August 24th, 2011 Posted in WTF?

eBay – A massive waste of time?

I used to love eBaying and getting bargains. However, lately it seems like it just isn’t working for me any more. I don’t know if it’s because there are more people using it now or what, but things just aren’t good value. The prices are no longer worth paying, and the amount of time it takes up to find the correct item and ensure I am not being scammed is not worth it. I’d be better off just buying a new one.

This applies to both buying and selling. I’ve been scammed when selling stuff, and have bought things that were cleverly worded to sound like something else. Last year’s model. Faulty but cunningly described, the list goes on. Better off buying a new one with a warranty.

I’ve been trying to buy a set of second hand wheels for my BMW lately, and I know what I want. Genuine MV1 alloys with half decent tyres. Turns out most people selling them on eBay don’t even know what they are selling, and don’t describe their items properly. Are the alloys genuine? What size and brand tyres are on them? How many mm of tread is left on each tyre? Basic information required to accurately value a set of wheels and tyres.

I give up.