ebay - does anyone here still use it?

[HarryT]

I use eBay all the time, both buying and selling. Never had a problem.

[J. Strnad]

I quit selling on ebay when PayPal (also ebay) held up a payment to me for an incredibly long time after I had shipped the item, provided a tracking number to PayPal, but the buyer hadn't left feedback.

When I recently sold my computer, I went to Craigslist instead and was paid in cash.

If you Google PayPal horror stories, you'll find people who suffered severe financial hardship because of their current practices. The higher sales fee is just the tip of the iceberg with ebay and PayPal.

There are weird people in California. Not like my home state of Kansas where everyone is normal and well-adjusted. Well, except for those "In Cold Blood" guys. Oh, and BTK, the serial killer. And that guy who murdered the abortion doctor. And the Bloody Benders who murdered passers-through, and...oh, well, forget it.

[ardeegee]

I've never sold on Ebay, but have bought many hundreds of times, and continue to do so. Mostly for uncommon or one-off collector items for which there are few other options (banknotes, meteorites, fossils, carnivorous plants) and for computer supplies-- I can get spindles of DVDs, cables, and many components for less-- shipping included-- than I would pay locally or from most commercial web sites. Even household items-- in the last year I've bought fuses, stove elements, watch batteries, and a cell phone battery (just off the top of my head) far cheaper than I could have picked them up anywhere else. An order of magnitude cheaper for the cell phone battery (over $30 for the branded battery-- under $4 including shipping for the Ebay generic.)

[HarryT]

It's also great for things like cases for phones. I've just bought a nice leather case for my iPhone for under £5, which would probably have cost £30 if I'd bought it in the Apple Store.

Is the "Craigslist" site that people are talking about here purely a US thing? I've not come across it.

[Iphinome]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's also great for things like cases for phones. I've just bought a nice leather case for my iPhone for under £5, which would probably have cost £30 if I'd bought it in the Apple Store.

Is the "Craigslist" site that people are talking about here purely a US thing? I've not come across it.

seriously? try this http://london.craigslist.co.uk/

[Wordcrasher]

I still buy lot of things on eBay, mostly from professional sellers. I usually find better prices there than in real shops and I love doing that from my sofa.
I just bought my new Kindle 2 and some T-shirts.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Iphinome

seriously? try this http://london.craigslist.co.uk/

I mean I've heard the name, but not looked at the site. In what way does it differ from eBay?

[Iphinome]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I mean I've heard the name, but not looked at the site. In what way does it differ from eBay?

well looking would be faster but craisglist is like the classified section of the local newspaper. people selling stuff buying stuff want ads, hookers, local events. You won't find the section of ebay buy you'll find it locally no shipping. Cities have separate craigslist pages. If you look in the right side of the london one you'll find links for other uk cities. if you check to the right of a US one you'll find US cities.

[HarryT]

Thanks; I see now.

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I use eBay all the time, both buying and selling. Never had a problem.

Me too, except when some silly (probably drunk) bought something then changed her mind 10 minutes later.

I think I only pay about 3% sale fees, plus paypal etc etc.

Without eBay, I would not have been able to get my reader.

[rebarnmom]

My only bad experience selling is receiving much less than I wanted for a valuable (at least to me) collectible. I've got burned a couple times. I need to remember that I can set a reserve.