You do realize that any feedback you see is only a year old? Ebay drops feedback that is older than a year. So someone could have 10,000 positive feedbacks, but if they were for over a year ago you wouldn't see them.

Here’s an example of looking at feedback as it works for me.

I am looking at a person who has 6,575 feed back. He joined eBay in Feb, 1998.

At the bottom of his first feedback page there is the ability to look at 295 pages of his feedback.

I went to page 295 and there was a feedback from March, 1998, one month after he started on eBay.

*****

Using an outside eBay source I can type in this seller’s name and it will data-mine eBay and show all the neutrals and negatives he has gotten during the 16 years HE has been a member. This saves looking through 295 pages of feedback just to find neutral or negative feedback from years past.

His over 6K feedback beats my over 1K feedback and he has made a lot of money on eBay but his negative numbers are also higher of course due to his volume.

Second crazy this week.

Guy calls, broken English and wants to know if a tool is still available and would I take any less for it.

My first question to him is..."What city are you in?"  He is 90 miles away.  Then he wants to know if it runs properly, etc.

I answer that and tell him I would take $25 less than the $135 asking price.  He goes on and on about would it run properly, etc.

Finally, I said, "Look, you're 180 round trip miles away, you live in a metro area where there are other towns within 10 to 15 miles of you, I'm sure they have the same or similar tool. Don't you think you would be better off looking closer to home?

It was good advice, but he persisted. Finally, I said "I'm sorry, but I don't think we can get together on this" and I hung up.

***
Get a clue people. Read the title of the sale item which includes the city in which the item is for sale.
Figure out how many gallons of gas (at what price per gallon) and see if it is worth making a three hour round trip drive and spending $35 to $40 in gas to buy that item.

cou can block some of them in your buyer requirements, i have everyone blocked that has more than 2 non payments in 6 months i believe

Whatever the max allowed by eBay is what I have engaged, but those are very slim.  The guy I am dealing with now got his "positive"...negative feedback a year or more ago, and I suspect that's when his one non-payment took place.

Someone who has been a buyer on eBay for "years" let's say and has just a very small feedback number is always a red flag for me, and when I get a bid from someone with a long history but a small feedback number I make a decision on whether to shut them out or let it ride to the end.

A TWIST on the coin cache; see link below on the possible identity of the found coins:

http://gma.yahoo.com/10m-gold-coin-hoard-found-yard-may-stolen-141317823--abc-news-personal-finance.html?vp=1

I've had pretty good luck for 10 years on eBay with only an occasional non-paying buyer, but in the last four weeks I've had one test instrument (new) sell THREE times because the 3 buyers haven't paid and I had to open cases.

Each of the three had less than 4 feedback (what a surprise !). One had zero, one had 1 and one had 3 feedback.

Ten years ago when this happened you could see the feedback on these d*bags go down say from 3 to 2 or from 0 to -1, but in their WISDOM eBay doesn't even do this anymore, and a seller CAN'T block buyers who have zero feedback. That probably makes sense as everyone has to start somewhere when buying, but these flakes who have 10 or less feedback should somehow be SHAMED in the community. Buyers need protection too.

****

A non-paying buyer ties up the selling process for 3 days minimum and if a case if filed by the seller it takes another 4 days before the item can legitimately be relisted and final value fees returned.

Yes, the seller can just cancel the sale, but I think the final value fees are not returned if that happens. On a $150 item (as mine is) this amounts to a few bucks, so I just ride out the total 7 day wait and relist. Of course these people go on the "bad buyer's list" which prevents them from bidding on my items again.

eBay...love it, hate it.

Now that craigslstauction hasn’t posted for 3 months…who is the “coin guy” ?

Lawnmower Dennis

Bearded Dennis

Dragon Lady

Afgan Sharif

Iraqi Sharif

Fat Luis

Slim Luis

I would imagine many books tell you to use HTML code for pics because ebay charges you but within the last few months or year ebay now gives you 12 free pics so your actually better off using their picture system as ebays search algorithm doesn't read HTML code well so your actually punishing your listing by using your own pics in HTML code.

For most people the 12 free pics is enough. Some don't even use all those, and the pics they do publish are so amateurish it's a wonder they ever sell their items.

I use the 12 free and up to 20 within the text as html inserts. That 20 would include the 12 free ones, so another 8 pics not shown in the regular eBay area.

IMO, the pics within the description are what sells the item. They are larger and I can put appropriate comments below the pics to explain the item. I can also circle some aspect in red pointing out a bonus aspect or a "wart"