Buyers Beware!

automorphism · 01-09-2017, 06:15 PM

I would never buy something from China with 0 feedback rating. In fact, I'm wary of anything less than 99%, and in any event I read the negative scores specificially.

iwctoys · 01-10-2017, 12:36 AM

Right now Ebay is being attacked by a group from China. They have posted over 6000 items as of Sunday. Every time Ebay shut an account a new one opens up. Common sense says an item worth less than the cost of free shipping is a big red flag. This has happened before on Ebay not sure what it is they hope to get. The downside of Ebay unlike PayPal way to easy to open a new account.

**ivanvernon** · 01-10-2017, 01:13 AM

I have only purchased small items via eBay from China--filters, adapters, etc.--but have had no problems at all.

Purchasing from Japan on eBay has been a real pleasure. I have purchased both lenses and cameras, and the condition has always exceeded expectations. Japanese photographers seem to take care of their equipment quite well. Delivery speed has also been excellent. On one occasion I ordered on Frieday and received the merchandise on Tuesday of the next week. How that is possible, I am not sure.

E-man · 01-10-2017, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by iwctoys

Right now Ebay is being attacked by a group from China. They have posted over 6000 items as of Sunday. Every time Ebay shut an account a new one opens up. Common sense says an item worth less than the cost of free shipping is a big red flag. This has happened before on Ebay not sure what it is they hope to get. The downside of Ebay unlike PayPal way to easy to open a new account.

This is why I almost always click "U.S. Only" in the search terms. I will occasionally buy something from China but only if the price is dirt cheap and commensurate with the item's value. About half the time, the item never arrives. The only thing I can figure that the Chinese get out of offering items so cheap is to devalue U.S. competitors. A lot of eBay sellers used to offer items at ridiculously low prices with inflated shipping costs as a way to skirt around eBay's final value fees but eBay now charges a fee on shipping purchased through them as well. They usually discount the shipping and then take at least half of that discount back in fees.

**gofour3** · 01-10-2017, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

On one occasion I ordered on Frieday and received the merchandise on Tuesday of the next week. How that is possible, I am not sure.

Yep me too!

I ordered two lenses from Korea & Japan late in the evening (21:30 PST) on Tuesday, Dec 20th. They both arrived via EMS/Canada Post on Friday, Dec 23rd in the afternoon. (15:30 PST)
That means they were both shipped on Wednesday, Dec 21st and arrived in just two days during the Christmas package rush. Truly outstanding service.

Phil.

Swift1 · 01-10-2017, 12:13 PM

Originally posted by iwctoys

Right now Ebay is being attacked by a group from China. They have posted over 6000 items as of Sunday. Every time Ebay shut an account a new one opens up. Common sense says an item worth less than the cost of free shipping is a big red flag. This has happened before on Ebay not sure what it is they hope to get. The downside of Ebay unlike PayPal way to easy to open a new account.

Ahh, I wondered if that's what was happening.
Last night while casually browsing through film camera related listings on ebay, I ran across 15 of these false listings.

01-10-2017, 01:13 AM	#18
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Purchasing from foreign buyers I have only purchased small items via eBay from China--filters, adapters, etc.--but have had no problems at all. Purchasing from Japan on eBay has been a real pleasure. I have purchased both lenses and cameras, and the condition has always exceeded expectations. Japanese photographers seem to take care of their equipment quite well. Delivery speed has also been excellent. On one occasion I ordered on Frieday and received the merchandise on Tuesday of the next week. How that is possible, I am not sure.

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01-09-2017, 06:15 PM	#16
automorphism Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 791	I would never buy something from China with 0 feedback rating. In fact, I'm wary of anything less than 99%, and in any event I read the negative scores specificially.

01-10-2017, 12:36 AM	#17
iwctoys New Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 8	Right now Ebay is being attacked by a group from China. They have posted over 6000 items as of Sunday. Every time Ebay shut an account a new one opens up. Common sense says an item worth less than the cost of free shipping is a big red flag. This has happened before on Ebay not sure what it is they hope to get. The downside of Ebay unlike PayPal way to easy to open a new account.

01-10-2017, 09:05 AM	#19
E-man Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 678	Originally posted by iwctoys Right now Ebay is being attacked by a group from China. They have posted over 6000 items as of Sunday. Every time Ebay shut an account a new one opens up. Common sense says an item worth less than the cost of free shipping is a big red flag. This has happened before on Ebay not sure what it is they hope to get. The downside of Ebay unlike PayPal way to easy to open a new account. This is why I almost always click "U.S. Only" in the search terms. I will occasionally buy something from China but only if the price is dirt cheap and commensurate with the item's value. About half the time, the item never arrives. The only thing I can figure that the Chinese get out of offering items so cheap is to devalue U.S. competitors. A lot of eBay sellers used to offer items at ridiculously low prices with inflated shipping costs as a way to skirt around eBay's final value fees but eBay now charges a fee on shipping purchased through them as well. They usually discount the shipping and then take at least half of that discount back in fees.

01-10-2017, 10:12 AM	#20
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	Originally posted by ivanvernon On one occasion I ordered on Frieday and received the merchandise on Tuesday of the next week. How that is possible, I am not sure. Yep me too! I ordered two lenses from Korea & Japan late in the evening (21:30 PST) on Tuesday, Dec 20th. They both arrived via EMS/Canada Post on Friday, Dec 23rd in the afternoon. (15:30 PST) That means they were both shipped on Wednesday, Dec 21st and arrived in just two days during the Christmas package rush. Truly outstanding service. Phil.

01-10-2017, 12:13 PM	#21
Swift1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,079 Original Poster	Originally posted by iwctoys Right now Ebay is being attacked by a group from China. They have posted over 6000 items as of Sunday. Every time Ebay shut an account a new one opens up. Common sense says an item worth less than the cost of free shipping is a big red flag. This has happened before on Ebay not sure what it is they hope to get. The downside of Ebay unlike PayPal way to easy to open a new account. Ahh, I wondered if that's what was happening. Last night while casually browsing through film camera related listings on ebay, I ran across 15 of these false listings.