Why I Don't Buy Tackle From Ebay

[Glenn]

Here's the main reason why I don't buy items off Ebay:

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/east-wenatchee-man-reportedly-linked-to-more-than-retail-thefts/article_0bccabe6-1b4e-11e9-98e3-ef08da4302d3.html

 

The dude has been stealing items and selling them on Ebay.  If you look at the picture, you'll see a lot of PowerPro line in the stash of stolen items.

 

This is by far not the first time somebody has been caught stealing fishing gear and reselling them on Ebay. There was even an instance years ago when a BassResource member was doing it - for years!  He was a "trusted" seller on Ebay, and an active, "trusted" member here and on other fishing forums.  All while trafficking tens of thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandise.

 

So with everything the old adage applies: If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

[ratherbfishin1]

I bought a new lews tournament pro lfs and the guy had been stealing people’s credit card info and buying stuff from bass pro with it to resell on eBay and shipping it from bass pro to the buyer. Luckily bass pro worked with me and I kept the reel.

[ike8120]

There a few people that ruin it for everyone.

[NYWayfarer]

 

1 minute ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

I bought a new lews tournament pro lfs and the guy had been stealing people’s credit card info and buying stuff from bass pro with it to resell on eBay and shipping it from bass pro to the buyer. Luckily bass pro worked with me and I kept the reel.

 

I believe something similar happened to me. I bought a reel from an individual on Ebay and the box came to me directly from Bass Pro Shops. I stopped buying from individuals after that.

 

Ebay is not all bad. I buy a lot of my Kastking gear off of Ebay, and it comes directly from them. I also trust American Legacy Fishing on Ebay.

[Deleted account]

 Yeah, but why single out Ebay? It's flea markets, garage sales, Craigslist, InterWeb Forums, social media, pawn shops, your favorite aunt, etc, etc. 

 

It's a big problem. Retail theft unfortunately takes a back seat to other higher priority crimes. Some jurisdictions go above and beyond, and even have dedicated organized retail theft task forces or assignments. It keeps the LP wife busy, and it's inventory time right now, so I just keep my head down for the next couple of weeks. 

[Munkin]

I was around BR to see the surveillance footage of "The Natural" on the news.

 

The State Police post the mug shots of the people they catch shoplifting at Wal-Mart in South Hagerstown on Facebook. Wal-Mart is like 100 yards from the barracks and people still steal. Shaming them on FB has cut down on the theft though.

 

Allen

[punch]

It just looks like a normal picture from latest purchase thread. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

I try not to pattern my behavior based on the exception rather than the norm, and I don’t believe the majority of sellers or even a large minority of them are criminals.  

[deaknh03]

If ebay is a facilitator then so is the flea market here and any other site that sells items. Offer up, craigslist etc.

[Darren.]

I've been fortunate to have had by and large excellent experiences

buying on eBay. I typically buy from established sellers with ratings

over 97% as a rule-of-thumb.

 

Years ago I did inquire about a MacBook Pro for sale, they emailed

me back that they were out of the area and would send the MBP upon

receipt of a bank check...Yeeeeah, no.

[FishTank]

I have seen this sort of thing recently at a liquidation auction.  The seller claimed he bought a bunch of Amazon returns and was reselling them as new.  In reality, he had stolen his items from parked delivery trucks and couriers.    Porch Pirates are real. 

 

 

[Columbia Craw]

What about the guy from the Portland OR metro area stealing tailgates from pickups and selling them.  It's just fishing gear, it's anything and everything.

[fin]

I once sat on a jury in a case where the defendants ran a retail store that sold practically nothing but stolen merchandise. They were open for years before they were finally caught. Nobody reported them, they wanted that cheap price.

[Log Catcher]

I don't order anything online. I won't use a credit card if I don't have to. Others have managed to get my credit card info twice and the card never left my possession. 

[bassh8er]

I buy almost all my fishing stuff on eBay and have nothing but good experiences and saved a TON of money from anywhere else you could find the same items.

[Hawkeye21]

Couldn't the same be done on Amazon as well?  They use third party vendors.  There's a risk to buying from anyone, even a brick and mortar store.  Some are riskier than others tough.

[kenmitch]

I've made a lot of fishing related purchases on eBay lately and feel like I've never once rewarded a thief.

 

I'm selective on who I'll buy from. I mainly just stick with the bigger sellers that more often have the best pricing anyways. I'll bounce back and forth between a couple depending on who has the best price and who'll get it too me the quickest.

[soflabasser]

I purchase a large percentage of my fishing gear from Amazon, Ebay, and other online stores. I often get prices lower than many places I shop in person, often get free shipping, and save money and time (more valuable than money) when I shop online. Also get some custom tackle online that I cannot find anywhere near me. I have only good things to say about the people I have bought from online and I will continue to do so since I save money and time doing so.

[Woody65]

3 hours ago, soflabasser said:

I purchase a large percentage of my fishing gear from Amazon, Ebay, and other online stores. I often get prices lower than I many places I shop in person, often get free shipping, and save money and time (more valuable than money) when I shop online. Also get some custom tackle online that I cannot find anywhere near me. I have only good things to say about the people I have bought from online and I will continue to do so since I save money and time doing so.

I have had the same experience.  I even buy some tackle from Wish.  I would say with eBay, it pays to do due diligence and use PayPal instead of credit cards.  

[ike8120]

Unfortunately in this day and age people will do anything to make a buck whether it is legal or not. I have purchased a few fishing items off E-Bay. I have purchased a ton of stuff for my other  hobby without any incidents.  Maybe I am just a lucky one. I always use Paypal for these transactions. No credit cards.

[livin2fish]

Just curious, how does using Paypal keep a person from buying stolen goods?  Seems like how you pay is a little off topic.

[Deleted account]

16 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

I try not to pattern my behavior based on the exception rather than the norm

So no seat belts, Power Ball, or hitting on incredibly hot women?...  

[Hawkeye21]

25 minutes ago, livin2fish said:

Just curious, how does using Paypal keep a person from buying stolen goods?  Seems like how you pay is a little off topic.

It doesn't.  I think it's for the people who are worried about using their credit cards online and getting their info stolen.  Using Paypal avoids that.

[livin2fish]

Glenn's thread is interesting to me.  Years ago when BR was much smaller, a sad fisherman started a thread.  He had fishing rods, reels and other fishing stuff stolen from his vehicle while it was parked and he was fishing from his boat.  He later noticed on ebay the entire lot "of his stuff" as a sale item.  Could he prove it as his?  Nope.  As a result of this particular thread, I have never used ebay.  I try to use local stores, that sell American made, then big box stores like TW, and the advertisers on BR.  So it costs me a little more.  Just means that this retired person will have to go to the poor house a little sooner than later.  

[waymont]

That's ridiculous. Sure this type of thing may happen now and again, but there are tons of stores that sell on Ebay.

Lots of times the price the stores sell at on Ebay are much lower than the price they have available on their site.

For example, American Legacy, Sportman's Outfitters, Delaneys Outdoor, and Departure Outdoors (online only but a trusted seller of major brands of fishing gear). Not to mention the tons of sellers who make their own soft baits, weights and jigs heads that are great products at an excellent price. Ebay is a platform, use it with common sense.