What is eBay? (OT?)

[Poptart]

You almost have to use PayPal now or bidders avoid you because it's too complicated otherwise. I haven't yet had any problem with the PayPal. Knock head.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I'll often give high-rated sellers a choice, check or Paypal. With a personal check, they keep the entire amount. With Paypal, they lose a cut. They often prefer the check.

You get to recognize the sellers and buyers that have been around. If I see that bmattock guy bidding on something that I would otherwise go for, I leave it alone. Another will be along soon enough.

 

[Poptart]

What I'd like is if eBay went after evildoers a little better. My main problems have been with people who buy stuff then never pay me. And I'm always getting spoof defrauding emails.

 

[zpuskas]

E-Bay is a market in every sense. As a previous post stated, it brings buyers and sellers together. Once two people get together to discuss anything, somethings bound to happen. I've been a seller (actually sold at less than I thought it was worth but had to go through with the deal) and a buyer (mostly less than 100% satisfaction).
How many questions must one ask? Even if you ask all you can, can you ensure you'll get 100% accurate responses? Best thing to remember is "caveat emptor" and if you feel you've been wronged, ask for a correction!

 

[David Doler]

The eBay rosebush doesn't come without thorns.

 

[bmattock]

Dear Bill,
It's nothing personal, just your weird politics...

I don't know what's so weird about wanting to have all lefties shot into outer space. Seems pretty mild to me. Sniff.

Apart from those, we're in agreement more often than not and I've come (with some difficulty, by a roundabout route, with significant political exceptions) to respect your opinions even when we don't agree.

Yeah, well you ain't so bad for a commie, either.

What puzzles me is the use by others of the term 'win' as a euphemism for 'paid the most for on an internet auction'. 'Lost' might be as good a phrase in many circumstances.

Well, I've gotten more than a couple of fun things that didn't cost much and have given me much pleasure, I'd call those 'wins'. Why do people go to Las Vegas or Monte Carlo? You're pretty much guaranteed to walk out a lot poorer. If as many people 'won' in Vegas as say they have, the place would be broke by now.

I used to live in Omaha (pity me). There wasn't much to do on weekends, but there was a horsetrack (Ak-Sar-Ben - Nebraska spelled backwards. Pity me). I would go on Saturday and do some light handicapping. Never spent more than $40. It was my 'entertainment' and I regarded it as that. If I won a race, hey great. But I planned to spend the money anyway, so I walked away a winner in that sense.

What puzzles me even more is the way people drool over fuzzy pics on the internet. It's like low-grade pornography. If I see a beautiful girl -- and there were several at a local fair yesterday -- my reactions are a bit different from seeing a picture set in a 'men's' mag. The real girl is more like a human being for a start. And while the real camera may be a lovely thing to hold, operate, focus, etc, I can't see getting excited of pictures of Canon Dreams and other things I've seen often enough (and sometimes handled) in real life. Brings us back to pornography, really.

Because people never see what it *is* they see what it *could be.* If it were any different, we'd shoot politicians on sight. Which is not that bad of an idea.

FInally -- to answer the question -- I'd argue that e-b is a market in the sense that it connects buyers and sellers, which I would say is the sole relevant definition of a market. Consider the terms 'financial markets', 'stock markets', 'money markets' etc., where you are often dealing with professional crooks out for millions rather than amateurs out for a few hundred. Fill in the corporate scandal of your choice, in the country of your choice.

Yes, I see your point. OK, eBay is a market. What I meant to say was that it is not a retail market, backed with inventory, guarantees, and a general promise that as a customer, you'll be satisfied or they'll make it right for you. That does not happen in an as-is, buy-here-pay-here, no warranty, you break it you buy it auction house. People get confused and think that they have some magical right never to be dismayed by an online purchase. What a dreamworld they live in. They should stay away from eBay, they'll never be happy.

The efficiency, quality and enjoyability of a market are another matter altogether. I'd rather go to a local camera fair, where you never know what you will find or at what price, than mix it with e-b.

I just bid on and bought six copies of Classic Camera Magazine. Would you like to guess how many of those might be found within a one-hour drive of Wilson, North Carolina? I'm an hour away from Raleigh, and Raleigh probably can only muster a copy or two over the entire city.

Classic Camera Magazine eBay Auction

Camera fairs? I've been to exactly one. It was in Overland Park, KS when I was traveling for a living. Depressing beyond words. Tiny, pathetic, and filled with hostile or uncaring sellers who passed the time by insulting customers. I knew more that several of them who condescended to speak to me about the merchandise they were selling. The prices were absurd as well.

And to what end? I'd have the same 'buy here pay here' experience - how does one return a broken item to a dealer who has no fixed address but roams from state to state visiting camera fairs?

Perhaps it is different outside the USA. Maybe if I lived in Chicago, NYC, or LA?

Now, Gun Shows? Those, we got. And I love 'em. If you can get over the guys who sell swastikas and rebel flags and butterfly knives, they're pretty neat.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[XAos]

You almost have to use PayPal now or bidders avoid you because it's too complicated otherwise. I haven't yet had any problem with the PayPal. Knock head.

I actually don't bid on paypall only auctions unless they allow credit card, because I dont trust paypal/ebay further than I can spit with my banking information. I have noticed too that items which are paypal only often go for MUCH less than other similar items.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Bill,

In one of Terry Pratchett's novels, a character casually refers to putting politicians in jail as soon as they are elected. As they're bound to end up there anyway, it saves time and avoids confusion.

Strange about the camera fair. I've been to dozens, in California, Alabama, the UK and France. The Alabama one came closest to what you describe -- there was definitely a hangdog 'wet Sunday' air -- but no-one was actually rude and it wasn't totally unpleasant.

Point taken about the magazines but that's another problem I have with e-b. It encourages acquisitiveness. I have enough of a problem with this, without deliberately trying to find more STUFF to tempt me. I need to get rid of gear, not buy more. I don't know how many cameras I have, from sub-min to 12x15 inch. I don't need (or really want) more, except maybe to replace my older Ms with another M7. NO! AAARGH! MP! Lenses are another matter...

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Poptart]

EBay is rubbing its cloven hooves in delight that it's got you all fighting.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Now here is a seller that should not have any upset buyers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7538870240&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BID

And did you know that the pentaprism in the Minolta XG Series is a perfect fit for the Retina Reflex cameras! A lot cheaper than having those old prisms re-silvered, and much brighter too.

The Photorama shows in the Washington area are usually pretty good. You can also meet some of the people behind the better Ebay sellers. Although they need to do the sellers a favor and quit scheduling one for Superbowl Sunday. Great for me, but not a lot of people make it in.

 

[Kin Lau]

Now here is a seller that should not have any upset buyers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7538870240&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BID

And did you know that the pentaprism in the Minolta XG Series is a perfect fit for the Retina Reflex cameras! A lot cheaper than having those old prisms re-silvered, and much brighter too.

There'll still be all these people who can't read. I was bidding in 2 auctions this week where the winning bidder backed out for that very reason.... how exactly do you mistake a 35/2 EF lense, in the correct category, with a clear picture and description, for a 35/2 FD?!? Especially if you've been looking at it for 1 whole week (he was the 1st bidder too).

A lot of people will tear a camera apart and sell off little bits. I guess it's still a little/lot cheaper once you factor in shipping. If it fits in a mailer, the postage is only $.50 or $1.00, but once it's in a box, the minimum is $8-. The US Postal system is _way_ cheaper than CDN in this regard.

 

[kbg32]

Ebay is perceived quite differently in developing markets such as China, where it is seen as a place to market items, with "buy it now", not readily accessible or available to the general populace outside of major cities. There was an interview with the founder of Ebay on TV the other night, and it was quite interesting to hear what he has to say about Ebay being a global phenonmenon. While we see Ebay as an online auction house, it is more then that outside of the US, especially in Asia.

 

[kiev4a]

I envy you folks who can attend "camera fairs." I suspect there hasn't been a camera fair within 400 miles of us -- ever. Like Bill, we have plenty of gun shows. When I'm looking for equipment I can spend a weekend at garage or estate sales hoping to "get lucky" which doesn't happen very often. My only other options are on-line camera classifieds, direct deals with fourm members, or Ebay.

There was a time when the local camera store had a branch that specialized in used equipment. But they apparently decided that was too much trouble -- the guy who ran it and knew cameras upside down and backwards died.