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WARNING
eBay now using internet advertising agency 'doubleclick.net' to covertly track everyone who browses eBay.
Everytime you log on to eBay, a 'tracking cookie' is implanted covertly by eBay onto your computer. This cookie monitors which webpages you visit, including the ones you visited immediately before and after you browsed eBay. In their 'privacy' statement, eBay do not disclose exactly what doubleclick.net does with this information. Furthermore, the doubleclick.net website gives no information about their link with eBay. Doubleclik.net also intrudes into your private email systems, Thus, when you receive an email from eBay with your favourite searches, and click the link on the email page to go to the item, you are forwarded to doubleclick.net. You have been warned!
Isn't it risky buying ceramics online?
Yes!
There is bound to be risk when you can't inspect goods personally before buying, and you will get disappointments. That is part and parcel of Internet shopping. So why does anyone risk using Internet sites such as eBay in the first place - especially for ceramics, where condition is so important?
Well, for may collectors of retro stuff, the rewards of buying on eBay far outweigh the risks and disappointments. You get access, from the comfort of your own home, to a staggering range and choice of ceramics. In the pre-eBay era, collectors had to spend lots of time and money travelling around to antiques fairs, collectors markets and dealers; or they had to use inconvenient and risky mail order from specialist catalogues.
So, a big thanks to eBay for making collecting much more easy and fun. Interestingly, eBay has greatly altered market prices for retro ceramics, pushing many prices down (by increasing the supply) while pushing others up (by increasing the customer base).
When people first discover eBay, they are often wary. This is hardly surprising: you are, after all, sending money to total strangers. And when you have made your first purchase, and sent off your payment and delivery address, you may worry that criminals or serial killers will come to visit you. In my experience, these fears are unfounded.
The truth is that eBay represents a true cross-section of humanity, and so you will encounter the good, the bad and the indifferent. I have traded on eBay with lots of nice people, some of them very friendly; a few selfish people; and one or two dirt bags. Fortunately, I haven't been visited by any serial killers yet.
If you really are concerned, then use a post box delivery address and don't give out personal information. Also, it is vital to have up-to-date antivirus and Internet security software for any Internet activity. Finally, never email people your credit card number, and don't reply to email messages purporting to be from eBay, and asking you to update your credit card information; they are always scam messages.
An increasing number of sellers are saying in their listings that they will give a refund if you are not happy with your purchase, and so one option, if you are worried about condition issues, is only to buy from these sellers.
| Good signs: professional attitude | Warning signs: attitude problem | |
| Sellers states, in their listing, that they will give a refund if the items are returned | Seller says, in their listing: 'I do not give refunds'. Don't touch these sellers with a barge pole | |
| Seller gives postal and packing costs, for a range of destinations, in their description | Seller says: 'I will give postal costs after sale has finished'. This is either lazy, or displays an intention to charge rip-off prices, so beware. You have a legal right to know what the total post and handling costs will be |
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Stunning 'STUNNING' is the favourite adjective of eBayers. In fact, you will be stunned so much when surfing eBay that you may quickly end up unconscious. |
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What is eBay? eBay is a very large American corporation with a market capitalisation of over 40 billion dollars. The idea is that you advertise your stuff on their website (for a fee) and people sitting at home can place a bid over the Internet if they fancy your piece. When the auction closes, the successful bidder makes a payment (often electronically) and the seller sends the item to them by post. The electronic payment is typically made via PayPal, a company owned by eBay |
eBay listings can be a bit corny:
STUNNING vintage Poole? / Clarice Cliffe? / Colin Melbourne? Art deco / shabby sheikh - vintage (Eames, Panton) Troika era WOW!!!L@@@K!!!! |
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seller information Location: |
| Description | |
Highly sort after and ultra rare STUNNING h'orses duvres pot designed by world famous designers Jim Clappinson and Jessey Tate in 1930. STUNNING condition (commensirate with age). Listed in price guide at £300!!! Tiny chip mentioned for acuracy, if you are ultra picky!! Does not destract, displays well. Would grace any collection, will pique the interest of the connoisour, and is a must for all serious collectors. Ideal Christmas Gift. BID NOW!!!! Guaranteed invesment. All my items are genuine vintage peices and are sold as seen. I always aim to be totally honest with my descriptions and do not give refunds, so no time waisters please!!!! I make a modest charge (£5) for professional packing materials (I wrap it in toilet paper and send it in an old Jiffy Bag). Not Beswick, Not Midwinter, Not Royal Doulton. STUNNING!
Available to: UK only |
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What trouble am I likely to run into?
Most of your experiences with eBay are likely to be happy ones. However there are some things to watch out for.
| POSTAL CHARGES | Sellers commonly charge more than the actual cost for post and packing. So always get confirmation of the cost before bidding, and don't let them con you by adding on hidden extra costs for 'handling'. |
| DAMAGE | Most of your anxiety about eBay should be focussed on whether you trust the seller to disclose condition issues (damage, scratches, crazing etc.) |
| BREAKAGE | Inexperienced sellers (with low feedback numbers) often put too little packing on ceramics, and I have occasionally received broken pieces that way. However, problems such as this are not common, in my experience. |
| POOR PHOTOS | Fuzzy or poor quality photos can really be misleading. Furthermore, items are not always the same colour as they appear in the photos. So, ask the seller if the piece really is the rare grey and yellow variant, or just a blue and white one. |
Other problems, such as outright fraud, are pretty rare - at least in my personal experience. I have occasionally been ripped-off over postal or packing charges, or hidden handling charges. Always pre-enquire about postal AND handling/packing charges.
If you live in Europe, and buy from the USA or elsewhere, don't forget you can get stung for import duties. Don't complain to the seller about this - it's your problem. UK-EU transactions are not liable to import duty.
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