jesse1dog
Light Catcher
Ebay is a complete mystery to me.
Well, that's not quite true. It's the people who trade there. And that includes me!!
Just bid and apparently won a working Werra 1 and leather case for £3.65 + p&p of £4 - that's about US $8 !!! OK these cameras aren't exactly going for an arm and a leg but the price is a bit ridiculous. Tessar lens camera too.
Trouble now is that I feel a bit guilty about the price I am paying. I'm a bit sorry for the guy selling. So, he could have put on a reserve and this isn't his first trading on ebay. Nevertheless .......
I don't usually reckon to bid on items that end at the weekend, but put in a bid just on the chance that I could get something to use as a source of spare parts. As a rule items tend to fetch higher prices at the weekend but this 'is the exception to prove the rule'.
I guess I'll drop the seller an email.
j
Well, that's not quite true. It's the people who trade there. And that includes me!!
Just bid and apparently won a working Werra 1 and leather case for £3.65 + p&p of £4 - that's about US $8 !!! OK these cameras aren't exactly going for an arm and a leg but the price is a bit ridiculous. Tessar lens camera too.
Trouble now is that I feel a bit guilty about the price I am paying. I'm a bit sorry for the guy selling. So, he could have put on a reserve and this isn't his first trading on ebay. Nevertheless .......
I don't usually reckon to bid on items that end at the weekend, but put in a bid just on the chance that I could get something to use as a source of spare parts. As a rule items tend to fetch higher prices at the weekend but this 'is the exception to prove the rule'.
I guess I'll drop the seller an email.
j
oscroft
Veteran
I buy and sell on eBay. When I sell I sometimes get great prices and sometimes get poor prices - on balance, the lens I sell for £200 when I only expected about £120 more than compensates for the camera I hope to sell for £10 but only get 99p for. If something of mine sold very cheaply and the buyer felt guilty and offered me a higher price, I'd be touched by the thought but I would decline the offer and only take the auction price - a deal is a deal.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Yes, be happy with the deal. I once bought an OM-2 in really, really nice condition, with the original brown leather never-ready case. I paid about $65 with shipping. Then I sold the case on eBay for $42, so the camera was $23, shipping included. It was in great condition, though I had a complete CLA done as I was giving it to my daughter and wanted to assure there would be no problems.
And yesterday I bought a folding keyboard for my Sharp Zaurus ... $16.74, shipping included.
And yesterday I bought a folding keyboard for my Sharp Zaurus ... $16.74, shipping included.
robbiechad
RobbieChad
Hello all, just received through the post an Olympus MjuII zoom 80 for which I paid 99p! (50 cents) with postage overall it cost me £5 ($10) seems to be working OK Ive got a film in it at the moment so we will have to see how it performs.
Bill58
Native Texan
jesse1dog said:
If you really feel bad, buy one from the bandidos at photoarsenal.com--one of our former sponsors. You did get a helluva deal.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
A while ago I bought a genuine S-50 lens hood for my 1.4 50mm Canon from an eBay seller. For some reason he managed to send me another hood a week later by mistake ... this time for an f2 35mm Canon lens which I happen to have also. When I fessed up to his mistake he told me to keep it ... but to be sure to think kindly of him.
Well I rewarded him today by buying a black OM-1 with a 50mm Zuiko and winder from him that he's been advertising BIN for a while. I'm not totally convinced that I needed a black OM-1 but when I think of his generosity over the hood and the fact that it was a desirable hard to find item that I effectively got for free I don't mind. I'll be getting a very nice camera and the Karma balance is now correct.
it's kind of nice though...
Well I rewarded him today by buying a black OM-1 with a 50mm Zuiko and winder from him that he's been advertising BIN for a while. I'm not totally convinced that I needed a black OM-1 but when I think of his generosity over the hood and the fact that it was a desirable hard to find item that I effectively got for free I don't mind. I'll be getting a very nice camera and the Karma balance is now correct.
it's kind of nice though...
cmedin
Well-known
Hey, you got the winder! I think it's identical to mine other than not having the 'sequence' mode on it.
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
OK
I did drop the seller an email.
He replied that he was quite happy with the deal - he only paid £12 for it some time back and as he was moving he was clearing space.
So I told him how pleased I was, and I think he was glad to have had that sort of acknowledgement.
Sometimes, in fact most times in my experience, ebay has been a very relaxed and happy sort of place full of great people. I've had some very helpful and instructive communication with some sellers.
However, just lost out on an item to a guy in Australia who always seems to be able to outbid me!!!
As you all say - win some, lose some!
j
I did drop the seller an email.
He replied that he was quite happy with the deal - he only paid £12 for it some time back and as he was moving he was clearing space.
So I told him how pleased I was, and I think he was glad to have had that sort of acknowledgement.
Sometimes, in fact most times in my experience, ebay has been a very relaxed and happy sort of place full of great people. I've had some very helpful and instructive communication with some sellers.
However, just lost out on an item to a guy in Australia who always seems to be able to outbid me!!!
As you all say - win some, lose some!
j
tmessenger
Established
On the other hand a Minolta Autocord just sold on ebay for $425
tm
tm
jesse1dog said:
kuzano
Veteran
If all goes well, Give him a glowing feedback
If all goes well, Give him a glowing feedback
For many eBayers who are relatively new, a good feedback is worth more than some of the final prices on their auctions. That's the best comeback for a "steal" on eBay. In my eBay classes, I tell new sellers to look around the house and find 15 to 20 low priced items and put them up on auction... $1 starting price and no reserve. Get those sold at any price and handle the auction closing well, pack right and ship fast.
After you start getting into the groove with some feedback, move to the bigger ticket items. Stay with the $1 start and set a reserve for protection. I rarely ever do a no reserve auction on any item I value over $50.
You got a good deal and your conscience should be salved when you give a very good feedback to the gentleman.
eBay is great, unpredictable, and at the same time a bit risky. I live by the numbers on the feedback system, even though some say it can be manipulated. Constant scrutiny prevents most bad deals.
If all goes well, Give him a glowing feedback
For many eBayers who are relatively new, a good feedback is worth more than some of the final prices on their auctions. That's the best comeback for a "steal" on eBay. In my eBay classes, I tell new sellers to look around the house and find 15 to 20 low priced items and put them up on auction... $1 starting price and no reserve. Get those sold at any price and handle the auction closing well, pack right and ship fast.
After you start getting into the groove with some feedback, move to the bigger ticket items. Stay with the $1 start and set a reserve for protection. I rarely ever do a no reserve auction on any item I value over $50.
You got a good deal and your conscience should be salved when you give a very good feedback to the gentleman.
eBay is great, unpredictable, and at the same time a bit risky. I live by the numbers on the feedback system, even though some say it can be manipulated. Constant scrutiny prevents most bad deals.
ChrisN
Striving
Then there's the other side of the coin. I won a listing for a Hassy film back, from a newbie seller, at $62. Good price, except that the seller has stated he will not sell it for that price! I've complained to ebay, but they are apparently not doing anything about it. At least I didn't send any money!
oscroft
Veteran
It's interesting to hear of different people's approaches. I've never used a reserve - if I list something and there's a rock bottom price that I'd really be unhappy if it didn't reach, I make that the start price. I arrived at that approach by putting myself in the buyer's position, and I really don't like auctions with reserves because I like to know what I have to bid to get the item - I much prefer auctions in which sellers are open about their minimum price.
kuzano
Veteran
oscroft said:
Well, high start prices don't get the job done. I've got reams of research on identical auctions, same item, same term, same pics, same closing times. Auctions with low start prices and reserves kick ass on high start price, no reserve auctions. Proven to me, over and over.
R
rich815
Guest
kuzano said:
Totally agree here. I start all my auctions at 0.25$ and have not been burned yet in over 100 sales on eBay. One time I was looking to sell a certain Nikon lens. A seller before me posted the same for sale with a reserve and starting at $550. It closed without reaching reserve at $575. I put my auction up, same lens, same condition, and we had similar enough feedback numbers. Started it at 0.25$. In no time I had 5 bids on it and something like 20 people watching. It eventually went for $675.
Write up a good auction, put up good photos, extremely detailed descriptions supporting those photos, place it in the proper categories, with a low start price to get the froth going, and it will sell every time for a "market" price. somtimes even higher than "average". Screw around with reserves, start your auction too high, only have one photo, and a lame description, and watch it flounder.
fidget
Lemon magnet
When I have won the odd item for a ridiculously low price, I have offered to pay the ebay/Paypal fees. That’s when there is not a silly P&P cost asked.
At times I have won auction, again for a low price, only to be told by the seller that they have just found that it is damaged/doesn’t work as it should etc..etc…and that it is now withdrawn from the sale, apologies given. Seems that this is within the rules, although I guess that I could insist on buying the damaged article?
At times I have won auction, again for a low price, only to be told by the seller that they have just found that it is damaged/doesn’t work as it should etc..etc…and that it is now withdrawn from the sale, apologies given. Seems that this is within the rules, although I guess that I could insist on buying the damaged article?
btgc
Veteran
What a nice thread ! I learned that when grabbing bargain for eur1, I could offer some additional fee, especially if item comes in nice package - w/ pouch & manual. As I don't sell, I have not any clue how big ebay fee is. Can you give me a hint ?
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
I believe it's 4% of the selling price, to be paid by the seller.btgc said:
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
Well I got the Werra camera!
It's in pretty good condition - a ding on the rewind ring that I have nearly got out, but apart from that pretty smart.
The Prestor shutter works and the speeds sound to be approximately correct. There is a slight 'squeak' as the shutter is cocked but this is quite 'normal' for this make of camera.
To say that I am pleased is an understatement.
j
It's in pretty good condition - a ding on the rewind ring that I have nearly got out, but apart from that pretty smart.
The Prestor shutter works and the speeds sound to be approximately correct. There is a slight 'squeak' as the shutter is cocked but this is quite 'normal' for this make of camera.
To say that I am pleased is an understatement.
j
oftheherd
Veteran
fidget said:
Yep. Going through that right now. a Sekonic Micor-Leader light meter which I thought was just at the upper limit of what I wanted to pay ($(9.99). That was figuring the $15.25 shipping. I don't need it so much as want it as it was the first meter I bought for myself some 35 years ago. I guess he wanted a lot more. My sympathy. However, a deal is a deal. Or should be. His claim was that as he was packing it he discovered the battery was corroded. Yeah, a power seller of 355 items not checking better than that?
Worse, he is not responding nor has he sent me my money order as he promised. I really hate to give a bad rating, as it ususally ends up in retaliation. But I am not going to give him my money and a free pass. If I get no response to my next email, I will give him the negative he deserves and probably make another entry here with his identity. Folks here deserve to know I think.
EDIT: Forgot to mention he also offered a lead lined film bag as part of the sale. Not something I really wanted, but I could find a use for it or give it to someone at my work who travels and still uses film.
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cmedin
Well-known
rich815 said:
I agree 100%. I start mine off at 99 cents or something usually, with no reserve. Out of all the auctions I've done I think ONE went for slightly less than I expected it to. What is probably happening, as far as I can tell, is that with the low low price you get a lot of people placing low initial bids or adding it to their watch list. I mean, if you see a nice Summarit for a buck out there, you're going to keep an eye on it vs one starting at near or at normal prices. So that way you end up with a lot more people 'invested' in the auction. Add to that the whole "I saw it first" or "god damn it, that guy is NOT outbidding me" mentality that's exacerbated if there's a lengthy bidding war at the low prices, and I think you have the recipe for success.