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Saab Dastard · 9th Jul 2008, 15:16

There is a large element of "caveat emptor" involved - always check the postage / delivery costs, whether buying on ebay, Amazon or other sellers.

It doesn't matter whether you are buying a book or a plasma TV - very often the delivery charge can make the cheapest item a lot less competitive. So the total price is the only one to go on.

There is often the opportunity for feedback - not just on ebay. Amazon sellers (and ABE also, I think) have ratings and feedback too.

It's not always in the vendor's favour, though. I bought a virtually new computer book on ebay - RRP about £25 - for 99p, and the vendor charged £5 postage, but it actually cost over £6 for delivery (he sent it 1st class, not standard parcels). So by the time he had paid his ebay listing, selling and PayPal fees, he had made a 150% loss!

SD

9th Jul 2008, 15:16	#9 (permalink)
Saab Dastard PPRuNe Spoonerist Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Twickenham Posts: 5,465	There is a large element of "caveat emptor" involved - always check the postage / delivery costs, whether buying on ebay, Amazon or other sellers. It doesn't matter whether you are buying a book or a plasma TV - very often the delivery charge can make the cheapest item a lot less competitive. So the total price is the only one to go on. There is often the opportunity for feedback - not just on ebay. Amazon sellers (and ABE also, I think) have ratings and feedback too. It's not always in the vendor's favour, though. I bought a virtually new computer book on ebay - RRP about £25 - for 99p, and the vendor charged £5 postage, but it actually cost over £6 for delivery (he sent it 1st class, not standard parcels). So by the time he had paid his ebay listing, selling and PayPal fees, he had made a 150% loss! SD __________________ You can't have everything - where would you put it?