Is EBay completely worthless or does it just seem that way to me

[dnschmidt]

At one time, maybe five years ago, EBay was a worthwhile marketplace and I sold a lot of TOPTUL tools using it now every time I order something from it it's a scam of some sort. I ordered a 4.0 A-hr Bosch battery which was clearly marked as such in the listing and the seller sent me a 2.0. I dare not buy any Milwaukee or Makita power tool batteries from EBay as there is a 95% chance of them being fakes. When did EBay turn to ****?

 

[whateg01]

I've ordered a lot less from eBay since so much is available on Amazon for less. But I still order stuff from eBay and haven't had any problems at all. In fact I just ordered linear rails for a press brake. They'll be here next week.

 

[American Locomotive]

E-Bay is still good for used and surplus stuff from individual sellers.

But new stuff, especially easily counterfeited stuff is basically the same crapshoot as Amazon.

But also mistakes happen, did you contact the seller?

 

[niget2002]

It's been hit or miss for me. I mostly only use it if I'm looking for NOS that I can't find anywhere else.

 

[zendriver]

I ordered auto parts all the time with no problems

I don’t remember the last time I ever ordered any tools maybe about 12 years ago use Lincoln wire welder

People that look for lowball prices on stuff like Milwaukee, then are shocked when they get burned

 

[liliysdad]

Knock on wood, I’ve bought and sold hundreds of items I’ve a couple years and I’ve been burnt exactly once.

I also don’t buy stuff that’s too good to be true or easily faked.

 

[cgrutt]

I just pulled some stuff down that was up for a few weeks with very little views. Pretty sick of the 25%+ fees, including fees on shipping and sales tax, holding onto sales proceeds and trying to going above and beyond without even courtesy of leaving feedback. Can't say I'm done with ebay but I'm pretty close to being done.

ETA, I just pulled down the remaining listing's I had posted hahaha

 

[WhataTool]

Just today I had to refute two packages, both show delivered from FedEx neither were and still aren't several days later. No porch pirates, was here, no delivery.
Open a case in Ebay, I didn't get them guys. Sorry, shows delivered. SOL, talk to fedex.
I didn't employ the shipping company - that's your bag. I ordered a product, it's not here. Not my doing.

Meanwhile 2 clicks on Amazon when the same thing happens and another is shipped that day.

 

[FigN⋅m]

The glory days of Ebay are crazy long gone, but some careful hunting can yield
some pretty decent results. I've gotten most of my little Snap-On items there
and everything was new and a little cheaper than SO retail. Otherwise, the actual
bidding craziness etc. is kind of over, and it certainly isn't as fun as it used to be.

 

[ssjones]

I was charged with selling my father-in-law's tool collection. Great names, Snap-On, Mac, Chrysler. I tried Facebook messenger and that was a disaster. I re'cd 100's or replies, most with low-ball offers to buy everything. So many replies, it was impossible to track. I switched to Ebay, sucked up the fees and moved them all (about $3k in sales). One thing I hadn't considered, was this was the start of sellers getting 1099's. I tracked and distributed the proceeds among four family members, but I got stuck with the tax bill.

I my other hobby, I sell old mostly British tobacco pipes, some on pipe forums, most thru Ebay. The fees are getting tough, but there aren't many alternatives for reaching a world-wide audience.

 

[whateg01]

... One thing I hadn't considered, was this was the start of sellers getting 1099's. I tracked and distributed the proceeds among four family members, but I got stuck with the tax bill.
...

That's not really an eBay problem though. Surely the family members with whom you shared the proceeds would have reimbursed you for the taxes, right?

I'm sure that having to report income has pushed some sellers away. The problems with sales gone wrong, either as a seller or as a buyer surely don't help things either.

 

[mikedodge]

I've never sold on there but am a buyer, usually it's old car literature, solpecific parts or other used stuff that's hard to find for decent price anywhere else. Some new parts also when it's the best price.

 

[four.cycle]

At one time, maybe five years ago,

^ I've been on ebay just about ten years, and I can count the problems I have had with sellers on one hand and still have fingers left.
Did you check the seller's feedback rating first?
Batteries for hand-held tools seem to be something of a problem no matter what online vendor you use other than the OEM.

If the item received is "not as described", return it and ask for a refund.

Or just ask for a refund - many sellers will just issue the refund and not even ask for the item back, because they will get stuck paying the shipping charges on a deal like that.

If the seller is uncooperative, and you can document that the item is "not as described" (because the original listing will still be in ebay's database as it was originally posted, irrespective of any changes the seller many have made on "item description") just contact ebay directly and have them issue the refund and they will then charge it back to the seller.
If you have an iron-clad beef, it's really pretty easy to get it resolved.

 

[Notgrownup]

i use EBay and Amazon. No problem with either.

 

[jblnut]

I’ve purchased many many things on eBay without a single issue I can remember. Not saying there hasn’t been issues in the last 20yrs but none come to mind.

 

[finn]

I would never buy tools there, unless it was a reputable seller I knew selling refurb tools.

I do buy auto parts, often generic imports sold under a number of brand names, like the radiator I just bought for an old Mustang. I know it’s not the same quality as the leaking Griffin I’m replacing, but for $117, delivered, and in two days, I’ll take a chance that it will last a few years instead of buying another Griffin for $956, plus shipping.

Also bought some Dynacorn quarter panels several times over the past couple of years, all from a California based vendor. I suspect it’s actually Dynacorn’s retail back door.

The one part I like is the ability to pay with one click, using PayPal. My shipping info is already there, and several of the vendors are well known. Dealing with them individually means filling the whole gamut of info, and I’m lazy.

I have in the past been burned, or at least scorched by less than honest individuals that take creative photos and deceitful language describing their goods. Not worth dealing with individuals anymore.

 

[bonneyman]

For the vintage stuff Ebay has been fine for me. New stuff is a crapshoot.
With Amazon, edible products can be iffy. More than once I've bought spices and tea that were close to expired, past due, or closeouts. Can't tell from pics and questions as to the quality. For DVD's and such they seem to be OK.
For good tools I shop in the classifieds!

 

[Mandres]

Okay, so I'm not a tax attorney but I'm 99% sure that selling old tools is not "income" in the way the IRS defines it (unless you're buying and reselling for profit). Your basis in the tools is almost certainly higher than the sales price, so it's actually a loss...

Ebay can send me all the 1099s they want, but I'm not including those dollars in my reported income. It's not income.

So how does that work out in practice? If I have a few grand in eBay 1099s that I don't report is that an automatic audit? I can't imagine the underfunded IRS has time for nonsense like that.

 

[Leon bee]

Ebay nothing like it was 20 some years ago, been a while since I sold anything. But I buy from there continually, endlessly. Scored some real nice used wrenches and sockets from 3 or 4 sellers during our recent nasty weather. Still buying motorcycle parts after 23 years. Almost never been hosed by anyone. Never have done or gotten a negative feedback.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Okay, so I'm not a tax attorney but I'm 99% sure that selling old tools is not "income" in the way the IRS defines it (unless you're buying and reselling for profit).

IRS link on the subject:

What to do with Form 1099-K | Internal Revenue Service

Use Form 1099-K with your other records to help figure and report your correct income on your tax return. Find out what to do if the form is incorrect or if you shouldn’t have received it.

www.irs.gov

 

[woody 73]

Strange and somewhat funny but I just discovered how Ebay is not so hard to use, (ok laugh all you want, hard for an old geezer). Anyhow I ordered a few items, and it will take several weeks to come, I guess a slow boat from China or some such story, but at my age I can wait.

 

[woody 73]

Hey, speaking of the devil, I got a wrench set from Facom in Italy (not through Ebay) and that took a month to get, must be a slow time at the post office, but in general no major problems so far.

 

[plinker]

Been on ebay since '99 or '00, still the only place to find odd random stuff. I do watch who/what/where I buy from, thus far minimal issues doing so. The last few years I had noted I was getting less and less from there. Prices going up due to things becoming "collectible" for whatever reason has probably contributed to that as well.

 

[Mandres]

IRS link on the subject:

What to do with Form 1099-K | Internal Revenue Service

Use Form 1099-K with your other records to help figure and report your correct income on your tax return. Find out what to do if the form is incorrect or if you shouldn’t have received it.

www.irs.gov

That's helpful, thanks. So the short answer is to list those 1099s for personal items on the schedule 1. They're excluded from income as a result.

 

[Firebrick43]

You can get pretty good deals on NOS industrial components and 3 phase motors if you know what you your looking at.

Just bought a new cabinet heater element that I am going to use for a heated chamber on my 3D printer for 18$ instead of the 340$ it cost thru regular channels.

 

[The Cobbler]

Ebay is better than amazon in many cases, as far as I am concerned. they have a better search engine than Amazon for starters .
maybe with new stuff amazon is better and faster shipping, but I buy more off ebay than Amazon

 

[RonnieC]

Okay, so I'm not a tax attorney but I'm 99% sure that selling old tools is not "income" in the way the IRS defines it (unless you're buying and reselling for profit). Your basis in the tools is almost certainly higher than the sales price, so it's actually a loss...

Ebay can send me all the 1099s they want, but I'm not including those dollars in my reported income. It's not income.

So how does that work out in practice? If I have a few grand in eBay 1099s that I don't report is that an automatic audit? I can't imagine the underfunded IRS has time for nonsense like that.

The 1099’s are reported to the IRS by eBay. You not including them in your tax return may not be an “automatic audit” but they are certainly a red flag.
I feel your pain. There’s also a line item for reporting income from garage sales. How many people make a profit at a yard sale?
.

 

[Mandres]

My biggest concern is how people might mistakenly include those 1099 amounts in their income and end up paying taxes that they don't owe.

The "personal items" exception and the mechanism to report it isn't exactly common knowledge. Personally I think if eBay is going to issue 1099s then they should have some obligation to educate their customers on the correct tax treatment

 

[liliysdad]

My biggest concern is how people might mistakenly include those 1099 amounts in their income and end up paying taxes that they don't owe.

The "personal items" exception and the mechanism to report it isn't exactly common knowledge. Personally I think if eBay is going to issue 1099s then they should have some obligation to educate their customers on the correct tax treatment

Creeping toward the edge of politics, but it’s not like eBay is generating 1099s because it’s fun, it’s mandated.

 

[Wamsutta]

I think you should go back to selling Toptul Dennis. Every time I tune into SMA, Eric is right there using those extra long wrenches you got him.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I don’t remember when I stopped selling on eBay, definitely many years ago, also I don’t have an account with them anymore. I check-out as “Guest” with eBay these days.

I more or less only use eBay when I need ‘small stuff’ in very small quantities/ by piece, kinda ‘on demand’, that fits inside an envelope. Think gaskets, o-rings, (…) stuff that, depending on specification, I can’t get locally and would have to buy in large quantities, that I don’t need, from my regular suppliers.

This is a niche that I found eBay fills fantastically because you can find reliable dealers, most have their own online-shop additionally anyway, who will sell by piece on eBay at a slightly higher price but that then includes shipping as a ‘letter’. Saves me a small fortune every time, because I don’t have to pay shipping cost for a ‘parcel’ and I don’t have to buy more product than I actually need.

Love eBay for that.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[zktk01]

The 1099 thing made me quit selling, I don't want to try to figure out cost basis of tool lots I picked up at flea markets.
If i do ever sell will go all in make an LLC and and a home office show a tax loss.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I feel like eBay is getting to be as bad as Amazon with knockoffs, counterfeits and obvious scams. Not to mention all the disingenuous listings. It requires progressively more and more effort to find what you're actually looking for these days. And don't get me started on the people who let AI write their item descriptions for them, I am seeing that more and more now. Some of them are so ridiculous I have to believe the seller never even looked at what the AI came up with.

 

[dnschmidt]

I think you should go back to selling Toptul Dennis. Every time I tune into SMA, Eric is right there using those extra long wrenches you got him.

Just not worth it anymore. Between the seller fees, the fact that the Post Office has now doubled their prices and ruined their service and the effort it takes to do the EBay thing, writing descriptions, taking pictures and the rare, but occasional, ******* buyer I just don't need it. I have three friends that I've helped completely outfit their garages with TOPTUL as they all ordered close to $5,000 each of tools and had everything shipped in one big order. TOPTUL and I are still on good terms but the retail side of things just doesn't interest me anymore.

 

[Mr_B]

As a genuine seller eBay is a difficult platform with quite a lot of costs in money and hassle, also the current shipping costs makes competitive pricing & profit hard balance .
I still like buying off eBay, often only place can find some items, have had no real problems but you do need look at seller details and do a little feedback checking reduce risk of problems .
I don't use Amazon unless only option, really don't like the way the platform lists items and it full of fake garbage & sellers who send alternative items to what you shown .

 

[demarpaint]

I find myself using Ebay a lot less than I did years ago. Occasionally I buy from them, but imo I have to be careful. Years ago I sold things on Ebay, it got too expensive so I stopped using them.

 

[rust in the eye]

I have a love/hate relationship with Ebay.
It is the only place you'll find such a wide audience so if wanting to sell some esoteric something or other a good place for it. I've found homes for much of my cast offs and been able to find hard to find items.
Some cheaters, liars and assholes* there like anywhere else. If careful you can steer clear of most of them.

*one guy in particular stands out; I had a bunch of NOS GM windshield wiper motors I was selling so got an order from a local-ish guy for one. As it happened that day I was taking my wife and mother in-law on a pic-nic to a place that took us pretty much right past this guy's house, perhaps a five minute detour. I mistakenly figured I'd be doing this guy a favor by dropping it off on our way, just hours after he placed his order. The buyer wasn't home so I left it at the door and went on my way.
Returning home that evening I had a message from the guy who instead of thanking me was demanding I refund the shipping charges(it was few$)because I hadn't paid a third party to deliver it. I bit my tounge and declined the refund as he had paid for and gotten delivery to his door, with unprecedented speed most would be grateful for. His next message was all vitriol saying I had tresspassed, "nothing better be missing" etc.(guy's place was a dump) and he was going to file a non-delivery claim as no tracking # was provided.
I told him go ahead, he never did.
Knowing the part I sold and his user name I had a pretty good idea of the car he had and whenever at a local car show and I see that model I always look for a shiny new wiper motor.

 

[dchawk81]

eBay has been fine for me but I'm not really there to find screaming deals on mass produced stuff. I like it mostly for rare or unique/NLA items. Maybe once were mass produced but not anymore.

So it probably depends what category you're shopping in.

 

[Hakeem]

Just today I had to refute two packages, both show delivered from FedEx neither were and still aren't several days later. No porch pirates, was here, no delivery.
Open a case in Ebay, I didn't get them guys. Sorry, shows delivered. SOL, talk to fedex.
I didn't employ the shipping company - that's your bag. I ordered a product, it's not here. Not my doing.

Meanwhile 2 clicks on Amazon when the same thing happens and another is shipped that day.

i just went through this myself, actually. It was for $20 of kippered herring so not a huge loss but still, quite vexing. FedEx didn’t provide a photo of it being delivered so I’m not sure why eBay assumes that it was.

My biggest complaint is winning an auction at a great price and then the seller cancels the listing. It’s happened a few times now so I just stick to the “buy it now” stuff mostly. I don’t really like eBay but it’s still the best place for NOS and vintage tools.

 

[zendriver]

We resold auction estate auction items for several years, did just fine, only dying down when shipping rates went up (we never shipped free) and live estates auctions themselves died off.

Our experience was that if the item has value and interest, it sells just fine. A few problems with rip-off puke buyers, happens with any business.

Regarding buying, rarely ever had any problems. Purchased some NOS work boots, that started crumbling and staining dye immediately, maybe from sitting in a closet for 10 years. Seller thought we were scamming them, we just wanted a refund.