Am I being paranoid about a TradeMe trade ?

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Mark

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#143011 31-Mar-2014 22:30

I'm maybe being overly cautious, so I thought I'd see what you guys and girls think ...

I'd like a new gas over/hob and over on TradeMe there is a nice sounding item :

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=712629810&permanent=0

But I've got an uneasy feeling about the seller after looking at their trade history, they've got a fair number of "Fantastic Trade!" reviews from $1.00 items (seems to just be a pamphlet sold again and again).

I've asked if I can pick up and pay at the same time, but they said I'd have to pay first .... am I being overly paranoid ?

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#1016266 31-Mar-2014 22:30

Hmmmm. Here we go.

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Fred99

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#1016275 31-Mar-2014 22:51

http://www.bigbrandsonline.co.nz/White_Gas_Cooker_IS50GW

Same cooker - $5 more - but free delivery.
TBH I'd forget trademe for items like this. While warranty and CGA may apply, from a seller with only 20 feedback, you don't know if he'll be there when you might need. This oven is only 50cm width - it's smaller than a standard small oven - which is 60cm.

Coil

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#1016280 31-Mar-2014 23:00

I would stay way clear of trademe for new items. The amount of times i know people that have a warranty claim and it gets denied or ignored...
Please do yourself a favor and go retail.

nolanz

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#1016281 31-Mar-2014 23:00

A couple of things come to mnd, considering the small number of transactions they have on Trademe.

Could it be that they only get the item from the supplier after you have paid. Maybe they do not carry stock themselves, and do not want to take the risk of being left with unsold stock if you do not turn up and pay.

On the other hand, can we assume that you would be paying cash. Maybe they are suspicious of other forms of payment and that is why they want a bank deposit on Trademe.

I believe that because it is not actualy an auction, you are using buy now, so you should be covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act. You will also have bank account details if things go amiss.

At the end of the day, whenever we purchse without being face to face, we take a risk.

One option might be to purchase one of their $1 pamphlets, and ask to pick it up. That way you will be able to meet someone face to face, and maybe make a judgement on that.

I suspect that this trader is in fact bigbrands online appliance store (link above) using Trademe as an alternative.

Mark

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#1016285 31-Mar-2014 23:15

Fred99: http://www.bigbrandsonline.co.nz/White_Gas_Cooker_IS50GW

Same cooker - $5 more - but free delivery.
TBH I'd forget trademe for items like this. While warranty and CGA may apply, from a seller with only 20 feedback, you don't know if he'll be there when you might need. This oven is only 50cm width - it's smaller than a standard small oven - which is 60cm.

Same cooker yes .. also same seller!

The cooker is for my little rental cottage, which has a teeny kitchen and a non-working cooker (previous landlord was a slacker for maintenance), so 50cm is better than nothing :-)

So now I've more questions than answers and they feel even more scammy ... they sell via the following sites :

www.bigbrands.co.nz
www.homekit.co.nz
and TradeMe

Both of the non-TradeMe sites claim to be "New Zealands Biggest Online Appliance Store", both have pictures of trucks with their signage on, both have the same "contact us" addresses and numbers and the photo they have of their showroom (on the www.homekit.co.nz website) doesn't see to exist on Google Street View.

So nope not buying, they seem a big old scam to me! :-(

I'll pay more from a main retailer instead.

Geektastic

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#1016286 31-Mar-2014 23:17

Mark: I'm maybe being overly cautious, so I thought I'd see what you guys and girls think ...

I'd like a new gas over/hob and over on TradeMe there is a nice sounding item :

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=712629810&permanent=0

But I've got an uneasy feeling about the seller after looking at their trade history, they've got a fair number of "Fantastic Trade!" reviews from $1.00 items (seems to just be a pamphlet sold again and again).

I've asked if I can pick up and pay at the same time, but they said I'd have to pay first .... am I being overly paranoid ?

TM is a rats nest to be honest.

It is past time they introduced Ebay-style buyer protection IMO. They take a large amount of money and actually add very little value to the process TBH.

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surfisup1000

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#1016292 31-Mar-2014 23:43

TimA: I would stay way clear of trademe for new items. The amount of times i know people that have a warranty claim and it gets denied or ignored...
Please do yourself a favor and go retail.

Doh! I just bought a new item off tradme ....its on the way already. the merchant did take credit card though, maybe that is a good sign that they are verified by the banks.

Coil

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#1016295 31-Mar-2014 23:52

surfisup1000:
TimA: I would stay way clear of trademe for new items. The amount of times i know people that have a warranty claim and it gets denied or ignored...
Please do yourself a favor and go retail.

Doh! I just bought a new item off tradme ....its on the way already. the merchant did take credit card though, maybe that is a good sign that they are verified by the banks.

Probably used the trademe checkout. Dont need to be no merchant.

MikeB4

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#1016310 1-Apr-2014 07:16

I would be more concerned about the brand, Indesit are terrible.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

muppet

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#1016315 1-Apr-2014 07:48

In the spirit of half the replies you've already received: "My god, why would you buy a white one?"

sittingduckz

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#1016317 1-Apr-2014 08:01

This might be of use?

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

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#1016320 1-Apr-2014 08:22

muppet: In the spirit of half the replies you've already received: "My god, why would you buy a white one?"

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Fred99

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#1016322 1-Apr-2014 08:34

Call Eurotech Design (Indesit importer/agent) 09 377 7523 and ask if BigBrands is one of their resellers. If so, then if BigBrands was to fold, then Eurotech will honour warranty (or CGHA claims).
If not, then presumably BigBrands etc is parallel importing - so if they folded you could be out on your own.
If they are a reseller for Eurotech, then if the price is good - go for it. The chainstores aren't exactly easy to deal with on warranty issues - I wouldn't pay a premium to buy from Harvey Norman etc.

jonathan18

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#1016323 1-Apr-2014 08:37

TimA: I would stay way clear of trademe for new items. The amount of times i know people that have a warranty claim and it gets denied or ignored...
Please do yourself a favor and go retail.

The reality is many well-established companies use TM as another sales avenue (eg Paul Money, Warewhare... ), and I assume this will only grow over time (cf eBay) ... I wouldn't worry about buying from such traders on TM, though sometimes it can be cheaper to go directly to the retailer's own site.

I think it also depends on the item you're purchasing as to whether buying new off TM is sensible - cheaper items I don't tend to hesitate with (though the same items can often be found on eBay for a fraction of the price). However, of course with more expensive items such as a stove it's rational to be cautious. At least those that allow payment by credit card provides some protection in being able to reverse payments in certain circumstances.

MikeB4

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#1016345 1-Apr-2014 09:02

wow these things sell for only £199 in the UK , add in GST and currency convert =$439 that means transport, warehousing, other duty and local mark up is near as dammit $400 on a $837 product

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/cookers/gas-cookers/indesit-is50gw-gas-cooker-white-15694893-pdt.html

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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