Hello Fellow Ebayers

I just wanted to share with you my observations on Ebay Sellers of Video Games & DVDs.. Be careful !!

Over the 10 years that I have sold on Ebay I always get very upset when I see unscrupulous sellers that claim that the product they are selling is "New", eBay has a drop down menu that says "new" / "used" or the choice is "no choice".

I have noticed that these sellers sometimes say "New" however they then say in their description that it has been opened to either "test" or "to inspect" ?? Oh my, what a crock of baloney this is. A game and or DVD (Cds also) in NOT NEW unless its Factory Sealed !! Don't fall for this ploy, what they really mean is that they bough it new, opened, played it (game), watched or copied it (DVD) or listened to or copied it (CD) ! When they tire of it they then put it on eBay as a new item !  Again, its not new unless its Factory Sealed ! ! ! 

The next group don't use the menu at all, they don't say New or Used, they just by-pass this menu altogether and leave it up to the buyer to figure out if its new or used.. Or they say the same thing that the other paragraph says (new but opened) ?? Be careful ! Ask questions, keep records of your e-mail that you send to these people, in case you need to get your money back from Paypal or your Credit Card company. You will need proof that these sellers tricked you into buying something that wasn't as stated in their sales pitch (the product description) ~

And then we have the sellers especially with Video Games that will show a standard package , and send a Greatest Hits package of the game. Collectors want the original, not the GH version . Make sure you read the description, if it doesn't say one way or the other if its a Original or GH e-mail the seller and ask.  I have had many sellers write to me and tell me they bought this game or that game and when they got it it was the GH version and not the original version that was shown in the add picture. Once you get it , its to late then. Your stuck with it and if you can't back up your claim with eBay or Paypal you will not get a refund.

If you have to go thru the process of returning an item make sure you send it insured with signature confirmation. A lot of sellers will just say they never got it back if you just send it regular mail. Then your out the money and the product. At least if you have the GH version you have something. If you return and the sellers claims he never got it and you can't prove he got it your just out all together.

One other thing, look at your sellers feedback, thats what its there for.. See how the seller treats his customers, see what the feedback says, make sure the seller doesn't have a bunch or "Mutually Withdrawn Bad Feedbacks" . What this means uis that they had a bad feedback, talked the buyer into withdrawing it , you never even know they had some bad feedback... I would say if the buyer you going to use is anywhere above 95% you will ghet what your suppose to, above 90% you more that likely will get what your suppose to in te 80 to 90% range you woiuld have a 90 to 95% likley to get what your suppose to. Below 80% I would not consider unless you talk to the seller first and see why they had so many problems.

Ebay is a very safe way to do business but like in any form of business, retail, internet or Ebay your always going to run into a bad apple once in awhile. You just have to put the odds in your favor and be careful, ask questions and read the feedback..

Hope this helps some of you newer buyers..

Regards.. debpar