Can I trust Trade Me?

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TonganDlux

17 posts

Geek

# 177765 13-Aug-2015 15:43

Hello everyone!

Can I trust Trade me in general for good products? If you buy from one person of trade me with good products please inform me! Thanks

Now to my major question! Can I trust those $1.00 Deals with no reserve?
Please someone who has bought one and or has experience please inform me how this is possible and if I can trust them?

Thanks

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715 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

# 1365669 13-Aug-2015 16:09

Hmm - not sure if this's a serious question..

No - you can't trust everything on trademe. Look at the sellers feedback to get an idea of whether they're a reliable seller/selling good products.
Make sure you research the item you're buying so you know the right questions to ask, brand names/specs, likely flaws & faults to watch out for.

I've bought & sold thousands of items on Trademe, including big ticket items (cars, tractors, commercial equipment). It's a great marketplace with a few flaws.
Many people sell decent stuff with $1 reserve. I do sometimes because it's guaranteed sold, attracts views - and the item's likely to get bid up to market price anyway.

roobarb

483 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 1365672 13-Aug-2015 16:13

One person supports this post

Can you trust TradeMe, yes, it's part of the online landscape in NZ, and has a dispute resolution process, etc.

Can you trust an individual that you have never met? That's up to you based on the online reputation they appear to have and how much you trust that, see point above.

In theory if you buy something for a dollar, the worst that can happen is you waste a dollar, unless you buy a white elephant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant

trig42

Banana?
4803 posts

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# 1365689 13-Aug-2015 16:37

$1.00 Reserve items very rarely (never?) sell for $1.00.

People list them so that buyers know it will go to the best bid, and that the best bid will be the market price (the price people are willing to pay for that item).

They are a good idea if you have an item that is in demand (for example, an iPhone - it will always get bid up to the fair market value, maybe more if two bidders want to 'win').
$1 reserve are a bad idea if you are selling something that hardly anyone wants to buy (unless the item is only worth $1).

1101

1826 posts

Uber Geek

# 1365720 13-Aug-2015 16:55

The $1 deals: Ive had sellers refuse to sell if they dont sell for high enough .
On the other hand, Ive been caught out with my $1 auctions selling far too low, eg $5 for $50 item.

Some products on trademe are bad, fake goods, stolen goods, sellers lying about the condition, or simply not
stating goods are faulty

But in general, most sellers on trademe are honest. just check their feedback before bidding/buying
If something goes wrong, trademe really wont get involved in disputes .

Batman

Mad Scientist
20659 posts

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# 1365760 13-Aug-2015 17:44

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What kind of question is this?

Always check feedback before buying.

And yes there are counterfeits around ...

Will they sell for $1? No if two people bid on it

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

mattwnz

15026 posts

Uber Geek

# 1365799 13-Aug-2015 18:15

You usually get two types of people selling for $1 auctions. One is the person who just wants something removing, so it often ends up selling for $1. eg something like an old CRT tv which are unpopular. It is a bit insulting though to just give the person a $1, so usually you just pick it up.
Then you get someone who wants to draw lots of bidders in, and hopefully make more than they would if they just set a price. eg. Something like an iphone, which are popular.

TonganDlux

17 posts

Geek

# 1365906 13-Aug-2015 21:41

Ok thanks guys so if I go trade me monitors and find a good model for $1.00 with 10.00 reserve and 100% positive feedback with over 300 stars should I trust them?

networkn

20766 posts

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# 1365909 13-Aug-2015 21:46

TonganDlux: Ok thanks guys so if I go trade me monitors and find a good model for $1.00 with 10.00 reserve and 100% positive feedback with over 300 stars should I trust them?

I probably would.

TonganDlux

17 posts

Geek

# 1365916 13-Aug-2015 22:12

Thanks and are there online payment methods safe to use?

Thanks again everyone :)

JayADee

1678 posts

Uber Geek

# 1366017 14-Aug-2015 07:05

I just generally deposit direct to their bank account and that's also usually how I am paid if selling. I' ve sold stuff for $1 reserve before just to let the market decide what it's worth.

No you can't trust everybody.

muppet

2116 posts

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# 1366041 14-Aug-2015 07:28

2 people support this post

No, you can't trust TradeMe.

But you can TRUST ME because I'm from THE INTERNET.

Send me your money. I'll look after it.

I promise.

qwertee

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 1366046 14-Aug-2015 08:00

Yes, I have bought a DVD RW for my laptop for $1 plus $5 for postage.
It was a second hand item being sold for parts from the owners broken laptop and worked fine.

I always read feedback and never had a bad experience.
I find most people I have traded with to be quite honest and reliable.

RUKI

1144 posts

Uber Geek

# 1366135 14-Aug-2015 10:42

I will turn your question way around: Can I trust the buyer when I put 1$ start = reserve.

Before explaining what I mean: there are two type of auctions

one could start @ $1 but reserve could be whatever - I never bid on those - waste of time ALL the time and another one;
1$ start = reserve, that means if you are the only one who bid you will get it for 1$. And seller will pay $0.5 as a success fee (or somethign like that) The reason people do that is sometimes to get rid of bulky items quick and get few bucks for a hussle of listing, replying to emails, waiting for you to come and pick up stuff.

Here is my story:
1) Shower glass - huge and heavy. I put it for 1$. The guy came to pick up and started to load it on the roof of his car. That was unsafe and I went exrta mile to pack it inside his car in a safe manner. When the time came for him to hand over that 1$ he said he did not have one. ???? Ok, I said - next time you pass by - just drop a 1$ in my locked mailbox. Never showed up.

bazzer

3295 posts

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# 1366138 14-Aug-2015 10:47

RUKI: I will turn your question way around: Can I trust the buyer when I put 1$ start = reserve.

Before explaining what I mean: there are two type of auctions

one could start @ $1 but reserve could be whatever - I never bid on those - waste of time ALL the time and another one;
1$ start = reserve, that means if you are the only one who bid you will get it for 1$. And seller will pay $0.5 as a success fee (or somethign like that) The reason people do that is sometimes to get rid of bulky items quick and get few bucks for a hussle of listing, replying to emails, waiting for you to come and pick up stuff.

Here is my story:
1) Shower glass - huge and heavy. I put it for 1$. The guy came to pick up and started to load it on the roof of his car. That was unsafe and I went exrta mile to pack it inside his car in a safe manner. When the time came for him to hand over that 1$ he said he did not have one. ???? Ok, I said - next time you pass by - just drop a 1$ in my locked mailbox. Never showed up.

I guess it's like mattwnz said...

mattwnz: One is the person who just wants something removing, so it often ends up selling for $1. eg something like an old CRT tv which are unpopular. It is a bit insulting though to just give the person a $1, so usually you just pick it up.

I think personally, I would always take the $1 just in case. I mean $1 doesn't mean anything, but you did agree to pay it!

RUKI

1144 posts

Uber Geek

# 1366409 14-Aug-2015 14:40

One person supports this post

mattwnz: ....eg something like an old CRT tv which are unpopular. It is a bit insulting though to just give the person a $1, so usually you just pick it up.
......

- CRT TV has about 0.25KG of copper in it's deflection system so I would assume your aim is to sell that copper to the scrap yard. If that is the fact then it is insulting IMO not to give the seller $1.

Advice to sellers:
- Do not list with "buy now" option - as a protective mechanism for yourself - to be able check buyer's credentials and remove their bid if they have negative feedbacks;
- Always do start = reserve - otherwise buyer will find alternative and may never come back to you again;
- Blacklist is a good mechanism to filter those with tons of negative feedback and stalkers who never buy but always present as watchers;
- Do not waste time on "offers" as many bargain seekers expect excactly that. If you put start = reserve - you have indicated what the price is, no bid - no offer. Trademe has mechanism to assist buyer to ask for an offer - if they did not use it - they did not need your stuff.

Advice to buyers:
- Do not expect seller to be 24x7 online to answer your emails or online qustions - although responce in 24 hours I consider to be appropriate;
- Iif you ask seller to do "buy now" just because you are planning a vacation and only be able to pick up a week later - be honest with the seller about that,
- Realise that seller's account may go into debt just because you clicked "buy now" and you did not pay in two days or in a week or perhaps will not pay at all - seller may not have money or incentive to replenish their account;
- Think before putting negative feedback - in too many cases it is two way street...

P.S. Trademe has very bad mechanism holding YOUR money in their account for a week even if buyer did not make a contact. That is earning a lot of $$ in the short term deposits for them from YOUR money (success fees from thousands of sellers).

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