I bought some tie pins/sweetheart brooches last Saturday using the Buy It Now button. They seemed very reasonable. This should have been the first warning.
They arrived yesterday, I looked at them and I left feedback. It was only when I looked at them in strong sunlight today (yes, we had some!) that I noticed all the faults. Two of the tiepins are twisted and one seems to be lacking any sort of silver mark. I really must remember my own rules about being careful when buying.
Later in the week I bought an enamel badge. It’s clearly a cheap modern copy. It cost me just over £3 so it’s not even worth the time to complain. The tiepins are slightly different, but it’s just as easy to straighten them as it is to send them back.
Royal Artillery tiepin
That, I know, plays into the hands of dishonest dealers but I can’t be bothered with the bickering that ensues. In truth they probably don’t know what they are doing. That’s the levelling influence of ebay – all you need to do is press buttons on a computer and repeat what is written on a badge. The bidders do the actual work. It’s a subject I may return to.
I may also return to the question of ethics.
Note to self –
Reasonably priced ebay lots on Buy It Now are rarely as good as you think
Reasonably priced ebay lots on Buy It Now are rarely as good as you think
Reasonably priced ebay lots on Buy It Now are rarely as good as you think…
That seems like a sensible mantra.
I repeat it every morning. It is just starting to work. 🙂
“Let the buyer beware.” P.T. Barnum, I think.
It goes back to the Romans – caveat emptor. It’s a refuge for the ethically challenged.
I bought an old empty stamp album yesterday morning, and paid immediately including postage of a staggering £6.99. Now I found she can’t post it until next Saturday. Did that information appear on the original page? Have a guess!
I hate it when they do things like that.
It’s a bad world out there.
It is, though I’m helping it along with a touch of enthusiasm and a shot of naivety. 🙂
Live…now learn! =P
Yes, you should neverbe too old to learn. 🙂
Drats! Well, now you know.
I must do better…
That’s how they manage it. Prices not worth the buyer’s effort to recover
Yes, and I fell for it. After years of being a full time dealer I get taken by someone with a computer on their dining room table! 🙁