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I have about a hundred purchases and a few sales through ebaY and only 2 were marginally sour but I was in control. The first was a nice offshore fishing rod that I bid on and won for a good deal at about $150 bucks. The seller resided in Santa Barbara, about 2 hours south of me and I prearranged to pick up the rod and save shipping because I knew I would travelling through town. After I won, I couldn't pin him down to a date and time where we could connect so he said he would ship it. I never received it nor any communication from him. I had his address and phone number and sent hima certified mail and left messages that I was coming after him and was also involving the county DA's Office in the fraud if I didn't get the money back immediately through PayPal. It worked and I was payed back. He was just a guy with issues and couldn't get his crap together.
Second was an ATV I wanted to buy. Keep in mind, many ATV sales on ebaY are total frauds. I found exactly what I wanted and the pricwas looking normal. It was a deal in Orange County, CA which is 4 hours south and again, I travel down there relatively often. I made contact with the seller and told them I would not pay any other way than cash in hand and in person after I saw a clear title and the true condition of the machine. They were in complete agreement so I started bidding on the machine against another person. I was going big on this one and was willing to drop $4500 on the auction but I never play my cards early on ebaY because it usually starts a bidding flurry and just raises the price. I waited till the last 10 seconds and put in my proxy of $4500, it was only at $2800 when I did. I knew I would win in that much time. When my confirmation screen came up it said "Auction Closed Early" and that the machine sold to some yahoo that was never in the bidding process for $3000! I was pissssssed and contacted the seller who gave me some song and dance that they felt better selling to this other guy for no special reason. I'm confident the buyer was sham and probably a plant from the seller because the whole auction was a fraud to begin with and they knew they would have to see me to get the money.
You have to be prudent and know your stuff when buying on ebaY. It can be a great thing if you do your homework. It can be a ripoff if you don't.
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