Grass is Greener for a Buyer.

[jayla128]

I am very unhappy with Ebay now. Every  time I want to sign in , I have to verify myself in one of three ways (Text, Call, Email ), despite having  provided  Nat. Ins number , Trusted device, & Driving License. 

 So,after 21 years thought I'd have a peek at other popular selling sites to see if there was one with a better buying experience. 

I came across  ****ed and have been delighted so far. It was very easy to sign up, and log in.

Within 5 minutes I had bought 2 items from separate Sellers that I had been looking for for ages on Ebay and the prices were ridiculously cheap! I couldnt believe my eyes. 😲

I was able to choose my delivery service (and thus avoid the dreaded Evri) and both items were delivered super fast with no problems at all.

Sadly, there doesnt seem to be a helpful Forum like this on ****ed and it does seem to concentrate mainly on clothes but I am impressed so far. 

As I have no intentions of ever becoming a Seller on Ebay again (First and last time over 15 years ago) I am pleased to have an alternative to the  annoying site Ebay has become.

I think they have manufactured their own downfall and dont have much hope for its future unless it becomes more User friendly to both Sellers & Buyers.

Has anyone else experience of other sites pro's & Cons.?

[style_wise]

I'm glad you found a site that suits you, and sorry that they don't have a Buyers' Forum. Alas eBay Buyers may not be the best ones tell you about buying elsewhere (for obvious reasons). Good luck continuing to find bargains!

[treetopsminicottages · Accepted solution]

I use the site you mentioned a few times now. My 3 issues with it are:

1. Sellers have a full week to dispatch items so if say, you buy friday evening, the seller has two weekends and a full week to dispatch. If they do not meet the timescale they can request any week...really?

2. If there is an issue, for example, returns are a nightmare. The default return label is inpost , but I have no lockers within walking distance, and it is expected the buyer, not the seller, is expected to pay the return postage even if the seller made the mistake.  f you are lucky the seller may agree to pay but there is no obligation unlike this site.

This leads me to 3. If an item is returned for a refund the buyer can not leave any feedback at all to reflect their poor experience.

Other than that I am happy with the site but yes it needs a forum!

[jayla128]

Thank you very much for your extremely good advice. Forewarned is forearmed and your help is much appreciated. I am trying to simplify my life not complicate it and your valid points will make me think twice now.

Kind Regards and Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[jayla128]

Thank you very much for replying. Ebay has always been my go to site for anything and everything and I havnt had too many bad experiences but the submission above from treetopsminicottages has taught me that the grass isnt  always greener.!

Kind Regards

[wgwillia]

I think Ebay are doing all they can to make it more difficult for private sellers as they don't won't them any more  and hope they up grade to business account.

[jayla128]

Hello and thank you for replying. I totally agree with you and also that it is now awash with unscrupulous shysters who try to defraud both genuine buyers and sellers. I think they will soon be Masters of their own Misfortune as many people are very fed up with mindless rules..including  on large household items....who would pay good money for something BEFORE being allowed to view it?

[bookworm191472]

If you are on facebook there are quite a lot of Vinted groups on there if you need help with anything.

[suelel1968]

Hi jayla @jayla128 , All the advice given above is good advice. My first buying experience was my last. But selling is quite an easy process. One thing to add. Customer service is terrible.

[thepillenwerfer]

I agree with you on the prices but their search function is worse than e-Bay's.

My main problem isn't with the site itself but the Sellers on it who haven't a clue how to list things.  Something like "Men's trousers.  Size 40.  Good condition" accompanied by a single poor photograph isn't a lot of use.  What's the inside leg?  Is the front flat or pleated?  What are they made of? Are they washable?  What pockets do they have?  Is the fly zip or buttons?  Even "Size 40" could mean several things.  It could be what it says on the label, ie they are to fit somebody with a forty inch waist or what the Seller has measured the waistband to be which would make them tight on somebody that size.  It may even be what the waistband measures across with the trousers laid flat in centimetres.

So yes, I have bought there and will no doubt do so again but I can say it's a better "Buyer experience" than e-Bay.

As for your e-Bay log-in problem, have you got something blocking or automatically removing cookies?

[treetopsminicottages]

I have to agree with you on descriptions, or the lack of them. As you say there may only be one photo provided and a brief 'very good' condition. I did buy a skirt on the site once listed as ' as new'. On arrival there was a big hole poorly repaired by hand which was not mentioned at all. I did get my money back without needing to  return it but the seller then said 'I hope you can still get some use out of it! Luckily you can block buyers on the site so that you do not get the sellers items showing in future searches.

Another issue with their searches is if I search for items I am interested in, away from clothes, I still end up with listings with women doing selfies of themselves modelling their items. Some leave little to the imagination!

Overall, I would definitely say it appears to be okay as a seller's site but buyers beware.

[treetopsminicottages]

One final thought relates to fragile items as I have found as sellers are offering items at low prices on that site they may cut down on packaging as a result. I had one little package of fragile items just put in a plastic mailer, not even a jiffy bag, with no bubblewrap etc, not marked fragile & sent via Evri. Needless to say I received a bag of bits which were only fit for the bin.

[jayla128]

Honestly, things like that are all too commonplace now. I have had generally good experiences on Ebay but also some absolute shockers. Money Back guarantee doesn't make up for the inconvenience or disappointment does it?. I now only buy from those with 100% or nearest ratings and I always read feedback before buying just to minimise risk. 

Thank you for your thoughts on this topic.

[jayla128]

You have been very helpful and I might just steer clear  of  "***ted " now  after your advice, ...maybe just as a last resort.

Kind Regards

[jayla128]

Yes! I totally agree with your reply. I too am very specific in what I want and did find the descriptions to be extremely poor and unhelpful. That alone put me off that site a bit.

No I havn't got anything blocking but I think Ebay want me to open a Business account in case I ever want to sell again (one & only time sold 6 items 15 years ago and never again after a nightmare experience) 

Given all the daft new rules and restrictions I can honestly say I would NEVER sell on Ebay.

I have jumped through hoops to resolve this issue with repeated verification but no one has come up with a solution and, as I dont have a mobile phone, I have to make sure I am near my landline before I log in every time.

never mind, it does prevent me from boredom browsing!

[jayla128]

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. Customer Service is very important to everyone I would think so I appreciate the heads up on this matter. I think I'll steer clear and just stick with Ebay until it probably implodes through AI madness and glitches!

[jayla128]

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.  I think I've been a bit put off now to be honest as there has not been much positivity offered about it.

I will probably stick with Ebay until it implodes through AI Madness and Techy Glitches.!

Best Regards

[treetopsminicottages]

Feedback on the other site is something I touched on earlier but I would just add I have found sellers generally do not leave feedback but buyers are pushed, by messages, to leave sellers a feedback comment. An automated feedback is then left after a certain time period. Sellers can leave negative feedback for a buyer so, if you leave say  4* as a buyer, you are more than likely to get a 4* review as a purchaser. Thankfully this is not possible on ebay.

[jayla128]

Thank you for your reply. It certainly seems less regulated than Ebay and so riskier. I think I will use ***nted only as a last resort if I am desperate.
Thank you again for your helpful words.
Kind Regards