Ebay Descriptions

**Rossluck** · 25th September 2008, 01:15 PM

I browse Ebay a fair bit and occasionally buy and sell stuff. Over the last few years I've had a good laugh at some of the descriptions and statements. My favourite one is: "NO RESERVE" in the description and a starting price of $1500. Now to my way of thinking, the $1500 starting price is the reserve, but that's just me ....

The other one that I like are the "threat" ads. You know, when someone selling a rubbish item with an outlandishly hight starting price, and then they say things like:

*"Anyone who wants to bid must ring me first so I can make sure you're serious."
*"I'll leave negative feedback for anyone who reneges on the deal"
*"Only genuine buyers can bid."
*"This item has to be picked up within two days or I'll relist it."

Or the outright funny ones:

* "Brand new, only used a few times"
* "Tractor for sale, pickup only"
* "Highest bidder will win"
* "Bargain" (before the bidding starts!)

And so on.

**Metal Head** · 27th September 2008, 01:07 AM

Hi Ross,

Very true and one has to be careful that their idea (meaning) of "excellent" is the same as mentioned in the Concise Oxford Dictionary

. I saw a welder on EBay today said to be in fantastic condition by the seller yet the sole picture showed rust, dirt and scratches on it

.

My brother and I went and looked at an excellent car (Magna - as advertised in the Trading Post) a few weeks ago (on the other side of town). Only to notice on our arrival that there was a massive dent in one of the door panels

. When asked why he had advertised it as excellent given the obvious knock it had he said it was apart from that

. I said he was lucky I wasn't the intending buyer as I would have put a dent in one of the other doors. We contacted the Trading Post about the misleading advert but they said they cannot go around verifying all the items advertised in their paper - a bit of a cop out I would say.

Cheers
MH

**billbeee** · 27th September 2008, 05:24 AM

Hi All,
I once had a lawn sale, I listed various tools etc,
And one old girl rubbished me for it being “All men’s stuff”.
Cheers
Bill.

**Greg Q** · 27th September 2008, 07:33 AM

Last week there was a cast iron surface plate for sale. "Excellent condition. some rust and water staining that will rub out" $225 starting

A surface plate's essential characteristic is that every point on it must be on the same plane within a micron or so. I informed the seller of that, and that what he was selling was expensive scrap metal. He lowered the price to $200.

**Rossluck** · 27th September 2008, 12:31 PM

Here's a fresh one:

"will be selling to the hightest bidder...must be payed and picked up with 3 days or bad feedback will be left ,, happy biddin ,,"

You've gotta love'em.

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