Distressed merchandise sellers on eBay, a history of Buyer Beware success

[Chris Gerhard]

There are a group of distressed merchandise sellers located in Nashville, TN offering CD's and DVD's among other items on eBay. My cumulative purchases from them must be over 50 items now. A recent purchase is item number 270010651453. This item hasn't been received yet, but I have no doubt it will come in as shown since it is obviously just a picture of a real item offered for sale. That purchase is far from the best deal I have gotten and I debated even buying it but it is described as new and sealed and I fondly remember the album from the 70's. I believe all items I have purchased from these sellers have been at $.01 plus shipping (between $2.99 and $7.99).

Obviously these deals are "buyer beware" to the extreme. I have received empty jewel cases on two occasions and the wrong item once. I was given an immediate refund including shipping when reporting these three errors but I have no idea if my experience in that regard is typical, lucky or just because of my history with the sellers. I have also received broken jewel cases frequently, I just accept that and less than perfect discs with minor scratches, again consistent with the sellers disclosures and acceptable to me. Unlike much of the negative feedback these sellers receive, I understand "as is, where is" terms of sale and by bidding, I accept that. Including broken jewel cases, the cases usually have annoying returned item stickers attached to the cases. I really think many (the overwhelming majority?) are customer purchase mistakes (what is a DVD-A or DualDisc?).

The sellers are:

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=returndealz04

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=bargaindepot04

http://stores.ebay.com/BARGAINUNIVERSE05_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

http://stores.ebay.com/FACTORYDEALZ_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

http://stores.ebay.com/music-n-dvds_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

http://stores.ebay.com/swdiscounters

I don't know whether these sellers are affiliated or just get the merchandise from the same source. I can say it appears most items I have purchased are returned Best Buy purchases in distressed packaging and I don't have a clue how any of these businesses operate. There is no affiliation by me with any of them although I am an eBay Power Seller currently. I don't have even a basic understanding how these companies make any money, even considering the shipping cost profit, unless their acquisition cost is zero.

Purchasing anything requires payment by credit card through a third party, Auction Logistix, and accepting their restrictive terms and I don't even know if a refund through your credit card company could be achieved if the transaction is unacceptable.

Obviously, buying from these sellers will be more trouble than it is worth for most people but with surround sound discs so difficult to find now, maybe someone will find the hassle worth it. With all of the discussion here about Quad LP, open reel, and 8-track selling at high prices, I thought I would just mention the other extreme. Having owned the 70's surround sound formats and now DVD-A, SACD, and DVD-V, I don't understand why anybody messes with the 70's formats now, but that is another discussion.

Finding items of interest among the thousands offered for sale is difficult and also another discussion. A few more of the items I have purchased this way:

270009168505
270007931096
270005228357
100501922630
4867976410

And a completely different seller from the west coast but with shipping discounts granted for multiple items, also a great deal:

180003766209
9133709246

(2 of the very good Silverline\Immergent\Myutopia releases).

I am tired of the hassle of buying this way, but have been delighted with the results.

Chris