EBAY China ????

[fazersharp]

How does it work when you search on ebay via nearest and you get all these results in your town but then when you scroll down you can see the address is actually china - the address is even written in Chinese and its two weeks delivery WFT! How does that work.

[coffee]

I know! and what a rigmarole if you have to return 'cause some of them chinese goods have a no return policy so you have to foot the post,my daughter bought a leather coat and by the time she'd sent it back and then had to get it altered she could have bought one from a designer outlet!

[mtread]

Depends what you are buying and how much you are paying. Cheap electronics seem to be fine, and I bought some adjustable levers quite successfully.
You need to watch out for Customs Duties and VAT though. The shipping agent may send you a surprise bill.

[darrsi]

As above, cheap stuff can be worth a punt, bit if it's not, be prepared to bin it.
Our postage can be more than the product is worth, it's a worldly thing.

[agricola]

As above, cheap stuff can be worth a punt, bit if it's not, be prepared to bin it.
Our postage can be more than the product is worth, it's a worldly thing.

I cant get my head round the economics. I bought two sets of footrests for the fazer, from China, for half the cost of buying one set in the Uk, and that included the postage

[ogri48]

it can be good. I got these cheapo clock binnacles to replace me scratchd xjr1300 ones for about two and six (half a crown) with free postage.  they were spot on

[darrsi]

As above, cheap stuff can be worth a punt, bit if it's not, be prepared to bin it.
Our postage can be more than the product is worth, it's a worldly thing.

I cant get my head round the economics. I bought two sets of footrests for the fazer, from China, for half the cost of buying one set in the Uk, and that included the postage

It's simply the exchange rate.
I wouldn't even consider trying to send something back, not worth the trouble, or cost.

[fazersharp]

Its not the buying from China that is my issue its the fact that when I search ebay "nearest me" all these hits come up in my own City but if you scroll down to the address its actually China and its suspiciously over a week delivery so clearly they are not in my City at all. 
Hoe does that work with ebay rules. Its a LED sound activated disco light since you asked 

[mtread]

. Its a LED sound activated disco light since you asked 

Where are you going to fit that on the bike?


I think the seller just sets up an agent address in the UK.

[Grahamm]

Cheap electronics seem to be fine

As long as you don't mind them failing unexpectedly.

Also DO NOT buy anything electrical from them! A friend took apart a transformer/ adapter he got from them and found the "insulation" between the mains side and the DC side was a 1mm piece of thin material which, had it become dislodged, could have allowed the DC side to become live with 220 volts!!!

[fazersharp]

Cheap electronics seem to be fine

As long as you don't mind them failing unexpectedly.

Also DO NOT buy anything electrical from them! A friend took apart a transformer/ adapter he got from them and found the "insulation" between the mains side and the DC side was a 1mm piece of thin material which, had it become dislodged, could have allowed the DC side to become live with 220 volts!!!

That's my point in searching via "nearest first" so that I cut out all the stuff sold direct from China but it doesn't wok. Ebay needs to sort it out. 

[mtread]

EBay are there to make money. They don't give a toss 

[F4celess]

EBay are there to make money. They don't give a toss 

Exactly. EBay wont pursue it, all they care about is revenue. If people are buying and selling, all that commission falls in their pockets.

Another BEWARE I'll mention on EBay - you buy what appears to be a decent item at "rock bottom" prices.
However the item drops through your door in an AMAZON BASICS box! 

The Seller is advertising Amazon Basics (Amazon own/non labelled) items on ebay, then adding several pounds as profit. You "buy" the ebay item thinking you are getting a good deal. The seller then buys the CHEAPER priced item on Amazon, setting your Address as the destination. Crafty trick that leaves you feeling a bit exploited to be honest (plus they mention nothing about Amazon in the advert).

Once you are set on something, it really is worth checking the other (popular) online stores, incase that item is cheaper elsewhere.

EBay has been around so long there's alot of people on there exploiting various shady methods of sale. Plus EBay tend to side with the seller.

[mtread]

Not to mention of course that as a private seller you have no protection at all. The buyer only has to suggest that the item didn't arrive and Ebay/PayPal will immediately debit the money from your account.