Ebay

burdette

I know that many of the guys here have purchased from Ebay. I also know quite a few end up with problems of one sort or another. Based on the experiences I've read about here, I think I've come to the conclusion that I will never buy audio equipment off Ebay.. at least not from a private individual... *maybe* from a reputable company with good feedback.

Just curious what the general consensus on this is... is Ebay to be avoided? Seems to me the occurance of problems is frequent enough that the risk is high - or, like pregnancy, do we only hear about the bad ones? I don't know about some of you, but I can't even imagine being swindled out of $100, let alone the many hundreds of dollars some people report. I just don't have the money to risk.

Ron-P

I've bought several items off ebay, most from private individuals.

My 4 Adcom GFA-535 amps all came from PI's as did my recent purchase of the Polk AB755's.

Sure it's a risk, but sometimes it's a risk worth taking. Even if you don't have the money to risk.

I mainly read all the feedback and will most likely not buy from someone with less than 50 feedbacks and they all must be positive. Plus, I'll make contact with the seller before end of auction to see how communication is.


Peace Out~:D

RuSsMaN

I've had numerous 'good to great' transactions.

I've had a couple items (2 pairs of speakers, 1 cd player) arrived fubared, but the seller always made good, and helped with the claim process.

I still shop ebay, regularly, and a sellers feedback, or lack thereof is *usually* a good description of the seller's character.

Don't give on ebay totally, once you 'drill down' to a bottom category ie: NOT /home audio/speakers, but something like /home audio/speakers/bookshelf you can always look for 'items near me', and select your location.

It is a little more tedious to have to drill down ALL the way, instead of being able to view the 'general' category, but I've found TONS of good stuff locally (go pick it up). I check the DFW area for speakers, amps, cd players etc on a daily basis.

Cheers,
Russ

danger boy

I agree.. i've only had good experiences with Ebay sellers. I've bought amps, Polk speakers, a DAC, DVD player, cables, interconnects.. and looking for a good audiophile CD player right now. As well as other unmentionables.

But then maybe i'v just been lucky so far. I should hope that's not the case.. and that there are more honest sellers than dishonest ones.

Where else can you get great deals like you find on ebay?

I hope i never get burned. i'd be really pissed.

Good email communication between you and the auction seller is very crucial. I've also sold nearly 70 items on there myself. I take care of my buyers should there be a problem.

I once had a buyer tell me his receiver arrived with a dent in the corner. He would not send it back to me... or would he file a damage report with UPS... so I was covinced he was a fake and liar. It ended there.

faster100

I know you all know what i think, But i love e-bay, "We" me and my wife mostly buy Glass items and only had 2 items broke in 4 years.. and taken care of asap. I have never bought audio, but would consider it.actually 3 items i did purchase.. One being my csi40 and i picked it up locally.. the other being my old onkyo amp and also picked up locally. I have sold for quite a few years steady and have more problems with buyers not paying and thats only really been maybe dozen times in 4+ years. I say all hale for E-bay..

like they said above where can you find deals like this,

where can you find a new in pack needle for a kids 1978 record player, I did and on e-bay, LOL

Where?????? On E-E- BAYYYYYYY

F1nut

For audio/video gear I prefer Audiogon, mostly because I can find the stuff I'm looking for there as opposed to eBay.

danger boy

does audiogon seller post pictures of their items? I haven't found many who do.. that's why i prefer Ebay. I also find that some, some I say.. audiogon items are way overpriced. I like pictures.. i'm a visual guy.. i need pictures. Since you can't touch it or feel in for yourself... pictures are very important to me.

madmax

150+ great deals and counting! I've spent as little as $0.25 (+ $3 shipping) for sealed LP's to $11500 for my 99 Blazer ZR2 (back in 2000). About 10 amps, 5 sets of speakers, countless professional audio products, tires, wheels, engine parts, cookware, you name it. Ebay rules. I'm sure if you make that one big deal you could get ripped off but let the numbers talk here. If I get ripped for $15,000 tomorrow I'll still walk out a winner. One point to mention here. The only time I've ever been taken on the internet was with Wango, and that was someone I used to have an internet relationship with. Take your chances, people like you and me are everywhere and need to sell stuff. Great stuff. Great people overall.
madmax

F1nut

danger boy,

I think the reason you don't see as many pics on Audiogon is that it's assumed that if you're looking at the item, you already know what it looks like. It's a different mind set and relies more on AG's strict grading system. There seems to a more professional attitude. I do buy other things off eBay and with the exception of my last deal for a MFSL CD that I got ripped off for, it has been a great place.

burdette

Thanks for the replies... I'm glad I asked. Seems perhaps it is a case of hearing more about bad transactions than good.

gidrah

I've done about 14 E-bay transactions and 1 Audiogon. They all went pretty good. A few amps, speakers, wire, CDs, etc. All function and look fine.

You can also do the "Items near me" when you do a search. If you check the titles & descriptions box you can use words like: the, pair, and, or, watts, etc. This should be able to get the most results.

Double_S

I have had nothing but good experiences on Ebay. That's were I got my Polks!!

Tour2ma

I've had a lot of success on ebay with audio. The only issues have been around cosmetics, but you learn to ask questions and request added pictures, etc. The couple times where cosmetics have fallen well short of Seller's claims, I've gotten partial rebates.

Functionality has rarely been a problem, and when it has been, minor repairs have been the norm.

Shipping damage has likewise been infrequent, but again I almost always ask packaging and then will coach my sellers on the proper packing as needed. I'll even offer an extra couple bucks for more and/ or better packing materials.

polkatese

I bought stuff from ebay in several occasions, and I would say that communications with the sellers (or lack thereof) is usually a good indication on whether you're goin' to get what you pay for.

As far as packaging, I have to say that some of those sellers sometime lack common sense and display a high degree of ignorance. Some of them fail to understand that transactions ain't over till the buyers say so. In several occassions (as seller) I ended up spending more on the packaging then I have to, since after all, these were my priced posessions that had served me well over the years *holding back tears*

danger boy

polkatese,

I so agree. Last year I sold my professional 35mm camera I had since I was in high school. It was the camera the turned me into a professional photographer. was tough to let it go... and now I miss it. but it's gone.. and hope that some one else is getting good use out of it.

20+ yrs with equipment is tough to part with.

hotwheelman

Quote from danger boy "20+ yrs with equipment is tough to part with."

Amen brother...Amen. Its like letting go of one of your own after they have grown up and leave home.