Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
eBay was good alternative to buy things which are not available in our outskirts. But recently Amazon took it over (at least for my needs) for new goods. Used I was able to find at RFF and elsewhere.
Selling after they went to known as scammers paradise payment system registered in Amsterdam and refused to use PayPal is not in my interest.
On top of it, eBay is 100% so called AI now, no humans involved anymore and it generates even more problems:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/otta...f6RIjNjpSIC0YdwSbDzHEwC0wcKoqGbOPxUams3jMBtS4
Selling after they went to known as scammers paradise payment system registered in Amsterdam and refused to use PayPal is not in my interest.
On top of it, eBay is 100% so called AI now, no humans involved anymore and it generates even more problems:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/otta...f6RIjNjpSIC0YdwSbDzHEwC0wcKoqGbOPxUams3jMBtS4
oldwino
Well-known
I am done with it too. Plus, the fact that eBay collects local sales taxes for every transaction, even international ones, is a scam.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
It is typical AI achievement of these days. First, greedy companies outsourced services and now they outsourced outsourcing to outsoursevly written (lame) scripts.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Check your state laws on taxing on-line purchases. You'll likely find that eBay is required to collect the tax.
PF
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
My state mandates tax collection in all internet sales (done in stores, not privately).
I also prefer using Amazon, even if it takes longer to get your money. At least they act as a reasonable middleman... but it's really difficult to get a seller account now.
So far, my attempts at selling have failed, so I'm heading to KEH. Not the best buck but they're quick and I'll get at least two thirds of what I want. You can schedule video interviews with buyers (who are very knowledgeable) and get done within one hour. I've done it in the past. But eBay? Forget it. And same with Facebook: too many scammers.
I also prefer using Amazon, even if it takes longer to get your money. At least they act as a reasonable middleman... but it's really difficult to get a seller account now.
So far, my attempts at selling have failed, so I'm heading to KEH. Not the best buck but they're quick and I'll get at least two thirds of what I want. You can schedule video interviews with buyers (who are very knowledgeable) and get done within one hour. I've done it in the past. But eBay? Forget it. And same with Facebook: too many scammers.
taemo
eat sleep shoot
usually I use ebay as last resort for selling if no one locally wants it and strictly do only US/Canada sales with tracking and insurance.
just sold a digital camera for my friend on ebay yesterday so hopefully all goes well.
but 12.9% fee + international fee + government tax, this is the main reason too why I try to avoid selling on ebay unless i have no choice.
just sold a digital camera for my friend on ebay yesterday so hopefully all goes well.
but 12.9% fee + international fee + government tax, this is the main reason too why I try to avoid selling on ebay unless i have no choice.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Presently i feel that RFF is probably the best place to sell items of interest to RFF members. That means mostly photo-related items, but perhaps there could be other things, like maybe stereo gear, pens, or, ???
For that matter, this may be the best place to buy, as well.
For that matter, this may be the best place to buy, as well.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
I've never been an ebay seller, and certainly wouldn't want to be! Too much aggravation. I sell to KEH, and yes, I take a hit over what I could get selling the items myself. I'm perfectly OK with that; shipping to them is free, I usually receive payment within two weeks of shipping, and they are honest to a fault. Often, they have offered me more than I was quoted, and there are NO GAMES. The world would be a better place if every business conducted itself like KEH. And no, I don't work for them. I'm just a very satisfied customer.
Buying on ebay "is what it is". I've never been scammed, and deal almost exclusively with Japanese sellers. There seems to be a very high standard of ethics amongst them, perhaps a function of their culture. But beware having to return an item! I purchased a Hasselblad meter prism which turned out have a not readily apparent defect. The seller quickly agreed to a return, but a $500 item cost me $223 to return via FedEx, since I wouldn't trust USPS. Ouch.
Buying on ebay "is what it is". I've never been scammed, and deal almost exclusively with Japanese sellers. There seems to be a very high standard of ethics amongst them, perhaps a function of their culture. But beware having to return an item! I purchased a Hasselblad meter prism which turned out have a not readily apparent defect. The seller quickly agreed to a return, but a $500 item cost me $223 to return via FedEx, since I wouldn't trust USPS. Ouch.
gdi
Veteran
I haven’t been very active on RFF for a while and always found the Classifieds very useful. However, after the redesign it seems I am not seeing all ads, or the ad volumes have really dropped. Are others seeing the same, or is the problem between my keyboard and chair? I don’t think I have set a filter inadvertently, but it could be my error. I appreciate any ideas to explain it.
thx
Mos6502
Well-known
This all started when ebay removed feedback for buyers. It has been downhill ever since. You have no way of knowing who doesn't pay, who tries to scam, etc.
The automated "help" is a complete joke not just for sellers, but for buyers too. Earlier this year I purchased something that was local pickup only. The seller sent me what days/times the item was available for pickup. I tried to arrange pickup for months and somehow it never worked out. When I told them that I was available on a specific day that was within the days/times they said pickup was available, and if they would not meet me then, I would need a refund, they stopped responding. So I initiated a dispute through ebay. Ebay sent me a message saying my purchase was not covered by their money-back guarantee, so I'd have to wait for the seller to respond, and basically just hope for the best. This was despite the fact that the auction itself said it was covered by the guarantee. Then after a week of hearing nothing ebay sends me an email, with a survey, asking me how my experience was with their "money back guarantee"!
I ended up opening a dispute through paypal, the seller never responded to that either, and after after the time ran out paypal issued me a refund by default.
The automated "help" is a complete joke not just for sellers, but for buyers too. Earlier this year I purchased something that was local pickup only. The seller sent me what days/times the item was available for pickup. I tried to arrange pickup for months and somehow it never worked out. When I told them that I was available on a specific day that was within the days/times they said pickup was available, and if they would not meet me then, I would need a refund, they stopped responding. So I initiated a dispute through ebay. Ebay sent me a message saying my purchase was not covered by their money-back guarantee, so I'd have to wait for the seller to respond, and basically just hope for the best. This was despite the fact that the auction itself said it was covered by the guarantee. Then after a week of hearing nothing ebay sends me an email, with a survey, asking me how my experience was with their "money back guarantee"!
I ended up opening a dispute through paypal, the seller never responded to that either, and after after the time ran out paypal issued me a refund by default.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
The last time I bought or sold anything on eBay was 2007 or 2008. Even at that time I thought it was getting too risky.
I wouldn’t even dream of buying or selling anything on eBay these days.
I wouldn’t even dream of buying or selling anything on eBay these days.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
I don't mind buying/selling on eBay items around the £50 price tag. For anything more expensive, I head to Ffordes.
joe bosak
Well-known
I buy and sell on ebay from time to time, have done since 1999 when I bought a Kiev 60 from Ukraine and paid by Western Union.
I gave up for a while when they ditched paypal and introduced their new payment system and I even went as far as setting up a new bank account to use with it, but in the event it's operated extremely smoothly. When I've had problems it's never been too hard to resolve them - other than when Hermes had one or two bad drivers a few years ago, but even that came right eventually.
That said, my approach these days when selling is to check what dealers will offer. If mpb or ffordes are interested at all, they normally offer enough for ebay to not be worth the hassle. Other dealers offers are seldom worth considering in that either mpb or ffordes are way higher, and if not then an ebay auctions usually makes twice the other dealer offer. Some things, no dealer wants even if the interwebs indicates a "cult" following.
As to buying: I get much of my gear on ebay, only had to return one lens the seller claimed was new that was actually filthy (got a refund no worries). Sigma sell their outlet items on ebay for one thing; and there are many "proper" dealers (including with bricks and mortar shops) with ebay listings. I always check feedback, if it looks to good to be true I (often reluctantly) avoid.
This is all in the UK, I seldom buy internationally (other than from China).
The main "problem" I have with ebay is sellers with massively inflated prices for vintage items in poor condition. £395 for a Medalist with a jammed shutter!
I gave up for a while when they ditched paypal and introduced their new payment system and I even went as far as setting up a new bank account to use with it, but in the event it's operated extremely smoothly. When I've had problems it's never been too hard to resolve them - other than when Hermes had one or two bad drivers a few years ago, but even that came right eventually.
That said, my approach these days when selling is to check what dealers will offer. If mpb or ffordes are interested at all, they normally offer enough for ebay to not be worth the hassle. Other dealers offers are seldom worth considering in that either mpb or ffordes are way higher, and if not then an ebay auctions usually makes twice the other dealer offer. Some things, no dealer wants even if the interwebs indicates a "cult" following.
As to buying: I get much of my gear on ebay, only had to return one lens the seller claimed was new that was actually filthy (got a refund no worries). Sigma sell their outlet items on ebay for one thing; and there are many "proper" dealers (including with bricks and mortar shops) with ebay listings. I always check feedback, if it looks to good to be true I (often reluctantly) avoid.
This is all in the UK, I seldom buy internationally (other than from China).
The main "problem" I have with ebay is sellers with massively inflated prices for vintage items in poor condition. £395 for a Medalist with a jammed shutter!
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
My last purchase with eBay PayPal was a week or so go. I have had nothing but good luck with eBay. I can and do leave ratings. I have bought a few overseas Jupiters, about six, and recently a nice domestic Cooke Amotal. I am careful to purchase from folks with a 98% or higher rating.
My question is how do you guys sell gear? I never seem to want to let got of what I have. You just never know when you might want to use it, . . . LMAO
My question is how do you guys sell gear? I never seem to want to let got of what I have. You just never know when you might want to use it, . . . LMAO
Dralowid
Michael
Ffordes I know but what or who is MPB?
Yes, I need to get back into the selling mindset, more stuff needs to go!
Yes, I need to get back into the selling mindset, more stuff needs to go!
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
https://www.mpb.com
MPB is a big used camera seller with branches in the UK and the USA. I've never sold them anything, but have bought from their USA branch several times. They're a lot more honest about the condition of the things that they sell than KEH has been in recent years.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
MPB are based in Brighton and their operation is a bit like if someone started a CEX for cameras; I don't think they carry anything new. It's very digital-centric so I've never dealt with them before - I don't think they have anything older than the year 2000 on there, so there's not a lot that interests me. However, I was considering picking up an M240 from them a while back, as their prices are pretty reasonable compared to some of the other options in the UK.
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
I've used Craigslist for years now. Obviously it provides a MUCH smaller seller/buyer population, but I enjoy the personal face to face transactions. I completely quit Ebay when they jettisoned PayPal. RFF classifieds are OK, but there's little there that I'm interested in anymore since going all-digital.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I need to downsize my gear for many reasons. Retirement is one of them. I am sure it’s easy to sell an M2 or Rolleiflex TLR in any of the many photo forums so no need for eBay. But what about the esoteric stuff and nic nac accessories? EBay is a much bigger market place for hard to find and hard to sell stuff.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Don't forget, if you have the odd trinket, knick-knack, or doo-dad, "Free to a good home" is always an option. There's the RFF Christmas Give-Away, Groundhog Day Give-Away, Just-for-the-Hell-of -It Giveaway, etc. etc. Pass along some goodness, and just it may come back to you!