Is buying model on Ebay safe?

I have been surfing ebay for quite awhile and with the price of the model so cheap is it safe to buy them?:confused:

Depends. The model may be cheap, but the ebayer is located in Japan and will ask around 10-15 bucks for S&H. And i have heard that shipping over seas usualy ends up dramaticly unless the ebayer packed the package properly. Also pay a lot attention to users feedback, it will give you an idea of what people have gone through.

Thx u:smile:

all depend of the seller.. if the seller have 90% and higher of positive feelback, i don't see why it shouldn't be safe... i buy a often on ebay and never had a real problem..

I've bought a few things off of e-Bay. Never bought a model, but everything that I've bought has been really good. You just have to check everything before you bid on it.

I've heard bad things about sellers from Hong Kong, expeciallt heiheihei999. He wraps his models in paper and sends them overseas :( I've talked to some of the buyers and they recieved smashed parts! Beware of who you buy from.

Originally posted by hobbes874
I've heard bad things about sellers from Hong Kong, expeciallt heiheihei999. He wraps his models in paper and sends them overseas :( I've talked to some of the buyers and they recieved smashed parts! Beware of who you buy from.

Yup, heiheihei999 sent me a package that way once.
At least mine arrived in ok shape.
Chris

Thx guys, i was planning on getting one of the 1/12 skyline GT-R i want either the Veilside or the S&S sound like i have to do more research on using Ebay

Originally posted by fairladyz_gt-r
Thx guys, i was planning on getting one of the 1/12 skyline GT-R i want either the Veilside or the S&S sound like i have to do more research on using Ebay

Who is the seller? Normally if there is a problem with someone, somebody here will tell you about it. Avoid heiheihei999, he has a high feedback rating, but a lot of people have problems with his shipping methods (and sometimes even whether he ships you something or not).

Also, shipping on that kit from overseas is going to cost $$$. Make sure you get a firm shipping quote before you bid on it.

Often, after shipping, HLJ can be nearly as cheap as these guys. I don't know about you, but I'll pay an extra $5 CDN on a kit to know that it will arrive in a nice, thick cardboard box, with not even a scratch on it. But, of course, sometimes you have to go private on hard to find kits.

its safe its how i got my skyline

i havent had any problems yet, about 23 models and no problem but i will say this.... if you kiss ass at the hobby shop they can pull some strings to get you kits for reasonable prices. im glad i dont deal with ebay anymore. oh and i never had problems with heiheihei999, i got 7 kits and though the packaging is sketchy never had problem. BUT I MUST add that after shipping cost and such i find it only a little more expensive to buy from a real good hobby shop and they replace broken items. i only use ebay for out-of-production kits. most kits on ebay are still in production and your only saving a dollar or two. its not worth it. get in good with your local shop and they will work something out.

Originally posted by hobbes874
I've heard bad things about sellers from Hong Kong, expeciallt heiheihei999. He wraps his models in paper and sends them overseas :( I've talked to some of the buyers and they recieved smashed parts! Beware of who you buy from.


I almost bought a Skyline from him yesterday. Thanks for the warning.:eek:

only because ive had excellent transactions with heiheihei999, i must defend him by saying this.... he very carefully cuts styrofoam to cover the box and then beautifully wraps the package in paper. it looks like a present! i would bet a $1000 that most damage to kits is done by your domestic mail carrier and not over-seas handlers. ive recieved 7 kits from him and not one damaged. i have recieved 4 kits form US sellers that were broken. you be the judge. and if it worries you you can insure all items for less then $2. then the domestic carrier will refund money for any broken model. but again try to find a local shop that will special order... then everything is in there hands!

I just dont understand why this guy, heiheihei999, can get the price so low??:confused:

I know from past transactions that its a family company. they sell lots of different stuff. They Wholesale and sell direct on ebay. cut out the store costs and insurance and all over-head then youve got profit. they sell clothes and designer house-hold items under different names. lots of people know how to use ebay to make money. thats why things seem cheap but really they just cut out the middle man.

Never had any problems with an e-bay transaction, however, I only limit myself to sellers from the US and Canada, never overseas. I've seen that sometimes shipping cost from HK are about equal to item and I would not trust them with my money. Check seller's feedback. I have walked away from selllers with not so good ratings. Also by having good communication and being understanding with the seller you "establish" a trust with them that can only be good.

I've bought about 20 kits on Ebay over the last twelve months. I have had problems with heiheihei999 (he only wraps the kit box in paper) but others such as Sangpolly (who cuts styrofoam packaging to fit all around his kits and then wraps it) are fantastic. The postage cost from these guys (Hong Kong) is relatively low for us Aussies and kit prices in local hobby shops are exhorbitant. I now tend to buy off HLJ and only use Ebay for OOP kits.

:spit:

Originally posted by 73superduty


Yup, heiheihei999 sent me a package that way once.
At least mine arrived in ok shape.
Chris

I am really concern! I just pickup a C-west RX-7 from him:frown:

Originally posted by mech0t0


I am really concern! I just pickup a C-west RX-7 from him:frown:

i orded a porsche from him about a week ago and i emailed him asking if he had sent mu item and he said his computer had a virus and he lost all of his contacts but he said he sent mine a week ago so i guess i will see it soon!

I will tell you as soon as it gets to me! :smile:

Guess i should look out for this heiheihei guy:lol:

Originally posted by fairladyz_gt-r
Thx guys, i was planning on getting one of the 1/12 skyline GT-R i want either the Veilside or the S&S sound like i have to do more research on using Ebay

hi, I have sent you Private message.

Originally posted by spoolin12


i orded a porsche from him about a week ago and i emailed him asking if he had sent mu item and he said his computer had a virus and he lost all of his contacts but he said he sent mine a week ago so i guess i will see it soon!

I will tell you as soon as it gets to me! :smile:

Well, if he had a virus, it didn't slow him down in adding more auctions, that's for sure.
Chris

Originally posted by 73superduty


Well, if he had a virus, it didn't slow him down in adding more auctions, that's for sure.
Chris
Thats what i thought.

Another odd thing is that if his computer was in for repair how did he reply to my email? :bloated:

I guess i will find out! :bloated:

Originally posted by spoolin12


i orded a porsche from him about a week ago and i emailed him asking if he had sent mu item and he said his computer had a virus and he lost all of his contacts but he said he sent mine a week ago so i guess i will see it soon!

I will tell you as soon as it gets to me! :smile:

He told me he sent mine a week ago also :confused: :confused: :confused: I guess we are in the same boat!!! :frown: E-bay worry!!! :frown:

I can vouch for Sangpolly, plastic-models, pgimport, tsplano, [email protected]. I've dealt with these sellers on several occasions and have no complaints.:smile:

Originally posted by mech0t0


He told me he sent mine a week ago also :confused: :confused: :confused: I guess we are in the same boat!!! :frown: E-bay worry!!! :frown:

I received my model today from heiheihei999! However, it was wrapped in paper! The box is completely destroyed, which made me buy another one for my collection! :frown: But it arrived! :biggrin:

my experience with heiheihei999 has not been so good. i ordered 4 models from him and paid for the airmail (7-10 days) option. after over 3 months, i am still waiting for the last of my models to arrive.

he has a multitude of excuses, including "the address label fell off" twice, "sent it last week", to "i'll send it soon".

the packing was pretty crap with all the boxes crumpled and now he is not answering my emails.

i would say buy at your own risk.

heiheihei999 is also very hard to talk to. His english is pretty bad and hard to understand at times :(. Usually if you wait you can find pretty good deals from people in the U.S.

Ive gottent kits from Sangpolly and heiheihei999 and i have not had a problem from them at all there packaging is kind of primative but they arive in good condition. To buy on ebay first of all check there raiting if its in the upper 90% thats means its a good seller. Then check there image of the item if it seems to be a copy from the internet or from some other seller.do not get it sometimes they are people who are trying to f*ck you over with your money. Then check there shipping costs sometimes they ask for allot of $$$ for shipping example 2 months ago i was crusing ebay and found a Nissan Skyline R30 by aoshima and they wanted $27 for shipping.

I bought around 20 kits on ebay during the last 2 years. They were mainly hard-to-find old kits. Generally they came OK but a few of them had missing pieces.
Concerning the new kits I bought, I bought from heiheihei999 and sangpolly, all of them arrived quickly and I had them very cheap.
I didn't have any problem with heiheihei999 but it's true that his packaging is very basic and the box doesn't come mint (but as long as I buy kits to build them and not for box collection, it doesn't matter).
Sangpolly is very kind in emails and easy to communicate with, packaging is a lot better (with styrofoam to protect the model).

So I find ebay is a great place to buy for cheap but I always :
- look at the rating (and comments)
- ask for S&H costs before bidding.

I don't think you can categorically say that eBay is or isn't safe, because you are dealing with a large number of independent sellers. The vast majority will be honest and decent but a few bad eggs will always be present.

Having said that, if you are careful and choosy in whom you deal with then it can be as safe as any other online store. The best tool eBay has is the user feedback. Always check this out before bidding on a seller’s item (particularly any negative feedback). Also, always email them and check if you get a quick and relevant response. If a seller won't answer your questions while your bidding he sure as hell won't care once he has your money.

So far I've bought a dozen or so things via eBay and never had a problem.