I have purchased two vans off of eBay and in both cases have emailed the
seller to get a contact number.  I call them, on my dime and ask all the
questions that I need to ask to be comfortable bidding.  It has worked like
a charm.  Most of the time they are shocked at the level of knowledge I have
about the vehicle, thanks list!!!  With that in mind, they seem to be a bit
more forthcoming with all of the details.  Give them a ring and it may save
you some hassles down the road.

dylan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vanagon Man" <vgonman@MSN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: recycled german parts / eBay

> > I will think twice in the future before leaving negative feedback for
> > someone who has scammed me, because I know I'll get my feedback rating
> > dinged if I do.  Might be better to just walk away.
>
>
>
> I agree wholehertedly with this.  I no longer leave feedback until it is
> left for me first.  Why?  well, for example, one time i had a $300 bay
> window parts bus on ebay.   Stated in the auction that was not in running
> condition, needed to be towed, etc.  Well a guy bids on it, and then does
> not pay per the stated time in the auction 3 days.  Did not pay at all.
> Wanted to see it first.  So fine.what do i have to lose, i have him drive
> down and he sees it, and then says he does not want it because it is not
as
> good as he had HOPED.  So, I leave negative rfeedback, adn non-paying
bidder
> notice.   Guess what, he leaves ME negative feedback.  So who won?
Nobody,
> but he is one of 2 negatives out of 160+ ebay feedbacks, so I am really
not
> worried about it.
>
> Recently i sold a 1990 vanagon on ebay. It had 200k + miles on it.  It was
> in real good shape, though.  The buyer lefted me positive feedback, but
> comments said i could have been more truthful with details.  So, I email
> him, what did i misrepresent? ( He took a bus from Maine to SC, hopped in
> the van and drove it back to Maine with not ONE incident) Well, he told me
> he had to get it inspected in his state, and there were some holes in the
> outside of the mufffler and the tail pipe was rusty.  WTF!  So sometimes
you
> gotta wonder.  I wonder how many folks have bought a vehicle on ebay the
> seller claimed could go anywhere and had to have it towed home!
>
> Feedback really does not work
>