Yes, that's one of the downsides - you will generally be responsible for
getting the item back to the seller at your own expense. However, I've
always gotten my full payment refunded, including the original shipping
costs TO me. Paying shipping for the return trip is simply the cost of
doing business and part of the risk you assume. Just like in the physical
world, if you buy something from the store that doesn't work and you want a
refund, it's up to you to get in your car and drive to the store at your own
expense. They don't come and pick it up, or pay for your gas as part of the
refund.
I understand that some people have had bad experiences on eBay. My point is
that I have bought a lot of radios through eBay (including one just last
night) and have had few problems. EBay is the ONLY marketplace where such a
large number and variety of radio-related equipment is available, but you
have to follow a few simple rules.
1) Ask a lot of questions and be willing to walk away if the seller is
unresponsive, vague, or seems shady in any way. There is never an item that
you MUST have; another one just like it will come along.
2) Save all email correspondence between you and the seller regarding the
item and it's condition.
3) Pay attention to the seller's feedback.
4) Use only Paypal, with a credit card, to pay for your purchases.
5) Be reasonable in your expectations.
6) If a problem does occur, present your dispute in a professional and
reasonable way.
"Don Bowey" wrote in message
...
On 7/12/06 4:19 PM, in article , "Unrevealed
Source" wrote:
EBay/Paypal do not always support the seller. Although I've had
relatively
few problems, by asking good questions of the seller and being willing to
walk away when things don't seem kosher, in the 4 or 5 times that I've
had
to file a dispute because something was misrepresented, Paypal has sided
with me (the buyer) and I've always gotten my money back. It sometimes
takes a little longer than I would like, but if you're a reasonable buyer
and can provide the facts about why an item was misrepresented, you won't
have a problem getting things resolved.
Also, eBay/Paypal don't "side" more with either buyers or sellers. They
side with the party that is right, in their judgement, after looking at
the
facts. They know that they can't afford to alienate buyers with a
reputation as a place where you are easily ripped off. Confidence in the
buying experience is what made eBay what it is today, and they are not
stupid enough to give that up.
So if you have had bad experiences, perhaps it is because you have filed
complaints that were not reasonable, or maybe you didn't ask all the
right
questions before you made a purchase. Possible?
"Don Bowey" wrote in message
...
See the3 bottom of the page for my reply to this top poster........
On 7/12/06 4:23 AM, in article , "Unrevealed
Source" wrote:
I agree with all negative comments regarding RadioMart, but I think
most
people in the hobby already know about him and have him filtered out of
their eBay searches. He caters to the newbies.
However, I disagree that eBay is a bad place to buy gear. It is
definitely
the largest collection of radio and related equipment available, and
with
careful buying it is possible to avoid being taken.
There is no absolute way to avoid being taken short of trying to buy
elsewhere.
I have had a few
attempts to rip me off, but Paypal is your best friend when it comes to
getting your money back.
Ebay owns Paypal. They watch each other's backs.
EBay knows it can't afford to alienate buyers with
a bad reputation and so it protects sellers pretty well. And the nice
thing
about eBay is that if a particular seller seems shady or uncooperative,
just
walk away. Another one just like it will always come up.
After a sale, when the purchased item arrives and the buyer can see it
was
misrepresented, Ebay always supports the seller; that's where their
money
comes from.
Although eBay is convenient, the company employs dummys, and is
impossible
to deal with when there is a problem.
"Rev. Cleetus Poontang" wrote in
message
groups.com...
"Chuck - K1KW" wrote in message
. ..
Item # 9738158955
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=9738158955
Check this BS out! Amazing that this jerk continues to sell on Ebay
with
his obvious lies and misrepresentation. This is nothing more than a
poor
homebrew fake. I know who made it and he made a few more out of
surplus
items. RADIOMART's stories are totally made up. He has no personal
collections, he swindles SK widows and runs another ebay name to buy
on
the
cheap and then makes up stories about the same equipment to lend
credibility. This guy is a snake. BEWARE!!!!!
There's one born every minute. (Especially on E-Screw!)
Anyone who would buy ham gear on e-Bay deserves to be taken.
None of your assumptions are correct.
The device was a "New" Video Grabber, complete with the power supply. It
was one of 25 identical units being auctioned.
The unit arrived with a Radio Shack universal 300 mA wallwart (obviously
NOT
part of the "new" unit). The Video unit requires 3 Amps, as imprinted on
the equipment.
The eBay resolution was that the seller would return what I bid for the
unit, but I must pay to ship it back to the seller. That is NOT a
reasonable resolution. The seller should, at least, have paid the return
freight.
I also told them that, alternatively, the seller could simply ship me a
correct power supply, which he did not want to do.
A correct resolution is that I should not be out anything for this
misrepresented deal. The seller should have paid me for my original
shipping cost and for reshipping it back. Anything less, permits sellers
to
pull shady deals and get away with it, at eBay's profit.
By the way.... Top Posting is the mark of, at least, a non-observant
newsgroup newby.
Don