Ebay GPU woes

[RichF]

I've been using Ebay since around 1998 and I've been in the market to get a used GPU but I have not been pleased with what I've been seeing. Years back, there was an absolute flood of fake GPUs. They were obviously fake because the coolers they used were clearly not legitimate. (I've also given up on getting the tennis racquet I want, the Wilson KPS 88, because of all of the fakes.) Scammers are probably becoming more clever because most of the advice threads for Ebay buyers warn people about "too good to be true" pricing. Very low pricing is an obvious symptom of shady selling but there is nothing to guarantee a normal or higher-than-normal price is legitimate. The smartest scammers will sell for a high price and choose a product that has low availability, to maximize niche demand.

Take the Fury X. It was never a great seller but the very low pricing for new cards when it was EOLed, coupled with the mining craze, makes it rare to find a new or like-new card. If there are new cards they're listed for absurdly high prices. So, if a scammer wants to make more money, the scam would be to sell a new one, or open box, for a high price (but one that's low enough to get a bite).

Ebay lacks an adequate system for reporting fraudulent auctions. For example, there is no direct way to report an auction for having a deceptive 'shopped image. I've seen plant auctions, for example, where a flower from one species is pasted onto a different plant. The same seller also pasted butterflies onto the Frankenflowers. It's unbelievable that people can't even report deceptive images.

Here is an example of something that doesn't look legitimate to me. Compare these two auctions:

XFX Radeon R9 Fury X 1.05GHz 4GB HBM PCI Express 3.0 Graphic Card for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for XFX Radeon R9 Fury X 1.05GHz 4GB HBM PCI Express 3.0 Graphic Card at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

XFX Radeon R9 Fury X 1.05GHz 4GB HBM PCI Express 3.0 Graphic Card for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for XFX Radeon R9 Fury X 1.05GHz 4GB HBM PCI Express 3.0 Graphic Card at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Russian nesting doll, Ebay auction style

1) No feedback from the first auction's sale.
2) Exact same thing (including same pictures) being sold by another seller. Description from other seller is extremely minimal.
3) Other seller is selling pairs of jeans and a purse, plus this graphics card. It seems to be an odd combination.
4) The other seller has a surprising amount of very poor feedback and yet a 100% rating.
5) The other seller has no feedback newer than "more than a year ago" — a hacked dormant account?


Another problem with Ebay and used sales in general is that lots of sellers show GPUs, motherboards, and other static-sensitive equipment on carpets. It's almost like some of the zero feedback accounts are being created just to troll people. I've noticed that a good number of Fury-related auctions (X and Nano) show them on carpets and the sellers have under 5 feedback, often zero. Is someone really so bored? Do they think that someone who will buy a piece of sensitive electronics that's shown on a carpet deserves to be scammed?

Since the pricing is absolutely no guarantee of legitimacy, the product could have been massively abused (massive overvolting, static electricity damage), and seemingly legitimate accounts can apparently be readily hacked — is it just a bad idea to try to get a GPU via Ebay these days?

 

[Jetster]

So this is just a rant? Ebay is what it is. Paypal will back up the buyer in almost in every case (at least in the US). I sell on ebay because its the larges audience there is, I don't particularly like the charges but no other site has the amount of people viewing it. I would never buy a GPU or most other used hardware on Ebay. I would use forums like this and heat for used parts I buy.

As far as reporting fake pics or you feel its not legit, or miss handled? Don't buy it, but there is a reporting process. Just message the seller, but unless your serous about doing business with them its pointless.

 

[RichF]

So this is just a rant?

No.

As I wrote, most of the Ebay buying advice posts I've seen are written from the point of view that only auctions with low prices are concerning. One of the main points here is that prices can be normal or high and that tells the buyer nothing about the legitimacy of the listing.

Ebay is what it is.

At the moment. Things can be improved upon but it takes pressure, awareness, and analysis.

As far as reporting fake pics. Don't buy it, but there is a reporting process.

The reporting process is broken. The categories are grossly inadequate for many circumstances, such as 'shopped misleading photos.

And, most of the categories have no option to add notes so the reviewer can know what the problems are. In some cases, a reviewer would have to have specialized knowledge, like botany in terms of my plant fraud example. It's not reasonable to assume that the reviewer is going to be able to spot the problems so every report should be able to have some added text from the reporter. Moreover, the very rare category/categories with text report as an option give only 100 characters or something similarly insufficient.

 

[Jetster]

So clearly they don't want your feedback. They have millions of post everyday, many fraudulent. The only way they can stay in business is to guarantee the sale

So what the point of this post?

Did you try the report item?

Counterfeit item policy

We don't allow counterfeit items or unauthorized copies to be listed on eBay.

www.ebay.com

 

[RichF]

So clearly they don't want your feedback.

First you cite the reporting process, as if it's legitimate. Then, you post the above — as if it should be obvious that the reporting process is fake.

So what the point of this post?

To make people aware of Ebay issues beyond the "too good to be true" price issue, among other things. I am confident that I made clear points.

I would appreciate less flaming and more substantive response.

 

[Jetster]

OK ,so while your feedback on eBay is appreciated, we get many of these type of posts. It may be better to go to the BBB or other cites that have some power. If you have a specific question about an Item you are thinking about buying, then ask away. Hopefully people here can point out the problems with the listing and help . Many people come here after the fact asking to identify a fake cards. Not the best time.

So you tried the reporting process? What happen and why do you say its fake?

 

[RichF]

So you tried the reporting process?

The reporting process has lacked adequate menu selections for years, as well as adequate text entry. Yes, I have tried it. I have reported it. I called Ebay about it. The person I spoke to about it, at length, suggested using My Ebay to report it but the form for that was also not adequate. The last time I tried the reporting system again, which was recently, it was unchanged.

What happen and why do you say its fake?

You said they don't want my feedback. Well, a reporting system that is designed to be an obstacle to reporting is a fake reporting system in that it offers the illusion of accountability, not the actuality.

It may be better to go to the BBB or other cites that have some power.

The BBB is a pay-to-play scam. It was exposed.

I'm a bit confused by the notion that these things can't be discussed here but you sell on Ebay and will only buy GPUs here. All of that doesn't add up well to me. If this is the best place to buy GPUs then why isn't it the best place to compare selling practices with Ebay and also to be aware of the potential pitfalls of going the Ebay route rather than trading here?

 

[Jetster]

So Ebay's stance is it's cheaper to guarantee the sale, then to scrutinize millions of postings daily. Buyer beware, likewise seller because any buyer can make up any excuse to get their money back

This is why its the last resort for listing anything from me. I've been very lucky, with over 300 sales on Ebay I've only had to return money on two. But I'm an honest seller.

 

[RichF]

So Ebay's stance is it's cheaper to guarantee the sale, then to scrutinize millions of postings daily. Buyer beware, likewise seller because any buyer can make up any excuse to get their money back

So, the end result is that Ebay is a disaster. I suppose that confirms my feeling, at least when it comes to pricey items like GPUs. I have had good past results with purchases and sales, overall. It seems unwise to me to just throw up one's hands and expect such a level of chaos, a level of chaos that seems to have increased in recent years. It may be more profitable for Ebay to have a broken reporting system, hacked accounts, and all of this nonsense but it also seems to make the market ripe for a better competitor.

Given how low labor costs can be I would think hiring more people to review auctions and accounts would be a good first step.

 

[Jetster]

I've bought quite a few used Graphics cards and boards right here on TPU. Not once have I had a problem. Fair prices, good people.

I've even gotten free stuff

 

[Bones]

I believe I understand at least some of the OP's points.

I too have seen many of these scammers with items that are fakes with more than one using the same pic. One point I do get it how many there are on fleabay doing it, if Ebay really cared about the customer you'd see more action(s) being taken against all the fraudulent activity going on but it never happens.
Ebay's view of it is $$ for them, plain and simple hence all the activity seen going on. Even worse is that the location of the seller is faked too with many actually being from China, a point that's been proven repeatedly over time.

I've even made a purchase recently myself with the seller shown as being in the US but in fact were over in China, confirmed when I got a call about activity on my card making a payment to someone/an entity in Hong Kong even though the seller's location was shown to be in California, the item itself being shipped from there too.
BTW the item was as described, works fine.

In short it's about all the fraud going on with Ebay and their attitude to do nothing but let it ride. They have control yet do nothing to stop or even slow down all the fraud taking place because it's just too profitable for them to even want to do something about it.
Such a place will undoubtedly have it going on at some point but these days it's like taking a stroll through a minefield with nothing to let you know it's even there, much less where the mines are. In this case we know about the minefield but where, how big it is and where the mines are is the problem and those that could help simply don't.

It's also about showing folks what to look for in identifying these fraudulent listings too, that is something if anything at all worth posting about. We've had plenty asking about flashing the BIOS on their GPU because it was a fake they had bought, this happening it seems more often as time passes.
That's what I'm getting from the OP's posting about it.

 

[xtreemchaos]

i think those cards are well over priced, i picked the same well over a year ago for £170 and kept it a month before moving on to a 580 which is a much better card.

 

[micropage7]

So Ebay's stance is it's cheaper to guarantee the sale, then to scrutinize millions of postings daily. Buyer beware, likewise seller because any buyer can make up any excuse to get their money back

This is why its the last resort for listing anything from me. I've been very lucky, with over 300 sales on Ebay I've only had to return money on two. But I'm an honest seller.

not only on ebay, in here where local online market sometimes is shitty
reporting many scam, bad stuff, bad seller but they don't get wiped from it

if you think that it's overprice, skip that or ask the seller to lower it a little
if you tempt, just take it

simple like that

 

[Vario]

There are lots of eBay sellers selling graphics cards at too good to be true pricing. For example, 1060s for $50 and 1080s for $100. If you dig a bit further you find that its often a chinese account or its an account with less than 5 feedbacks, and its a reused image. The sad thing is this may cause prices to fall for legitimate sellers. I bought a 1050 from one of these phony sellers two years ago and I ended up sitting for a week with no activity and then a refund. In that case, I wasn't getting an amazing deal, the price was reasonable, but the photo was stolen from another listing. As it is often easy to do a paypal claim for refund, I don't understand what these sellers get out of this. I think most eBay buyers will do a claim for $50+ or even $10. Its not that much effort to do. The non refunding non savvy group of buyers are buying these things at a premium from best buy, not buying them used off eBay.

I've had a lot of bad luck buying used graphics cards off eBay so much that I will never do it again. X800XL: arrived with wrong bios, died in 3 months after purchase. 7800 GT: died in 1 year after purchase. 7850: dead on arrival. 7970: constant BSODS and CTDs, unstable at any setting. 1050: fake listing.

Only had one good graphics card purchase from eBay, that was a EVGA 9800 GT 1GB Akimbo for around $20. Ended up reselling it but it worked fine as a spare graphics card (the reason for my purchase).

 

[rtwjunkie]

Interesting notes from the OP.

I have bought and sold on ebay for years, although it is not my first choice to go to when buying. It has been worthwhile for finding otherwise discontinued parts.

My experience on over half a dozen CPU’s. 6 GPU’s, RAM, 5 motherboards, and numerous hard drives as well as various other hardware has all been good. i have a 100% record in buying legitimate, working items that have all had good life left in them. In fact, the motherboard in my main rig and the motherboard and GPU (Gigabyte X79 and MSI GTX 1070) in my wife’s rig are all off ebay.

I’m also very careful. No carpet items. No standard pics: I always want to see what my gut says are legit pics. I want to see multiple pics as well. If only one, I ask for more or move on. Price must be right in what I know is legit used price range (unless it is a rare or very hard to find item).

Seller offering a return and willing to asnswer legitimate questions about a product are also good indicators. Finally, I never purchase through auction. I only purchase through buy it now, sometimes even will make a slightly lower offer when option is available.

Just my (successful buying) two cents if anyone wants it. It’s basically just common sense.

 

[delshay]

Sometimes you can report it as false advertisement. I have bought memory modules off ebay, but before I buy I check the revision number. When the memory module turned up I received the correct part number but a different revision number. I pointed out to the seller it's not compatible (which is true). He then said he copied the photo from a previous sale. I then pointed out, you can't do that with some makers of memory modules as the chips underneath are different, even thou the part number are the same. In the end i got a refund but was allow to also keep the memory modules.

In-short if the picture does not match what you receive, in most cases you can return it. Look out for small details like serial numbers on the item & it matches what you have received.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Personally, I prefer CEX for video cards as I don't trust buying s/h from Ebay. They might cost a bit more from Cex but at least they have a 2 year warranty. The other problem with Ebay is all good for buying, and not for seller. I sold a motherboard, buyer said it did not work, paypal refunded from my paypal a/c before I got the board back (which I never did) so I have still not payed paypal the money back and never will. The c_unt that bought the board, got a board and his money back.

Most often now I use Amazon.

 

[delshay]

Personally, I prefer CEX for video cards as I don't trust buying s/h from Ebay. They might cost a bit more from Cex but at least they have a 2 year warranty. The other problem with Ebay is all good for buying, and not for seller. I sold a motherboard, buyer said it did not work, paypal refunded from my paypal a/c before I got the board back (which I never did) so I have still not payed paypal the money back and never will. The c_unt that bought the board, got a board and his money back.

Most often now I use Amazon.

You should then open a complaint that you have not received the motherboard. If the buyer can't provide a tracking number, then as far I am concerned, it was never sent. When a item is being returned, you normally have to provide a tracking number on your EBAY account. The automated system will demand it & will send out reminders until you provide one in your account.

 

[xtreemchaos]

can i just add, over the years ive brought loads of kit off ebay "touch wood" and apart from one gpu "vega 56" its all been good, i got intouch with the seller and got a full refund and told me to put the card in the bin. i have one rule when looking for cheap kit if it sounds too good a deal it probley is.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

You should then open a complaint that you have not received the motherboard. If the buyer can't provide a tracking number, then as far I am concerned, it was never sent. When a item is being returned, you normally have to provide a tracking number on your EBAY account. The automated system will demand it & will send out reminders until you provide one in your account.

It was quite a long time ago now 1yr+ But it annoyed me, the board worked fine, he just tried it on and i got screwed. I will not use PP now, and only buy using my card on Ebay,

 

[delshay]

It was quite a long time ago now 1yr+ But it annoyed me, the board worked fine, he just tried it on and i got screwed. I will not use PP now, and only buy using my card on Ebay,

There's no harm in trying & opening a case after all this time, but EBAY Customer Service will say, "why did you not complain sooner". Look at your account history it will still be there.

Your complaint is you never receive it, but you have proof buyer never provided a tracking number & the automated system returned money with the buyer not providing a tracking number. So your second complaint will be the automated system returning funds without a tracking number being provided.

EBAY Customer Service can see all this "date & time stamped" & will acknowledge it's a fault of they own software that's also at fault.

Let's say you took this to a small claims court, you would win. Because the automated system is not suppose to make any payment until the item is signed for & there was also a fault of EBAYS own software.

 

[Vario]

As this is a vent thread,

Two months ago, I purchased from a listing of a mint 1TB PM981 SSD with a photo of a 1TB PM981 and a guaranteed two day delivery free shipping. Seller waited about 4-5 days to ship and only shipped after I sent them a reminder "where is my item". What I received was a 1TB PM961 with a rather faded label. They also used a small flat rate box, really expensive way to ship a drive the size and weight of a stick of gum. Seller immediately starts off in rude mode accusing me of being excessively particular. The seller claimed their "assistant" put the wrong one in the box but rather than doing the appropriate thing of doing an exchange, she insisted I return it and then rebuy a PM981 from a yet to be created listing when she puts it up for sale "late at night" at some arbitrary point in the future. She also said they tend to sell nearly instantly implying the odds of my successfully purchasing any PM981 from her listings to be extremely low. When I asked for a straightforward exchange, I was accused of scamming her even as I explained the principle of I ship to you with tracking number, then when you receive it, you ship the correct item back to me with a tracking number. I returned it with free return shipping, then I promptly just bought a 1TB from microcenter. Ebay can be a pain in the ass.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

So this is just a rant? Ebay is what it is. Paypal will back up the buyer in almost in every case (at least in the US). I sell on ebay because its the larges audience there is, I don't particularly like the charges but no other site has the amount of people viewing it. I would never buy a GPU or most other used hardware on Ebay. I would use forums like this and heat for used parts I buy.

As far as reporting fake pics or you feel its not legit, or miss handled? Don't buy it, but there is a reporting process. Just message the seller, but unless your serous about doing business with them its pointless.

Try being the seller, I sold and got returned a working card no issues what so ever because AMD conveniently added 3 games to the purchase of a RX580 just after i sold it and the buyer bought new, hence i was out 39£ mailing , I've still got the card F the money, people take the piss so ill keep it effin frame it or something but eh, that's nature.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

There's no harm in trying & opening a case after all this time, but EBAY Customer Service will say, "why did you not complain sooner". Look at your account history it will still be there.

Your complaint is you never receive it, but you have proof buyer never provided a tracking number & the automated system returned money with the buyer not providing a tracking number. So your second complaint will be the automated system returning funds without a tracking number being provided.

EBAY Customer Service can see all this "date & time stamped" & will acknowledge it's a fault of they own software that's also at fault.

Let's say you took this to a small claims court, you would win. Because the automated system is not suppose to make any payment until the item is signed for & there was also a fault of EBAYS own software.

This is what i have sent to paypal-
I sold a item on ebay. the buyer said it was faulty, but did not return it. He has got a refund and now i am down £23. Why did he get a refund even though i never got the item back? There is NO chance hear me NO chance of me ever paying the £23 to paypal. He should NOT have got a refund until he had posted my item back and sent the tracking number.

I doubt very much they will remove the charge.

 

[dorsetknob]

Only had 1 recent problem with problem Item

Item not returned as seller did not Specifly request or pay return Postage
i ain't paying return Postage out of my pocket