I spotted a hugh scope I would like to bid but was not too sure how much to offer. The current bid price was US$200 which was way below what it actually cost.
I decided to place a maxiumim bid of US$900 for starters. The seller had no ratings but I thought, what the heck. (Lesson #1 - Never buy from people without ratings)
Separately, I sent an email to the seller asking him about shipping cost.
He replied US$30 to ship a 15 kg package bigger than the size of a suitcase! (the actual shipping cost should have been hundreds of dollars)
That's when I got suspicious and decided to lower my maximum bid but seems you can't ! (Lesson #2 - Ebay does not allow you to lower your maximum bid even though the current bid price is nowhere near there) I replied to the seller asking why its so cheap.
Fortunately, in the last minute of the bidding , someone outbid me and I let him even though I know I could win him (he was increasing the bid $20 at a time!). One day after I lost the bid, the seller replied to me apologising that he did not know I was an international buyer (even though I said I was from Singapore) and "clarified" the "Actual" cost of shipping was US$45.
He wanted to sell the scope to me (even though it was supposed to have been won by another bidder). (Lesson #3 - You may never know who the bidder is...maybe its the seller trying to jack up the price!)
of course, the seller could very well have several sets to sell but then again..better to be safe...
its a whole lot better to wait for Vincent Snr to buy the scope of your choice and then have him sell it to you!!
live and learn...
rich
