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Eleven years ago, I bought a Tyco Spirit of 76 set that was advertised as new. Of course it wasn't. I repeatedly complained to the seller, with no answer. I filed a complaint with eBay, and they refunded all my money. The seller never replied to eBay or me. I got a fairly good free set.
I've never been burned on eBay. Watch the listing closely and file a complaint with eBay if the seller does not make good on their listing.
I once managed to buy something from an eBay seller who had died a few months earlier!
His items kept automatically relisting as nobody had told ebay he had passed.
Only found out a few weeks later when nothing had appeared and messages went unanswered.
I've been buying on eBay for 16 years, had a few buys gone bad, and always got my refund when returned or not up to spec, (except those non-HO figures which I passed on to an O scale modeller for the same price I paid). So I have no complaints.
Only recently in the last year or so have I begun to experience problems with eBay sellers. Despite these setbacks, I still feel that most eBay sellers are honest.
The few problems I did have, I was able to get a refund by explaining where the seller went wrong on their description of the items.
The recent introduction by eBay's Department Of Stupid Ideas of the AI created descriptions hasn't helped either, hilariously misleading descriptions being used by lazy sellers.
Ebay: Over the years I have learned that nothing is as it seems. ( pretty much just like most: pick ur fav [ boat, car, antique ...] ) dealers anywhere. I have always thought when I purchased "What can I do with this if it is not exactly what I want". Kinda backup plan? Just did the math, almost 30 year ebayer - both buying and selling. Not so much selling these days though.
Later
What can I do with this if it is not exactly what I want
This is the mindset I need to have going into the purchases I make from now on!
This is the mindset I need to have going into the purchases I make from now on!
That, and assume nothing is brand new unless you can actually see it in factory packaging. Building kits especially. If its not factory shrink wrapped i usually move along. I've been burnt a couple of times on the listed as new complete, but later on when assembling, found it indeed was not complete.
That, and assume nothing is brand new unless you can actually see it in factory packaging. Building kits especially. If its not factory shrink wrapped i usually move along. I've been burnt a couple of times on the listed as new complete, but later on when assembling, found it indeed was not complete.
Yeah, shopping online nowadays will definitely require more careful consideration of the items. I’ve been pretty careful so far, and usually want several pictures but sometimes the items I want are just hard to come by and I give in despite the possibility of issues lol.
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