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Archive 2022 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

lightskyland
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

I sold an extra A1 on eBay to raise funds, as well as other cameras. I tried to insure the A1, but eBay would not sell insurance beyond $1000 value on the shipping. I also tried to purchase additional insurance from the UPS store but that was not possible either.

The buyer messaged me and said that "someone had opened the package" and replaced the like-new A1 with foam and a sandwich warmer (and no box or camera inside).

Of course, this is almost certainly a lie. When I shipped the camera from the UPS store, the employee there helped me wrap the box and he will testify that it included a camera box. The likelihood that an employee at UPS would replace the box and camera with foam and a piece of junk is essentially zero. If they want to steal something, the package just disappears.

So, eBay decided to refund the buyer $6000 and says they will "recover" the funds from me. I will go to court on this if necessary.

eBay is a terrible company and they don't care about sellers at all. Don't use them to sell anything of value!

UPDATE: you can't even give negative feedback to a crook on eBay!

Edited on Oct 20, 2022 at 07:01 PM · View previous versions

Oct 20, 2022 at 06:27 PM

ggx145
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Holy cow, someone potentially got an A1 AND 6000$? I should rethink my morals... Sorry that happened to you, I hope it turns out well.

Oct 20, 2022 at 06:48 PM

octo
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

^
The buyer had paid $6000 already so, after getting the money back, he essentially got an A1 for free, if we assume that he lied.

It would be nice if the buyer had recorded the whole process of getting the box and then opening it.

I'm not sure that the package can just disappear if UPS wants to steal something, for ex, if the item was already scanned by an employee and then assigned to someone else for delivery, then if the package disappears, that delivery man becomes the main suspect in case there's an investigation. However, if the content of the box is replaced, then the main suspect becomes the buyer, and that's a more desirable outcome for the UPS employee.

Oct 20, 2022 at 07:10 PM

robert614
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Unfortunately, eBay is heavily weighted in favor of the buyer. The seller usually gets the short end of the stick. Even if he didn’t do anything wrong.

It’s weird they didn’t let purchase insurance higher than $1000. I assume you went through UPS.

I usually use USPS on eBay. And they let me insure for thousands of dollars. But it’s been a while since I’ve sold anything on there. Maybe things have changed.

I hope things work out for you. Best of luck.

Oct 20, 2022 at 07:20 PM

gnet158
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

That sucks, I’d check C/L in the buyers area and hope they are dumb enough to list.

Oct 20, 2022 at 07:39 PM

fsiagian
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

I am sorry for what happened. I bought very valuable camera and lenses from FM member, sent and packed by UPS. I received 2 orange street cones with other people shipping address under my address in the same plastic pouch attached to the box. It’s good that the seller had a good relationship with the UPS store inside his office building. He took care of it, UPS was responsible, and I got my money back. What I’m saying is, may be the buyer was honest and the A1 was stolen by someone else. It happens and getting more often. I hope you can keep your money.

Oct 20, 2022 at 07:42 PM

mudlake
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

That really stinks.

This is why when I sell a valuable lens here on FM, I put in my listing that only buyers with acceptable feedback will be considered. I just won’t take a chance on buyers who don’t have an FM presence with some feedback.

Oct 20, 2022 at 07:48 PM

timgangloff
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Something about this story sounds fishy. If UPS tells me I can't insure for more than $1000, I'm taking it to another shipper who can.

Oct 20, 2022 at 07:54 PM

NJPhotographer
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

This doesn't help, but may be useful for some future sale. Your local UPS store can refuse to insure for over $1,000, but the UPS web site will insure for up to $50,000. A possible complication occurs if you ship via their web site, and pay to insure for over $1,000, and then the web site asks you to print an extra form (along with the label) that the local UPS store or UPS driver has to sign when they receive the item ... because apparently they can refuse to sign it. Getting that form signed is apparently essential for the full insurance to be in effect.

Oct 20, 2022 at 08:30 PM

BrandonSi
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

UPS will insure well above that, it's the UPS store that's the problem here.

I agree with OP, I don't sell anything on eBay, ever.

Oct 20, 2022 at 08:45 PM

jakelindsay
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

When you create shipping labels directly in ebay it doesn't matter which carrier you choose, you can only insure for up to $1000. But going directly off ups you can do whatever. I just created a label and it charged $69.00 for $6000 of Loss and Damage Protection.

ebay is trash for sellers but they don't really care because they don't have to as they're flirting with Monopoly status. Not to mention many of their sellers are also buyers.

Oct 20, 2022 at 09:32 PM

Thang
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

this is scary. Did the OP go through UPS store, i.e. 3rd party or directly to UPS customer service shipping center to get the item packaged/shipped?

Oct 20, 2022 at 09:45 PM

CJMiller
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

eBay is pretty bad, but so are the UPS stores. I learned my lesson, it's definitely worth it to go directly to a UPS branch office or warehouse.

Sorry you're having to deal with this.
Chris

Oct 20, 2022 at 10:49 PM

Butterfingers
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

I’ll buy from eBay if there is something rare or a good deal, but I will never sell on ebay. Ebay usually always sides with the buyer and never the seller, I am honestly shocked that so many people sell their items on there.

Oct 21, 2022 at 12:21 AM

jaybr
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

lightskyland wrote:
I sold an extra A1 on eBay to raise funds, as well as other cameras. I tried to insure the A1, but eBay would not sell insurance beyond $1000 value on the shipping. I also tried to purchase additional insurance from the UPS store but that was not possible either.

The buyer messaged me and said that "someone had opened the package" and replaced the like-new A1 with foam and a sandwich warmer (and no box or camera inside).

Of course, this is almost certainly a lie. When I shipped the camera from the UPS store, the employee there helped me wrap...Show more →

Sorry to read about your pain.
I never sell on eBay, I use Gumtree, and only accept direct deposit transfers (and only ship once the funds have cleared), or cash if the customer picks up the item.

I’m also wary about buying lenses online. I almost got burned recently, but decided to view the lens from a local seller before bidding. The lens looked ok in the photos, but the manual focus ring “scraped” when rotated 😳

Unfortunately, it’s unwise to trust anyone online nowadays, it’s a cesspool of scammers and conmen.

J

Oct 21, 2022 at 01:38 AM

schlotz
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Really sorry to hear you had to go through this. So many unethical people these days. For others, beware of the warning signs, in this case lack of covering insurance. If something raises an eyebrow then act accordingly.

By far the safest place to deal with equipment is right here on FM as generally it's photographers buying & selling to photographers. However, without question the same common sense precautions should be followed. For every FM member, Fred provides the details regarding how long each person has been member, the amount of contributing posts and their feedback from previous transactions. Deal with a well established member with good feedback and you're reasonably assured of a positive transaction. Been doing this for years without a single issue.

BTW: definitely agree with Tim @timgangloff always find a shipper that will insure correctly and I'll add, make sure you understand their policies.

Edited on Oct 21, 2022 at 07:31 AM · View previous versions

Oct 21, 2022 at 07:22 AM

naturephoto1
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Oct 21, 2022 at 07:26 AM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Ebay is a terrible place for sellers and has been for the last decade. Literally any other option is better than Ebay.

That said, I buy with confidence from Ebay because of their hyper aggressive buyer protection.

Oct 21, 2022 at 08:51 AM

jwpstl
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Consider it a painful lesson learned. You should never ship a valuable item uninsured or way under insured. No way I would have sent an A1 insured for only a $1000. Having said that, would proper UPS insurance have covered this type of loss?

Oct 21, 2022 at 09:03 AM

DaveFP
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · WARNING - do not sell your cameras or lenses on eBay!!!

Any link to guidelines regarding selling on FM?

Oct 21, 2022 at 09:31 AM

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