Dee:
It's probably just me but I won't buy anything over $100 on eBay.
Bottom line...only you can make the decision of who to buy from, as we all have different experiences with eBay....good and bad. FWIW, I've never had a bad experience on eBay.
The watchword is always caution. But, like diving, the rewards for careful risk management are great.
I've purchased thousands of dollars from the Oly eBay site. Remember, they are selling refurbs - which means they are for the most part Dealer returns - overstock, consumer returns, end of life products.
These things go through a 100% Operational QC - unlike factory new goods which go through a fractional QC. Given the opportunity, I'll ALWAYS buy a factory refurb. I know it will work. I know its been checked. If it doesn't work, back it goes, as they all have warranties.
As far as Cameras and other high-risk eBay stuff:
a) NEVER pay Western Union. Its cash, you have no recourse.
b) Try to pay with your credit card (not thru PayPal, as most CC's consider that a cash transaction, but with your card over a secured server). Check with your card providor, as many offer consumer protection, rebates, cash back and even additional warranties for purchases.
c) Check Feedback, but more importantly, check how long the seller has been selling. A ton of pos feedback over 3 months is BS, and could be schills. If the guy has been around for a few years, you lower your risk.
d) Know the cost of freight to you before buying. People pay too much for freight - its insane. Get educated.
e) Contact the seller. eMail them, and ask some questions. Offer a side deal off-line. All of the best deals take place OFF of eBay. The seller doesn't have to pay final closing fees, and you can leverage urgancy and close the deal now and often (very often) get a better price.
I've transacted many tens-of-thousands of dollars over eBay over the last 5+ years. Selling, I've never been burned. Buying, I've been burned once on a camcorder. The deal seemed too-good-to-be-true so I went for it.
It was.
Be careful, be wise, and have fun. There are treasures on eBay. ScubaBoard is littered with my eBay tales. My whole scuba rig is from eBay, as is my camera rig, two computers, my recording studio, drums, lots of china (yes, I know our china pattern... wink it shows up all the time and we've saved zillions) etc, etc. etc. If the internet is the biggest thing to happen in my lifetime (and it is) then eBay is the biggest thing to ever happen to the internet. Go play, start small, get a feel for the place, and have fun.
You
must become confident and efficient at negotiating eBay - its completely ignorant and foolish to ignore it - it's simply too big and offers too much good stuff to just blow it off as an option for purchasing anything. You're throwing money away to not mix it in to your consideration process for every purchase. Its changed my life, for sure.
Have fun.
K
