Havng seen the posts about Ebay I though I would throw in my 2 cents. Much of this is of benefit to Canadians, but there is some general advice…even though nobody asked for my advice.
Being out in the sticks a bit, and 200km from my LHS (and in Canada to boot!) I use Ebay exclusively for purchasing locos and rolling stock.
Generally, I would say 90% completely satisfied with Ebay. 90% of US sellers are really nice folks.
Problems/advice to date: (some applies only to Cdn shoppers)
Never layout more money for an item that you are prepared to lose. My most expensive was about $225 for a Big Boy with sound. I would never buy a brass or extremely expensive high end loco on Ebay from a private seller unless I got an idependent third party verification somehow.
Determine who is a legit retailer…for example Thefavoritespot which is an actual hobby shop selling online…this kind of seller is a safe bet.
Best to have sellers send items by USPS priority service or Priority International which carries automatic insurance of about $70US per loco weight parcel…about 2lbs, automatic mailing confirmation and tracking for the seller’s safety (avoids fraudulent claim of non shipment but the buyer who might then claim a refund from Paypal), and a fast delivery time.
When ordinary USPS airmail parcels hit the pathetic Cdn mail system, our post office will not guarantee delivery in under 8 weeks…honest! Usually they arrive within 2 to 3 weeks, but I had one take 9 and a half weeks at the Christmas season.
For Canadians, USPS Priority International costs $19 for shipping a loco anywhere in the US to anywhere in Canada. Many Ebay sellers combine shipping to save you a few bucks. Right now a seller in NJ is sending me 5 locos for $26…far cheaper than CDN postal rates.
If the value of the item is low, then choose regular USPS Air Parcel, and if small and safe, just have it put in
OMG! On Ebay there is a tutorial about buying and selling on that site. You did not need to post a book about how to use Ebay in my HONEST opinion and I am sure many would agree, but we will see.
I have zero interest in spending any more time at my computer than I already do, and that certainly applies to ebay. However, the last poster’s sentiments not withstanding, I enjoyed reading your tips as they relate mostly to Canadians…it never hurts to get a feel for a sub-culture. Thanks for your efforts.[:)]
The ebay book does not contain some of the information about bidding and advice about the post office and some advice I cannot post about using the system in such a public forum.
Further points:
I have completely lost two locos when mailed regular USPS airparcel. You have no good tracking options with this rate. Good thing they were low cost…have you received an S1 unexpectedly, it’s probably mine!
As the receiver, you have no options re postal claims. The sender is the only one who can make a claim on your and his/her behalf. Both postal systems will refer you to the seller to do all the leg work. If they don’t feel like it, you’re stuck.
With Paypal there is a time limit on the number of weeks that can elapse before you can claim non delivery/non receipt money back. It is shorter than the number of weeks the CDN post office allows for deliver of non-priority items. Don’t wait the 9 weeks to see if it comes!
Now, find that on the Ebay tutorial!
I have purchased 60+ locos and other items through the system. I can make it work for me.
Pretty good advice for Canadians. And now for my Addendum to the book!
I had good experiences with Fedex shipping to Canada without the bogus import fees like UPS charges. That may have changed in the past though.
I don’t waste my time with US sellers who prefer to ship UPS. This is without a doubt the worst courier company in the world, (my opinion) and they gouge on their brokerage fees charged to Canadians.
The absolute BEST way to ship to Canada, as mentioned, is the US Postal Service. They offer REAL competition to couriers, (in my opinion) and the rates are unbeatable. I have never had a problem with the USPS. That being said…the worst way to ship anything is Canada Post. Slow, expensive, unreliable, uncaring, and not at all customer service oriented.
Best to avoid Purolater and their affiliates too! I have had nothing but bad experience with Purolater both in business and personal shipping transactions.
Read the feed back. Did I mention reading the feedback? If all else fails, READ THE FEEDBACK.
I avoid sellers with no feedback. I avoid sellers with more than the occaisional negative feedback. If I want to buy from a seller who has some neg. feedback, I find the neg. feedback and read it. Then I read the feedback they left for the buyer and look at the buyers feedback too. I use everything I can to judge a sellers “honesty and fair play rating”.
The bottom line with eBay. Everything you buy from eBay is used…even it it says new, you didn’t buy it from the store and get the receipt so it’s used. Most importantly. BUYER BEWARE!
One method I use is to ask questions before bidding. If the seller is prompt and helpful…odds are better that they will be so after the sale. If they are slow and not very helpful…odds are you will hate dealing with them after the sale if there is a problem.
Lots of good info there. I’m also in Canada, but haven’t actually bought many hobby items on eBay, I’ve been mostly a seller.
One correction -, you said
"7. Never use a courier to deliver an item across the border. They charge a big customs brokerage fee even though there is no customs or tariffs between the countries on everything to do with the hobby, including tools software, electronics etc. "
Courriers such as UPS charge fees for collecting the GST/HST taxes, not for customs brokerage. I learned that the hard way when I ordered a loco from a shop in NY (not through eBay). I didn’t find out until the order was processed that they sent it by FedEx Ground. It arrived in a decent time, and a while later I received an invoice for around $65.00, $35.00 of which was to collect the 14% tax. Never again!
On the other hand, I ordered a new camera from a reputable NY shop (B&H) whose shipping method of UPS Expedited I didn’t notice until the order was processed. It arrived quickly and all I paid was the 14% tax. I believe normal UPS service (which is cheaper) will cause them to ding you the tax collection fees.
Bob, when you and I last discussed this some months back, it was just this issue that I was about to experience. I had thought it was duty, or duty related, but as you have sadly had to find out for yourself, it is merely a gouge on the customer. It’s not a rip-off since it is always the buyer’s responsibility to be aware of all costs, and to bear them if he/she wants the item, but I am certainly the wiser now. No orders across the border when UPS or other commercial carriers are going to be asked to deliver the item. Any advantage one gets by shopping on-line is quickly eaten, and usually ends up costing us more once all the exchanges and taxes are done.
I’ve had to wait 2 to 6 weeks for a parcel from the U.S. I was told at the post office it is being held at customs and they are so busy it takes that long to process(in some cases it’s 8 weeks) so don’t always blame the PO. I use money orders and sellers seem to prefer them as they cash them right away, something about cheques(checks) in the U.S. have to be cleared through a central banking agency or something, (thats efficient) Had no real problems with e-bay.
I find the advice here to be accurate, I’ve purchased over 60 engines and 300 rail cars on ebay and only had 2 shipments go missing, not bad considering most purchases are 50 to 80% off the retail price.
I buy most of my stuff from reputable dealers, mostly high end stuff, Intermountain, Genesis, Kato, P2K, no brass. I’ve never had a real bad experience.
I have had good luck on Ebay so far. i could be bias since I work for them. I do notice many people pay way to much for an item they think is a good deal since it is on Ebay. I have gone to Walthers or some other place and purchased the item far cheaper. I have purchased several steamers with DCC and sound from Ebay if I found a good seller thorugh the forum. I usually use Ebay to look at suff then compare prices at online retailers. I do not have much options for LHS in Omaha. The prices are sick. For instance a walthers structure was 28.99 at the LHS. Then I went to walthers website and it was on sale for $15.98 That is my biggest issue right now. I do by some things from my LHS but they carry no DCC items. I guess you are paying to have it NOW. I can wait and save a few dollars.
I don’t purchase anything on ebay I can’t buy from an established business. (I have no problem with purchasing from established businesses through ebay.) My principal use of ebay is to purchase items not otherwise available. In the several months I’ve bought through ebay, the only disappointment was the absence of car weights for a couple of kits. That was a disappointment, but not worth my time complaining. My golden rule is “do not bid more than I can afford to lose.”
Yes, that can be true if people don’t know what they are doing. I often keep one window open on trainworld.com in NYC (one of the most inexpensive sellers I know about) for quick comparisons when going through Ebay listings.
However, I have asked some buyers is they know that they are paying more than they could get it retail…and usually it is because they are dedicated to the road name they are bidding on…and that is understandable. The discount retailers rarely have many road names.
But I certainly have picked up great deals. And most from private sellers…established businesses almost always are higher in price…just check what they want on their buy it now tags, for example. And established businesses are most likely to have included a fairly high reserve.
Out of 60+ locos from both retailers auctions on Ebay and private sellers, I have my best deals from the private sellers…and I’m talking about factory sealed unopened locos in many cases. And even if used, you can’t beat getting as new Kato SD 38-2 or C425…or StewartKato F series for under $40.
Yes - and this is not just for model railroad items! I’ve been following several auctions for a camera lens I’d like to get, just to see the range of prices people were paying for one. Out of seven that I followed, two actually paid more for a used lens than they could have gotten a new one for! The lens can be bought new for $530-540 in many online dealers, two on eBay sold for $550. and $560.! Of course some dealers also sell on eBay, with “Buy it Now” prices way beyond these ones too! Go figure!
I find that if you are interested in an item and there is or are bidders with low feedback count already bidding, you are best to hold out until the dieing seconds of the auction to bid. Newer ebay buyers tend to keep bidding every time they are outbid just to win the auction regardless of the cost, having said that I too was guilty of doing the same thing when I first started out bidding on ebay.
You have to settle on a price you are willing to pay and if you get outbid, let it go, most items keep appearing from time to time. Unless it is a very rare piece you will probably see multiple auctions for the same items.
This is all great advice and all should be considered. Some people hate ebay, some don’t. I have bought and sold off allot over the years. It is a very open market in the train hobby, but you are right there are some real bandits out there and some really good sellers.
I’ve had pretty good luck with eBay and I like using it for stuff like out of production items or hard to find stuff from cottage sellers. I also like how they also have a much larger selection than a lot of other outlets. I pretty much only use Buy it now though. I really don’t want to get into a bidding war with some nerd who has no concept of time or money and I go to sites to buy stuff if I wanted to play a game I have a Sony Playstation in my bedroom.
Still like you said you do have to keep your eyes open for bandits and price gougers but that’s pretty much true of anywhere you shop especially when it comes to pre-owned merchandise.
Yes, you do have to watch for that. Some fees are outrageous when you get the merchandise in a cheap cardboard envolope, and it has under $2 in postage on it.
Some people see Shipping and Handling to be another profit center.
You can do your own paperwork. Call the local customs office, they can probably help you there. UPS and Purolator will insist that only they can do the brokerage, but that isn’t true. You can get the forms and fill them in yourself, and bring them to the pickup counter. So they want $40 for a service you never asked for, or agreed to either. Too bad. Here’s the paperwork, give me my stuff!
The post office charges $5 for the same service. Tells me someone is overcharging, because Canada Post cannot operate at a loss. Then they collect the GST, and maybe the PST. (Don’t remember…) Technically, all customs is interested in is the GST and any duties that may be owing. It’s up to you to be honest and submit the PST… (Technically, you should submit PST on any purchase over $50 (Ontario) if bought privately. Like at a garage or yard sale. Doesn’t seem like any enforcement is coming on that front any time soon.)
Many of your points are valid, and apply anywhere in North America.
Shipping chemicals across the border is a big hassle now. Even things like a battery can be a big headache.