PaulR

Have done many transactions on eBay for lenses and cameras without a problem. I purchase from 99%-100% vendors who have a history of reliability.

olsonsview

I have had several experiences with E-Bay where I required a replacement or refund, or partial refund. I believe over six times in the past few years. Always first try to resolve with the vendor. Open a case with E-Bay if you get no help from vendor. Even after opening a case, it may take a month of back and forth if the vendor is in China. The vendor may wiggle and twist like a feisty fish on the line, but before the time limit set by E-Bay to close the case: be prepared to ask E-Bay for help, and logically plead your case with a short message to them. They will have the whole history of your emails to look at if you opened a case. I have never received a less than satisfactory result, ever! Always make sure that the seller needs to send you the appropriate mailing label and pay for shipping back to them, never ship yourself without that!!! It is very cheap for them to ship to USA, and expensive for you to ship back to them, and you must include tracking! Otherwise it may be claimed that you never sent it back. I had that happen once, and pleaded my case to E-Bay and won! I had sent the item back without the tracking and signature as it would have cost more than the selling price to do more than simple shipping, and I felt bad for the merchant, he really made me feel sorry for him! WRONG ! But E-Bay still helped me as they saw I really tried to resolve all this with the seller. SO maybe I am just extremely lucky? But I know that if you are not frustrated into giving up, you will win! Just need to follow the tedious procedures. E-Bay sides with the buyer not the seller, as long as you can show you are earnest, and honest.

odujim Loc: New Jersey

I was scammed once, involving the purchase of a Nikon DSLR - PayPal took care of everything and left me with a feeling of huge relief that I paid using PayPal. I will continue using that method of payment.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

same here

ksmmike

I've done well over 1,000 transactions on Ebay over many years with one or two bad experiences and each time they were resolved. I have purchased several lenses and cameras on Ebay without one bad experience. I've had very good luck purchasing older manual focus Nikon glass from Japan. Each was exactly as described, however I only deal with sellers with a long history on Ebay. I stay away from sellers with less than 25 trades. Ebay is like any other place, buyer beware. Yes, you can find bargains, but if it looks too good, then be extra careful. I tend to pay fair prices for cameras and lenses listed in VG to mint condition from sellers with good track records and have yet to be disappointed.

Satman Loc: Indy

You need to look at the number of sales by the seller,

I have been scammed by the buyer.lonce.

I was a high number seller on eBay, and did for many years.

Ebay made me refund the money, and then Ebay paid me back.

leftj Loc: Texas

If you used PayPal you are protected. At least you will get your money back. I doubt that eBay can force them to send you the lens you purchased. I would think eBay would at least ban the seller from listing anything further on eBay however there are certainly ways to get around that.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I have had 2 instances with Ebay & Pay Pal and they resolved the problem and refunded my cash......no problem other than my disappointment at the loss.

Also if you buy from a reputable seller like Adorama on E Bay's site you'll get no problems and they have excellent used gear at great values to save a new guy some bills.

I have been using E Bay for 15 years or more and buy many of my laboratory instruments from them as well
so read all the fine print about the item before you bid or purchase it and record the serial number of an item if you can see it in their photos. That will guarantee that you got what you paid for.

Hope this is reassuring to those who are skeptical.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

It is an unfortunate truth, there are some bad apples on Ebay. It's dumb, because Ebay and Paypal will not allow them to get away with it... the seller is hoping you will just give up and go away - DON'T. Challenge the sale, return for refund, or follow the Ebay instructions and send it to them, they will make it right. The seller has no intention of shipping you the good lens, just give up on that.

Just curious, what kind of seller rating did kangiwa have? I'd love to know, I have had and issue or two with sellers that had good ratings, but shipped damaged goods. All were resolved, but a pain.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

EBay favors the buyer

ggab Loc: ?

Not my experience at all.
I have been buying on ebay since the late 90's and never had an issue getting a refund.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Ebay is a great platform, but there are a few bad characters. I too have bought many, many things successfully. A couple have been bad, but when challenged, restitution was made, or the price was greatly reduced via refund, and I have the items (I just fix them and use them). I have never experienced a situation that wasn't resolved in my favor, as long as I challenged the seller. If you don't speak up, or raise a fuss, shame on you..... In this case, follow the process, it will be fixed.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

This has been my experience as well. On the other hand, I doubt that the OP can expect to get anything more out of this than the bid money and any shipping cost being returned.

Brokenland

Can't say I told you so, cause I don't know you. But Just another reason I'll never shop on eBay or use stuff like Paypal as I've even got a browser add-on which block all eBay type sites from showing. However, as you've pointed out the seller doesn't seem to be willing to give you the correct lens or your refund. In that case contacting eBay and report the seller is the only thing that can be done. Also, make sure you write a review based on your experience with this seller and avoid eBay in the future.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

You have to look at the seller ratings scores!
If a seller has had 1000 buyers and nearly all have been satisfied with what they received, the chances that you will get burnt by that seller are very slim. However, if the seller has a very low rating with many dissatisfied buyers, then avoid that seller, or prepare yourself for disappointment.