Ebay buying: Time to learn in the hard way

Discussion in 'Market Place' started by bluejeff, Apr 20, 2006.

  1. bluejeff

    bluejeff Regular Member

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    Some of you might already notice, I have taken off the ebay fake sellers list from my web space.
    The reason I did that is because:
    1. Some people abused the list
    2. People think they are smart and they do not want to trust the list. Then two weeks later, they would come back and cry to me in their emails that they got fakes. I have received at least 50-100 emails from people just like that.
    3. People think ebayers that are not on the list always sell real rackets. This is totally wrong.
    4. People treated me as a "shopping guide" or "baby-sitter", which I don't think any one in the world would do it gladly. When you receive 20-50 emails per day asking you "where I can buy real rackets with only $50?", "I am a student, can you let me know where I can get rackets cheap or for free?"...etc, you will understand situations better.

    So, now, You are on your own when it comes to the time of racket buying. Although I have decided not to help you on it, I still want to say last few things and see if I can save another two or three people.

    Again, several things you should know before you get onto ebay auctions:
    1. Make sure you do your homework before you buy
    2. If you are not certain, don't buy
    3. If you don't know the seller for sure, don't buy
    4. If you think you can get an awesome 50% off deal, don't buy

    There are several types of buyers out here need to clear their heads:
    1. People who don't read: You need to read more or don't complain on losing money.

    2. People who don't have money but still want high-end rackets: You need to be careful, not thinking you can make a "steal" on ebay. When you think you can make a nice "steal" on ebay, the probably of you being "stolen" from the seller is high.

    3. People who trust webpage wording 100%: You need to drink more coffee and wake up understand that even a child can type those sentences on the web. What people say on eBay isn't always true.

    4. People who think they can always get stuff cheap: You'll get what you paid for (or less). If you think you can spend $50 and get a $200 value racket, then sure, buy it. The reality is, you will receive a $15 value fake racket because guess what? Sellers don't sell things for lost. Your $50 is really now, "gone in 60 seconds". :rolleyes:

    5. People who think fakes are the same as genuine ones: You are basically a gambler. However, your chance of losing is about 99%. Are you sure you still want to bet on it?
    Some fake rackets would fall apart within 2 hours of usage (or shorter) while some of them last longer. However, fakes don't perform in the way real ones do. Spend some time and go to a badminton store yourself and see if with your own eyes.

    Also, there are several types of sellers on ebay you should be aware of:
    1. "I am selling real rackets!! everything 50% off!!": This type of seller are aiming people who think they are making a nice deal. Well, you will save 50% for sure and I don't argue with that. However, you will waste the other 50%, so let's do some math, You'll spend some money and got nothing! (Technically speaking, it's YOU who are offering the seller that you are willing to lose 50%)

    2. "All my stuff are from OEM factory of Yonex": If this is true, then this seller will be in jail in no time. You think Yonex is stupid not knowing counting the numbers? Especially fake sellers are selling in hundred counts.

    3. "All my stuff are limited goods": Not of this type of sellers are fake sellers. Some of them are selling real stuff, however, they just want some more of your money, so they claimed their goods are limited. Such as "Only 1000 in the world were made" or "Only 500 in the world". You need to be aware of this false-advertisement and don't pay double price when you can get it at retail store with regular sticker price.

    4. "I got those rackets from garage sales" or "I just got these as gifts from friends, but I don't play badminton at all": That's just a bad way to get away from responsibilities. If you buy those stuff, you will not likely to have a chance to get your money back.
    By the way, why would your friend give you 50 rackets as gifts if you don't know how to play badminton? :rolleyes: Oh wait, none of my friends are that kind, maybe you should introduce your friend to me? :p

    5. "I have 100% feedback history! Trust Me!": I have seen the 4th largest ebay powersellers with over 100000 feedbacks selling tons of fakes. In fact, if you want to, I can easily give you an ebay account with hundreds of positive feedback in no time.
    How do people do it? Well, ebay in many countries, DO NOT charge seller fees on listing. So, what people (especially ebayers from China) do is to create a bunch of accounts and sell a rock to each other. So, you can do that and you can make your accounts with hundreds of feedback in one day. You can easily spot this by looking at their feedback history. I have see accounts for example, like "John01", "John02", "John03".... "John80", all selling the same stuff to each other and every account received positive feedbacks on the same day. (Actually, it was in the same morning). If you have some brain in your head, you should know all these are the same person.

    I think I have said enough. Hopefully people would understand more about buying rackets online and hopefully I can save more people from losing money. (especially students)
     
  2. bluejeff

    bluejeff Regular Member

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  3. winstonchan

    winstonchan Regular Member

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    Hi Jeff

    I'm sorry to learn of your decision. I'm sure we all appreciate and admire your good intention and spirit in helping all forumers making wiser decisions before purchasing online. I would very much hope you can consider keep on posting the list of fake sellers on the web space. Perhaps you can stress on the facts that the list is intended to be for reference ONLY, and not an absolute guide to where to buy and where not to buy. Those immature emails that you've been getting 50 a day, just ignore them....

    Thanks for the contirbution you have given to all of us ;) . Please keep it up.
     
  4. cooler

    cooler Regular Member

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    i agree with bluejeff decision taking down the list and email address. This way, complaints would funnel go to ebay, not to bluejeff. It is ebay's problem, not bluejeff.

    As i also said before, rackets selling at ridiculous prices are either fakes, abused, damaged and/or stolen. Buying stolen stuffs is still a crime and the buyer is gulity as the seller. Stolen rackets usually don't come with original cases and is a good indication they are stolen stuffs. Know your seller. If u think u r unable to contact your seller again, then u r taking a big risk because it's an obviously sign he/she isnt a legit seller.
     
    #4 cooler, Apr 21, 2006
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2006
  5. EastDevil

    EastDevil Regular Member

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    You can post a list of the people who whined or came crying for not believing in the list? This could help us identify who's opinion not to trust when it comes to badminton.
     
  6. DinkAlot

    DinkAlot dcbadminton
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    Agree wholeheartedly! Thanks Jeff, you are invaluable to the badminton community and all those individuals who e-mailed you with foolish/misinformed/too good to be true...and/or just plain neglient inquiries/questions...oh well. :p

    Keep up the great work Jeff and don't stop smashing. :D :D :D
     
  7. Jinryu

    Jinryu Regular Member

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    Hey Bluejeff,

    Totally understand your descision.... bet when you first started off it seemed like a nice voluntary thing to do to help a few people out and then it just snowballed into a part time job!

    Thanks for your work done, I know I've refered to the list more than a few times over the years myself.
     
  8. LongReach

    LongReach Regular Member

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    Sorry to hear that.



    Put it this way mate "Some people are just un-grateful Ba***rds"

    Very surprised that by doing a service for people voluntarily you could get so much undeserved crap.


    People who blame you for their own stupidity?------>Idiots.

    I think by trying to help others not to get ripped off shows you care about others in the badminton community..........even if you have never met them shows alot of 'Heart'.

    Don't let this minority stop you from doing further things to help others.

    Take it easy, Dave
     
    #8 LongReach, Apr 21, 2006
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2006
  9. wood_22_chuck

    wood_22_chuck Regular Member

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    So Bluejeff, where can I actually get a $50 dollar ... :D

    Great job, Bluejeff, your contributions are invaluable. Keep up the good work!

    -dave
     
  10. silentheart

    silentheart Regular Member

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    I am behind BlueJeff 100%. You should use the time and energy to play badminton, not baby sit people who is too lazy or stupid to do their own research and work.

    Thank you for express our frustrations.
     
  11. blinan8088

    blinan8088 Regular Member

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    Hi Bluejeff,

    I am sorry to hear about that. I am still surprised that there are actually people who contact you and whine at you because they buy fake rackets. I mean.. come on... what Bluejeff has to do with that? If they want to express their sadness, go to a psychiatrist!

    I do admire what your contribution to this badminton community. Good work! :)
     
  12. DarthHowie

    DarthHowie Regular Member

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    I believe the majority of the BF/BC members here support your decision. The time and effort you put into this community is something that we should not take for granted (most recently organizing the Ti-10 group buy).

    I used your ebay user guide as reference only to support the research of buying a racket on eBay. I guess some people have to learn the hard way.

    One bit of advice (actually 2..hope i'm not repeating) to ppl looking to purchase on ebay.
    1) Ask the seller questions (be thorough)
    -serial numbers
    -pictures
    2) If it is TOO good to be true then odds are that it's 100% fake.

    more stuff...good thread to vent
    1) Use some COMMON SENSE...please oh please
    2) Use the 'Search' button in the badminton forum...not enough ppl use this terrific feature. Too many reposts of the same topics... Maybe we should put a sticky for "places to buy" rackets for certain cities (i.e. HK, California, Toronto, Singapore, etc.) Makes life a lot easier..

    My perspective in buying rackets online from overseas retailers is that I realistically save at best 25-30% (comparing to north american prices) for a genuine YY racket factoring shipping and duty.

    Any ways, thanks for your contributions Blue Jeff.
     
    #12 DarthHowie, Apr 21, 2006
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2006
  13. Hagane

    Hagane Regular Member

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    One more advice:
    READ THOROUGHLY.
    if it's genuine, the seller will write genuine. 50% off deal DOES NOT EXIST ON BUY IT NOW PRICES.

    I've seen lots of NS8000 for sale at $119, claiming that Yonex sells them at $119. Best part is, they're providing free strings, and shipping for less than $30.

    So how do they earn money? because it's 99.99% fake.
     
  14. bluejeff

    bluejeff Regular Member

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    The red part is not true as:
    1. Lots of fake sellers claimed their rackets are genuine. Nearly all fakes sellers claimed their products are from Yonex.
    2. Lots of fake racket auctions are buy-it-now auctions with $30-50 USD price. Do a search on eBay worldwide and you will find at least a page full of them.
     
  15. ijnek

    ijnek Regular Member

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    tis is good stuff.
    although the list is no longer there,but tis is good reading stuff for ppl wanting to buy rackets over the net.think twice :)
     
  16. nantah1

    nantah1 Regular Member

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    I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking maybe he meant, if the seller doesn't say it's genuine it's probably fake and you will have more trouble getting your money back as the seller never said it was genuine.

    And I think he meant, no one would put up a real racket with a buy it now price which is 50% lower than the real price. If you're going to get a 50% deal the only way is through bidding.
     
  17. timsmithus

    timsmithus Regular Member

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    Okay, that's fine when the rackets are $30-$50, but what about eBay postings where sellers only have two racquets available, they're selling them for, say $169 instead of $239 but claim they are 100% US genuine and unused?

    –Is this a case of someone being so incredibly arrogant as to sell a fake for $169, or should we assume that the rackets are legitimate?
     
  18. demolidor

    demolidor Regular Member

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    Assume nothing :D. Ask questions, serial numbers, how they got it. And yes there are sellers that sell fakes for just that much lower it's not obvious but still suspicious ...
     
  19. Shinichi

    Shinichi Regular Member

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    Some seller didnt even reply if we ask if the rackets are legitimate or not. We can assume that it is nor legitimate
     

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