A short guide to ebay euphemisms.

1. Not tested.- Means probably doesn't work.
2. 'I do not have a battery to test it'.- Means, it definately doesn't work, but I want an excuse for not saying so.
3. 'I am selling for a friend'. - Means, if this turns out to be a load of crap, I don't want any comebacks.
4. 'I don't know anything about cameras'. - Means, this is broken, but I will plead ignorance.
5. Sold as is.- Means, this is a piece of useless junk, but I still want you to give me money for it.
6. Mint. - Means, it's got green stuff growing on it.
7. Rare and sought after. - Means, I want you to think there won't be another five of them on ebay next week.
8. Signs of normal use. Means, it looks like the dog has been chewing it.
9. No reserve. - Means, I'm going to stuff you on the postage cost.
10. No returns. Means, I know this is junk, but once I've got your money, theres no way you're getting it back.

Quite apt.

Quite apt indeed,

I had a recent experience with No.5 on your list. It was an LX in "full working condition" "Sold as is" only to discover the shutter curtain was trashed, and I mean hanging out of the camera. I emailed the seller with a Pic and they said it was fine when they posted it, an obvious lie.

I think the fact the seller was only 30mins from my house and I was bringing it back to him personally, too discuss it further that he decided to give me my money back + postage, what a nice chap.

I have been generally lucky with most of my ebay purchases, none too far wide of the mark. I did buy a KX from another website once which was terrible and I had to threaten the seller with small claims court. I've seen artefacts dug up from my sites in better nick than that camera. The first time I tried to change the aperture the lens fell off in my hand. His excuse was that he didn't know I was a 'collector' and thought I wanted the camera to take photographs. Not sure enough light could have got through the lens to actually take a photo though

Thanks mowog, an amusing set of (sadly true) phrases, especially the 'I'm selling it for a friend' one!

K.

like those

This must mean that I'm the only honest ebayer in the world.

There are plenty of honest eBay sellers and buyers. Sometimes some of the things listed can be true as well.

As an example, where's the sense in buying a £10 battery to test a camera offered at £5 that was fine when it was used, but just hasn't been re-tested today?

I agree that some sellers are very deceitful, but most are not, and how they go about their business in general usually gives lots of clues about it.

I have generally been very lucky apart from once when I bought a 'mint' Spotmatic that turned out to have 'University of Lancaster' engraved on the body and the lens. Mostly, though, things have turned out to be much better than described.

There was someone who joined here a while back to sell his late father's kit so 1,2,3,4 & 7 from the list all applied. The items I bought were boxed and quite possibly unused.

common conclusions when we buy on-line!! stats may show with such a vast community of sellers/buyers
there will be rogues out to grab our hard earned cash.

regards
albert

Ditto. One has to take it on a case-by-case basis. The microscope adapter he sold me was perfect. I think mowog was just having a bit of fun.

You can see why hefty's sales get top dollar: lots of clear photographs, clear descriptions, obviously knowledgeable seller and so on. When I get a description like those on something I want I'll send a detailed message, e.g., asking about oil on the blades and fungus with some information on how to look for those things. Honest sellers get back with the info. If they don't get back to me, I don't bid.

K.

Ditto Kris

Once you get the hang of E-bay you can usually weed out the rogues.

General rule of thumb for eBay is the same as life, if something looks to good to be true, it usually is.

I've not had a bad eBay experience so far. I hope it stays that way.

/Ian

"No timewasters" - I will not answer questions and intend to vanish immediately the money is in my account.

Actually, I've had some very good experiences on Ebay. As others suggest, much of it is down to good illustrations, a full (and literate) description and a 100 per cent track record, at least in my experience. It's easy to check average prices for an item by looking up finished auctions, so if the pricing is out of line I'll avoid anyway.

I've been buying and selling things on ebay occasionally for several years and only had one dodgy transaction in that time, and even that one could well have been Royal Fail's fault.

I've met quite a few ebay people in person to exchange money for goods, and every one has been a delight to meet, talk to and deal with. I've even tilted a glass at the local pub with a couple while discussing Pentax cameras.

That said, when I'm looking at an auction my mind is always running down a list of translations not dissimilar from mowogs!