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EBay: Is it Worth It?

19:24 / 19.09.04

I'm shopping around for a computer, and I'm considering buying it over eBay. I think it's a bit risky and I'm not really an e-bay person. My Dad bought a laptop off eBay a few years ago and it seemed to work just fine, but I'm just a little worried. Any more experienced eBay users have any advice/tips for me? Any ebay miracles/horror stories out there?

19:42 / 19.09.04

Pro: My friend J got a really, really good desktop computer from ebay, like, three years ago. It was cheap, in good condition, and she hasn't had any problems with it.

Con: I got a laptop off ebay specifically so that I would be able to get online when I went to Australia, and there was something wrong with it so that (you guessed it) it wouldn't go online, so I spent, like, A$70 on trying in vain to get it fixed. (Also, the guy who owned it before didn't clean his usage tracks or whatever they're called, so whenever I played anything on Realplayer the drop-down "File Open" menu kept offering me videos called things like "Underage Sluts Being Raped By Black Guys", which upset me, because I'm squeamish.)

19:58 / 19.09.04

Immediate reaction: don't.

More considered advice: Only bid for it if you're convinced that the seller is genuine and reliable. Check hir feedback. Check it properly and read through a few pages - I've seen positive feedback before now that says "Item was bootleg, but worked. A+++!!" Really not helpful.

It also depends on how much the item's going for. I've only ever bought relatively expensive things when I've been absolutely certain of the seller - email them, check that they're legit, get assurances from them. Even then I was stung once by some idiot adding the delivery charge to the item price on the customs declaration, landing me with a bill of twice the amount I was expecting when the postman came a-knocking.

And, at the other end of the spectrum, I bought a piece of hardware from a woman in Japan a year or so back that cost around £75, and was delighted to find when it turned up on my door that she'd declared it's worth to be £5.20. No customs charges that day = much smiles.

Bear in mind that eBay customer support is very inconsistent. If you have a problem, it's 50-50 whether you'll get any sense out of them.

I've had very few problems with it, really. One dodgy item and the one idiot seller, balanced out by plenty of simple, fuss-free purchases and some really nice, friendly communication with other sellers. That's probably more to do with my being way careful than anything else.

Cloned Christ on a HoverDonkey

20:19 / 19.09.04

There are some risks buying off ebay, but with a few sensible precautions I think it's just about as safe as buying from anywhere else.

Check the seller's feedback; I only buy from people with a positive feedback rating of 98% or over, and then only people with a total rating of over 100. Look out for the 'Square Trade Seal' in people's listings - this means that their identity and address have been verified independantly and the seller has to agree to certain selling policies before they're awarded the seal. These people actually pay a monthly subscription for this seal, so are almost invariably genuine.

Also look out for 'Power Sellers' - these are people/businesses with a high regular turnover; something you don't get by ripping people off.

When it comes to computers, you'd be better off buying new rather than off some schoolkid who needs a bit of spare cash (obviously). Generally, and I know it's obvious, employ a bit of common sense. Sellers with a high positive rating didn't get that way by selling dodgy stuff. Steer clear of anyone with more than just a couple of scattered negative ratings. Check how many other things the seller has actually sold - they may have a high positive feedback purely from buying stuff.

10:24 / 20.09.04

Also, don't just assume the PC has everything you need in it. Make a list and check it. Er..twice, if you're so inclined.
Some eBayers tend not to mention when parts are missing.

"Did I say it had a Hard Drive?"

10:44 / 20.09.04

Also, when buying stuff like computers, it's a good idea to ask for more pictures of the item in question. If they only have a pic of the computer set up on a desk, ask for pictures of the back, showing the ports and expansion cards. Ask for a picture of the PC with it's hood off so you can see what's inside. If it's a laptop, ask for close-ups of scrapes and dings. A seller who responds with a "I don't have a digital camera and can't get one to take the pictures with" style response is best avoided. The additional effort a seller will go to in order to provide more information is a good gauge of reliability.