Buying on Ebay

[deserteagle71]

Note that listings for legitimate compatible non-OEM batteries are listed as "for DeWalt", or "for Milwaukee". Some of these aftermarket batteries are better than others, and may be a good deal. I have purchased some of those in the past (for Makita, for Nikon).

Quality of these aftermarkets varies even with the same manufacturer. A few years ago I bought a "two pack" of 18V batteries to fit my aging DeWalt drill/driver. One of the batteries is still doing great...the other refused to take a charge after about a year.

 

[pacosperson]

I want to purchase the Echo 2500T battery saw. It is very expensive even without the battery and charger. There are several sellers on ebay with brand new, in the box ones for far cheaper. The price difference seems worth the risk but the sellers all have high ratings. Am I taking a huge risk here? Not a big ebay shopper so looking for some advice.

I have bought cars, trucks, machinery, even a Corvette frame on ebay. Just be sure the description is exact. Do not ask leading questions like 'Will this fit a 1950 Hudson?' Ask instead 'What will this fit?' The worst I ever did was buy a drill chuck that ran out .030". I always asked to pay with a US Postal Money Order. That gives you a valid name and address. If they hide that I'd stay away. Be aware there are EXACT fraudulent copies of things like power tool batteries.

 

[WinterDeere]

I have bought cars, trucks, machinery, even a Corvette frame on ebay.

I've sold a few cars on ebay, each roughly $10k cash deals. Never a problem, and always got a better price that way than I had been able to do otherwise.

My ebay account used to say "eBay Seller since 1996" next to my seller icon/avatar, just like we have "Veteran member" or "Bronze member" under our names on this forum. It was useful in letting buyers know they were dealing with a seller who was there to stay and had some vested interest in their reputation, but I think they've stopped adding those notifications to avatars now.

 

[dfkrug]

My ebay account used to say "eBay Seller since 1996" next to my seller icon/avatar, just like we have "Veteran member" or "Bronze member" under our names on this forum.

So, you were a customer/member of the predecessor company, Auction Web? They became eBay in 1997. That's impressive.

 

[WinterDeere]

So, you were a customer/member of the predecessor company, Auction Web? They became eBay in 1997. That's impressive.

I had forgotten all about that, but yes!

There wasn't even a paypal, when I started using the platform. I remember mailing paper checks for some early purchases. When PayPal first came along, I think they were a completely separate/independent company, and no one knew whether to trust them. Different world, even though it really wasn't that long ago.

 

[walhondingMF]

Update... saw showed up in box brand new. Ran it for the first time yesterday and I am very impressed. Thanks for the input.

 

[5030]

Interesting thread. I used to accept Pay Pal for offshore transactions involving my line of custom Triumph motorcycle acessories but Pay-Pal's portal fees have increased to the point where it's no longer practical for me to use them. I prefer the 3.5% portal fee that MC and Visa charge over Pay-Pal and as of late, I just have them (offshore customers) do a wire transfer into my commercial checking account (the bank charges me a flat 3% for offshore transfers) or I have them send me a certified money order drawn on the local bank. Use to do a ton of business through Pay-Pal but not anymore. The issue with offshore selling and receiving funds is the exchange rate constantly varies and now I have to deal with reciprocal tariffs as well. I always prefer for the buyer to pay the VAT but the Tariff thing is a royal PITA for me.... and yes, both Fleabay as well as Pay-Pal will 1099 you now. Glad I retain an accountant and he deals with keeping track of all of it. Gets extremely complex at times, especially when selling to middle east customers. Least the machine shop billing is 100% domestic as is my limited hay sales and I'm glad I downsized on that aspect as I don't like dealing with hay customers in general and now downsized, only have one customer that buys it all and he pays in cash. I like cash simply because I can fudge around with what I declare as profit and spend the rest with no reservation. You cannot do that with Pay-Pal or credit card billing as there is always a paper trail and the IRS is always watching.

 

[California]

If your Ebay vendor ships from Baldwin Park or Rowland Heights (East side of Los Angeles region) then regardless of the name, its likely one of many drop-shippers representing a Chinese-owned warehouse in the US.

My last time buying from a Rowland Heights vendor offering 'USA Stock, overnight shipping' got weird. No tracking for days then obviously in a FedEx trailer on a train. The daily updates hit a bunch of remote towns that could only have been rail crew change points or something. The western ones were all desert locations from Texas to southern California. Vendor told me he had sold his last one so he had to ship from his eastern warehouse. So much for quick shipping. And since the price was $18 when O'Reily wanted $90 for the same thing, likely counterfeit. It worked, so it worked out ok.

Then this week's purchase is strange. A 'USA Source' for a common diamond-face sharpening panel where most of the vendors are in China. Yup. Mr 'USA Vendor bearbear2010' now that I've ordered it,shows as:

Seller info​

Guangzhou Luoshijia Guoji Maoyi Youxianzeren Gongsi
Panyu Luopu LIngnan Dianshangyuan, 1 JIe 5 LOU 51Hao
Guangzhou 510000
China

After 24 hours a tracking number has been issued but nothing yet shipped. I'm sure the drop-shipper simply ordered his supplier to fulfill the order.

May you live in interesting times ...

Old time Ebayer here too. 100% positive feedback. Selling since 1998, buyer before that. Back when anyone could write feedback for a vendor without buying anything.

 

[California]

And selling on Ebay isn't what it used to be. Hardly profitable, the fees are ridiculous.

I'm finally cleaning out all sorts of treasures before my kids inherit the overwhelming chaos that I did.

On one sale of a rare item recently I may have priced it too cheap. It sold instantly. Sale price $147. The buyer paid $165 including shipping and sales tax. I received $124 after all the fees.

Next sale was one of many listed. After it didn't sell and went low in the listings, I paid extra for Promoted Listing so my item got shown as an alternative to what anyone was looking at. Sale price $84, Buyer paid $100 total, I netted $59.

If I - or Dad - hadn't paid under $10 for each of those at yard sales long ago, I would feel like I lost money on each sale.

Now, anything that would sell under $30 gets donated.

 

[WinterDeere]

And selling on Ebay isn't what it used to be. Hardly profitable, the fees are ridiculous.

It seems the days of individuals selling interesting used items on eBay, the original intention and marketing push of the site, ended maybe 20 years ago. Anymore, it's almost 100% second-rate vendors of new product, Asian knock-offs and the like. You still find some mom-and-pop stores selling curios and second-hand items, but they are a very small minority of the site, anymore.

I still buy things like wire there, there are several sellers that buy large spools of very expensive cabling, and sell smaller lengths. Not all that much cheaper than running to the electrical supply house, but infinitely more convenient, when it shows up on my doorstep without me starting a car.