Manager


Manager - N2MG
Manager Notes

Survey Question

Question

Do you ever buy/sell used equipment over the Internet? Ever had a problem? Pick the best answer or one you'd like to expand upon in the comments. Please, everyone - details!

Results (180 answers)

Take this Survey

Please Login (above) before taking this survey.

Survey Comments

Buying at hamfests

There have been a lot of warnings about used equipment. For more than 30 years, our hamfest in Charlotte has had a free test booth where prospective buyers can determine if their new treasure is as advertised. This takes a lot of worry out of the transaction. Some other hamfests have started doing the same thing.
Posted by AE4PX on 2022-09-30

Buying used equipment.

I would not by used over the internet unless I knew the seller personally. Ham fests are a problem for me, also as I have been burned twice. I steer clear of used equipment for the most part.
Posted by K7OFG on 2022-09-28

Stopped selling due to new IRS reporting rules for Paypal etc

I have bought and sold ham gear over the internet since Ebay had 6 digit item numbers. It has been largely problem free. However I have stopped selling via third party payers since I do not want the IRS entanglements fouling my otherwise enjoyable hobby. 73 Jack KZ5A
Posted by KZ5A on 2022-09-27

Survey

I have bought and sold tens of thousands of dollars of radio equipment, aircraft parts, firearms and related products. I hate to say I have only had issues with HAM radio. Would have never though it. Was glad I used PP and used the refund policy. He never shipped after many weeks and did not dispute my claim.
Posted by WB9WIA on 2022-09-26

Never again

I haven't purchased much online but got stuck on the few I did buy. Now I'll just buy new instead of taking a chance. At least I can return a defective item from a reputable ham dealer.
Posted by WB4M on 2022-09-25

Vintage Equipment

"Works as it should" Watch out for this one. I've been burned
Posted by K3MG on 2022-09-25

Gear over the Net

I've been fortunate in dealings to date with only very minor issues to deal with on a few occasions.

I find the vast majority of Hams are honest and above board.
Posted by K3SSB on 2022-09-21

Scammed by imposter

Someone answered my wanted ad here on eHam with an offer to sell me a nearly new piece of equipment. This person had done his homework on who he was pretending to be such as the real hams age and other details like a believable email address. I'll cut to the chase by simply saying never, ever use Friends and Family unless you know the person directly. Most of us buying and selling here on eHam don't know the person at the other end, and no matter what they say, absolutely do not use Friends and Family on PayPal. You have no protection or guarantee that you won't be scammed. Don't be so cheap as to not go the more protected method which will result in some low fees on PayPal but that is a far cry from losing all of your money.
Posted by KE7FD on 2022-09-21

Items purchased, Good results

I purchased 2 different Yaesu FT1000mp Mark V. Both were 200 Watt versions. They were as advertised and I bought inrad
Posted by KF5YZ on 2022-09-21

Items purchased, Good results

Bought 2 FT1000mp Mark V. 2 different sellers. Items were as stated. No problems.
Posted by KF5YZ on 2022-09-21

Buying vintage gear online

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, buying vintage radio gear online is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to get! I have had several instances where the seller claimed "working" and the gear was DOA. Guys lie, even hams. In another case, I posted a WTB listing and received a response from a "seller" that was obviously bogus; told him I would pick up the gear at his QTH and pay cash at that time, and, of course, never heard from him again.
Posted by K8EZB on 2022-09-21

Buying vintage gear on line ...

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, buying vintage rado gear online is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to get. I've had some good transactions where the gear was as represented, and some others where it was (deliberately) misrepresented. Guys lie, even hams!
Posted by K8EZB on 2022-09-21

Not alone ...

I see that I am not the one that has problems with PayPal. I have have bought and sold gear on the internet but no more!
Palpal will be the downfall of these kinds of sites real soon.
I closed my account and just watch for the collapse of these
sales. I would much rather meet at a hamfese and buy or
sell stuff.
Posted by K4QM on 2022-09-21

Aussies easy to deal with

Advertised an old 2M mobile years back, an Australian sent me funds for purchase and shipping really quick, shipped same. Guy was delighted! No Wucka’s! :)
Posted by KJ6EF on 2022-09-18

Convenient, but too many pitfalls

Buying and selling gear on the internet looks convenient, but there are too many traps and pitfalls present for me to actually do it.

I've bought gear that was advertised online, but I would never do the whole transaction online. Ham gear is expensive. And before I plunk down the hard earned cash, I want to inspect the gear live and in person. Kind of like buying a car online without actually seeing it and giving it a test drive. It's just not for me.

Then there are the third party payment mechanisms involved. I don't need someone far away that I've never met imposing their rules and restrictions on my transaction.

The last radio I bought was advertised online by a person who lives about an hour away. I called him and expressed interest in the rig. We scheduled a time and I drove out to his place with cash in my pocket just in case this went well. As it turned out, the radio was clean and in good working order, which I verified with my own eyes. We negotiated a price, and I paid cash on the spot and drove home with my new (to me) radio.

When you deal purely online, there is a possibility that the other person is a scammer (although not likely), and the radio could be just a piece of abused junk. Then there are the issues of shipping, and the vagaries of the previously mentioned payment systems. Too many chances for something to go very wrong, and it's too easy for a scammer to just vanish after they get the money.


Bottom line is that the internet is a great way to disseminate information. But for fragile, high value items, it's just not a safe way to actually do business.
Posted by N8AUC on 2022-09-18

Killer deal on Craigslist

I was dreaming of owning a new Kenwood TM-V71A one day...but they were just too darn expensive for my shoes that squeak every time I walk...
I kept dreaming for a long time...yearning to own my new Kenwood TM-V71A. Then, I saw an ad on Craigslist for the following items:

Yaesu FT-60R Handheld
RT Systems Programming Software ADMS-1J
Kenwood TM-V71A Dual Band Radio
RT Systems Programming Software KRS-V71-USB
Comet GP-3 Dual-Band VHF/UHF Base Vertical Antenna
Astron SS-30M-AP
ABR Industries LLC 25400F-PL-50 50 ft Coax Jumper UHF Male PL259 Both Ends 400 Ultra Flex Cable LMR-400

Everything was brand new. The gentleman purchased everything new and had the receipts. He told me he wanted to get into ham radio, but decided after the purchase that he didn't want to take the exams. So he changed his mind.

He sold the entire package deal to me for a $700.

So, yes, I received a wonderful deal on brand new amateur radio equipment and everything works purrrrfect.

I am super happy to have found this deal!

Posted by AJ6XW on 2022-09-17

Mostly good experiences

I have bought and sold many pieces of equipment. Most of the transactions were excellent.
Posted by N5TU on 2022-09-17

Internet "used items" sales luck very poor.

I have had great luck with established Amateur dealers but not so lucky with ebay sellors. If I were to buy anything now over the net I would turn on a movie camera and leave it on until I ascertain that it works, this got me my money back once. I avoid a listing if they say a policeman checked out the equipment, if they say a FBI agent checked it out I head the other way, If they say the CIA/Navy Seals checked it out I arm myself and treat it as the plague.

Posted by NV2A on 2022-09-15

I've had great luck

I've purchased a number of items via internet transaction of some sort and not had a problem. However I do a deep dive on these things. The time spent checking out the seller will be time saved later.
Posted by WB0FDJ on 2022-09-15

Selling

Sold a valve output transceiver to a guy who had not a c;lue how to use it, ended up very sour.
Posted by ZL1BBW on 2022-09-14

Never burned …

While a transaction may begin in response to an internet post I won’t finalize it unless I’ve spoken to the other party on the phone. One can learn a lot with a 5 minute phone call.
Posted by KD1JT on 2022-09-14

Many internet transactions with individuals, very few (if any) issues.

I think you have to use your "Spidey Sense" when dealing over the internet. Read enough about the seller or buyer to try and get a sense of who they are. Read their postings on some of the forums (assuming it is a classified ad) and watch how they respond to others. The transaction that I felt the most that "I was out on a limb" is when I bought an Icom IC-2KL solid state amplifier and IC-AT500 tuner from the estate of a SK. I had to send a check (made out to the estate) to the daughter, who was serving as the executor. The son of the SK would pick it up and bring it to his home in Columbus, Ohio and I would drive over and pick it up from him. You gotta believe! It took about 3 weeks, but everything worked out as planned. The power supply for the amp needed about $50 worth of repairs on a DC to DC converter that I had done by Malcom @ MTS in Toledo, WA. The two offspring had no way of knowing about this issue. I attend about 6 hamfests per year, but buy very little compared to what I have purchased over the internet. Don't be naive, but don't be paranoid either.
Posted by AF8JC on 2022-09-13

Only one issue

I've done a lot of buying and selling online, and the only questionable incident was I sold a DMR h/t and because the buyer couldn't figure out how to program it, he decided it was defective and filed a paypal claim. I have him his money back, but I did get the radio back. It's now sitting on my desk and I use it regularly so I guess no harm/no foul, just irritating.
Posted by AB4KA on 2022-09-13

No problems so far

I’m fairly cautious and I research problems with particular models, check out sellers, etc., and so far, I’ve had pretty good results. I also believe God answers prayers. ;-)
Posted by W6SWO on 2022-09-12

internet sales

60+ years ago as a high school kid the Elmers in the club took me to hamfests but cautioned me that not everything/everyone is OK. Back then ham radio was a more solid fraternity that in is today. So was life in general back then. The same advice is prudent on internet transactions but sadly even more so. I've never been a dealer -- a buyer/reseller. But I have rotated some of my personal equipment -- thinning out some adding some -- and had mostly good/successful transactions.
Posted by W4FID on 2022-09-12

A few problems in the early days, ok now

I had to learn a few lessons over time. I have become much more skeptical about items listed online as "I cannot test this" or with very fuzzy photos. I have bought some really good items though, and those made up for the ones where I felt like I got a bad deal.
Posted by VE3WGO on 2022-09-12

Giving away free stuff

I have more trouble when I try to give ham gear away. It's just not worth doing it for myself anymore. The word "free" brings out the weirdos it seems, and a few want the free item delivered or complain about the actual shipping costs. I only give away face to face anymore, but a lack of active hams around my area makes it hard. I did find a CBer that likes my free stuff, so that's one outlet to lighten my load.
Posted by KG6BRG on 2022-09-12

You don't have to be a victim with online transactions

I have some nice ham gear that is in the queue for restoration, and I have some like-new ham gear that I'm lucky to have for what I paid. I've sold some equipment and only had one problem which was more like a comedy skit than a real problem. (Buyer said he wanted to send the radio back for full refund -before he sent it back - I asked him for a picture of the radio, and I received a blurry picture of something the wrong color and a threat. I said 'Call the cops, then' and the problem disappeared).
I don't buy or sell to anyone I can't contact real-time.
Posted by K7NG on 2022-09-12

Good Internet Buying...

Overall have had Good Experience! I Always Carefully read listings and look at Feedback and ask questions if have doubts b4 purchase. Over past 20 yrs have bought many Ham Items, but never sold any equipment.
I generally can tell when something not quite right!!
73

Posted by KA6NPD on 2022-09-12

open box

I bought a HT from a reputable seller. It was listed as open box, but the seller informed me up front that it was returned by a previous owner. It was in like new condition with all items, in the original box. I'm happy with it, and saved a few bucks.
Posted by KD2HCU on 2022-09-12

Eham approval to items

Apparently Eham requires an administrator to approve items for sale. It takes so long for this approval, I have already sold the item through QRZ. Postings need to be instantaneous for them to be useful.
Posted by KO3F on 2022-09-11

Selling equipment on the Internet

I've bought and sold a lot of electronics from ham gear to audio equipment. Have met up with a few difficult people, not many and none were hams, sold some here also. With the eBay fees, shipping cost, paypal fees and shipping if you sell something for $100 after you take all the fees into consideration you may have $65 left.
Posted by N1FDX on 2022-09-11

I have both bought and sold...

... and never had problems that went unresolved yet. That said, I never buy or sell items of any significant value privately. Up to about £100, yes - but anything more than that and I'll part-exchange through an established dealer. I recently upgraded my main radio - took the old one along to Ole' Lynchie, handed it over plus my credit card and came away with a shiny new Yaesu all boxed up. That was a £3000 transaction and I did now want to risk any issues. I probably did lose a couple of hundred pounds, but it was worth it for the peace of mind...

Martin
Posted by G8FXC on 2022-09-11

Eham approval

I like that EHam requires an administrator to approve items for sale. Way too many sellers are just trying to sale worn out or broken equipment with some BS line "No Return due to parts swappers" Which would be fine if the price reflected it.
Posted by KN6TUX on 2022-09-11

PayPal Fees are a convenience for credit card users

I would guess 98% of my transactions have been through PayPal since they began. Their 3.7% transaction fee is the same one would pay for accepting a credit card if you're a business. I stopped selling anything on eBay due to their ever-increasing fees. I have bought several items through the ham sites with USPS money orders also. The new IRS rules for anyone accepting over $600 to report as IRS income on a 1099K is going to put a big damper on sales through any payment processor. My selling days are all but done now with all the recent changes except for selling in person for cash.

Posted by K7IN on 2022-09-11