I'm really into ebay. I mean REALLY into ebay. I have over a 300 feedback rating from buying and selling. I bought my Magnaflow exhaust, high flow cats, license plate frames, grille, etc., etc., etc. The last two times I purchased something off ebay something very strange happened. I go to leave feedback and the seller is no longer a registered user. WTH? This happened on my license plate frames. Beautiful quality, uneventful delivery, selling with 200+ feedback - go to leave feedback - GONE! This week I bought a HP 6.0mp Digital camera, model M525, very new, very hard to find (on ebay anyhow). Camera arrives, new in box, works perfectly - go to leave feedback - GONE AGAIN! Anyone else have this happen lately?

There has been a lot of stolen items being sold on ebay and the police departments are starting to take notice. Usually they don't go after the person that bid and won the item, but they do set them up with sting operations that net the perk in the sale. I know of a police detective that has done just this to catch a local thief. He was the high bidder and made arrangements to pick up the item. When he got there and gave the seller the money, took possession of the item, and promptly arrested the person. Once they are caught, ebay will either suspend the account till it is resolved in the courts or they might just close the account. If the deal seems too good to be true and the price is very low, but it sells at a no reserve auction, that should be a hint that the item might be stolen. If you get a knock at the door and there is a person with a badge asking to see the camera, you will know why.

There is another possibility. Some con-artists get an ebay name going and conduct business in a reasonably fair manner for a while. After getting enough positive feedback to look legit they list tons of items all at once, take payment on those and disappear with the cash. Its usually at least a week before anyone has any idea what is happening. Some of these people cultivate several names at once and keep a rotation going. You may have been one of the lucky few who got in on the front end while they were still delivering the won items.

There is another possibility. Some con-artists get an ebay name going and conduct business in a reasonably fair manner for a while. After getting enough positive feedback to look legit they list tons of items all at once, take payment on those and disappear with the cash. Its usually at least a week before anyone has any idea what is happening. Some of these people cultivate several names at once and keep a rotation going. You may have been one of the lucky few who got in on the front end while they were still delivering the won items.


Yeah, I got screwed on a video card like that. Some people got their stuff, but most didn't, I was unlucky.

I only use paypal, that way I have recourse. The camera in question was about $40 under the best internet price I could find. I paid $129 minus a $20 ebay coupon, so net $109. The lowest price I could find using bizrate was $165 or so.