Sounds sketchy. I’m sorry you had such a bad experience! While eBay can be a source of good value, finding a good seller can be challenging.

I send sellers my “best practices” for packing. Do they follow? No. Do about half the typewriters I get arrived damaged? Yes! Fortunately, I’ve been able to get refunds, including shipping both ways. Still, they’ve turned a working machine into junk.

I don’t have a typewriter story to share, other than that I would like to buy one. Not in eBay. I have an eBay story to share.
I agree with your comment on eBay @TypeWriterJustice. eBay is a multi billion dollar company, decades old, you can trust their platform right? No, it turns out! I had a horrible experience receiving a printer with broken and missing parts and missing even the padding on the box. It was supposed to be new, unopened box. No worries, eBay will protect you right? No!

The seller was sneaky. Sent me a return label that the post office said was not even close to the return shipping cost. I was on the phone with eBay support a few times, it was maddening. They suggested I dispute the charge with my credit card company! I said it’s your platform, why can’t you intervene, scold the seller, or just eat up the cost if you don’t want to, don’t leave me short. No luck.

Seller had high ratings. I couldn’t rate them! I could only rate the product! It took three months to fully resolve the issue using my credit card company. I have had an eBay account for 10+ years, used it lightly mainly to buy, once a year or so. Never again. Seriously never again, I skip eBay listings when they turn up on web searches.

But I do want to get a typewriter. Great post Dan, thanks.

That’s right! eBay works on an automatic bidding system. That way you don’t need to be present/online for the auction, unlike traditional auctions in person where you need to constantly announce your bid. That high bid is the maximum amount you’ll bid up to. What you end up paying if you win the auction is some small amount over the last highest bid. Many people are fearful of putting in bids much higher than the last highest bid. That’s where sniping at the last minute with a super high bid can get you some good deals. The risk you take is going up against another sniper, or someone who put in a high bid at the beginning of the auction.

Great article, love your blog. Just I didn’t quiet get the thing about eBay auctions, when you enter a high bid and if no one outbids you then you pay amount lesser than the bid you entered??! Could you explain it again

Thanks

Where is the location?

Garage sales, estate sales or me-I have 5 typewriters, 2 of them electric. I’m interested in opening up my own repair store. brokencell@mail.com