What's your feedback rule of thumb on ebay sellers?

Would you trust someone with just a few FB points on such a big purchase as a notebook, even if all positive? Sometimes I think that stuff can be faked; I've seen pages full of identical feedback from the same user in the past. Made me nervous about the system in general.

So what's your criteria? Only stick with volume sellers, or individuals w/low fb if the price is right? Safest way is paypal I guess, but I feel like I have stronger recourse if they keep a USPS money order and don't send me anything.

Thoughts? Tips to look for in sellers? Price being too good can be scary too.

Also, how can you tell if an auction transaction actually took place? If it says "winning bidder" and has a name there, that means it couldn't have been a buddy that "won" it, then they mutually rescind, leave + fb, then no purchase actually took place, could it?

 

i personally wouldn't buy a notebook from someone unless they have a feedback of 100 or more. also, it is always important to see what that person has sold in the past. some user accounts of power sellers have been hijacked....but usually they sell something that is quite different from what they usually sell (e.g. selling a computer when they were a power seller of matchbox cars). also, you should always ask a question to the seller to see if he/she responds. i wouldn't want to deal with someone who has poor communication with me. also, if the user has just a little feedback, you should always ask for pictures that provide some sort of proof of ownership, like a piece of paper with their name on it next to the computer...though this could be faked....

 

Auction ended, I chickened out.

He had only four transactions, all were identical notebooks. Probably would have been ok, but better safe than sorry. Oh well.

 

Anything in the 90%+ range, but I dont buy some items on ebay like notebooks unless its a broken/repair item for dirt cheap. I look more for things like repair motherboards, LCDs, etc which either work or not. Easy to find out if its DOA.

 

I bought a video card from a "power seller" a few years back who virtually had a perfect reputation on eBay. The deal was insanely good. Never got it. A week later, a lot of negative feedback started showing up. Then, after a couple weeks, the seller was nowhere to be found on eBay.

Moral of story: If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. I'd be cautious when buying on eBay.

 

feedback doesn't mean a thing. I have seen ebay sellers at the golden powerseller status with thousands of feedback at 98% positive. But they sell counterfeit items, ranging from tiffany jewelery, to microsoft software down to womens cosmetics! you have to be extremely careful on ebay. Counterfeit ram, harddrives, lcd's are all readily avail. Alot of the time all these fakes will work great, but you'll be paying a premium price for it.

 

A year ago when I ordered my E1705 off this seller, it took him 5 weeks to deliver. He kept telling me that he would "do it later this week".

Plus, he has a 98.9% rep and had 4000+ clients. In the end, I got it in perfect conditon and I told him in my comments that it was NOT UPS's fault. Obviously he denied it.. figures.

Mike.