Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

[My Main Man]

A note for any of you who are contemplating switching to a DSLR . . .

I just bought a Nikon D3300, but I'm really wrestling with whether to continue with it, or sell it and go back to an advanced Point & Shoot. I've been using a decent quality P&S with manual control ever since I started eBay (well, mind-bogglingly, my earliest eBay listings, in the late 90s, used film that got put onto a CD at Costco). The last 7 years I've had a Canon S95, and it has served me well, but has become unreliable. Hence the thought to "upgrade" to DSLR.

However, I ran into a significant issue right away because I have not held a viewfinder up to my eye in 15 years. I ALWAYS use the LCD. So that's years of ingrained habit doing arms-length images. But it seems that in this DSLR (and others), using the LCD makes the shutter release process slow to a clunky crawl: several seconds instead of a fraction of a second, for reasons I've read about online. And, presumably related to this arms-length technique in a heavier camera, combined with the double mirror actuation of Live View, pretty much all the close-ups are motion-blurred, even with a fast shutter speed. A bunch of Googling suggests the general consensus is to use the viewfinder instead of the LCD. But damn . . . that's a MAJOR change, as I currently take every image without bending, putting my elbows on the table, or having to stabilize the camera any other way.

So, having just finally figured this out, I'll head on over to my eBay office tomorrow and see if I can actually change my workflow/desk height/etc to accommodate using a viewfinder.

I guess the main takeaway/tip from this is that if you've spent the last umpteen years using an LCD for composition on your phone/camera/tablet, a DSLR may be a bigger "adjustment" than you bargained for!!

I've definitely sang their praises in the past, but before you go back to a point-and-shoot read some reviews on the Sony mirrorless cameras. I started out with a NEX-3N and recently upgraded to an a6000 and couldn't be happier. To me it's the perfect happy medium between being a P&S on steroids and a dumbed down (but powerful) DSLR.

 

[SomethingsFishy]

You meant to say that he'd given all sorts of negative feedback, yeah? He definitely has a pretty horrible track record.

https://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayIS...&ftab=FeedbackLeftForOthers&searchInterval=30

JESUS CHRIST. I couldn't see his "feedback left for others" on my mobile app. That is legendary :O

AGAIN, EVERYBODY... BLACKLIST excelsior_21 ; delay at your peril!

 

[drlivingston]

I did the point and shoot thing for a while. However, after purchasing a Nikon 3200, 3300, and 7000, I will never go back to non-dslr formats.

 

[Fueco]

I did the point and shoot thing for a while. However, after purchasing a Nikon 3200, 3300, and 7000, I will never go back to non-dslr formats.

I wouldn't necessarily only recommend DSLRs, Mirrorless cameras are where the camera industry is heading. DSLRs won't be going away anytime soon, but the really amazing advancements in cameras right now are in mirrorless bodies with interchangeable lenses. The tech isn't quite "there" enough if you're truly demanding of your gear, but it will be within the next few years.

I have a horrible time trying to use LCD displays to take pictures, as SLRs are so ingrained into my training; going all the way back to using my dad's old Canon AE-1 Program 35mm SLR.

 

[Fueco]

So,this guy sends a message after I ship his purchase saying that he ordered the wrong size. Because the different sizes of these are different listings, I suggest that he buy the correct size and return the wrong size when he gets it. This is his charming response. Now, he's not going to get the right size, at least not from me. I especially love his comment about the high price he paid (50% of retail).

 

[SomethingsFishy]

What a delightful character! His name looks very pretty indeed on my blocked bidder list.

All over $20 too... Jesus. Sorry dude.

 

[Coldsnap]

I don't get how to combine items on eBay. Some dude wants to buy two of my items and get a deal, but I'm not sure how to send him that offer.

 

[Sartoriamo]

I don't get how to combine items on eBay. Some dude wants to buy two of my items and get a deal, but I'm not sure how to send him that offer.

Just make an agreement in advance about the price you will honor on each item, have him make you that offer on each one, then send him an invoice with the shipping adjusted per your agreement. He has to hold off from paying the individual items from the automated eBay invoices, and wait for the combined one you send him.

I should note that 50% of the time, buyers screw this up, despite careful instructions, and I end up having the do a partial shipping refund via PayPal. Sigh.

 

[Fueco]

What a delightful character! His name looks very pretty indeed on my blocked bidder list.

All over $20 too... Jesus. Sorry dude.

His next message was even better. Methinks this guy is frustrated over something else and is taking it out on me. Though he does have some interesting negs left for other people in the past.

 

[bert9000]

How should I fight this? Is telling him that every monitor displays color differently enough and would that protect me from a neg? This guy already has a note placed on him when I called eBay, by the way.

 

[Fueco]

View attachment 828755

How should I fight this? Is telling him that every monitor displays color differently enough and would that protect me from a neg? This guy already has a note placed on him when I called eBay, by the way.

Color variances are not covered by buyer protection. Just let the EBay rep know what you just wrote and you should be fine.

 

[bert9000]

Color variances are not covered by buyer protection. Just let the EBay rep know what you just wrote and you should be fine.

Thanks! Should I respond to him directly or just call eBay?

 

[Fueco]

Thanks! Should I respond to him directly or just call eBay?

If he's already opened a return, and you don't accept returns, call. If you accept returns, you'll have to wait until the item is returned.

 

[bert9000]

If he's already opened a return, and you don't accept returns, call. If you accept returns, you'll have to wait until the item is returned.

I don't accept returns. He has only asked me to provide a refund; no case has been opened yet. Think I'll still give eBay a call.

 

[bert9000]

They basically told me to wait until he opens a return request. Should I respond to him in the meantime?