There's been a fair amount of discussion regarding EBay and their practices. I thought that I would offer my own recent experience.
I purchased a pair of 240mm G-Claron lens cells from an EBay seller. I've been interested in doing some 8x10 close ups, and with a stop correction, I could use my 180mm Symmar-S Copal shutter. The rear cell was disclosed to have a 1 cm scratch, but I didn't see this as a problem for the type of work I had in mind. The seller had over 800 feedback with a high percentage of Positive responses.
Receiving the cells, I discovered that both cells had undisclosed dents on the rims. Further, I paid for USPS Priority Shipping promised in the listing but received the cells in a poorly wrapped 1st class, large envelope with about $3 postage attached. Given the serious issue of dents and their implications, I decided that I didn't want these cells. I contacted the seller and requested a full refund to include all shipping. Had the dents been disclosed, I wouldn't have bid.
The seller did not want to pay any shipping, so I filed a claim with EBay, sent photos and scans, etc., etc. EBay found in my favor and eventually reimbursed me the full amount plus the seller's advertised shipping costs. In addition, they sent me a prepaid shipping label, so there was no cost to me to return the cells.
I know that there have been complaints about EBay withholding payments for a period of time. In this case, that practice worked to my advantage. At about the time that EBay insisted on PayPal, they made other changes that placed much more of the balance with buyers. Prior to that time, the seller had the buyer at a real disadvantage, especially if the buyer had low feedback. Not any more.
For example, I resisted PayPal. But after using it for a time, in my view, it's worth it. No longer do I pay for, nor take time to obtain money orders. Payment is immediate, and if the seller ships USPS Priority, the entire transaction is complete in a few days.
With enough usage to hit my 100th feedback, all positive, I view EBay is a first-rate resource.
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