Stretching the definition of "lightly used" until transparency is achieved . . .

[Bob DBF]

That the seller was, unbeknownst to him, a foreign entity, using a bogus US address, placed that purchase within an unforeseen gray area; and PayPal was none too quick to come to his defense

Gives me another reason not to get PayPal credit, I use my own card for additional protection.

 

[spoolin01]

Ebay handles the return decision for the first 30 days after receipt, not PayPal. If you miss that window, PayPal used to allow 6 months for dispute, not sure if that's still the way it works. Some eBay policies depend on country of origin - but I've never heard tell of that affecting returns for Not As Described, until now, nor that the policies of a foreign country could be invoked for a US registered seller. Strange case.

 

[dead dog]

I have had similar results with the odd spare tool or other gear without moving parts.

But, since 2010 or so, I have rebuilt regulators for friends or clients, all purchased off of eBay, as either "fully functional" or "due for an annual;" and about twenty percent of those were absolutely irredeemable -- so damaged were the sealing surfaces of the first stages, from either cross-threading (I can't imagine how) or simply ham-fisted o-ring removal, that a reliable and steady IP was impossible. Second stages frequently had bent -- useless -- servo valves; stripped screws; or rotted diaphragms.

The rodent damage on this thread was a first for me; and it still hangs on my wall of shame.

Some items were easily returned; others required lengthy fights over PayPal; and still others -- as illustrated in this thread -- were foreigners with fake US addresses, whom eBay had little interest in pursuing; and who, otherwise, fell into legal gray areas. All, by the way, possessed stellar reviews; and oddly, the resultant poor reviews from my friends and clients, particularly for "Power-Sellers" frequently went missing from their later profiles.

Now, the site even requires a seven day waiting period, in order to post a negative review, for some "privileged" eBay clients:

"If the seller is a power seller then it is an eBay requirement that less than positive feedback cannot be left for seven days. You are to use this time to allow the seller to try and solve your problem. If they do not solve your problem then you are free to leave your feedback after sever full days have elapsed . . ."

Keep your money in the US.

 

[Bigbella]

Keep your money in the US.

My friend had rightly assumed that the dealer was from the Midwest . . .

 

[Robbyg]

I have been using eBay from about 1999 and to be honest out of about 280+ products I have bought only 3 of them were a rip off. I use a very methodical method of buying items to make sure I don't get ripped off.

First of all I don't buy from liquidators or any large eBay seller. If they have sold thousands items I don't even bother to look much less bid. The reason is that I got to see one of these professional eBay sellers operation and it was a very slick operation.
If they are selling regulators it's typically because they have bought out the stock from a failed dive shop. They then get in a guy who is into diving equipment repair and hire him for a few weeks. He separates out all the new or almost new items from the rest and those go up for Auction at super high almost retail prices.
The left over stuff with repairable issues is half ass repaired using parts from other units and then buffed and shinned to look like it's in great condition but most of it is not. Then lastly you have the units that are made from all the left over parts. These are marked in a range of ways from "Not tested" to "For parts". One of my early buys was a "For Parts" Amateur Radio that looked perfect on the outside. When I opened it up and started to repair it I found that only one out of eight circuit boards was working and the others had been exchanged for burned out boards that each had major problems. This was not just your typical burned out piece of gear, it was a collection of garbage bin boards made into a Frankenstein piece of kit and they did not even take the time screw back in the boards with all the screws or put back all ribbon cables.

The next thing that is important is communication. I will typically have two to three correspondents with a seller before I even bid on the item. I ask him direct questions so that the messages are on record with eBay. If lets say a regulator says just came back from servicing I ask him in a private message when was it serviced and who did the service work and can you send me a photo of the receipt for service work that was done. Also If I am not happy with the Auction photos I ask them to email me more detailed photos and in some cases If I suspect the photos may be stock photos or stolen off the internet, I ask for specifics like can you email me a picture of that Shearwater Petrol next to a $5 bill. In half the cases the seller does not get back to me and that is fine, I just move onto other auctions. If he's not willing to send extra photos or proof that he actually had the unit serviced then most likely it was just a scam anyway.

My last tip is if your in unknown waters on a product that you make sure you do a lot of research before buying it used. I purchased two industrial automated counters. The model number given by the seller was something like CNS-1027 and I just assumed it was the model I was looking for. It turned out that the company made a 1027A all the way to a 1027D. The guy was selling the A model which was several years older than the D model and lacked a lot of features. He sort of scammed me, but I blame myself for not researching the product properly.


Anyway those are a few of the things I do but there are lots of other things I do to make sure I am not getting scammed.

 

[Pressurehead]

"lightly used"
Just bought off eBay a SP Mk 25 and s600 for a very good price [came with gauges, the usual 3, not needed , but SPG looks good], looks like it has never been serviced, I will post photos when I have a moment, I have the service kits for both, the 1st stage is apart and looks good, well OK and can be fixed, now the s600 will need a lot more work,then replace the hoses, which I have.
I find it hard to believe that people dive with expensive gear and don't even give it a good clean, you don't have to be pedantic [ or even a quick rinse if diving every day].
I will save them both ,1st stage for sure, 2nd ?, on a mission, [like land rights for gay whales].

 

[dead dog]

I find it hard to believe that people dive with expensive gear and don't even give it a good clean...

Yeah, the most overused word on eBait is "rare". lol

 

[Pressurehead]

I will save them both ,1st stage for sure, 2nd ?

Done, the poor 2nd is sweet again [sand and salt, looking sad], 1st very Good, holding IP 9.5 Bar after cycling.
I don't need an extra Regulator, why do I do it?
Don't answer that, there are enough 'tragic' cases on here that know why.

 

[dead dog]

I don't need an extra Regulator, why do I do it?

You're on a mission if you decide to take it to save as many regulators that possible can be saved.
This message will self-destruct in five minutes.

 

[Couv]

Regulator, why do I do it?

You're on a mission if you decide to take it to save as many regulators that possible can be saved.

These were calling for help. It was my mission and I chose to accept it.