Davet Loc: Fort Myers, Florida

I just received the third lens I have purchased from eBay. I have had nothing but the best experience from eBay. I have always been totally leery because of the amount of money spent on each lens and truth of the seller, etc. Anyway, I have to say I am extremely pleased with them. My used 24-70VR I just received is in like new shape. Just like brand new and a US model to beat.

whitewolfowner

Way to go. Most sellers on ebay are trust worthy but using ebay for lenses is risky. You do always have the ebay guarantee to work with if it doesn't come as described but a real P.I.M.A. along the way.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I'm happy for your good experiences. Mine haven't always been so good. Received a flash unit where the battery compartment was so corroded I couldn't get the contacts clean enough to use, it was advertised as in perfect condition. Received a non photography related item last week. Had to fix it also. I have had good experiences with back drops though.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Dave, Glad it worked out for you. As a seller and buyer on Ebay, I have had nothing but a great experience.For me, it is asking lots of questions to the seller about the item like did he buy it new, is it US etc. and why he is selling it and any issues with it.No answer from seller, I never bid.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Glad you have had a good experience with EBay, mine was no so good. Purchased a computer and not as advertised. Graphics card was bad among other things. Not even worth repairing.

Don

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

if you pay with Paypal, and the item is not as advertised, you will always get your money refunded along with all shipping costs. You bid on an item based on the description, and the answers to the questions you ask. If the seller misrepresents, Paypal will make you whole, and will go after the bad seller. I've never had a bad outcome with eBay, and if I buy on Fred Miranda, I always pay with Paypal to get the protections.

whitewolfowner

You have the same protections with your credit card; don't need paypal.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

From all of my eBay experiences over the years, I'd say about 95% have been good and I received exactly or very close to what I had expected from the item(s) purchased, in a timely manner.

dzn1

I am currently engaged in a dispute with a seller who inadvertently shipped the item to an incorrect address. Best to look at the transaction count of the seller and other items sold to determine whether the seller is knowledgeable about the product.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Whether needed or not, paypal is extremely effective on the follow through if something is disputed.

My wife deals in antique jewelry which is a lot more complicated than most camera type purchases. On the few occasions she has had a problem with a seller and had to invoke paypal she politely tells the seller that she always wins, and she always does. Paypal has been excellent.

ksmmike

I've bought a few Nikon lenses on Ebay and one on Fred Miranda. Each were exactly as described. I've also sold lenses and cameras on Ebay. I only had one issue when I sold
my F5 and clearly described the issue I had with the camera in my sales posting. The buyer asked for a refund because of the issue after he purchased it. Ugh. I gave him back his money and sold it to someone else, who was very pleased with the low price he got for a small issue with the camera, which rarely surfaced. I think most people are honest in their dealings on Ebay. If not, they get spotted quickly with bad feedback.

leftj Loc: Texas

In theory you have the same protections with credit card but you will find that it is an absolute nightmare when you try to exercise them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Same here. Positive experiences both buying and selling.

inbigd

Beware of items on eBay that are not fully described and where the seller doesn't offer returns. I considered a 5D Mark II the other day from a seller that didn't accept returns. The listing had good pictures but none that showed the inside of the camera. I messaged the seller, thinking they would say the camera was clean and good but instead they stated that the camera could use a good cleaning. This fact was not stated in the listing. If I had bought it and wished to return it, I have my doubts if eBay would have done anything.

rburnsrlt

EBay is a mixed bag, buyers have greater protection, sellers have non. I sold a Pentax 645 D FA 90mm lens for $2250.00. Seller said focus at infinity was off. I said ship it back as I believed I could get a better bid anyway. When I received the lens back it was almost in 2 pieces and the lens shade was missing. I called eBay to open dispute as the lens was not returned in the same condition that it was shipped in. After going up the ladder to the 'high value' support, I was told that's a part of doing business, I would have to refund to the seller. I objected at every place I could, PayPal returned money to eBay which had returned to buyer. I had sent photos of the lens as received back, made no difference, they protect buyer at all costs. Bottom line, safe to buy on eBay, but seller beware. ( I have copies of emails from eBay stating my loss is just part of doing business). I think if the item transaction price would have been under a couple hundred they may have ate it but they were not willing to loose anything as a cost of doing business, much mo
At the time I had 85 transactions (mostly buying) with 100% rating, the buyer had 14 transactions, they don't show rating for buyer on transaction report.
Since the lens hood was missing from the return I assumed the lens was dropped and the lens hood broken as it was not returned. Lens was repaired at a cost of $474.00. After repair I sent it to B & H and sold it to them, new cost was $4500. So I closed my PayPal account, as they are part of eBay, and they will never see another penny from me.