IMHO

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

I think here and on every other site, you should always check you (potential) seller's t&c's and feedback. If uncertain, ask a question AND wait for an answer before committing yourself.

If you don't agree with t&c's and/or charges or if the seller can't be bothered to reply to any questions, don't buy.

Things go both ways. I've just had a sale cancelled, because the "buyer" didn't realize I didn't accept French cheques - I don't see how I can make my t&c's any clearer!!!

As far as surcharges for PP is concerned: I don't do it, but I can understand others doing it, given that a lot of us are dealing in very low value items and Paypal fees are a considerable percentage. And if it is stated in the seller's t&c's then as a buyer, you agree to pay it when you buy/bid on the item.

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate.... Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men [and women!]". - The Captain, Cool Hand Luke film.

I empathize, Y_u_bolabola_me. Sounds like some very negative experiences.

One of the key sources of friction seem to be the different business cultures or practices between European and Anglo-American sellers. European sellers tend to add on charges such as Paypal and don't always combine shipping always while Anglo-American practice is typically to include Paypal & Delcampe fees in the bid price or shipping & handling - and to combine shipping.

Since I'm more used to and thus comfortable with the Anglo-American model, I tend to do most of my buying within that "zone". I don't like being "gouged" anymore than you do! Or at least it feels like I'm being "gouged". The Europeans, after all, have higher taxes and a quality of life to support and I'm assuming this is just how business is normally practiced in their "zone".

We see more of these differences on Delcampe compared to "that other place" because Delcampe has done a much better job - for all its shortcomings - in integrating trading internationally so we see these differences over extra fees, high prices of items etc more frequently. "Better" here also means Delcampe is less autocratic in running its site and provides more "space" for buyers & sellers to operate in than "that other place". I enjoy the fresh air over here!

On the plus side, the wider market creates many more positive opportunities for both buyers and sellers. And I like that!

As to advice on what to do, I only have a few suggestions:

1. Identify reliable sellers with reasonable prices & charges that you can clearly understand and give them your repeat business if it is deserved. You will be better off and in effect you have boycotted the poor (lazy, inefficient, bad, or dishonest) sellers. Share with others who you think are the trusted sellers. This has worked for me as a buyer and a seller here and on "that other place". If I get a bad deal I won't shop there anymore and I am sure to let my friends know. Yes, there will be some bad experiences probably as you learn who to trust and who not to. A regrettable cost, hopefully small, of collecting.

2. As others have said, read terms carefully and ask questions, questions, questions. Failure of sellers to provide clear terms in their listings or to answer questions satisfactorily has me click, click away to other sellers. There's simply too much to choose from to waste time on the deadbeats (buyers or sellers).

3. Registered mail. Sorry, Cajun sr and the world's postal workers, but international registered mail is unreliable. More registered mail sent to me has been lost than regular mail enclosing payment. Registered seems to brand mail as "money for the taking" in some postal systems. Registered mail from Germany, for example, also is sloooooooooow - 4 weeks or longer to US compared to 1 week or so for regular mail. I'd take the risk & send regular mail, figuring I might lose the occasional payment sent but in long run would be cheaper than all the addition fees for registered.

I hope you decide to stay on Delcampe. We need more, not fewer, buyers who are not afraid to keep sellers honest by calling them on their bad practices.

May your next buying experiences be positive ones!

cheers!

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate.... Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men [and women!]". - The Captain, Cool Hand Luke film.

I empathize, Y_u_bolabola_me. Sounds like some very negative experiences.

One of the key sources of friction seem to be the different business cultures or practices between European and Anglo-American sellers. European sellers tend to add on charges such as Paypal and don't always combine shipping always while Anglo-American practice is typically to include Paypal & Delcampe fees in the bid price or shipping & handling - and to combine shipping.

Since I'm more used to and thus comfortable with the Anglo-American model, I tend to do most of my buying within that "zone". I don't like being "gouged" anymore than you do! Or at least it feels like I'm being "gouged". The Europeans, after all, have higher taxes and a quality of life to support and I'm assuming this is just how business is normally practiced in their "zone".

We see more of these differences on Delcampe compared to "that other place" because Delcampe has done a much better job - for all its shortcomings - in integrating trading internationally so we see these differences over extra fees, high prices of items etc more frequently. "Better" here also means Delcampe is less autocratic in running its site and provides more "space" for buyers & sellers to operate in than "that other place". I enjoy the fresh air over here!

On the plus side, the wider market creates many more positive opportunities for both buyers and sellers. And I like that!

As to advice on what to do, I only have a few suggestions:

1. Identify reliable sellers with reasonable prices & charges that you can clearly understand and give them your repeat business if it is deserved. You will be better off and in effect you have boycotted the poor (lazy, inefficient, bad, or dishonest) sellers. Share with others who you think are the trusted sellers. This has worked for me as a buyer and a seller here and on "that other place". If I get a bad deal I won't shop there anymore and I am sure to let my friends know. Yes, there will be some bad experiences probably as you learn who to trust and who not to. A regrettable cost, hopefully small, of collecting.

2. As others have said, read terms carefully and ask questions, questions, questions. Failure of sellers to provide clear terms in their listings or to answer questions satisfactorily has me click, click away to other sellers. There's simply too much to choose from to waste time on the deadbeats (buyers or sellers).

3. Registered mail. Sorry, Cajun sr and the world's postal workers, but international registered mail is unreliable. More registered mail sent to me has been lost than regular mail enclosing payment. Registered seems to brand mail as "money for the taking" in some postal systems. Registered mail from Germany, for example, also is sloooooooooow - 4 weeks or longer to US compared to 1 week or so for regular mail. I'd take the risk & send regular mail, figuring I might lose the occasional payment sent but in long run would be cheaper than all the addition fees for registered.

I hope you decide to stay on Delcampe. We need more, not fewer, buyers who are not afraid to keep sellers honest by calling them on their bad practices.

May your next buying experiences be positive ones!

cheers!

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

I agree that Delcampe still could clean up the site more.

The dispute mechanism could be better monitored & enforced. Serious & repeat offenders whether buyers or sellers being suspended or exiled. Until there is better anti-fraud & truth-in- advertising action by Delcampe, it remains for members to use feedback & reporting to Delcampe to keep the spotlight on the poor performers.

That said, the Delcampe operation is a small one, according to Seb, the owner, so it's to be expected that there are not the same resources available for monitoring & enforcement as on that bigger "other site". As Delcampe grows, hopefully improvements will come too.

p.s. I hope this doesn't double list too. I'm not sure why that happens as I don't click twice.

Le informazioni non sono più disponibili perché l'account di questo utente è stato eliminato (Regolamento RGPD).

I agree with that. I don't like cash being sent through the post and my t&c's actually state "no cash in any currency". In spite of that I still get the occasional cash payment.
My experience is actually the other way round from yours. Years ago "over there" someone claimed they'd send me cash (not using a signed for service), but I never got it. Ended up with a neg for not sending the item. We'll never know if it was actually sent or not.