HOW TO BUY ON EBAY - PART 3 : MORE ABOUT SELLERS

This is the third part in this series. If you haven't already done so, take a look at :
- How To Buy On eBay: Part 1 - Do Your Research
- How To Buy On eBay: Part 2 - Check The Seller

In this post, we will look at some different aspects of the seller. Here are some additional things to look out for.

• Seller's About Me Page
  Another thing you can check is the seller's About Me page or other Custom pages. Obviously, they are going to say good things about themselves, but keep an eye out for what they're not saying. Do they offer customer service? Do they have a return policy? Do they appear to be interested in what they're selling? Or is it just a job?
   
• The Listing Description
  Every seller has their own style. Some say here's an item, the end. And leave it up to you to work out more about it. Others put in some effort to tell you all about the item. I prefer a seller who tells me all about the item, including any flaws, so I know exactly what I am buying.
   
• Photographs
  Most sellers are not professional photographers. But if they have taken a blurry photo and can't be bothered trying again, then I can't be bothered considering buying it. Look for clear photos, and multiple photos. And beware the seller who uses eBay stock photos. These are photos sellers can use instead of taking their own. I don't know about you, but I want to see the actual item I am buying.
   
• The Vibe
  Avoid sellers who spend more time and effort on the rules and regulations that they impose on the buyer, than telling you about the item itself.

A final word - Just trust your gut feeling about a Seller. If you are really not sure, then don't buy. There are plenty of other Sellers.

There are a lot of good sellers on eBay. Most are buyers themselves, and so they treat their buyers how they would like to be treated. The majority of eBay sellers just want a smooth transaction and a happy customer.

Hopefully these tips will help ease any fears you might have about buying online. Armed with some information, you should be in a position to make an informed purchase.

Now that you have all this information, what's stopping you? There are a lot of good sellers on eBay. And there are a lot of good bargains. Enjoy your shopping experience.

Do you have an eBay experience you'd like to share? Good or bad? Leave a COMMENT to this post.

Recommended reading:
Paypal Made Simple
Scams and Scoundrels: Protect yourself from the darkside of eBay and PayPal
PayPal For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)

See also : Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

 

HOW TO BUY ON EBAY - PART 2 : CHECK THE SELLER

Welcome to Part Two in this series.

If you haven't already done so, take a look at How To Buy On Ebay: Part 1 - Do Your Research

So you have decided to shop on eBay. In this post, we will look at the seller, rather than the item itself.

You will have already decided on an item to buy, and to buy that item on eBay. But what else do you need to look for?

• Check the Seller's Feedback Number
  On the item page, the seller's details appear on the right. The seller's feedback number is the figure in brackets next to their name. This number represents the total number of positive feedbacks the seller has ever received for that ID, minus the number of any negative feedbacks. Neutral feedback does not increase or decrease this figure.
   
• More on the Seller's Feedback Number
  If the seller's number is very high (in the tens of thousands), this could mean that they have been around for a very long time, or it means they sell a massive amount of items. One thing to look out for here is that a seller who sells many items per day. They might not have much time left over for customer service if you encounter a problem.
   
• Seller's Feedback Percentage
  Below the seller ID is a "% Positive Feedback". You are looking for 100% here. This represents the number of positive feedbacks divided by the total number of feedbacks, for the past twelve months. 100% means that everyone who left feedback was happy with their transaction. 99.x% is also okay - because sometimes things go wrong. And sometimes you get buyers who feel they have to say something bad no matter what. I would only look at a buyer who has less than 99%, if I really want that item at that price. And then I would try to justify that their feedback rating is okay.
   
• Recent Feedback Ratings
  These numbers show you for the past month, 6 months and 12 months, how the seller is doing. From this you can tell if the seller has time to treat you with care. For example, if their 1 month figure is 100 then they are selling on average 3 items per day, and your purchase should receive the care it deserves. Use your own judgement on what is a reasonable level.
   
• Feedback Comments
  Have a read of the comments people have left for this eBayer. Check that you are looking at the "Feedback as a Seller" tab. Reading what others have had to say is your best recommendation.
   
• Negative Feedback
  Most people stick to the "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" rule that Grandma taught us. So when someone leaves negative feedback, I take it seriously. Back at the top in the Recent Feedback Ratings box, if there is a number on the negative line, click on it. The comments listed lower on the page will change to be only the negative comments. Take it with a grain of salt. Some people think it is their duty to leave negatives all the time. Click on that buyer's feedback number and you are taken to their feedback page. Click on the "Feedback Left For Others" tab. Do they leave a lot of negatives? If they are a Serial Neg-er, I don't pay too much attention to their comment on the Seller I was looking at. Most sellers are horrified to receive a negative feedback and, even if they had done nothing wrong, they tend to go all out to make up for it in future sales.
   
• Detailed Seller Ratings
  Unless your seller has a very low number in the brackets, make sure they have more than four stars in each category. Sellers are ranked by buyers after the transaction is complete. If a seller has a very low number of sales, any low ranking will be amplified. But a seller with many sales should have at least four stars in every category. If a particular category is ranked low, is that category important to you?

My next post in this series will give you some more tips on what to look for in a seller.

See also:
How To Buy On EBAY Pt.3 - More About Sellers

Do you have an eBay experience you'd like to share? Good or bad? Leave a COMMENT to this post.

Some interesting reading on this topic -
How to buy on ebay
Buy and Shopping Sately On-line
How To Buy Intelligently on eBay

See also : Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

 

HOW TO BUY ON EBAY - PART 1 : DO YOUR RESEARCH

Ebay is full of vultures waiting to take your money. A friend paid $10,000 on eBay and got nothing in return. We've all heard the stories.

I use eBay a lot, and I love it. But I often come across people who rarely or never use eBay, and they always have a horror story of a friend of a friend who got stung. When you ask for more details, they don't have any because they don't actually know who got stung, or what they bought, or what was done about it. All they know is they won't go near it because it's bad.

I think its a shame that people fear the unknown so much, especially when this unknown could save them so much money.

Buying on eBay doesn't have to be a bad experience.

And looking good doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Remember the days when everything you bought was from an actual shop, with an actual sales assistant, and an actual price tag that covered the shop's rent, overheads, wages, and other on-costs. Luckily there are other options today. Don't get me wrong, you can still hit the shops. And there is a certain buzz you get from retail therapy. But it is no longer the only option available to you.

On auction sites, such as eBay, you can buy practically anything for a fraction of the cost in retail stores.

But how do you go about getting a good deal?

• Know Your Retail Market
  Check the real-live retail stores for the item you're interested in. Many stores have online catalogues, so you don't have to trek around a number of stores. Make note of the price. I usually write down the highest and lowest prices that I came across.
   
• Know Your eBay Market
  Perform an eBay search on your item and see what comes up. You might be surprised to see how many search results came up. Once you have checked the items for sale, have a look at the sold items. Select "completed listings" (you will need to be signed-in to eBay for this) to see if items actually sell at those prices. Anything that sold will have the price listed in green. If it didn't sell, it will be listed in red. Often you will get a completely different picture of prices when you look at the sold items. Again, make a note of the highest and lowest prices.
   
• Compare and Decide
  Look at your store prices and your eBay prices. Weigh up your options. Is face-to-face shopping important to you? Are you prepared to wait for the item to arrive in the mail? Decide whether you are going to shop online, or go out for the afternoon.

If you decided to go out, see you when you get back!

If you decided to shop on eBay, my next post in this series will give you some tips on what to look for in a seller.

See also:
How To Buy On EBAY Pt.2 - Check The Seller
How To Buy On EBAY Pt.3 - More About Sellers

Do you have an eBay experience you'd like to share? Good or bad? Leave a COMMENT to this post.

See also : Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

 

ANTIQUE CARD CHEATERS CLIP

This intriguing little clip is actually a gentleman's antique “Wizard” Cuff Holder from 1889. Back in the late 1800s, gents’ shirts came with detachable cuffs and collars so they could be easily replaced to give the appearance of a fresh clean shirt. This wonderful little gadget was designed to hold the cuffs in place.

Can you imagine what a wonder of modern technology this must have been!

Folklore suggests that the more imaginative of the Wild West poker players managed to use this gadget to hide an ace up the sleeve. With one end clipped to the clothing and the other end holding a hidden card.

I imagine this would have been a very difficult task to perfect. With your back to the wall, one eye scanning the room for would-be assassins, one eye on the cards and the pot and the other players. And somehow managing to fiddle with your sleeve to produce the elusive ace. All the while, not drawing attention to yourself or your cheating actions.

How stressful it must have been to live in those times. And let's not mention the dire consequences of getting caught cheating!

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VINTAGE ANTIQUE 1897 EYEGLASS HOOK

I wanted to show you this handsome eyeglass hook. With an elegant design, similar to a safety pin, these hooks were pinned to the clothing and attached to a chain connected to the eyeglasses. See? Ever since glasses were invented, people have been forgetting where they put them. Hence, the invention of the eyeglass chain and hook.
This piece is from the late 1890s. It appears in the Sears Roebuck & Co Catalogue of 1897. The hooks listed in the Sears catalogue are rolled-gold or gold-filled. Elegant and impressive. A great conversation starter.

more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay | Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

VINTAGE ANTIQUE TIE CLASP - ESTATE - JAPANESE DAMASCENE

This handsome vintage damascene tie clasp features a beautiful Japanese landscape with Mount Fuji in the background. A remarkable antique piece, with the luxurious hue of yellow gold metal and matt black background. Elegant and impressive.

more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay |
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VINTAGE JAPANESE DAMASCENE

Damascene, or Japanese Damascene, is a centuries-old art first brought to Japan about 2,000 years ago, reputedly form Damascus. Usually with steel as the base metal, items are produced through a lengthy process. A design is drawn and then transferred onto the metal surface with a fine chisel.
The outlines are cut and undercut before gold or silver threads are hammered into the tiny grooves. The item is then corroded with acid, cleaned with soda water, washed in salt water and baked over a fire. This process is repeated eight or nine times a day for at least five days.
Washed and baked until all the rust in the steel has been conducted out. The clean surface is then dipped into thick red-clay mud and baked again. This is repeated from 50 to 100 times. Then the surface is coated with powdered charcoal and oil, baked, and repeated from 10 to 20 times. Once cleaned of black powder, it is rubbed to a polish. The last step is to add any necessary carvings, monograms or handwritten names of the purchasers, if desired.
To retain the original polish, the article should be rubbed once a month with a soft cloth dipped in olive oil.
Here are some examples of stunning damascene pieces -

If you are lucky enough to own some damascene, take another look at it and marvel at the amount of work that has gone into it. Keep it clean and polished - a respectful status it deserves. And wear it with pride.
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Vintage ANSON Mens Gold-Tone Cuff Links Estate Square

This handsome pair of vintage cuff links display the brilliant glitter of yellow goldtone metal. The background is a lightly brushed surface. The feature line is a twisted goldtone strip laying inside a diagonal cut-out. They are very interesting and stunning cuff links.
more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay |
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Vintage Mens Gold-Tone Cufflinks Scroll Panel Estate

This handsome pair of vintage goldtone cufflinks features magnificently detailed edging around a plain scroll panel.
more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay |
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Vintage 1920 Mens SNAP-LINK Cuff Links - MOP - ART DECO

This stunning pair of vintage silvertone snap-link cufflinks have irridescent mother-of-pearl fronts. These cufflinks have the round head, which is more rare than the octagonal head. A remarkable antique piece, combining attactive silvertone metal with the deep lustre of carved mother-of-pearl. These cufflinks are from the 1920s and are in excellent condition - a tribute to their careful storage over the years.
more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay
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Vintage 1954 FOSTER Mens Gold-Tone Tie Clasp Clip Bar

This handsome vintage tie clasp features a diamond-shaped front. An alluring combination of matt and gloss finishes. This clasp was manufactured while its patent approval was still pending. The patent was approved in 1955.
more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay
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Vintage 1958 ADAMS Gold-Tone Tie Clasp Clip Bar - Pearl

This handsome vintage goldtone tie clasp features a small pearl held by a goldtone swirl setting. The pearl is 0.2cm across and has not been tested by a jeweller. The patent for this clasp was granted in 1958.
more information | view listing on eBay | purchase item on eBay
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Vintage Mens Gold-Tone Cufflinks - Copperstone - Nice

Compliment your outfit with this handsome pair of vintage goldtone cufflinks, featuring copperstone fronts. Copperstone is a composite material made from copper flecks.
Vintage Mens Gold-Tone Cufflinks - Copperstone - Nice

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Vintage SWANK Silver-Tone Chain-Link Cufflinks Dark MOP

Vintage SWANK Silver-Tone Chain-Link Cufflinks Dark MOP

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Back to Work Blues?

Haven't we all been there? Why won't the Lotto numbers come through for me?
Help ease your pain - buy yourself something nice. A back-to-work treat!
Come and have a look what's in the store -
Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

More New Items Listed

KREMENTZ, SWANK, ANSON, BALLOU, FOSTER, ADAMS, plus more unmarked items.
(tie clasp, tie clip, tie bar, tie pin, tie tack, lapel pin, collar holder, collar bar).
Come and have a look -
Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

Newly Listed Items For Sale

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Newly Listed Items For Sale

See also : Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

Vintage 1920 Mens Gold Filled Collar Holder Bar Antique

A handsome vintage gold-filled collar bar with an elegant design and the brilliant glitter of yellow gold metal. A stunning addition to your collection! Only $19.95(AUD). Click here to view or purchase this collar bar on eBay

See also : Vintage Cove Website | Vintage Cove on Facebook

Vintage SWANK Mens Silver-Tone Cufflinks Bold Estate

A handsome pair of vintage silvertone cuff links, with the brilliant glitter of varying surface finishes. One half with a brushed silvertone finish elegantly enhances the other half with a glossy corrugated finish. These cuff links expertly master the reflection of light. The back of each cuff link is stamped SWANK. A stunning addition to your collection! Only $19.95(AUD) Click here to view or purchase these cufflinks on eBay

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