Online purchases with PayPal

Joe, In your eBay article you mentioned using PayPal. Two other things about PayPal you might mention: First, it is accepted by many other places besides eBay (I bought DVDs from your site on line yesterday using PayPal, and many hobby shops selling on the internet use it, so it is VERY versatile); and second, at least with eBay, PayPal will arbitrate if there is an issue between buyers and sellers, so there is a level of confidence that the interests both parties are being cared for.

I have bought many, many items through eBay, and have only had one disputed transaction. PayPal did a great job getting the issue resolved.

Paypal great for buyers....

As both a buyer and seller, I would say PayPal (and E-Bay) are extremely good for buyers.  For sellers I give it a 50-50 kind of rating.  It's ok, but I have had friends who are also sellers who have had issues with buyers and Paypal sided with the buyers.  Not saying not to use the services, I do all the time to sell my "surplus" model railroad items, and as of yet have had no problems, but from what I have been told by reputible people who also have sold, they tend to favor the buyer when there is a dispute (such as in one case, delivery of an item, even though delivery confirmation was proven, paypal still sided with the buyer). 

Ken L.

+ +

I've regularly  found that, with  DCC items,  the total posted  price quoted on Ebay can be met by the sponsors of RMH. 

Case in point is the Digitrax SDN144PS.  Ebay prices, today, are between 39.99, 43.95 and 77.35. Drop the last one as it comes from France. They come from another planet where price is involved.

Litchfield Station list the same decoder at 39.96 and they have allways been very reasonnable for S/H even to my Canadian neck of the woods. Some sellers are asking close to 25$ for S/H, while other post 5.47 for S/H to Canada.  A Soundtraxx decoder is less expensive direct purchase from  Litchfield Station than buying it off Ebay.

As to Ebay and PayPal  when it comes to a transactions flop, do not count on them. They will leave you high and dry to work out the issue between seller and you. Try to get a warm body to listen to you plight from Ebay.  Just hope the seller is honest is all you can do. Paypal seems to be a tad easier to get a hold of and resolve over charge issues.   This from personal experience and my son's experience with Ebay.  You are totally clueless as to who you are dealing with. Sellers high score is only good when you have the item in hand and all is perfect or as described. 

As to us Canadians be aware an Item may show one day and not be present the next. Seller can lock us out of the auction if he sees you are out of border. Allways Email to confirm they will sell/ship to Canada and at what price as the S/H can be astronomical for any reason the seller can dream up for you; Ebay rules, Paypal rules, Post office rules.

Funny if you dig a little these rules bite the dust..

Marc Fournier, Quebec

ebay

I used to do a lot of transactions at ebay in the good old days when everybody posted real personal surplus items. It was a real internet garage sale site. But then the stores stepped in and prices went the only logical way: up. Then we had software to automatically raise bids. Then the real rare items dissappeared so, at least for me, there was not a reason to buy there anymore. Now I get better deals at forums and so. Not that I buy lots of stuff, have enough for a few lifetimes already, so between my stacks and scratchbuilding I seldom, if ever, look for something anymore, and certainly not at ebay.

I still don't use software,

I still don't use software, and I still do what I did then - I stick it out and enter my bid with 30-45 seconds left.  The only guys who beat me are those who legitimately enter the maximum they're willing to bid.  Not the maximum based upon the previous price, but the maximum based upon X where X is any concievable bid entered up to the last second.

I wait until the last secnd, though, because I don't wish to give my rival time to emotionally ponder how much more he wants to bid.  A day of thinking and suddenly he might be OK with bidding $100 more.  Or he might be one of those guys who is trying to nickel and dime his winning bid - as if every bid after the next highest bid is kept in an ebay jar somewhere.  Nope, I wait, and then strike when the iron's hot.  Last mouse gets the cheese.

Ebay

I have been both an Ebay users and seller since 1999 and have seen both good times and bad times over the olast 12 years. Ebay has changed an awfull lot over those years and not always for the better priarily because of corporate greed. The cost of listing items has gone through the roof and it often doesn't pay the sell anything you want to get rid of (even if its in almost new condition) due to the fact that many people only want to pay pennies on the dollar if that.

The fact is that Ebay is no longer a garage sale or flea markey since a number of vendors are trying make a living by selling old toys, books and even compters on it. But what has happened is that there are many scam artists who frequemt it both on the buying and selling side and that has driven up costs as well.

I still have chosen to list old stuff I no longer need there instead of throwing it away only to find that neighbors take it our of the trash and list these items there for pennies on the dollar. So why should I let my neighbors make money at my expense?

I have sold my HO trains on Ebay and now I am disposing of HO Scale buildings teher as well. I aldso have old books and magazines for sale as. If you want details contact me by e-mail off of the forum.

Irv

Ebay Canada

Hello my name is David, and I'm an eBay addict, its been a week since my last "win". 

Jesting aside it is addictive.  But I'm managing.  I found that one way to control spending was by using a "Global Mastercard" to feed my paypal account.  This Mastercard looks and acts like a Mastercard but has a zero credit limit.  Meaning the money has to be in the account before it can be spent.  Not sure how widely available this kind of card is, mine it from the local credit union. 

The words in the article about being aware of the postage are especially important to us international shoppers.  I've learned to avoid US Priority Post like the plague.  It costs much much more and takes much longer.  It is not uncommon to see a boxcar with a price of $5.00 show a shipping rate of $22.00.  Yep thats the cost of one N gauge car to Canada.  But it does not end there.  Canada Post charges another $5.00 fee (I guess to send my signature back to the US post) and of course hits me with GST.  Because I have to come in and sign for the purchase the parcel must be handled by a postal worker who fills in a card to be mailed to me to tell me to come into the post office (I think I get three days to do this) and sign for the item.  So that takes time.  Much more expensive, much longer to deliver, have to pick it up in person; none of this applies if it is shipped International FIrst Class.  That same box car will go for about $4.00 and comes directly to my post box down the street.  

The down side of not signed for delivery is I must take the risk the parcel will arrive.  I've spend over $1,000 in past two years on line (did I say I was addicted) and only once did a boxcar not arrive.  I can live with one loss if I save $20+ per purchase.    If err When I order my DCC system online I'd go with the Priority Post guarentee.  On the other hand I'd not go to eBay for something like that anyway but will order it online from an American Supplier (Fifer are you listening?).  

I buy a fair bit from the UK as well (nothing that plugs in as the voltage varies).  Similar story just this time avoid what they call simply "signed for" mail.    Postage from China is dirt cheap and I've bought switches and LED's from China.  Indeed my first online eBay purchase came from China.   I bought "100 white people" .  No I'm not a racist, that's what they were called - now I've got lots and lots of evenings of painting tiny white N-people. 

Under the sad but true category: I can buy the same item from the USA or from the UK and have it shipped to my house in Alberta for a fraction of what it costs to ship the same item from a seller in Canada.  By fraction I mean Canada Posts rates are three to four times as much.  Puts Canadian sellers at a distinct disadvantage.  Those near the US border actually take their stuff across the border to ship it at a much lower rate.   Seems Canada Post is a crown corporation which tries to run as a business and does not get anywhere near the government funding that other contries put into their postal services.   Good for the tax payer I guess, not so good for the Canadian eBay seller.

One last warning - UPS.  A seller in the US sent me an item via United Postal Service.  Shipping fee was much much more expensive.  Once it arrived I was hit with more charges, broker fees, delivery fees, etc.  In the end total shipping was about six time the cost of the item.  Only need to attend that class once - Lesson Learned - NO UPS for this on line shopper. 

Retirement Playing Plan

Like you I have enough MRR stuff to last me for years - given retirement is on the horizen I look to my stash of model railway stuff as my "RRPP" Registered Retirement Playing Plan, now if the government would just recognize this and give me the tax breaks I get from the RRSP then I'd be laughing (and buying more?).

Ebay

Haven't had a chance to read the article yet, but I will soon. I have been an active Ebay purchaser for my RR items for well over a year now and I've made a ton of purchases. It's basically the only way I could/can get the stuff I want and at reasonable prices, both new and used. As an example I purchased a new Bachmann 3T Shay with sound delivered to the door for $220. Bachmann 3T Shay for sale at a hobby shop in Vancouver at the time of purchase, over $400 and that doesn't include the cost of postage, or the trip and ferry ride to the mainland if I wanted to make the purchase in person. Benny hit the nail on the head about bidding though. Good technique, Benny, but I've got mine down to under 20 sec. The key is to let others bid, if they want to. Know what you figure the item is worth to you, including postage, and bid accordingly at the last possible moment. Be realistic on your bid and you stand a good chance of getting the item. If you don't, there'll always be another one in a few days or weeks. Often items are bid way over their value simply because the bidding process becomes an ego trip. People doing this are just knocking themselves out of the process, except for the ego guy, he'll pay anything.

I've made two not so wise purchases from a bidding perspective, simply because I didn't wait to see what the market would allow, or made my bids when fatigued. The items were something that I wanted, but I could have gotten them much cheaper. As for trouble with a seller, that has only happened once. The engine had a broken part and wouldn't run. After repeated attempts to communicate with the seller without success, I filed a claim and won. It was a finicky fix with NWSL parts, but the engine now runs great while a replacement part from Bachmann tool almost a year on back order before it arrived.

Haven't sold anything yet simply because we get hosed by Canada Post for postage and it'll be difficult to get anyone to pay their postage rates.

I like hobby shops and buy from them when possible, but I'm very selective about those purchases. Sometimes convenience is worth the price, especially for detail, paints and scenic materials.

Roy

I find in most cases

that ebay just isn't worth it.  You can find the odd thing at a good price, but I'm simply not going to pay retail price on ebay and then pay inflated shipping charges for it to boot.  I'm with whoever mentioned it above (Marc, I think) that MRH sponsors (Litchfield Station, Dallas Model Works, etc.) can get me any currently available item for the same or less than most on ebay once shipping and other things are factored in.  For those items that are hard to find or no longer available, you have to determine if you are willing to pay a premium for the item.  In most cases, I'm not.  Like most, I've made my mistakes on ebay in the past and won't repeat them (overbidding on an item that was then listed and sold for half what I paid a week later).  I will scan ebay on occasion, but those items I am really looking for are either rarely found or overpriced (or both). 

The funny thing is seeing a seller list the same item at the same price week after week when it doesn't sell.  Why bother?  Either drop your price or don't sell it on ebay because obviously nobody wants to pay that for the item.

Depends what you are looking for.....

If you're looking for items that are no longer "in stock" by regular hobby Dealers, E-Bay is one good source for things.  I have purchased several locomotives and a few NYC Trix Cabooses that were no longer available at any Hobby Dealers (Online or Brick & Mortar) and I have found a few on E-Bay.

And you would be suprised how many times I have relisted items and have them bidded on for the SAME price I listed it before.  It all depends on what someone is lookinf or and needs.  One time I listed a LL P2K 2-8-8-2 three times.  The first two very little interest (few "views" of the page" the third time, I had 3 seperate bidders and I didn't changea thing in the listing! 

Ken L

Advertisers

Guess I should have mentioned in my post that I do use MRH advertisers, particularly for electronics and tools. The service received has been great and the prices were ideal, but they have little as far as the era of my prototype is concerned. I model a Canadian prototype (CP) and live in an area where the nearest hobby shop is a 1 1/2 hour drive one way, hence my use of Ebay which is the only place that has the items I want for my RR without going to great lengths to get to a hobby shop. 

I will continue to support MRH advertisers whenever possible and do plan on some future purchases from some of them later in the year.

Roy

Ebay

"I still have chosen to list old stuff I no longer need there instead of throwing it away only to find that neighbors take it our of the trash and list these items there for pennies on the dollar. So why should I let my neighbors make money at my expense?"

Well, if you throw it away means you don't want it anymore, so what is the big deal if somebody fishes it out and sells it for a penny?. You are the one who threw it away, not that your neighbour stole it from you. It is called recycling. If you want to make the profit yourself then you do the work.

From time to time I get the urge to throw away stuff, so I put it next to the garbage, if somebody wants it fine. If not, goes with the rest of the refuse. And once it gets out of the house gets out of my mind also.

I pick it up nickels and

I pick it up nickels and dimes on the dollar, and I sell it dimes and quarters on the dollar.  You'll never get $100 for a locomotive worth $100.  But the breaking point for an average locomotive is right around $30-$50.  Junk, $15-$25.  I got my money back is all that matters to me.

And somethings I laughed all the way to the bank afterwards; very good days indeed!!!

Good Tips Contained

I've been using Ebay for years quite successfully, but the article and video highlighted some great search tips that I never used before. Very informative.

Great search tips Joe

I too have used Ebay for quite a number of years but did not know the power of your search tips. That may be a good thing as the wife says I've got too much stuff anyway, naaaa, never have too much stuff.

Todd

Ebay Search

I like the tip to narrow down a search by using (parenthesis) and -minuses.  It's been a long time since I used ebay.  I did a recent ebay search and found a train treasure; can't tell you what because I want to win this item!

Thank you.

Buyers and Sellers

As a reformed Ebay junkie (840 feedbacks of which only three have been less than positive) I offer the following;

If the picture and description are fuzzy, chances are the transaction will have problems too.  Generally if a person can't get it together to take a decent photograph or if they are fairly clueless in describing what they are selling you might want to pass them by.

Use a snipe service like Ezsniper.  You send them ten bucks (by way of paypal) and they put your bids in for you at the last possible second.  They charge your account a small fee only on winning bids (ten bucks should do about fifty model railroad transactions) and save you the trouble of watching auctions.  As well you get to decide up front what you are willing to pay for an item and if it goes higher you're not sucked it to paying more.  Because of Ebay's incremental bidding system you'll only  pay the next increment over the previous bidder so no worries about paying too much.  I look at sniping as replacing competitive bidding with a silent auction format - way more civilized.

Use paypal both as a buyer and seller.  Paypal is dedicated to the buyer.  If you have a a problem with a seller, paypal will see that they make it right or they will  refund your money and charge back the seller.  Likewise as a seller if you don't take paypal, it's a sign that you can't be trusted.

The best bargains I got came from people dropping off some miscellaneous collection at a franchise selling service like  "I sold it".  I'd bid what I was willing to pay for the items that I wanted and considered the things that I didn't want a freebie which I later sold off  (on Ebay of course).  As well bargains can be found from sellers who are leaving the hobby.

When selling it's better to understate the condition of the item you're selling.  You may get a little less for it but your buyer will be happier, leave positive feedback.  Overstating the condition is bound to lead to disppointed buyers.

And oddly enough, there always seems to be a buyer for a box of train junk if its described as such and is cheap enough.

international purchases

Good article Joe, and good search tips. Just a heads up for us canadian buyers that you also need to consider customs costs for items coming up from the states. Although many items do not have customs charges it seems like the more expensive the item the more likely there will be customs charges. Just another cost to consider when deciding to purchase on ebay.

Randy

The best deals and steals,

The best deals and steals, I've found, are from the people who list their item as "old antique train engine" or something similar.  Basically put, it defeats all proper search queries, and the only reliable way to hunt is to use a small number of search terms and aim for those terms which are most common.  "Junk" and "Huge" are some of my favorite search terms, as is "Steam."  they cover most of the possible goodie huts.

ebay

Thanks Joe and MRH for the Ebay article. I'm from New Zealand (and this is my first post here ) after reading the article I felt empowered to venture into the world of Ebay. So pleased that I did! I found a superb deal on a  new Spectrum 4-4-0. By buying from Ebay I saved myself US$500 (even after adding the cheapest international shipping which only took 8 days!). A new unit if purchased in a New Zealand shop was over US$600. So I'm very pleased! New Zealand has a similar online trading website called "trademe" on which I frequently find good bargains. Online shopping is the way to go I find these days. Local hobby shops don't usually stock the items I'm after so most of my purchases are off Trademe and online hobby shops in the US and now Ebay

Thanks very much for a solid informative article. 

Luke