Thank you, and, thank you, yes - a real shame, and, you're spot-on; the reality is, the start bid should have been realistic, or, at least, rooted in real-world understanding, after a bit of prior research. What gets my goat is, we don't get to keep trawling and find the good guys, because our time is being wasted by the rogues. This used to be called a market-place, and that's what it was - "here's my stall, all or part second-hand stock, all clean, in good working-order, ready to be boxed in superb packaging, going for a fair price, I'll communicate with you, although it won't always be necessary, because my listing is complete and despatch is super-quick with updates all the way". Every word you said, it's all hit and miss, more of a gamble, feels more like the wild (capitalist) west, than a quaint village hall, or front lawn, conservatory, patio...you definitely get strikes for not paying, I don't know what penalties arise from mis-selling, eBay never tell you anything, when you have no choice but to report them. I want to laugh at the nonsense but I just can't, indeed no mention of the damaged legs and humming scent - getting upset when you mention it could become an Olympic sport. 

I'm at the stage now, as a buyer, where I can't take any more of the rogues - I've had to be even more discerning having been burned, this last 12 months especially, by all sorts of shenanigans (these, just two of them: one seller messed me around waiting on a combined postage invoice, then requested I buy off-platform, on Vinted, instead, so they could avoid eBay fees and, no doubt, charge more for the items - not my fault the start bids were ridiculousy low and there was zero competition; another (update) - has sent me the wrong figurine - I told them I do not have a printer, I want a postage-paid returns label posting to my home, so I can send this wrong, tatty thing back for a refund - they ignored me, I had to open a case, which was closed, return process started, with me, yes, you guessed it, being expected to print off a label, when I told the seller AND eBay, I do not have a printer); I'm pretty much done with eBay. 

I used to be mad for eBay, now, it just makes me mad. The good guys, nowadays, are too few, and too far between. I've found the only sure way to not get scammed, is buy off a charity - I've NEVER been stung by a charity eBay seller. I'm going to start going to charity shops and car-boot sales again - I fancy the odd record fair is in my future, too. I now want to be able to assess an item in person; I want to see, feel, and smell the thing, before I part with my cash. That way, I can be absolutely sure of what I'm getting - I'll be taking it home, sold-as-seen, with no further work necessary, and I won't have to mess about with the bot-driven eBay process for dealing with issues inflicted by rogues - it is not robust enough. Actually, I'd say, it's not fit for purpose. I miss eBay, how it used to be. I really do. I won't miss what it has become.