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think i’ll start a thread for items i spot but don’t intend to necessarily buy. also will include specialty tools/equipment.
brian
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"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
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Art Betterley V-Groover Router Milwaukee
*Tenon Joinery Shop Fox Right Angle Jig-NEW!
*Marples M148 DOWELLING JIG these go for $10 everyday.
*Tenon Joinery Shop Fox Right Angle Jig-NEW!
*Robo Square Levelcurrently $36.50auction ends 3/16 at 8:59item typically ends in the $50s
*How do I know that Ebay tools as cheap as this aren't stolen/hijacked?
*Oh Oh, Here we go.
now that we've switched boards, let me know if your interested in continuing this project, okay?
brian
My son got stuck for $600 using Ebay. He cant get his money back and nothing ever was delivered.
Anyone that buys stuff from Ebay is nuts. It's a lottery.
blue
I think this discussion is a great idea.
blue_eyed_devil : Has your son contacted ebay to get his money back? The auctions are supposed to be binding legal contracts....what ever that is worth.
I've been lucky, I've made around 40 purchases all told on ebay and never had a problem. I'ts important to check-out the sellers feedback history before bidding. People with several negatives make me nervous.
Hope things work out for your son
Paul
Ebay is a bit of a lottery, complicated by the fact that the site policies mostly support the seller. I used it for a while buying computer parts when I was building and selling computers and out of sixty-odd deals, had about ten go bad from scams and defective parts. Ebay helped out to the extent that they banned one seller.
The deals don"t look so good after you pay for traceable money orders, confirmed delivery of the payment, insurance and trackable delivery of the product and the handling charges some sellers apply. All that being said, there are some incredible deals, particularly if you learn how to snipe the auctions.
I've had excellent results with e-bay. I've bought 3 motorcycles on it, many tools and assorted stuff, and last summer I bought a car(1990 mazda maita convertible for the wife) I've only not received my goods once($20 item) but it was insured and the post office paid for it.
3 weeks ago our crane jamb saw died. I got on e-bay, found a black and decker 2-1/3 hp circ.saw(same as crane) and bought it new in box (mid 1980's saw) for $9.99. 3 days shipping and the saw is like new.
Like Keith, I've gotten a lot of good deals (about 40). Several rules I follow: ALWAYS check a sellers feedback. If someone has 0 or 1 or 2 or has just changed their useID, I don't bother with the item.
Ask questions early enough for a response. I've bought a canoe in NH and shipped it to Alaska, no problem. Measurement equipment that goes for 100's of $. Clothes. Gifts. Here are the few problems I've had (so that others might learn):
Baby furniture smelled of cigarette smoke and could only be partially cleaned. I should have asked but hadn't thought to. I didn't pursue any refund/return.
A toy showed up slightly broken. No shipping insurance but seller would have made good if I wanted. My son still liked the toy and I didn't pursue it for an $8 item.
USPS left an item out in the rain. Some staining. I'd skipped insurance and can't blame the seller for a goverment employee screw-up.
That's it for problems. Probably a better record than the stuff I buy at our local K-Mart. When someone has hundreds of positive feedbacks and 1 or 2 negatives (or none!), they are clearly doing it as a business and have been making a serious attempt to keep everyone happy.
-David Thomas,
Kenai, Alaska
More ebay thoughts:
The best deals are on obscure items. Things that only you want. I've gotten process equipment (pumps, gauges, controllers) for 5 to 20 cents on the dollar. Whereas a popular consumer item (camera, watch, current game) will often go for about the same amount in auction after auction. Maybe 75-85% of retail. Just barely worth the bother of ebaying it. Unless you are in the boonies like me or you never leave the house.
ebay also works well for hard to find stuff. A toy from your childhood. Antique stuff. You could travel 500 miles and search 50 secondhand stores and not find the stuff that comes up in a search any day on ebay. For really obscure stuff (a particular printing of a particularly rare book, etc), you can let ebay search for you everyday and notify you when it finds a match.
Fragile item? Buy shipping insurance (a buck or two). Don't like smoke smell? Ask.
Sure, there are scams but ebay has it structured very cleverly to minimize that and make it easy to avoid (only buy from highly-rated sellers). When someone has a rating of 0 or 1 (or -2!) had just changed their userID and is offering some high ticket item (car, boat, etc) my inner alarm starts clanging really loudly. The other thing I look for on big ticket items is, "Could I track them down?" Sending a check to a real address seems safer. Although I have no problem with Paypal and it sure is convenient. David Thomas, Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
I have bought and sold about 50 items on eBay. Never had any problems. PalPal is very convenient as you don't have to go to the Post Office for a money order. The two most important things are to know the street price of the item you want to purchase and ask what the shipping charges will be. Some sellers get very creative with excess shipping charges. They charge shipping cost plus for their time, the gas to get to the Post Office, the box, peanuts and every inch of tape they use. I only purchase from sellers with a pre-disclosed fixed shipping cost or those who charge actual USPS or UPS fees.
I just purchased a piece of artwork that I saw in a gallery for $475.00. My price on ebay? $14.99. Of course I still need to frame it, but the gallery did not have it in a $460.00 frame.
I've also purchased tools, books, cival war artifacts, fishing equipment, a boom box and some chrome for my Harley Never been ripped off and have always been happy with my purchases.
Now if I could only find an old wooden Ditchburn that needs restored.
Have bought about fourteen items on Ebay with no problems. Bought a 1998 YAmaha Virago 1100 special motorcycle last year for about four grand. I spoke to the seller on the phone and felt comfortable with him. I paid $500 to have it shipped up from Florida to NY. The bike looked like it was straight out of a showroom. Only had 500 miles on it . I bought tools with no problems...antiques etc etc. Ebay carries insurance on items if you get ripped off so read their insurance clause.
I'm addicted to Ebay!!!
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Something that may interest ebay shoppers...
Jeff Luka -
Or is it Luka Jeff ???
Interesting article. I use the same password on a lot of sites, which I know I shouldn't do. Is there somewhere on the internet where they list common passwords, so you know which ones to avoid?
Don't know of any such sites. (A google on "secure passwords" might find you a few.) But to make your password more difficult to figure out, make it a random series of numbers and letters. With the two interspersed. Then write it down so you don't lose it.
Most sites with passwords offer a service where if you forget your password, they will send you a new one. Like here. Use a good email address, and you should have no problem even if you do lose your password.
My name is Luka.
don't use words
intersperse numbers and symbols (this site won't let you use symbols)
rule is don't write them down (yeah, right)
have between 6 and 8 charactersboblVolo Non Voleo 8Joe's cheat sheet