Originally Posted by wlevey
Twofer - I gather from your strong preference for Ebay that you are an Ebay merch
I have gotten some stuff from Ebay, but after my nephew got stiffed for $5,000 for some rather fancy recording equipment he purchased on Ebay I am VERY leary!! Apparently he got snagged in one of the "it ain't really there" scams where an item that doesn't exist is sold, money taken and then no responses when inquiries are sent. The perp simply opens a new Ebay account under a different name and starts all over again.
For big ticket items I like to be able to look the person in the eye!! It also helps to have a real person/business to report to the law if you are taken advantage of (although the folks I deal with at all the shops I frequent are great and seem quite honest)
Besides, My friendly LBS has been making all sorts of adjustments and parts swaps to get my fit just right. Something that can't be done on Ebay. If I had gotten the bike on Ebay I would have ended up with several stems, bars and sadles that I really don't need. I know, I could always resell the stuff on Ebay, but frankly I would rather be out riding my bike than sitting in front of a computer selling stuff I got that I turned out not to need.
Bill
I am not an eBay merchant. I just buy and sell a few personal items from time to time.
I can buy something on eBay, use it for awhile, and then resell it on eBay and recoup most, if not all my initial investment. People who buy from an LBS irretreivably lose about 50% in value when they walk out the shop's door.
Buying the right item, and buying from a trustworthy eBay seller comes under the category of "doing your research." I would say a person who gives large sums of money to a total stranger for an item they don't fully understand is obviously making a mistake.
For big ticket items, I fully research the seller before getting involved. I also educate myself on what I need, and whether the offered item fills that need.
For people who want to learn about bikes, and who want to save big dollar$, eBay is the way to go. I realize that not everyone fits that description, though.
Just my 0.02 dollar$. <g>