Don't you hate it when...

[Asuka]

You see a pony that really want on eBay and then realize that seller is on the Bad Trader list?
  

[Rachel-Eyes]

Heheh, I actually bought from someone on the bad traders list before I really looked it over and saw their name there. I had a positive transaction though, so all went well. (It was a So-Soft with AMAZING flocking.) But I will still be wary in the future.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

You see a pony that really want on eBay and then realize that seller is on the Bad Trader list?
  

It is frustrating... but the list is to caution you about what you may encounter with the seller/trader.  If they have a mixture of positive and negative feedback here and on Ebay, then you may want to question whether you want to bid/trade/buy from them.    I think it's horrid that other people use colorful horse-shaped brushable plastic as a means to steal from others, but...  all we can do is protect our fellow collectors! 

[michelle53]

I bought an eBay pony from someone on the bad trader list too.  I had a great experience, as well as an opportunity to hear from her why she was on the list to begin with!  The seller was 100% honest with me, and I really respect her for being so upfront when I had my doubts.  You know, people make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.  I won't give everyone on the list a second chance, but if they have lots of positive eBay feedback, then they're probably ok. Whatever you decide, just be informed and use your judgement:).

[hathorcat]

Oh yes...that is frustrating

For me it depends on what I am buying and the value of the item I am purchasing as well as why they are on the list...if it is a name I recognise from the list lovesbabysquirmy so amazingly keeps up to date, then I need to balance all of these factors to decide...

For example if its a comb at a couple of $ then I ll gamble, if its a rare pony for lots of $ then I probably would avoid. If they are on the list because of poor communication but they do still send out then I may risk it, but if they are on the list for selling items which are not as described then I wont buy. So I think its all a balance. For me the exception to this is anyone who has "cheated" the community in some way - I wouldnt buy from them.

But likewise there are sellers on ebay and maybe even occasionally on here who because of personal experience, something someone has mentioned or selling practices within the community/on ebay that means I would always avoid them...but 99.999% of the time with others they may be good sellers.

A lot of it is a balance and learning as we go I think...but I do stand by checking the bad trader list if you are ever not certain just to see if and why someone is on it.

[michelle53]

For me the exception to this is anyone who has "cheated" the community in some way - I wouldnt buy from them.

But likewise there are sellers on ebay and maybe even occasionally on here who because of personal experience, something someone has mentioned or selling practices within the community/on ebay that means I would always avoid them...but 99.999% of the time with others they may be good sellers.

Couldn't have said it better myself Hathorcat!!  This exactly.  Plus, LovesBabySquirmy's list of bad traders is an excellent resource:)

[lovesbabysquirmy]

*blush*  Awww thanks! 

[partypony566]

Lovesbabysquirmy list is awesome

Luckily I haven't been in that situation but I did have a buyer on ebay once who is a renowned scammer/chargeback ninja here ( banned obviously)and I was scared the whole sale would go wrong

[MoongazerThePony]

Or a pony for $0.99 but the shipping is like $8??

[Saiko]

Something that could help would be running the auction picture through a reverse image search, to see if the seller has taken it from elsewhere on the web. That's a definite indicator of a scam.

[hathorcat]

Something that could help would be running the auction picture through a reverse image search, to see if the seller has taken it from elsewhere on the web. That's a definite indicator of a scam.

Oooooh....interesting...and being the nosy creature that I am...how do you do that?

[KarentheUnicorn]

Or a pony for $0.99 but the shipping is like $8??

Is that bad?

[Saiko]

Something that could help would be running the auction picture through a reverse image search, to see if the seller has taken it from elsewhere on the web. That's a definite indicator of a scam.

Oooooh....interesting...and being the nosy creature that I am...how do you do that?

I use Tineye.com Just save the image and upload it there, or copy the page or image URL and paste it there. It should then show you where that pic has been posted on the internet. So if you find it on someone's flickr page then the seller probably stole it from there, unless the usernames match up.

[hathorcat]

Something that could help would be running the auction picture through a reverse image search, to see if the seller has taken it from elsewhere on the web. That's a definite indicator of a scam.

Oooooh....interesting...and being the nosy creature that I am...how do you do that?

I use Tineye.com Just save the image and upload it there, or copy the page or image URL and paste it there. It should then show you where that pic has been posted on the internet. So if you find it on someone's flickr page then the seller probably stole it from there, unless the usernames match up.

Very cool tip! Thank you...I ll be messing around with that later! Love learning new things...

[kittybethy]

I hate that too!