A very hard lesson I’ve had to learn since i started eBaying is that there are some unscrupulous people out there. I am all in favor of the eBay code that :
We believe people are basically good.
We believe everyone has something to contribute.
We believe that an honest, open environment can bring out the best in people.
We recognize and respect everyone as a unique individual.
We encourage you to treat others the way you want to be treated.
BUT- that being said you still have to protect yourself from those who don’t subscribe to an ethical code. The best way I’ve found to do that, both as a buyer and a seller is to use paypal- yes I hate paying the % as a seller- but it’s less than I pay if a check bounces- or the money order proves fake.
As a buyer it has gotten me refunds from crooks and terrible packers- although once they refused my claim in favor of a seller who sold me a charm marked 14K 585 italy that was plated -reason- “the seller said it was MARKED 14K not that it WAS 14K” – ok somebody ‘splain that logic to me Lucy!
Lately I’ve had so many checks to sellers ‘disappear’ in the mail (always for a bargain, amazingly) that I rarely bid on anything unless they take paypal.
I did a search today for a french ivory jewelry box for a friends birthday and made an interesting discovery- the sellers who take paypal get almost 3 times as much as those who don’t for the same items- now i haven’t done any research on this- (not my job man) but from what I saw in all the auctions I searched it convinced me to 1) always sell with paypal and 2) try to find a safe way to buy at the reduced prices non paypal sellers are forced to get- hmmmmmm- there must be a way? Any ideas out there?
