay attention to the feedback of the seller before
>you bid.  If their number is low, you are taking a chance on an unknown
>quantity.  If they have some negatives, read them to see what sort of
>problems others have had.  I have done several hundred transactions on Ebay,
>both as a buyer and seller, and have never had a serious problem.  That
>doesn't mean you won't, so be cautious.
>
>Bill in Willcox
>  
>