In a message dated 3/7/2006 8:08:10 A.M. Central Standard Time,
russ@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
I don't know about this particular case but often see the phrase "like
new" buried deep in his "NEW" titled listings. That's deceptive and on
the edge of fraud but his customers don't seem to complain. Of course
spending 2-3x the reasonable price on anything often makes one believe
that they've bought a quality item.
Hmm, I sometimes find myself wanting to defend this guy. It doesn't always
feel right, as his descriptions are often fraudulent or at the very least
deceptive and I find that particularly distasteful. I currently have a few
items queued up to be listed on eBay. Some, but not many, are "new", some
"like
new" and most are some variation of "used." When they are listed, I will do
my best to provide an accurate assessment of their condition. Given that
irrespective of where I'm selling (either here or on eBay), I want people to
be
happy with their purchase, I will generally offered a money back guarantee,
even on stuff that has some flies on it which have been revealed prior to the
purchase. I haven't had very many returns. The only one which comes to
mind is a "mint" OM 2S, whose circuit decided to die between my home and the
buyers. As I recall, I refunded all monies paid, plus return shipping. That
was the "right" thing to do and the type of service that results in my having
a
little over 300 positive feedback responses on eBay and a large number of
positive exchanges on this list. It is also the type of thing which has me
thinking seriously about becoming a seller's assistant with eBay.
Now, let me step down from my "self promoting" soap box and get to the point
of the positive comment about Alex. What I would like to talk about is
"fair market value", which is a price at which a willing seller will sell and
a
willing buyer will buy. Assuming an accurate description of the item (often
times that is a stretch with this guy), each of Alex's successful auctions
represents an item being sold at "fair market value or price". They may not
be
sold at a price I would pay, however for someone else they represent a fair
price and represent value for their exchange of dollars, pesos, pounds or
whatever. So the assessment of 2 or 3 times what an item is worth, might be
more accurately expressed at 2 or 3 times what it is worth to me. I also
think
that most people, myself included, know when we have paid too much for an
item. Rather than feeling like I got a quality item (which may be the case),
I
usually feel like I've screwed myself (as opposed to being screwed by someone
else). I try to learn from these experiences and to not be discouraged
from the activity of acquiring stuff from alternative channels of commerce . .
.
I guess eBay use to be that and probably isn't any longer.
I emailed Alex recently to inquire about an item and got a prompt response
with enough accurate information to let me decide not to buy something he had
on his list of items for sale. We all know about his inflated descriptions.
We also know that he has bought new stuff from John and others and so does
have some "new" stuff. I would buy from his eBay auctions, however I would
do
as I usually do when buying from eBay and ask a bunch of questions before
bidding. If I ask the right questions of any seller and get the right
answers,
I'll end up buying at a price which is right for me. Right questions
usually generate right answers. <{8^) Bill Barber
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