Why do so many people call it "Evilbay"?

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sputnik

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Yes, their fees suck. Yes, there are loads of bad sellers on there. Caution has to be exercised, just like anywhere.

But I find it odd that so many people on here call it names like Evilbay?

A lot of the great "look at my bargain" threads are from people who have purchased over at eBay. Also, loads of people here also sell on eBay.

So why do people pretend they hate it so much? :blink:

It just seems a bit strange to me that people are meant to pretend it's this terrible place, when it's quite clear almost everyone here uses it? :cool:

Can't it just be a case of : Amibay is better than eBay if you want to increase the chance of buying off someone who understands what they're selling? (which, to be fair, also brings inherent disadvantages too...)
 
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People got own view on what they think :)

Ebay used be very good as I remember back year 2000 or somethings like that and bought bargain price whatever retro computer it was :)

Now it is so different as it was then:(
 
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But that was because back in 2000, you had thousands of sellers who had no idea what they were selling, and a few of us who did, and there weren't as many "casual" retro gamers who wanted to relive the old days - to put it simply, us buyers had less competition, and the sellers couldn't give half the stuff away.

Now time has passed, the systems have gotten rarer and there's more interest in retro gaming, probably also thanks to things like Virtual console, etc. And many more folk have set up as retro dealers, grabbing all the eBay bargains and hoarding up / parting out stock (like one particular large Amiga seller.)

But none of that is really eBay's fault? Just a comment on the retro market in general? If it wasn't eBay, it would have been Yahoo! Auctions, or whoever else.

Don't get me wrong : I loved it a few years ago, scooping up thousands of items for pennies, but I don't hold eBay responsible, it was always going to happen really. I just find it funny that a lot of people daren't even speak it's name, as though admitting using it is some kind of terrible sin :roll:
 
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I always took it to be a joke :D

I was robbed on there many moons ago
but it is much better now.
 
Yep, I've always thought it was a tongue in cheek way of referring to eBay. I generally don't participate in eBay auctions, but I still do a lot of shopping there through the Buy it Now option.

Heather
 
I'm almost certain that everyone who refers to it as evilbay has at some point been ripped off or some other buyer/seller has took the proverbial hence the name 'evilbay'...

For me, it is what it is, good choice, good prices and opportunity to get some rare stuff as well as occasionally sell stuff that doesn't sell on the forums (bloody fees) however as always, excercise caution and follow the rules and you should for the most part be okay.
 
ebay may have it's faults but it's a great system that without I would have a tiny gaming collection. Without it or some site like it you would never see most of the games you want to buy for sale anywhere.
 
Yeah we rip on eBay a lot but it's still a fantastic place to buy small low value items., remember the days when you had to pay £15 for a cable in Dixons or Maplin you can get for 99p on ebay :)

I have also picked up a lot of local bargains.
 
Tongue firmly in cheek, yes, although I do feel their seller policies are getting a bit harsh. More dirty buyers, than sellers these days, I think :dry:_>" smilieid="189" class="inlineimg">
 
i call it feebay. i find it more appropriate
 
ShambleS1980 said:
i call it feebay. i find it more appropriate
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lol, I've heard ths many times and it is most certainly the most appropriate acronym (I'm sure that's not how you spell it but :shrug:)

Tbh I think bad experiences either 1st hand or 3rd party wispered on the grapevine have tarnished the rep but I think to a large degree there is a fair amount of bitterness relating to the inflation of prices for the retro clobber we all love. As said earlier this was enevitable and is hardly the sole fault of ebay which is simple just a good old vehicle for selling just about anything. No harm no foul really.

Personally I both like and dislike it but then it's not so much ebay itself but the format into which it has been shaped and tbh buyers and sellers have been the cause of this in much the same way as some of the Amibay rules are unpopular to some. The rules are there to give balance, whether or not you believe the balance to be even is up to you.

Truth is Ebay gives your stuff enormous exposure and a great chance of selling for a decent price and on the otherhand as a buyer there is good competition to the high street for things which always used to be damned pricey.
 
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one thing about feebay they have atleast now. given you 12 free pics (used to be like 1 stamp sized pic) and 20 free listings a month (used to have to pay for a listing if it sold or not)
But they have added a fee to postage which is rediculous because they dont even post my stuff.
so 2 good things but they had to go and charge postage fees which is stupid.
i dont mind the 10% sale fee. but then 10% postage fee AND you have to give pay pall some % that i still dont know how much that is. (even though its all really owned by the same people) so the fees really kill it for me for selling.
i just use here some forums and facebook local selling pages for the most part.
if i really have to get something gone then its on feebay with a higher price. and funny enough it usually sells there even for the 15% or so more than i wanted for it.
so its ok. but it will keep its feebay name for me. when you can charge fees 3 times on one sale you know your printing money. and just for good measure they spam me with "50 year old woman looks 20" and "eat this and never diet again" spam adverts on the side.

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i did try and compliment feebay then. i really did. i have no idea how it turned in to a mini rant lol
 
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As a buyer 99,9% of the time, I dont see the point of "evilbay". I have been well served here (amibay) and there (ebay). In fact, I bought recently some retro itens cheaper than here on amibay (no price driving rule broken I think, dont tell the itens I bought). On ebay german, the guys are very fair with postage unlike uk sellers on ebay. That is the difference, they charge me the DHL or MyHermes postage costs, nothing more. So, my experience on ebay is very positive, I cant call it evilbay or feebay, in a buyer point of view of course.
 
I like the bay, lets be honest I bet most of you are on it a least once a day I know I am :)
Also all the big electricals are on there also ,I supose they get special fee contracts with the bay as they are so huge.

still get excited bidding on that item your dying to win or lose sometimes :)

The retro scene is still big just looking at some of the prices again, seem to be edging North again :(
 
I like to call it fleabay :)

I don't have any major gripes with it, good customer service when I've had to use it. The fees can mount up with eBay/Paypal but it's not like someone is holding a gun to your head to sell on there :D
 
supaduper said:
I like the bay, lets be honest I bet most of you are on it a least once a day I know I am :)
Also all the big electricals are on there also ,I supose they get special fee contracts with the bay as they are so huge.

still get excited bidding on that item your dying to win or lose sometimes :)

The retro scene is still big just looking at some of the prices again, seem to be edging North again :(
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Yep there's still a rush when you win something (especially if it's a blinding deal) in the dying seconds!

I do cry a bit each time I think of the prices I sold must of my PPC/high end Amiga stuff for last year that have doubled since :(

No way I could ever buy it back now even if I wanted to.
 
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I call it WoldemortBay. "The 'Bay that shall not be named." :lol:
 
Yes Evilbay is kind of a joke.. But it's also half serious. Yes, they do provide a good service. Yes, it's possible to find bargains.

But also:
since they bought PayPal they take juicy and whoping total of 14% cut on whatever you sell including the postage
they hold back payment for up to 23 days for silly reasons (they said I don't have enough seller ratings from US buyers, apparently the tons of ratings from UK buyers doesn't count even though it's the same account)
they support is a mess (instructing call them for security reasons on a US number, then the rep just ask my ebay name and then proceeding to just deal with my case based on that)
their support people are a bit like robots (instead of answering my question, saying things like "Don't worry, you are almost there!" WTF??:huh:
and last, there is unfortunately no real alternative to either ebay or paypal - with masses of sellers and buyers - so they can do whatever they want, and they will - 25% fee anyone?
 
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It's always been a buyers market... If it's too expensive, don't buy it. If people are willing to pay silly money for old hardware sellers will price with that in mind, the more people willing to pay a high price, the higher the price! I get both sides, I buy and my Mrs runs a shop, believe me buyers can be a real nightmare too. I choose what to buy carefully with a set of strict rules and sometimes you get a gold mine :/

It's not inherently evil, nor are the sellers, they're just people trying to make money!
 
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