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I was looking on the bay today and noticed that alot of sellers list Stampin Up sets for sale as retired - but they aren't retired. I really don't want to be the bay police but this bothers the crap out of me!! Is there anything that I should be doing about this???
That is a ploy some sellers use to fool those without a current catalog into thinking they can't buy the set new. Perhaps they think it will help the selling price, or encourage more bidding. Not sure what ebay would do to correct it, I see it alot, too and it is irritating.
~ Kathy
__________________ I love talking about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about. ~ Oscar Wilde
It could also be an honest mistake by a seller who isn't that familiar with SU stamps. I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt and have had pretty good luck sending messages to sellers (use the Ask the Seller a Question button in the listing) and *nicely* pointing out that the set in question is available on page whatever of the current catalog. Sometimes they get their undies in a bundle about being contacted, but most of the time they're happy for the info and correct the listing. If it bothers you, it's worth a shot!
You have to be very careful on ebay in general. I have found that you need to really know what you want to buy so that you have a better chance of knowing if it is genuine or not. Sadly, you cannot rely on the ebay seller to give that info. I also try not to spend too much on any one thing so if it doesn't work out I haven't lost too much. In fact, 10 days ago I bought a cell phone cover and it hasn't come yet. I still think it will and I will follow up on it, but you do have to be careful. Always read the seller's feedback. Even if they have all positive ratings you can get a sense of how their auctions go by what people say even on a positive rating. People are afraid to leave a negative, because the seller can give them a negative rating too. Well, that was alot of info-hope it helps some. Leslie
Please also remember that when you buy from the 'bay you have no recourse if something is defective. Unlike buying from a demonstrator, who can make it right, the seller often doesn't care (and can't do anything about it anyway) once the transaction is complete. There are a lot of unscrupulous sellers out there. In my opinion, you're better off finding a demonstrator, or using the BST forum here on SCS.
Just to be clear, I do have a demo and I was just "surfing" the bay - not looking to purchase anything. I also do sell on the bay but I would take the time to do the research to see if a set was actually retired before I would list it as such. I just feel sorry for the people who purchased these sets (and pay more) when they can get it BRAND NEW for even less.
Yesterday, I seen an auction that ended for a retired (not) set that was used. The buyer paid around $31.00 plus $5.85 for shipping.
The brand new set from the current catalog is $24.95 plus tax/shipping.
That is what is botheres me - I know, I know - I should just suck it up and not care.
I buy about 80% of my SU stamps on ebay. I don't care if they say retired or not. I don't buy stamps because they are retired or not. I buy them because I want them and because if I am patient enough I can get a really good deal. I cannot imagine buying them simply because they are retired if I did not want them to begin with. I should add that I have never had a bad deal on stamps on ebay ever and I do lots of the buying for my friends since some feel ebay is too complicated to use or don't have a credit card or have slow dial up computers. I have over 200 purchases on with them and have never had a bad experience other than a couple of slow shipping times. To me it is well worth the risk. It is all about patience to get the deal you want.
I agree with housefan. While I personally feel a lot of loyalty to my demo and don't frequently purchase things I can get out of the catalog, I have bought several retired sets and inks off the bay. I've never had an issue, but I also know the catalog well enough to know when I am getting a good deal, and when I am not.
And I wonder why people spend more on a set than they can order it for from a demo, but I also believe in the power of the free market (and isn't that what ebay is?) Sure there are some people who may take advantage by saying a set is retired when it isn't but it's also the buyers responsibility to research the product and know what they are buying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by housefan
I buy about 80% of my SU stamps on ebay. I don't care if they say retired or not. I don't buy stamps because they are retired or not. I buy them because I want them and because if I am patient enough I can get a really good deal. I cannot imagine buying them simply because they are retired if I did not want them to begin with. I should add that I have never had a bad deal on stamps on ebay ever and I do lots of the buying for my friends since some feel ebay is too complicated to use or don't have a credit card or have slow dial up computers. I have over 200 purchases on with them and have never had a bad experience other than a couple of slow shipping times. To me it is well worth the risk. It is all about patience to get the deal you want.
I buy about 80% of my SU stamps on ebay. I don't care if they say retired or not. I don't buy stamps because they are retired or not. I buy them because I want them and because if I am patient enough I can get a really good deal. I cannot imagine buying them simply because they are retired if I did not want them to begin with. I should add that I have never had a bad deal on stamps on ebay ever and I do lots of the buying for my friends since some feel ebay is too complicated to use or don't have a credit card or have slow dial up computers. I have over 200 purchases on with them and have never had a bad experience other than a couple of slow shipping times. To me it is well worth the risk. It is all about patience to get the deal you want.
I think you can count yourself very lucky to have that many transactions without a problem.
I've bought total of 3 retired sets of Ebay. 2 had some issues. One was undercut so badly in spots that I had to remount them and one had a stamp that didn't belong to the set (so basically the number was right, but the set was wrong). I have had much better luck here on the BST forums with retired sets.
__________________ Jeanne S - Inky Paws SCS Moderator
Please also remember that when you buy from the 'bay you have no recourse if something is defective. Unlike buying from a demonstrator, who can make it right, the seller often doesn't care (and can't do anything about it anyway) once the transaction is complete. There are a lot of unscrupulous sellers out there. In my opinion, you're better off finding a demonstrator, or using the BST forum here on SCS.
There is always recourse for items that are defective no matter who you purchase them from if you use your credit card and/or pay with paypal. Paypal has a buyer protection program for items that are defective, not as described or never arrive (I've never used it, so I can't comment on whether it's all they say it is...but they do have it). You can also charge back on your credit card. I also always use American Express for all online purchases. AMEX is the absolute best about transaction disputes.
The bottom line is, if you purchase anything online...use a credit card issued by a company or bank that has excellent online protection services!
__________________ If you can't be a good example, be a dire warning.
-River City Rubber Works Stamp
Ebay question??
