EOS 1D for US$1650

[fruitybix]

Originally posted by hongsien
Hello,

just found out this thread:

was very much agggrevated by the comment of 'BigBelly': that spanish sellers are suaully con people......I can also say that many people here have been conned by singaporeans! You read it so often in the newspapers!!

I am not spanish, but to generalise this way is just plain stupid!

Also, these people are out to trick people who are greedy enough to send them money for something that just sounds too good to be true!!
I have bought many things on eBay, only when there is a picture and only when the price is reasonable, and justifiable. USD1650 for an EOS 1D does not sound reasonable to me, a true seller would not sell such a camera brandnew for such a low price if he can get a better price.
I have done many deals on ebay, and send them money in cash by registered mail (so that I can track it). I did send once money through EMS courier and the seller told me that the envelope was opened when he received it and the money gone! Nothing much that I can do, should I believe his word? This was the only time I burnt my hands, no more EMS (it is done through Airborne express). Using registered mail has always been good (I use Paypal or Bidpay when the amount exceeds more than USD150, although I sent one a payment of USD 895 in four seperate envelopes to Germany but the agony waiting to see if they all arrive was too much to bear). Payments through paypal is free, Bidpay requires a fee, or do wire transfer. Western Union is way too expensive!!

So be aware and use your common sense, don't get eluded by your greed!! You may burn your wallet!

Buy only from people like me

Hong Sien

Ah Sien, not BigBelly say, it is the Western Union guy who made that remark.

 

[hongsien]

there is a certain amount of risks that you have to take, if you are not willing to take this risk than don't buy from eBay. Also, always check their feedback rating and the comments. I had always received the goods, except in some cases the cameras was not exactly as described or it was n a worse condition then described. this should be handled between you and the seller, in some cases it can be a long wait to get your money back, although many are god sellers and will refund you right away. there is always bound to be a few who are not very cooperative. many sellers are also 'karang guni' people, so don't expect much help from them about the item as they have likely no knowledge about it at all! They usually state that too in the description. eBay is for getting good deals, meaning prices are in most cases lower than in used camera shops here or in the states. In some cases people even pay more than new prices........for whatever reason that i don't know yet. Maybe they can't get out of the house??

Hong Sien

 

[hongsien]

It doesn't matter who said that spanish sellers are usually con sellers..the fact is that it was said, and by two people: the person from western Union AND bigbelly, read the first page of this thread, lah!

Hong Sien

 

[fruitybix]

Originally posted by liuhao
thank you for your advise.

but it's hard to justify the seller by picture and price. people can still burn their hands when they send money for something WITH picture and reasonable price right?

I buy from Amazon, not resellers, or people looking to sell second hand stuff. Their service is realiable, and prompt.

But as I have mentioned, why would anyone risk an international transfer of funds, be it this or that form, for a supposedly excellent deal, when in his own country, he will have no shortage of buyers?

Unless one is buying from a merchant or retailer (i.e. Amazon, B&H Photo etc), that is well-rated by a credit bureau, i advise against one to one deals.

When we go to the market, we examine for 10 minutes to buy $3 worth of fruits and vegetables, here we are talking about hundreds or thousands of dollars to some overseas dude whom we have not seen, and selling a product we do not know the condition. :dunno:

 

[fruitybix]

Originally posted by hongsien
It doesn't matter who said that spanish sellers are usually con sellers..the fact is that it was said, and by two people: the person from western Union AND bigbelly, read the first page of this thread, lah!

Hong Sien

ya lah, but dont be so hard and quick, he was sharing only what the Western Union folks said. so take it easy..

 

[hongsien]

I think we should make a difference from sellers like the one for the EOS 1D that is very likely a con-man/woman and sellers that are bound at ebay and who are doing a good service and are honest.

Done more than 200 buys from eBay and had always gotten the merchandise, so I really don't see why people are so afraid. For deals like the EOS 1D I would be afraid too, yes. But not for used items on eBay if you can see the pic, and also eBay has a security for sellers as well as buyers. One can report the seller to ebay and if the seller get too many reports he/she will be blocked from using eBay. they loose all their feedback and have to built it up again. I had one rerport made to a seller who sold me the wrong film, without putting the full film name on eBay, the person has been blocked by eBay.

As I said, there is a risk, but to me the risk is to small to stop me from buying through eBay. Just try it a few times with small items and you get the hang of it, I initially had to convince myself too. I was buying from Photo.net, but now hardly go there anymore as their asking prices are skyhigh.

Hong Sien

 

[BigBelly]

hongsien, i'm sorry if i offended you or anyone.

it really worries me when i see such ads on ebay and furthermore with the high ratings the sellers have. i believe these con artist go the long way to get high ratings then some time sell 3-4 cameras and hope to catch a few unsuspecting people.

if anyone does a close study of the postings, you will realise that the seller list about 3-4 EOS 1Ds at the same time. if the seller which morganoh mentioned got his 1D from some charity thingy, then how come got so many 1D for selling by the same person.

Anyway it is a fact the there are quite some con artists from spain. They claim to be 'located' in USA then ask you to send money to Spain...

To be fair, I buy a lot of things from the internet. My sister in the USA does her shopping totally online.

However i believe if the deal sounds too good to be true, it will be a fraud. You can see that buyers are not stupid also. How much some auctions can go so high while others are catching even if the price is low?

I was myself involved in a fraud case recently. I sold a dive computer to a 'Japanese' who wanted the computer for his son living in indonesia. He sent payment through paypal and so i sent the item by UPS.

The next morning, paypal sent a email to say that the funds is probably from a fruadulent source and hence the transaction was reversed. It was really troublesome and fortunately the item did not reach the guy.

He provided me with telepone numbers, address.

Well...it is your choice...just be careful.

and hongsien why dun you buy the camera and sell it in CS, i think CS pple would more than willing to pay a premium for the camera

 

[zekai]

regardless of what anyone says about buying online.

i advised all to be careful not just online.

so what if you are successful with all your transactions online.

the other members are just kindly advising him to be more careful.

are you going to help him if he get cheated? so... to prevent any problems it is important we are careful.

 

[hongsien]

This is why eBay as a feedback system to discourage con people, if people keep conning others they will never get positive feedback but instead negatives ones, and these I (and most people) will definitely avoid! Photo.net doesn't have a feedback system like ebay, but tey do have a neighbour-forum to warn others about some sellers/buyers.
I am not saying everything is safe on ebay, but it is not unsafe either, most of the time it is safe. From all these warnings on this thread, it looks like buying on-line is so unsafe, but we are actually only talking about a few not so pleasent ones. And this particular con man is likely part of a larger group based in eastern-Europe, as is discussed in many other forums.

Hong Sien