Ebay or not to Ebay - that is the question?

[Rebekkap]

Or get rid of it via your local Freecycle. Then whoever wants it can collect it and you don't have to take it anywhere. You can't charge anything but the 'feel good' factor of knowing that it's going to someone who really wants it is great.

I once disposed of a lot of outdated ski stuff (skis, boots & clothes) via Melbourne Freecycle. Received a lot of interest, of course, but chose to give it all to a keen skiing family of mother & 2 girls, all approximately my size, who lived near Healesville and had lost home and all possessions in the Ash Wednesday bushfires.

Yes, freecycle is fantastic. People come and collect the darndest things that otherwise you'd have to pay a fee to dispose of at the tip. Someone came and got my old, grotty shower screen when we replaced it - it was ancient and hideous, but they were building something and wanted it.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

I flog off unused and unneeded ammenity bags. The last two Thai Airways F bags I sold in recent weeks netted me $155

On my next trip on TG F, I will try and get as many ammenity bags as I can [and then it will subsidise my points purchases] LOL

For example, four bags per return trip to Europe earns ~$300, so that's more than 10% saved off a USDM purchase.

Thats a brilliant idea - I never thought of that!

I'm flying TG F in Oct solo - what are the chances they will give me more than 1 amenity bag per flight if I ask really nicely? 'It's my parents 30th wedding anniversary next week'............

 

[drewbles]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

Thats a brilliant idea - I never thought of that!

I'm flying TG F in Oct solo - what are the chances they will give me more than 1 amenity bag per flight if I ask really nicely? 'It's my parents 30th wedding anniversary next week'............

Wowsers! I knew they were expensive but that's pricey!

I have a 'very very limited edition' Rimowa Amenity kit; only around 200 of them were made by Rimowa especially for the Star Alliance MegaDo 4 (SMD4). They've also been on a 787 (twice).

I guess their value would only be appreciated by airline geeks. They look something like this:

 

[simongr]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

I love eBay - I have completed my 2000AD comic collection via eBay purchases. A couple of times I have bought the wrong thing and the seller has cancelled the transaction very nicely. I have never had a fraud. In fact this thread prompted me to look for a iPhone case for the wife on eBay and found 20 or so suitable items.

 

[blackcat20]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

I have never had a fraud.

I was sent fake jeans once; easily returned and refunded once I spoke to ebay though.

 

[simongr]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

The only thing I am not keen to buy is clothes due to being unable to check sizes.

 

[opusman]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

Freecycle, a.k.a. freakcycle - for a very good reason

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

Who would pay that much for an airline amenity bag/kit???

I have some J kits i took from Thai and LH flights last year, wonder if i should try to flog them?!?!?

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

As a seller, I *despise* eBay and PayPal. They end up taking nearly 15% of my sale and if I have the audacity to say 'direct deposit preferred' they will de-list my item. Likewise you're not allowed to surcharge for PayPal. People then up the shipping costs, and eBay have been known to come down on the people who sell an item cheap and then have expensive shipping (shipping and sale are different in PayPal).

As a buyer, i'll use it to get sample pricing, and shop direct with the merchant (many online eBay regulars are from stores, so i'll buy direct from them for the same price; they make more, it costs me nothing, and i'm happy).

eBay has its uses, but it's making money for jam pretty much. I've often considered starting up a competitor to them, but with the clout they have, they'll either put you out of business or buy you for few bucks (not millions either).

I said pretty much exactly the same thing in another thread

Mainly as a buyer, I'll use it to find what I want and then contact the merchant directly. As you said many Ebay sellers are small business operations, so you can easily buy from them directly for the same price

So NO I don't use EBAY

 

[blackcat20]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

Mainly as a buyer, I'll use it to find what I want and then contact the merchant directly. As you said many Ebay sellers are small business operations, so you can easily buy from them directly for the same price

Thats why I have a link to my website in each of my eBay listings

 

[JohnK]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

So you think it is junk then basically. If it is broken or otherwise unwanted by many... well you wouldnt be getting 700 for it. But I'm not an expert so get your own advice.

Yes the electric golf buggy I purchased from eBay is junk. I spent $700 and I could not get my money back, took it back to distributor/supplier 6-7 times and they reluctantly tried to fix it and it has been sitting in the garage for 6-7 years collecting dust.

If I had purchased from a reputable shop the story would have been different.

I could not attempt to sell it now as it is worthless. I want to keep it as a reminder of how stupid one can be when you put trust in other human beings.

 

[Skyring]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

I could not attempt to sell it now as it is worthless. I want to keep it as a reminder of how stupid one can be when you put trust in other human beings.

Every time I get on a plane, I'm trusting the pilots to keep me safe. I can't open the door and walk home. I trust the cabbie to get me and my wallet home safely. I trust the kids in Macca's to make me a burger.

I trust people because they trust me.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

I trust people because they trust me.

Trust me! Some people you cannot trust....

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: Qantas taking Qantas Club vouchers off eBay!

Every time I get on a plane, I'm trusting the pilots to keep me safe.

I don't trust Air India pilots!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I want to see the product before I buy it.

.

So you have never booked an online hotel room, apartment, B&B....or flight? I just booked an AirBerlin flight...and have certainly never seen one of their planes in the flesh.

For years I have booked apartments via owner via the web sight-unseen. I much prefer this than hotels.

In the "old" travel days I would rock up in a town and look for somewhere. But why waste my,time when doing so online gets me great places at great prices with a lot less hassle?

Sure there are some dodgey providers/sellers, but use some common sense and understand that if something is way too cheap...that there is probably a reason.

 

[JohnK]

So you have never booked an online hotel room, apartment, B&B....or flight? I just booked an AirBerlin flight...and have certainly never seen one of their planes in the flesh.

I don't have much choice when booking hotels.

In Thailand it has been a case of take a chance and book the hotel first time and then if it is suitable book it for next time. I have also visited hotels while I was there to see what the rooms are like so I know for next time.

Sure there are some dodgey providers/sellers, but use some common sense and understand that if something is way too cheap...that there is probably a reason.

The golf buggy I purchased is on the expensive side at ~$700. A friend bought a better one for ~$250 which was advertised outside a shop in Marrickville in Sydney.

If I ever need to purchase a cheap cable then I will consider eBay again but for now I have no need for their services.

 

[Catweazle]

I've had generally good experiences with Ebay. Bought my first car off there from a guy 3 hours away (still driving it now). And my Apple laptop, as well as several postage stamp collections. Though you do have to be careful and read the entire description and check the payment and postage options. And the picture. It's true that there are 'ebay bunnies' out there, waiting for silly bidders.

I'll continue to use it, for now...

 

[whatmeworry]

I just booked an AirBerlin flight...and have certainly never seen one of their planes in the flesh.

I have flown a number of times of with Airberlin like a number of other users and never had problems.