Experiences buying from Craigslist/Ebay?

[zia]

Catriona, I hadn't thought about it from a seller's perspective. Certainly buying on eBay -- where you can't view and test ride -- is a leap of faith, and worthy of a certain level of buyer protection. But not so with Craigslist. If a buyer has regrets, well, that's really their own fault... for the most part.

Paypal ended up being what was most convenient the day I purchased. The asking price was more cash than I ever carry, and banks were closed, so it provided some assurance for the seller that the money was real. It was only later that I appreciated the buyer protection. And, like I said, I think my situation was an outlier.

[Cataboo]

Oh, I'm glad you had some method of recourse with the seller and that it worked out for you. I'd have hoped that an honest seller would have immediately offered you a discount or to take the bike back anyways. I know I've had a few people on craigslist when I was buying something from them and asked about how it worked, who just flat out told me if something was wrong, to bring it back and they'd give me my money back... I've never actually tested their good intentions though.

The last time I sold a bike on craigslist, I took a paypal payment as well - it was more convenient for all of us. They did a direct bank transfer so there was no 3% fee, and it wasn't a problem. In general, I've had really good results with craigslist buying & selling. I did have one guy who bought a bike frame & wheels from me on craiglsist and called up the next day pleading to be able to return them because his gf was furious with him for buying it... And I thought about it, but decided, this is craigslist, I don't know what he's done with the bike in the last 24 hours (carbon fiber fork & seat stays), and didn't take it back. However, if he'd paid by paypal and decided to force me to take it back or whatever - that could have ended badly.


And for the most part, I've had good experiences with buying and selling on ebay - when I've complained to sellers, they've general made it right. But sellers can no longer leave bad feedback for buyers, and buyers can leave bad feedback for sellers - which imbalances the system. I have had people email me after receiving an item saying "This is all sliced up" or something to that extent - and really... I cannot prove that I didn't mail them a sliced up item or that they didn't sliced it up themselves cutting the tape with a knife to open the box. I try to take a picture of the item as I'm packing it up just in case. And generally if someone emails me with a complaint, I'll make it right as a seller just to avoid the ebay resolution process, because I've heard lots of horror stories from friends or internet forum people about the ebay/paypal resolution being strongly buyer biased - which it sort of has to be for paypal/ebay to work, the buyers have to feel safe. But it can end badly if someone decides to work the system (claiming the box was empty when it arrived, whatever...)