{"id":1154,"date":"2021-08-16T19:29:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T19:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/?p=1154"},"modified":"2023-08-11T18:43:18","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T01:43:18","slug":"ebay-buyer-be-aware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/ebay-buyer-be-aware\/","title":{"rendered":"eBay – Buyer Be Aware"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

IOFlood.com’s Best Tips for Buying used hardware on eBay!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"ebay<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  1. If it looks too good to be true, it is! Know what you\u2019re looking for and what it\u2019s worth.<\/li>
  2. Read listings carefully. Make sure the listing reflects the product.<\/li>
  3. Understand exactly what is included in the sale.<\/li>
  4. Know where the item is located and what shipping charges will be.<\/li>
  5. Check the Sellers Return Policies!<\/li>
  6. Check the Seller Feedback. Don\u2019t just look at the number, read the reviews.<\/li>
  7. Never accept offers from Sellers outside of eBay!<\/li>
  8. Never pay by wire transfer\/bitcoin\/western union.<\/li>
  9. Keep all communication through the eBay messaging system.<\/li>
  10. Keep track of your shipments and test your hardware ASAP!<\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    For those of you that follow our monthly Server Parts Pricing Report, you may be aware that those reports use eBay as a source of information.\u00a0 It\u2019s no secret that large companies liquidate high performance servers well before their end of life.\u00a0 We take advantage of these liquidation sales to offer our customers servers with outstanding performance-per-dollar.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    There are plenty of deals to be found in the used hardware market, but unfortunately, there are plenty of scams as well and telling the difference can be difficult. Along the way we\u2019ve learned some ways to make sure you get good working hardware to go along with the low prices you can find on eBay, so, we’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the sometimes muddy waters of buying second hand server hardware on eBay.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Many people are intimidated and may feel hesitant about the idea of buying from ebay or aren\u2019t sure which sellers or listings they can trust, but if your budget is tight and you want the best bang for buck, buying used hardware is definitely the way to go. \u00a0 Although nothing is 100% guaranteed, these tips and recommendations will give you the best chance of a successful buying experience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    1. If it looks too good to be true, it is!\u00a0 Know what you\u2019re looking for and what it\u2019s worth.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Don\u2019t rush in blindly and buy the first thing that may seem like a good deal.\u00a0 If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is!\u00a0 It\u2019s always a good idea to know what you\u2019re wanting to buy as well as what it\u2019s worth and what you\u2019re willing to pay.\u00a0 Be mindful of outside factors that can influence the price of the hardware you\u2019re looking at.\u00a0 A good example of this is the recent crypto craze that saw second hand hardware prices skyrocket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      If you want to get an idea of how hardware prices have been trending, you can check out our past server pricing reports here:\u00a0 IOFLOOD.com Server Parts Pricing Reports<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      1. Read listings carefully.\u00a0 Make sure the listing reflects the product.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

        With some products, like RAM and CPU\u2019s, it is especially important to make sure that you read the listing thoroughly before committing to a purchase.\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking for 32gb sticks of ram, make sure the listing is for a singular 32gb stick and not 4x 8gb sticks.\u00a0 Another common gotcha is with CPU\u2019s where \u2018Engineering Sample\u2019 or \u2018Qualification Sample\u2019 CPU\u2019s are being sold with listings that make them sound like the real thing.\u00a0 Read the listing carefully.\u00a0 Make sure the picture matches the title or description.\u00a0 Make sure the description matches the title.\u00a0 Avoid listings that mention more than one model number which are not identical parts.\u00a0 Avoid listings that have no images or where you can\u2019t be sure exactly what you\u2019re getting from the pictures because model numbers and\/or accessories are not visible.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

        You can read more about the Intel \u2018Engineering Sample\u2019 CPU\u2019s here:\u00a0\u00a0Information about Intel Engineering Sample Processors<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

        1. Understand exactly what is included in the sale.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

          When you\u2019re looking at second hand hardware, make sure you know exactly what is included in the sale.\u00a0 If you\u2019re buying a server chassis, make sure all the necessary accessories are included, like drive caddies, server rails or rack ears.\u00a0 These parts can be expensive and difficult to source after the fact, and may mean that your bargain server really isn\u2019t that much of a bargain at all.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

          1. Know where the item is located and what shipping charges will be.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

            Make sure you check the \u2018Shipping\u2019 section for the listing.\u00a0 This is going to give you a lot of important information, including but not limited to, the item location, where the seller is willing to ship to, and the cost of shipping.\u00a0 Many vendors incorporate shipping costs into the item prices, especially with \u2018Buy It Now\u2019 listings.\u00a0 Remember, things like item location will impact the time it takes to ship and the carrier choices.\u00a0 International shipping may also incur additional fees for items that are imported and international shipping may not always track well which could lead to increased risk of items going missing in the post.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

            1. Check the Sellers Return Policies!\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              Always buy from a seller with a good return policy!\u00a0 A seller that does not accept returns may leave you high and dry if the item you have purchased is damaged, doesn\u2019t arrive or isn\u2019t what it was meant to be.\u00a0 This could leave you out of pocket quite a bit of money.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              1. Check the Seller Feedback.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                Seller Feedback is an important tool when it comes to making a buying decision.\u00a0 The seller\u2019s feedback is found right under their name.\u00a0 Feedback is broken down into two parts.\u00a0 The actual number itself, and the positivity percentage.\u00a0 The higher the number, the more transactions the seller has had on eBay.\u00a0 The higher the positive feedback, the more people satisfied with their transactions.\u00a0 A seller with 987 transactions and a 100% positive feedback score is more likely to leave you with a positive transaction than a seller with 9870 transactions and a 50% positive feedback score.\u00a0 Additionally, if you click on the Feedback number, it takes you into the seller\u2019s feedback profile where you can read everything written by previous buyers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                1. Never accept offers from Sellers outside of eBay!\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                  Sometimes sellers will offer to sell you something you\u2019re interested in cheaper if you take the sale outside of eBay.\u00a0 This saves them from having to pay the fees, and the thought of saving money is probably tempting, that\u2019s why you\u2019re buying second hand in the first place, right?\u00a0 Taking the transaction outside of eBay is not only a direct violation of eBay\u2019s buying and selling policies, but it also leaves you at risk of being the victim of fraud and takes away your ability to use the eBay Money Back Guarantee Policy.\u00a0
                  Offering to buy or sell outside of eBay policy<\/a>
                  eBay Money Back Guarantee policy<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                  1. Never pay by wire transfer\/bitcoin\/western union.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    Absolutely the safest way to pay for any eBay transaction is definitely going to be Paypal or Credit Card, which both offer protection in case something goes wrong during the sale.\u00a0 Wire Transfer, Bitcoin, Western Union and \u2018Giftcard\u2019 payments offer no buyer protection in case of fraudulent transactions and should be considered red flags to avoid at all costs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                    1. Keep all communication through the eBay messaging system.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                      Keeping all communication within the eBay messaging system means that eBay has a record of everything that has been said between both parties.\u00a0 Emails, text messages or phone calls can leave a buyer in a situation where they have been promised something that isn\u2019t followed through on, and in most cases leaves you with no evidence to support your claim.\u00a0 Keeping communication within the eBay messaging center is for your own protection in case something goes wrong.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                      1. Keep track of your shipments and test your hardware ASAP!<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        Last, but certainly not least, make sure to keep track of what is on order, and when it arrives, test it right away. Utilizing tracking numbers so you know when you\u2019re expecting packages to arrive means you are less likely to \u2018miss\u2019 a delivery or have something go missing, but it also means you can be ready to test your hardware ASAP.\u00a0 This is especially important.\u00a0 In most instances, sellers have a 30 day refund policy so you need to make sure you\u2019ve tested your purchases and ensured that they have all necessary parts and are fully functioning as expected before this time frame is up in case you need to initiate a return.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        If you purchase a lot of stuff, a great way to handle this is using a simple spreadsheet.\u00a0 You can record your purchases, tracking numbers and arrival dates.\u00a0 You can also record when the purchases were tested.\u00a0 Color coding can make it easy to see what\u2019s what at a glance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        Bonus tip!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        Always use “desktop mode” for eBay, even when on a phone. The mobile app hides a lot of information that can be very necessary to decide if the listing is good. The mobile app also downscales images where they are blurry which can make it very difficult to read part numbers, etc from the pictures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        ==========================================================<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        So there you have it!\u00a0 With these simple tips, you can navigate through the world of second hand server hardware with confidence, knowing that you\u2019re more likely to have a positive experience and be satisfied with your purchases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                        Happy Shopping!<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                        IOFlood.com’s Best Tips for Buying used hardware on eBay! If it looks too good to be true, it is! Know what you\u2019re looking for and what it\u2019s worth. Read listings carefully. Make sure the listing reflects the product. Understand exactly what is included in the sale. Know where the item is located and what shipping […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1157,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","cat-1-id","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1154"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3188,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1154\/revisions\/3188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}