Recent Ebay Experience

[Blobcat]

I have been looking for a new coffee maker for awhile and found the one I wanted on EBay in Germany for £650 less than it sells for in the UK.
Being naturally wary I checked all feedback and other items the vendor was selling. I contacted 3 buyers to get their feedback before proceeding. I asked the buyer what was included with the machine and asked for some additional items (filters/cleaning equipment & coffee) to be added.
I then bought the machine using buy it now and paid via my credit card using Pay Pal. I did not hear from the vendor and when checking a few days later noticed that the payment had been refused. I emailed the vendor and asked for an update on the situation. I did not hear anything I was looking at other items they had for sale and noticed that the listings had been modified to say that they did not take credit card payments via pay pal only money transfers. I emailed the vendor asking them to send another invoice, but again did not hear anything.
2 days later a coffee maker arrives, at this point I had not paid for it or heard anything form the vendor. Unfortunately the machine did not work, either damaged in transit or faulty from new. I emailed the vendor and thanked them for sending the machine and advised them that I was sending it back. I asked them to contact me when they receive it. I checked that the machine had arrived back in Germany, nothing heard from the vendor just a request for payment in EBay. Then last Friday a new machine arrived, this one works perfectly (if you’re in the area pls call in for coffee ), still no contact from the vendor. I made sure that the machine was perfect I then transferred the funds in Pay Pal for it on Saturday.
Communication is the key to EBay in my limited experience of buying and selling, this vendor is very trusting and poor communicating. It could have turned out quite differently.

 

[television]

(if you’re in the area pls call in for coffee ),

Be careful, I am am not that far from you.

malcolm

 

[littlebrooklyn]

We should all go down to Malcolms for coffee and a spin in his new Mercedes :lol:

 

[television]

We should all go down to Malcolms for coffee and a spin in his new Mercedes :lol:

I will be in Watford in the next couple of weeks with luck, that's if it stops raining, and you can go for a spin.

Malcolm

 

[sankey]

would it not spill in the car?????lol

 

[Doyle]

did u ever think that the vendor didn't speak or know how to read english?

and unfortunatly i dont like coffee so u can have one on me

Doyle.

 

[Blobcat]

did u ever think that the vendor didn't speak or know how to read english?

and unfortunatly i dont like coffee so u can have one on me

Doyle.

The item was listed in English and they replied to me when I asked for the additional items in English. Feedback also given in English so I am fairly confident in their command of the language.

It is not just limited to coffee it makes milk/chocolate drinks and water for tea so most bases are covered

 

[Doyle]

ahhh i see....then let us celerbrate your new machine by the adding of chocolate to milk.

 

[Hanz]

Perhaps I should pop in for a coffee on the way to Cardiff!

Watch out blob, your house will end up full!

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I will be in Watford in the next couple of weeks with luck, that's if it stops raining, and you can go for a spin.

Malcolm

Sounds good Malcolm, maybe we should see if anyone else is going to be in this area when you are here

 

[Blobcat]

Perhaps I should pop in for a coffee on the way to Cardiff!

Watch out blob, your house will end up full!

Only around 160 miles out of the way. Although if you forget to turn off for Cardiff from the M4 you will end up in Carmarthen, assuming you remember to go around the 3 roundabouts.

 

[Hanz]

I've done that once but I got off at Cardiff gate services!

 

[Possum300D]

I have been looking for a new coffee maker for awhile and found the one I wanted on EBay in Germany for £650 less than it sells for in the UK.
Being naturally wary I checked all feedback and other items the vendor was selling. I contacted 3 buyers to get their feedback before proceeding. I asked the buyer what was included with the machine and asked for some additional items (filters/cleaning equipment & coffee) to be added.
I then bought the machine using buy it now and paid via my credit card using Pay Pal. I did not hear from the vendor and when checking a few days later noticed that the payment had been refused. I emailed the vendor and asked for an update on the situation. I did not hear anything I was looking at other items they had for sale and noticed that the listings had been modified to say that they did not take credit card payments via pay pal only money transfers. I emailed the vendor asking them to send another invoice, but again did not hear anything.
2 days later a coffee maker arrives, at this point I had not paid for it or heard anything form the vendor. Unfortunately the machine did not work, either damaged in transit or faulty from new. I emailed the vendor and thanked them for sending the machine and advised them that I was sending it back. I asked them to contact me when they receive it. I checked that the machine had arrived back in Germany, nothing heard from the vendor just a request for payment in EBay. Then last Friday a new machine arrived, this one works perfectly (if you’re in the area pls call in for coffee ), still no contact from the vendor. I made sure that the machine was perfect I then transferred the funds in Pay Pal for it on Saturday.
Communication is the key to EBay in my limited experience of buying and selling, this vendor is very trusting and poor communicating. It could have turned out quite differently.

Out of interest, were you hit by any customs charges etc??? Always wondered what they do with stuff from within the EU.

 

[mioba]

Out of interest, were you hit by any customs charges etc??? Always wondered what they do with stuff from within the EU.

yes thats an expensive piece of kit, i am telling gordon brown:smile:

 

[Blobcat]

Out of interest, were you hit by any customs charges etc??? Always wondered what they do with stuff from within the EU.

No HMCE knocking on the door for coffee as yet . Been stung for customs for items from the US a couple of times but nothing for European items. I may be (and probably are) wrong, but I thought that if VAT is paid in the EU then it isn't charge again. I know that HMCE are big into the carosusel Vat scams. Buying goods tax free in Europe then charging Vat on them and not giving the ££'s to the HMCE.
I give Gordon enough just for living / driving here..

 

[television]

The same rules apply to the EU as the UK, if you are VAT registered, then you pay and reclaim in the normal way as you do in the UK. For private non registered VAT citizens you just pay it. When importing from a non EU country you are also liable for duty plus the VAT,and the VAT is added to the postage cost as well. I think it is goods over £30 that attract this tax.

Malcolm

 

[big x]

The same rules apply to the EU as the UK, if you are VAT registered, then you pay and reclaim in the normal way.

Malcolm

If your UK VAT registered the easy way is to give the EU supplier your number so the sale is VAT free.You still have to put it through your VAT return but it's just a figure that goes in and out.You cannot later reclaim EU purchases VAT in the normal way (although there are ways that involve lots of hassle)
If you are not registered for VAT you pay the tax once at the suppliers local rate.
I'm not an accountant but do my own VAT returns.

adam

 

[television]

If your UK VAT registered the easy way is to give the EU supplier your number so the sale is VAT free.You still have to put it through your VAT return but it's just a figure that goes in and out.You cannot later reclaim EU purchases VAT in the normal way (although there are ways that involve lots of hassle)
If you are not registered for VAT you pay the tax once at the suppliers local rate.
I'm not an accountant but do my own VAT returns.

adam

During a busy 10 year spell in my life I made special sound recorders for Blind school children and the Man Power Services Commision for blind workers, all of this work was zero rated, so I just claimed back the VAT on all purchases.
the result was that the Vat people hated me, and I got spot checks 6-8 times a year,phone would ring and, Mr Watford, Customs and exercise here,we will be with you in ½ and hour, please have everything to hand.
It made for very cheap living, like a 17.5% discount on everthing I bought.

malcolm

 

[big x]

During a busy 10 year spell in my life I made special sound recorders for Blind school children and the Man Power Services Commision for blind workers, all of this work was zero rated, so I just claimed back the VAT on all purchases.
the result was that the Vat people hated me, and I got spot checks 6-8 times a year,phone would ring and, Mr Watford, Customs and exercise here,we will be with you in ½ and hour, please have everything to hand.
It made for very cheap living, like a 17.5% discount on everthing I bought.

malcolm

These days they don't seem to bother with checks if your turnover is under £100k.It's all hands to the pumps trying to stop the billions being lost in microchip and mobile phone carousel fraud.

adam