Peter E.

They do a fabulous job in the presentation. You really know what you are buying. I will take issue with the potential ambiguity in wording for electrical products. I bought a pair of Klipsch speakers for $450. The description says the speakers are working... quote "as per the seller"
When I got them home they were not. We have not deduced why and will investigate further when we have time. The description lacked info on the tweeters being non original and that they were not attached to the body of the speakers.
Its an auction therefore everything is "As is" so I am basically screwed. You are basically gambling on online auctions.
Many goods are not checked and one should never take the word of a seller. Of course you will miss many potential buys because others will not be so careful. The answer is to give money back if not working when sellers says it is. Or let us come and check the product out ourselves.
They also misuse the word art and print. A print is exactly what it is. A mechanical reproduction of an original maybe. Art is surely a piece crafted by the maker or producer. If you are careful there are many bargains. Furniture is an obvious. In fact anything outside of electrics and that described as art, is a safe bet.

I tried to help Sarah Brown the local caring transitions franchise owner. Many items she cannot give make or model. Other items are supposedly 'as is" yet she has no problem letting you know they work in a private email. Of course that will not necessarily stand up in court. Judging by some of the bids on electrical goods someone has the inside track.
For me the worst was a Nazi dagger supposedly from 2 holocaust survivors. She was offering that little tidbit as a provenance. Its the old used car only driven by an old lady shill. When I sent her a picture of the exact same item as a replica she called me a troll. All I wanted to do was help her. Needless to say I will not be bidding there. If you give these people your stuff to sell, remember that the only way you will attain a maximum payout is if there are sufficient bidders. When I take my money away there will be less bids on many items. Now imagine many people doing the same. When you operate an online auction with no viewing at all then you risk your money. The trend is toward online and I agree, but if we find you have mislabelled shall we say, we deserve to get our money back. The auctioneer holds all the cards and knows all the info. Some poor schmuck just bought this item for over $200 incl fees etc and I can buy for $20 http://www.blowgun.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=742