eBay Sniping: bringing the BFG9000 to a knife fight

Posted by: pat 11 years, 10 months ago

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I just "won" the auction for this Fortress FX-23 anchor. I've been thinking I need a backup anchor for the boat. I guess "be prepared" was firmly implanted in my psyche by the Boy Scouts of America. The Fortress weighs less than 20 pounds and dis-assembles for storage. But they cost about $300 new! Great ebay opportunity.

Anyways, I say I "won" the auction...like there would be any doubt. When you really want to get the best bang for your buck on ebay, you've got to get into the sniping arms race.

Ebay isn't what is used to be though. I've got a box of junk I'm getting ready to dispose of there, and I have no doubt at least one of the ten or so items I sell will have some "complication" due to a dishonorable buyer. Did you know sellers can't even log negative feedback on buyers any longer? It is very easy for scammer buyers to exploit the flawed-by-design loophole-ridden feedback and dispute systems. This guy's experience is not unusual, although when I was in a similar situation, the buyer was required to ship my item back at his expense.

If you don't follow Jeff Atwood on twitter and you are a geek, you are missing out.

If you don't get the reference to a BFG9000, please go back two squares in the game of life and play Doom.

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