Registering wasn’t that difficult but having done so I lurked. I didn’t bid. I learned how to use it, what to search on and watched a number of auctions. Searching on slot cars brought up HUGE quantities of sale items. Putting in HO slot cars narrowed down the field considerably – but I was hearing through friends and postings on Andreas Meyer’s mailing list of cars I wasn’t seeing. Not every seller was recognising the scale. Some put in the length of the car – 2.75” seemed a favourite, others were describing the size, etc. etc. I changed the search to my favourite make – TYCO – and suddenly things became more focused. At this point another email friend wrote to me saying he’d seen my searches (don’t know how?) and I was doing the right thing searching on ALL CATEGORIES. It was only then I realized there WERE categories!

Anyway, after much lurking, tracking auctions and generally playing around for several weeks I finally decided to commit myself to a bid. Grief, that was scary! Fear of the unknown again. What if I won? What if I lost? All the horror stories came back to haunt me – BUT believe it or not, my one and only bid was the winner. I can’t even remember what the car was now but I was both thrilled and devastated. I’d gotten what I wanted at a bargain price – but now what? How could I get the money to the seller? Would they stuff me on postage? Would the car arrive? Would our wonderful customs people stick me for tax? Would the car survive its Trans-Atlantic crossing? Would the seller actually SEND it?

Well, it turned out to be totally painless. The seller advised me of the postage cost and I went down to the local Post Office and bought US Dollars to the total value. I posted them off with a print-out of the transaction – Ebay number, item description, sellers name and address, my name and address, the purchase price and the full price plus postage. The wait seemed interminable but it was only three weeks from my posting out to my receiving the cars. Ten days each way. Fortunately, (or maybe unfortunately?) my first Ebay experience went like a dream. I was hooked!

I’ve now conducted forty purchases from as far afield as Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the United States. There were even two from my Home Country of the U.K! I’ve purchasd from seasoned but amateur dealers, total novices, full time professional sellers with brick and mortar premises and/or Ebay stores, fellow ML’ers, even friends selling under Ebay pseudonyms. I’ve purchased after auctions closed with no bids, I’ve added items to the sale when I’ve sent a Wants list to the seller and I’ve been offered additional items without asking. The common theme is that all those I’ve dealt with have been ‘honourable people’.

Having said that, I’ve had problems – but like U.F.O’s most of them had a rational explanation. One item took six weeks to arrive by airmail. This being the first instance of a delay naturally I worried I’d fallen foul of one of the ‘Evil Ebayers’ but when it finally arrived the postmark showed it had been posted out at the day and time the seller said. The postal address was exactly as I’d specified and the contents was absolutely fine. It seems it simply fell foul of the World postal system, as it was covered in postmarks from all over the place.

Two other items also took six weeks. With the second package the SELLER was getting worried this time but by now I was quite blasé! Was I an ‘Evil Ebayer’ trying to hide the fact I’d received the package and was trying to rip him off for a refund? Was I trying to destroy his reputation as a good seller?

When his package turned up it turned out that although he’d paid for airmail postage there was no indication it was to be carried that way – no stickers, no hand written ‘AIRMAIL’ markings, nothing! So, it came surface. Put that one down to inexperience.

When a third item, from a third seller, also went past the usual time for airmail delivery I shrugged it off as being another unmarked airmail package travelling surface. The seller was adamant he’d specified airmail – and he obviously had from the postage – but again the package bore no markings when it arrived and had obviously travelled surface mail again.

I now specify to sellers what I’d like putting on the package. No-one has taken offence and some have even thanked me for the guidance, not having posted abroad before, even though they specified they ship internationally. Don’t assume anything in a transaction!

I’ve once been hit for customs duty when an item was shipped to me insured for ten times the value of the item I’d bought! Again, I thought the worst. Was this seller doing an insurance scam? Turned out he’d been posting out lots of items and muddled the packages up. Luckily the one he should have insured arrived safely too! He offered to refund the customs duty immediately, in cash or against future auctions. I banked it against future auctions.

Any other problems? One. A car arrived with a crushed roof and torn fender. Poor packaging? No, that was fine. There was no way this happened in the post. Again, I thought the worst. I’d been conned and the item wasn’t the one in the picture! However, on checking it out, very carefully this time, you could see that there was damage in the photo’. It wasn’t obvious but I’d been blinded by the thrill of the chase. You COULD see it if you knew what you were looking for. What could I do? I was stuck with a car I wouldn’t sell in that state. Only one thing to do. Mention to the seller that I was disappointed with the car, particularly as other items I’d bought from him were perfect and he was on my preferred sellers list.

Again, no problem. Return the car for an immediate refund in cash, against another auction, or whatever I wanted to do. I asked that the money be sent to pay for another auction I’d been successful on with a different buyer. No problem. It was no sooner said than done.

What have I learnt from all this? The common theme is that all those I’ve dealt with have been ‘honourable people’. Expect the worst and it will happen. It’s all in your mind. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Ask questions. Be polite. If you don’t like the answers, don’t bid. If you have a problem with an auction result contact the seller POLITELY. Don’t go barging in with accusations and expletives. You’ll get the same in return. Stick to your guns on prices. If the bids go over your limit another item will come along eventually.

BE PATIENT. I’ve been amazed at the number of Alfa Motta’s, Ligiers, Smiths Tyre Trucks, GI Joe sets, etc, etc that have appeared on Ebay and generally, the more that appear, the lower the prices get on the later items. I just picked up a sound C7 Ligier that no-one bid on, thrown in as a ‘filler deal’ with another car I’d bought! Ask if the seller has other similar cars. If they have – and it’s something you want, you can usually get a good deal and save on postage too.

I haven’t had to leave negative feedback yet. I’ve left neutral but I’ve been positive about it! For example: Great item, good deal. Delivery delayed by missing airmail markings.

To summarise, be polite, be patient, be open-minded, be realistic, stick to your self-imposed limit and don’t take anything personally. If you miss a car it’s because someone else was prepared to pay more, not because the seller didn’t like you, or the buyer was a vindictive thieving sniper. Their technique was better, their wallet fatter, their need greater. Move on, there’ll be more of the same car later, probably cheaper and maybe better too.

Most of all – ENJOY IT – and good luck.