Ebay and marketplaces.

[aaps59]

I've had two 3G's and a ALienware laptop for a few months now all of which I've been trying to sell. Each time when I go to ebay to sell it, some scammer is able to buy it then ebay chargers me a comisson of how much they think the scammer payed and charged that money strait into my bank account. I was wondering if y'all could help me out by telling me if there are any good technology marketplaces on the internet that I could use with paypal.
Alienware Area 51 M15x
iPhone 3g ((x2))

 

[0098386]

I used to sell electronics on eBay around 4 years ago. There is (was?) a method to reclaim the eBay commission from fake buyers, I even think they footed the relisting fee.

 

[steve2112]

I've been looking for an alternative to eBay and Paypal as well. I don't like their business practices or (lack of) customer service. I especially would like to find another method for payment, as I would like to try to sell some things here.

 

[chrmjenkins]

This forum has a decent marketplace, but there is a post count requirement to be able to view (and subsequently, use) it.

 

[JsR]

Have you tried a website called Craigslist.com or .co.uk?

It's free to list and you can specify how you receive the payment (Paypal, cash in hand, cheque etc) There is also no time limit on how long you list something for, you just take the ad down once you have sold it.

The only downside is there is no feedback regime. I have used it several times to sell laptops/TV's etc on and I've had no problem.

 

[ajsnow6234]

I've been looking for an alternative to eBay and Paypal as well. I don't like their business practices or (lack of) customer service. I especially would like to find another method for payment, as I would like to try to sell some things here.

I would normally agree however, using paypal seriously helped me out twice. Once I bought a car part on ebay that was listed as new...when I received it, it looked used and did not function. I contacted the seller and after four weeks there was no return emails...using Paypal's claim process, I was able to get my $190 returned in full.

A second time I was selling a used laptop which had an issue with the ac adapter port (notorious in HPs). I listed the problem in the auction and within a week the buyer was complaining about it. He attempted a Paypal claim and left me bad feedback. So I cooperated with the Paypal "investigation" and was found in the right. Ebay also retracted the negative feedback for me.



Anyway, that's my experience, I find in a bigger area like where I live near D.C., Craigslist is a lot better than ebay.

 

[ajsnow6234]

Have you tried a website called Craigslist.com or .co.uk?

It's free to list and you can specify how you receive the payment (Paypal, cash in hand, cheque etc) There is also no time limit on how long you list something for, you just take the ad down once you have sold it.

The only downside is there is no feedback regime. I have used it several times to sell laptops/TV's etc on and I've had no problem.

Craigslist also takes a level of common sense that some people do not have Like when someone emails you offering to buy your item from out of state...and they'll mail you a money order. You need to delete that one!

 

[steve2112]

I would normally agree however, using paypal seriously helped me out twice. Once I bought a car part on ebay that was listed as new...when I received it, it looked used and did not function. I contacted the seller and after four weeks there was no return emails...using Paypal's claim process, I was able to get my $190 returned in full.

A second time I was selling a used laptop which had an issue with the ac adapter port (notorious in HPs). I listed the problem in the auction and within a week the buyer was complaining about it. He attempted a Paypal claim and left me bad feedback. So I cooperated with the Paypal "investigation" and was found in the right. Ebay also retracted the negative feedback for me.



Anyway, that's my experience, I find in a bigger area like where I live near D.C., Craigslist is a lot better than ebay.

I'm glad at least one person had a good experience with them.

Maybe I'm being a bit overly dramatic by not doing business with them anymore, but I really just don't want to deal with the hassle anymore. Between their "service", and crap like all the spammers on eBay, I just got tired of dealing with it. Unless it's something I can't get new anymore, I'll just buy elsewhere.

I'm actually surprised there haven't been more competitors to Paypal. It seems like someone would have a person-to-person electronic payment program. Or more to the point, a person to person payment system that actually has persons using it.

 

[Synchromesh]

You should definitely call up eBay/Paypal and talk with their support people. I had to do it recently when somebody purchased a laptop I was selling with a hacked account. Paypal returned my fee and quickly dealt with the hacked account issue as well.

Like many others said here - try your local craigslist first. It's usually the easiest route. You can also try forums that are related to the stuff you are selling. As for eBay, post a clear warning in big red letters that you will ship to verified Paypal addresses only (no exceptions) and that you reserve the right to cancel bids from buyers with less than 10 positive feedbacks (ie n00bs/scammers). That usually takes care of most scammers right there as they rely on seller shipping the item to their address which is unlikely to be paypal-verified.