30 Mar
2009
30 Mar
'09
4:01 p.m.
From: "Barry Watzman" <Watzman at neo.rr.com>
First, re: "I hate [ebay] because it defrauded me
in 2005", that is, in all
probability, BS. E-Bay didn't defraud you, the other party (buyer or
seller) did. E-Bay is not a principal to the transaction; it is merely a
venue for bringing buyers and sellers together.
Second, IF YOU KNOW HOW TO USE E-BAY, it is EXTREMELY safe.
There are a surprising number of people with an
aversion to E-Bay. That's
their loss, because it's one of the greatest things that the Internet has
brought us, both as buyers and as sellers.
First, my comments are being made as a FORMER small seller, and a very
rare buyer. oBay is the point of last resort when I need to buy
something. They USED to be one of the greatest things the Internet has
brought us, and it is their *past* reputation that continues to attract
people.
After about starting on ebay in 1997, I quit using them for several
reasons. The main reason is they put in quite a number of what *I*
consider to be unreasonable seller demands with absolutely no
accountability on their part.
Ebay is NOT, I repeat NOT just a venue!!!! To think it is "just" a venue
is absurd. And just to make it clear, I'm not attacking you, but rather
your comment.
I've heard too many stories of fraudulent transactions with the ebay
position being that it is not their problem. Just one example would be a
friend of mine (president of an amateur radio club at the time) had a
mint condition CD donated to their club. It was sold on oBay with
PayPal, a SNAD dispute was files, the box was returned and the buyer got
their money back. The box contained a junker and not the original radio.
Both oBay and PayPal said it was not their problem.
I really don't like gambling, and consider the use of that site for
selling nothing more than a crap shoot. The changes will continue, and
the small seller has no place on the site except as a scavanger.
It should also be pointed out that my comments refer to small sellers.
The larger sellers will absorb any problems which probably aren't even a
blip on their radar screens.
BTW, money orders are fine with most sellers, but the (mis)management
team prohibits sellers from letting buyers know. But that same
(mis)management tracks paper payments, and will sanction sellers that
take too many paper payments.
Yup, you did hit a hot button with your comments :).