Tom C wrote: > > I agree creating hundreds of rating and buyers would be time consuming. > Creating 10 or 20 to get started wouldn't be hard. How does e-bay verify > anything? I respectfully disagree, in part. I think it would be very easy > to create a fradulent trail, but possibly difficult to keep that trail going > if you were a con-artist... but easy to start a new trail all over again. > > I'm not trying to discourage anyone from using e-bay. It is an excellent > source of gear. Common sense with an extra dose of common sense piled on > top is needed. > > Tom C. > > From: Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: Re: Used gear > Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:46:41 -0400 > > Ebay ratings tell you how many ratings the seller or buyer has and from how > many different sellers and buyers they came. It would be very difficult to > create several hundred ratings from several hundred unique buyers. In part, > because you can also trace the ratings of the sellers and buyers who are > cited. The system allows for multiple levels of tracking and verification. > It would be extremely difficult if not impossible to create a fraudulent > trail. > On Oct 18, 2005, at 10:16 PM, Tom C wrote: > > >I may be asking this out of total ignorance Paul, I hope not. As far as > >reliability of ratings goes, what makes them reliable? > > > >What's to stop me from conducting a series of BIN auctions on e-bay and > >having my wife create multiple e-bay accounts with different e-mail > >addresses from multiple locations, and then having her make the 'purchase' > >and leave positive feedback? Little I suspect. > > > >The one time I got ripped on the guitar, the seller had a rating of over > >99.5% with 1000's of transactions. I am inclined to believe that the vast > >majority of transactions go smoothly, but a seller who decides to be > >occasionally unscrupulous is easily able to hide the fact in the numbers. > >The more successful transactions a seller may have, the easier it can get > >to hide the stinkers. > > > >Tom C. > > > > > > > > > >From: Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > >To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > >Subject: Re: Used gear > >Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 21:19:04 -0400 > > > >Fraudulent auctions aren't hard to spot, except for the fact that they're > >very few in number. Ebay seller ratings are reliable, and the site is > >closely monitored. Have you used ebay extensively? I have. Without > >problems. But each to his own. I just think it's a shame to skip what is > >actually a valuable resource due to misinformation. > >Paul > >On Oct 18, 2005, at 9:20 PM, Tom Reese wrote: > > > >>Paul Stenquist wrote: > >> > >>>I've made literally hundreds of purchases on ebay without any problems. > >>>I received two lenses that were defective. In both cases, the seller > >>>took them back. Of course the days of really great deals on ebay are > >>>probably over, unless you can get lucky on a just posted buy it now. > >>>But there's nothing to fear. > >> > >>I've seen way too many fraudulent auctions to agree with your nothing to > >>fear statement. > >> > >>Tom Reese > >>
Buying things on ebay can be scary, but so can selling things there.... It is practically my only source of income these days (aside from social security) so I like to clue people in on how to find an honest seller.... Don't just look at the NUMBERS! Take the time to read the feedback. I would be wary of buying from someone who had say 500 points and had only been on ebay for 6 months. that might smell fishy to me. Don't buy things from people who skimp on descriptions. If they offer something you want write them for more details, more pictures, etc... read between the lines of the feedback. Sad to say some buyers skimp on praise and some think A+++++ is a wonderful thing to say. what I want to read is "item as described - fast shipping" There is some protection from ebay as well. Make sure they say up front what the shipping is, btw. I'd even ask someone who had bought something from the seller recently if it is something you really want... check out the feedback of the BUYERS who give the Seller a good rating, too. I don't sell things that are very expensive and rarely have any problems with buyers - I'm happy to say I have lots of good feed back (99.9) over 7 years almost. So don't dismiss it out of hand. annsan > > > >
