Re: [CR]Now: eBay ratings Was: Charter-Lea cranks

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 17:56:48 -0500
To: chuckschmidt@earthlink.net
From: "Phil Sieg" <triodelover@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Now: eBay ratings Was: Charter-Lea cranks
In-Reply-To: <41DF0B6A.A3A107C8@earthlink.net>
References: <20050107192926.5462.qmail@web53504.mail.yahoo.com> <00c601c4f4ff$05adf1a0$6501a8c0@D5FSLZ21> <6.1.2.0.2.20050107164854.03a55a80@mail.comcast.net>
cc: classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

At 17.21 07.01.05, Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>Phil if you're looking at a guy with 1000 (ONE THOUSAND) feedbacks
>(doesn't even include the repeat buyers, by the way) and he has ten bad
>feedbacks? It's not the same as a guy with 100 and one bad one. And
>it's not just math we are talking here.

So who are you more concerned about the guy with one out of 100 or the guy with 10 out of 1000? I would agree that as the number of transactions increase, the likelihood of hitting the a**hole jackpot increase, particularly if you have avoided it longer than random selection odds would indicate. But I still can't too exercised about 1 negative out of 100. Unless... * it's recent * the giver checks out as reputable in every other way * it's not related to a delivery or payment time issue that could be explained by other, more benign circumstances.


>But of course, my point is if you been on eBay a long time, patterns
>emerge. Ask Greg Parker... he does his homework so he doesn't get burned.

Agreed, it's always caveat emptor.


>And you know what? If you don't bid on this one, there's probably gonna
>be another of the same item up for auction by a different seller soon enough.

Depends on what it is. I also collect LPs - jazz and classical. You may have heard they aren't making the licorice discs anymore ;-). Sometimes when Oppornockiti tunes, you gotta play it.


>Hint: always check the seller's shipping details. And retractions...
>that always interesting!

I won't bid on items without pictures ( and not pics from other internet sites either ;-)). I won't bid on items where PayPal or Bidpay can't be used - I want an electronic paper trail at a minimum. I usually won't bid on items offered by high volume sellers who don't use PayPal. If he sells a lot and is too cheap to facilitate his sales, he's likely to be cheap in standing behind what he sells and resolving conflicts. I avoid sellers with high, flat rate shipping charges.

Of course, if I really, really want it...

Phil Sieg

Knoxville, Tennessee