Shoould I buy from Ebay or online shop

There's a big giant "it depends" on there.  Ebay is nothing more than somebody firing up an account and posting a product with no backing of any kind.  So often times when it seems too good to be true on ebay I tend to stay away.

If it turns out to be some kind of knock off product that's junk you'll never get your money back from ebay.

That being said, there are also really good deals to be had on ebay if you're feeling lucky.

Thanks for the quick response.

Believe it or not but I am a new user to ebay. I know that there are a lots of stuff out there that are knock-off stuff but it is safe to assume that if I buy from a power seller with a good track record, I 'should' be safe? (I also do check out their review to make sure they are 'legit')

Thanks

I shop on ebay on a regular basis as you can find some great deals. My regular routine it to read the entire description to ensure the product includes everything you are looking for including the model number as sometimes it will be last years model.

Also look at the sellers feedback. Chances are someone has purchased the same item and they will state what they think of it. If they have negative feedback, why?

Use Paypal as well. If there is a problem and you don't get the item you paid for you can usually get credit from paypal or the credit card company you use. 

Many places in the states will offer free shipping as well. Good luck.

I have bought a lot of stuff off ebay.  Last purchase was my Adamo Prologue saddle.  Think I got it for $110 (w/ship) where the best I could otherwise do it $150.  An $80 savings does seem like a lot though...

I'm going back a few years so maybe things have changed, but I got burnt in this very way.  I bought a PDA and received it in non working condition.  I contacted the seller and he went dark on me.  I contacted ebay and they said I received the product and the seller was claiming it worked when they shipped it.  So basically I got hosed in the process.

That being said, this guy didn't have much feedback so it was more my fault going with a non reputable seller than anything.  If the seller does a lot of business with good feedback the chances are a lot better of things going well.

i always check ebay before i buy something online.  either i can find it cheaper there, or i can get a product that was originally out of my price range for what i was going to spend; i got a new pearl izumi pro series tri suit for $100 shipped, retail is $300, i was going to be spending almost that on a pair of shorts anyway.  

with all the buyer protection that is on ebay now and even more so when using paypal, its extremely safe, as long as you read the description and know what you are buying.

If you pay with paypal via ebay - you're 100% protected if the item is misrepresented in any way.  There's even language in their TOS to protect you from sellers who say things like "Look Pedals - like new in great condition!" and the seller trying to say something like "I never specifically said they were authentic Look pedals" or whatnot.

It's really as simple as filing a claims process and you'll get 100% of your money back via paypal.  Most sellers will try to push you to pay for return shipping as well, but if the item is misrepresented (i.e. you're not returning it due to a fault of your own) - then they are liable for return shipping.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I will make sure to read the buyers feedbacks and buy from a power seller as suggested. I will also used paypal to ensure that I am fully protected.

Now I have to start shopping.

I have purchased a lot of items new off ebay and have so far had no problems.  You just have to do your homework and research the seller (I only buy from reputable sellers with a strong track record of positive feedback), and also make sure they have a return policy.  Make sure you read item descriptions very carefully, and use paypal to protect yourself. 

Having said that, a friend of mine bought a pair of Dr. Dre Beatz headphones from ebay.  The seller advertized them as brand new in a sealed package.  They were a very expensive set of headphones and he got a decent deal on them.  However soon after buying them they stopped working.  When he contacted the manufacturer for warranty service they discovered that the item was actually counterfeit.  Luckily he recovered his money through Ebay fraud investigation department. 

I didn't mean to scare you with that story.  Just showing you what can happen, and how you can be protected.