E-bay Advice/opinion needed

[BFMF]

My Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick is failing. The rudder part isn't working right, and when taxiing an aircraft in the flightsimulator, the aircraft is constantly trying to sharpley veer to the right. This can be quite a pain, especially when trying to take off. I've tried re-installing it, resetting it, re-calibrating it, but to no avail. I believe it's a physical problem as the rudder part is loose. it's 4-5 years old, and with a LOT of use, so i'm not too upset, as this thing will eventually happen

Anyway, I started looking for places online to buy the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2

[BMan1113VR]

i don't know, it is up to you

the 3 bad comments are from a guy who (if you check his reiview rating) is know to write bad things just for the hell of it

[WebbPA]

N120ER (sounds suspiciously like Andrew)

I have bought maybe 4-5 things from e-Bay but I've never had a problem.  If your seller has good feedback he's probably ok.  And If he's a crook he's probably not going to steal $50 at a time.

You don't need an e-Bay account to purchase, but buying through an e-Bay account will enhance your positive feedback (from the seller) and give you the chance to evaluate the seller's feedback (most sellers DEMAND that you give them positive feedback).

e-Bay is based on trust.  You will have to send the guy a check (and wait for it to clear) or a money order or a PayPal order - any way, you're out the money before he's willing to ship.

Since your stick is trashed anyway why not just open it up and see if you can fix it?

[Politically Incorrect]

I have made hundreds of great transactions on Ebay, a excellent place to get hard to find items!!
But Ebay prohibits a seller, selling outside of Ebay! Because for every sale Ebay gets a little precentage.
Anyway I purchase everything with a money order.
The seller doesn't have to wait for a check to clear, your not giving credit card info over the web (even though they say it is secure, better not to just too be safe) and if you don't get your item you can track the money order! and get your money back.
As far as feedback, I usually go by the positive, I have found a number of times that the negitive feedback was put by somene who didn't realize what they were buying, and if you look into some of the ones leaving that bad feedback, they leave it to everyone they buy from. I have also bought from people with no feedback, with good results.
Ebay does a good job against people who are fraudulent but the risk is there.
Now what you need to do is take the price you can get the item for, then add the S&H too see if your getting a deal! Often times you can buy it locally cheaper. Check into the cost of shipping that same item to and from place if purchase, to see if you are being charged a fair price (many sellers will tack on a outrageous S&H fee too make profit!! ex. 1 cd= $8 s&h, when it is really only about $1.50 to mail one) and if they are ofering insurance for a buck or two get it! if they aren't ask for it, there are some that won't offer it, then when your package dosent show up and you ask them where it is, they'll tell you it was mailed and must have got lost, all in all it comes too "Buyer Beware"!!
I have been pleased with all my transactions so you might too, and also beware Ebay is adictive!
Good Luck!

[Scottler]

Looking at this guy's history, he does only have 3 negative transactions, all from the same guy.  (I always look at negative remarks....positive remarks mean nothing to me, but if you see a string of negatives, you may notice problems easier.)

He seems easy enough.  I've also made lots of purchases (and even more sales) on eBay.  99.9% of the people you deal with are legit.

Of course, there's always the CHANCE you could run into the .1%, but it's very unlikely.  I wouldn't spend my rent money there, but if you've got the money to lose (just in case) it's really not bad.

I say go for it.

[ozzy72]

Andrew if you do decide to do a cash transaction then send the money recorded delivery, and pay the little extra for insurance, that way if you do get ripped, you should be able to claim back the insurance

Mark

[BFMF]

How do I send money recorded delivery?

[ozzy72]

Ask at the local PO Andrew. I don't know but in the UK you can also buy Postal Orders, which are like a cheque (check) but can only be cashed in by the recipient, therefore you can prove they were paid

Mark

[Politically Incorrect]

Thats the best way to do it is by money order (Postal money order, etc) Safe and you can track it, you can tell when its been cashed, and by who. and since the money was already paid, you don't have to wait for it to clear the bank!

[Wing Nut]

I wouldn't do it Andrew.  Yes he has only three negative feedbacks, but they're all in the last month.  That's usually a sign the seller is about to move on or just doesn't care anymore about fulfilling his end.  There must be more joysticks like what you want.  Look for another.

That the claims are all from one person is a mitigating fact.  It reduces the unhappy customers to 2 in the last year, but there are so many eBay sellers, why take the chance?  After all, if he really is honest, he'll recover from these negs eventually and rebuild his business.  But until then, be safe.

[BFMF]

The fact that it's still in a factory sealed box, rather then a well used plain joystick.

I found another Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2 joystick, still 'Brand New and Sealed' for half the price. The seller has 143 positive comments and with only once negative comment, but none within the last 12 months.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 18777&rd=1

Think I should go for this one instead?

-Andrew

[Politically Incorrect]

At current bid plus shipping and insurance the total would be $34.50, two dollars more than I paid for a FF new. I don't know what area you live in or prices but it is possible you could find it locally cheaper???
But looks like a decent seller.
Another Ebay hint:
When you see something that looks like a deal, always go to that sellers other items for sale, there at times you'll find that the seller has more than one of the same item, and possible lower price. After awhile you'll notice that they will post thier items in various spots, with the one starting at the highest bid in the first few pages of a listing hoping that you will commit to a bid early at a higher price, before you see that they have a similar item "on page 5" for allot lower bid.
And if you have any questions at all about a item, use the "ask seller a question", serious sellers who want to keep a good reputation will answer your question in less than a day, if it takes longer don't bother with that seller! Doing this your chances of a happy transaction will greatly increase. Remember when you place a bid you are "The customer" and any good seller will treat you that way!

[BFMF]

I went to almost every store I could think of within 50 miles and they didn't carry it. I went to the local Radio Shack and they guy there looked online at quite a few popular online companies and they either didn't have any in stock, or didn't carry them. I'm probably gonna bid for the joystick that I mentioned in my last post

Hey Fret, you mentioned you can buy a Force Feedback joystick for less? Is that the SideWinder Precision 2?

I looked at it online and it was almost $250!

[Politically Incorrect]

After I posted I look online also and found it for $250!!!
What gives?
I look closely at mine and it is a M$ Sidewinder Forcefeedback 2. I paid $32 for mine at Best Buy. I'm uncertain the differance except for the word "Precision" mighty costly word, LOL!!
I assume they are two totally different joysticks???
Sorry! my mistake for not paying attention!  :-X
But if it makes any differance I like it not a bad stick for having M$ written on it!

[BFMF]

Well, I tried bidding for the Joystick, but at the last 30 seconds (I'm not kidding either), someone outbid me