“Whether you think of it as a global marketplace, the world's largest yard sale, or a bizarre social experiment, eBay is the trading post of choice for tens of millions of people around the world… At any given time, there are between 15 and 20 million listings on eBay, but finding your perfect item is as simple as typing a word into the search box at the top of any page on the eBay site (www.ebay.com)” (Karp).
Ebay has opened the door for millions of people to buy and sell merchandise, whether new or used, in a “safe” and user friendly environment. Simply by browsing through the categories that range from antiques to real estate or entering a keyword, people around the world can find just about anything they are looking for. The site also provides you with seller feedback, so you can base your purchase on quality and reliability. But how do you know if those seller scores are reliable. Simple answer; you don’t! Earlier this year eBay shelled out $60 million for profiting off of the sale of fake Louis Vuitton merchandise. As eBay does not verify the authenticity of the good sold on its page, any time you make a purchase, you are gambling with your money . Buyer beware.
Some Helpful Resources
www.ebay.com
http://ebay.about.com/popular.htm
http://www.selfseo.com/online_auction_articles.php
References
Davis, Gregory. (2008, July 2). Knock-Off Stigma Stifles eBay. Investopedia Advisor.1
Karp, David. (2006, Feb 7). Secrets of Selling on eBay. ¬PC Magazine. 25.2, 72-75.
3 comments:
I think that the reliablility of the rating system is the least of the problems on ebay. Ebay was created to allow individuals sellers advertise their goods to a large venue of buyers. Unfortunately, businesses have taken over and you can rarely find a deal. You have to wade through the pools of internet stores just to save 5 dollars off of an item only to pay three times the amount for shipping. I think everyone should boycott ebay until it goes back to the way it was before. A simple place to find a deal.
I do not think ebay is particularly the safest place to online shop. It does not surprise me that ebay got sued for selling fake Louis Vuitton. Also, who is to say that the good seller feedback is not from the actual seller themselves? I believe you are gambling with your money if you are indeed trying to buy something that is considered "authentic". It is almost tough to buy things from the store that is authentic because anything can be forged now a days. But I think buyers need to be more aware of what they are buying and be careful.
I've only purchased high dollar items (in the hundreds) once or twice on Ebay, and the only pitfall I had was the seller being a fraud in the first place. The kicker for me is that he requested money order as the form of payment, which is difficult to track or verify.
Aside from that, the other verification systems that are in place are usually a good indicator for dependability. Feedback ratings, thoroughness of product descriptions, and the buyer protection program help safeguard the buyer. They aren't 100% foolproof, but they definitely add peace of mind to the transaction.
Post a Comment