What do OZ members think of EBay?

OK, I'm not in Oz but I have been using paypal for quite a while and have a lot of experience with it. I signed up with it because everyone else uses it and a lot of sellers require payment with paypal. It's handy if you are a seller too because you get instant payment for purchases. Others besides ebay are starting to use it now too such as Parts N More. I've even got a paypal Master Card! I don't think they should be able to force anyone to use it though
and if you don't like their policies you can always go somewhere else. You don't have to give any banking information (unless you are a seller on ebay) but you will want to link a bank account to it so you can put funds into the account. It takes a whole week but at least it's convenient. I use an account at my credit union that never has much money it it. The biggest problem with paypal is they don't have any protection like you get by using a credit card. There is supposedly $200 of insurance coverage but if you get ripped off buying a large item that costs $1000 or more you will still only get a maximum of $200 back, if that. Actually I've been ripped off a couple of times and couldn't get anything back. A couple of times out of over 500 transactions isn't bad though, you have to treat ebay like going to the swapmeet where half of everything you get is not going to be any good. In the case of ebay though sometimes they won't send the merchandise and there's nothing you can do about it. Whenever I apply it's always automatically rejected then I can't even apply again or appeal it cause when I try to apply again it says I've already applied and won't go any farther. Most of the regulations on ebay seem to be setup to protect the sellers (that are paying ebay) and a lowly buyer doesn't have much in the way of rights. I think you still have the option of paying through paypal with a credit card and that would give you protection but I haven't tried it that way. Leo Laporte got ripped off when he bought an expensive video camera for $2000 and the seller couldn't deliver anything but excuses so every day he blasts them on his radio show. He's been emailing the president of paypal and will probably get all his money back but that wouldn't be an option for most buyers. techguylabs.com/radio/ShowNotes/Show465

That's funny, sellers think Paypal is geared more toward protecting the buyer and buyers think it's protecting the seller when it doesn't actually protect anybody!

No offense but I've never read such a load of bullshit from anyone who wasn't running for president! Feedback has never been of much use on ebay because buyers were afraid to give bad feedback because the seller would then give them bad feedback in revenge. Most crooked sellers still have good feedback. That's changing now that sellers can't give buyers bad feedback anymore so it might start to get more accurate. I've seen a few with bad feedback and even a few with a negative number but mostly it tends to be good and it can be good for years before they start to rip everyone off. Even if they have been sending everything out promptly since they started that's no indication you are going to get your order. I've bought stuff on there, sent them the money and they never mailed me the item and there was nothing I could do about it.

I would also say that if you don't like eBay and don't feel safe purchasing items there, THEN DON'T.

I don't have exact numbers but, I would venture a guess and say that 98%-99% or more transactions work out just fine and both parties are happy.

This has gotten off topic. It is SUPPOSE to be about Paypal and not the pros & cons of buying off of eBay. No thanks to Steve OR myself.

I don't think a crook would spend the 2 years being good. I have seen this before, researching feedback on a seller. MY guess would be that they had a run of bad luck, needed some cash, and sold a bunch of junk. The lack of money will make normally good people do bad things.

I did, about a year ago or so, have some hacker break into my eBay account and send out "2nd Chance Offers" to people that had the next highest bid on items that I was paid for by the highest bidder. The person sent me a email asking where his item was that he paid for on a 2nd Chance Offer. Of course, I didn't know what he was talking about and offered to help anyway I could in tracking down the guy that took his money. Ebay never said one word to me about it as my electronic record through eBay and Paypal showed that I never offered a "2nd chance Offer" nor received any money from him.



One other way to check a seller is to look at their "About Me" page. Many good sellers have one and will post contact info there, if not in their listing. Myself, I have put up my proper email address and phone number. Check it out some time Steve and give me a call. Even though we tend to be at odds on a few things here, I think you may find that we may have more in common than you think.

Back to the OP's question. Should you be bullied into using Paypal? No. It's just wrong but, that is their marketing tactic. That aside, I still think that Paypal is safe. Sure, there will be some who will have problems, but nothing is 100% in life.

I have been happy using both Ebay and Paypals for the last year of so, and would just like too point out that this topic is also being heavily talked about on other forums that I frequent. One thing that has been brought up, is that the ACCC (Australia Competition and Consumer Commission to the non Aussies)are looking into what Ebay are doing. If you are interested, here is a link,

www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/831476/fromItemId/142

CJ

I've bought and sold bikes on ebay
Use it and paypal all teh time for small stuff, but i don't think it should be the only option for payment

Why not allow bank transfer?
Most bigger purcahses when i sold and bought a bike were done by bank cheque or cash.

Its the idea they are trying to do it for "security" while alos benefiting from fees that i don't like

BUT if i see something, and thats the way, i guess i'll use it and grumble away