stone
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Post by stone on May 3, 2019 9:54:13 GMT -5
In doing some research I keep coming across the web site "Etsy" and I know nothing about them but they do have a fair amount of pipes for sale. Does anyone have any experience with them?
How do they compare to Ebay?
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Post by Legend Lover on May 3, 2019 10:13:37 GMT -5
In doing some research I keep coming across the web site "Etsy" and I know nothing about them but they do have a fair amount of pipes for sale. Does anyone have any experience with them?
How do they compare to Ebay?
Funny, I've heard the same, especially here. I'm keen to know the difference too. |
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Post by McWiggins on May 3, 2019 10:38:44 GMT -5
Both are similar yet different in their own rights. With eBay you'll find anything and everything for the most part. Etsy is more about handmade or crafted products and found items, usually vintage stuff. I myself have found better deals at times on Etsy for film photography. But in the digital world I find stuff on eBay.
Both can be hit or miss depending on what you find at various times. I feel that both are great resources depending on the items one is looking for.
From a seller's perspective I think Etsy can be a little better on the other hand it doesn't have as much traffic.
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Post by briarpipenyc on May 3, 2019 10:43:14 GMT -5
Bought two estate pipes off Etsy.
The first, a Karl Eric hand-made...bent acorn/straight grain. Flawless pipe, and smokes great. Not a bit sorry I bought the pipe even though the seller was located in Latvia. No problems at all.
The second, was a cheapo estate, no-name. Bought expressly for rustification experiments, and staining/finishing. Seller, sent wrong pipe. Repeated contacts went unanswered. I'm out less than $20.00 but very aggravating experience, that still has not been resolved, after a month.
Posted here....just so you know.....but my experiences prove, nothing. Lousy sellers are all over internet. Caveat emptor.
What i do like about Etsy is the option to directly contact the seller wth questions, etc. and get quick answers. Nice. I don't do auctions...so Etsy scratches my itches.
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stone
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Post by stone on May 3, 2019 10:45:09 GMT -5
Bought two estate pipes off Etsy. The first, a Karl Eric hand-made...bent acorn/straight grain. Flawless pipe, and smokes great. Not a bit sorry I bought the pipe even though the seller was located in Latvia. No problems at all. The second, was a cheapo estate, no-name. Bought expressly for rustification experiments, and staining/finishing. Seller, sent wrong pipe. Repeated contacts went unanswered. I'm out less than $20.00 but very aggravating experience, that still has not been resolved, after a month. Posted here....just so you know.....but my experiences prove, nothing. Lousy sellers are all over internet. Caveat emptor. I use American Express to pay unknown sellers. They would give you your money back instantly and take the issue to the seller who wouldn't get paid unless he made it right. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 11:32:08 GMT -5
I’ve found that Etsy sells more collectibles, which people that have used Etsy for years are well aware of. Etsy does NOT cover the buyer at all.....so beware!!! eBay has a no hassle money back guarantee, which I needed help with twice in the past 6 years. With Etsy, it’s keep your fingers crossed. Have not done business with Etsy in almost two years.
So, is it Etsy or eBay for you??
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 11:44:33 GMT -5
I buy a lot of used stuff or factory refurbished on Ebay no problems Ebay did not take care of. Ebay is not as cheap as it used to be some folks try to higher than what things are really worth or more than in the store down the street.
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stone
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Post by stone on May 3, 2019 12:07:58 GMT -5
I buy a lot of used stuff or factory refurbished on Ebay no problems Ebay did not take care of. Ebay is not as cheap as it used to be some folks try to higher than what things are really worth or more than in the store down the street. A lot of Ebay sellers prey on the ignorant.
Like this seller, selling a used pipe for $35 which you can buy new for $7. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 12:16:46 GMT -5
Jeff^^^^^^^ personally, I wouldn't care to smoke a used Cob if it were free. They are cheap enough to purchase new.
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Post by sperrytops on May 3, 2019 13:30:11 GMT -5
Etsy is not really an auction site. It's where small craftspeople (not diminutive) sell their products. It's quite reliable. I've used them a few times for leather products. They've grown amazingly over recent years and craftspeople/sellers from across the world participate.
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Post by sperrytops on May 3, 2019 13:32:18 GMT -5
I buy a lot of used stuff or factory refurbished on Ebay no problems Ebay did not take care of. Ebay is not as cheap as it used to be some folks try to higher than what things are really worth or more than in the store down the street. A lot of Ebay sellers prey on the ignorant.
Like this seller, selling a used pipe for $35 which you can buy new for $7.  Now that's a crime. Problem with eBay is there is really no quality control. You can get your money back or give bad ratings, but all after the fact when you are already unhappy. |
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stone
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Post by stone on May 3, 2019 13:36:40 GMT -5
A lot of Ebay sellers prey on the ignorant.
Like this seller, selling a used pipe for $35 which you can buy new for $7. Now that's a crime. Problem with eBay is there is really no quality control. You can get your money back or give bad ratings, but all after the fact when you are already unhappy. Yeah, I think this is just a case of buyer beware. The seller doesn't make any claims to anything untrue so I am not sure you could even get your money back? |
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Post by sperrytops on May 3, 2019 13:38:51 GMT -5
Yeah, I think this is just a case of buyer beware. The seller doesn't make any claims to anything untrue so I am not sure you could even get your money back? Yup. You just need to be smart enough up front to know this guy is trying to scam you. |
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Post by peteguy on May 3, 2019 14:31:27 GMT -5
Ebay gets the most traffic but it will cost you more. Since you can let the market decide the price when listing on ebay you can either take it in the shorts or come out smelling like a rose. My experience is it is usually somewhere in between but it will cost you more.
You can do a buy it now and make it similar to Etsy but Ebay will cost you more. Better protection on Ebay but it will cost you more. Anyone seeing a pattern here?
Ebay is an overpriced, poorly run, shite show but it is a necessity in my opinion if you want to sell your pipes quickly. If you don't care how long it takes and are willing to risk a bit more but also not be bent over on fees then Etsy might work better for you.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 14:52:30 GMT -5
I buy handmade jewelry, leather goods, forged goods like knives and fire strikers, knapped stone, etc. at Etsy. I have also picked up an estate pipe or two. No bad transactions yet. Some very talented people sell there.
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Post by toshtego on May 3, 2019 15:52:58 GMT -5
I had only one experience with Etsy. I believed a listing and purchased an item There was no response from the seller for four months. Etsy management was little help. Finally I heard from the seller who had no idea why the listing was still up and refunded the money.
Conclusion: Before money changes hands, form a connection between buyer and seller and work through the mutual expectations. Etsy is not like Ebay.
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Post by clintonvilleleather on May 4, 2019 22:38:08 GMT -5
I’ve found that Etsy sells more collectibles, which people that have used Etsy for years are well aware of. Etsy does NOT cover the buyer at all.....so beware!!! eBay has a no hassle money back guarantee, which I needed help with twice in the past 6 years. With Etsy, it’s keep your fingers crossed. Have not done business with Etsy in almost two years. So, is it Etsy or eBay for you?? Ted, I have had a store front on Etsy for almost 10 years. The buyer is definitely protected if there is an issue it is just a couple clicks to report and open a case against a seller if there is an issue. |
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Post by blackmouth210 on May 4, 2019 22:56:41 GMT -5
Ebay is great for buyers.
Etsy is better if you're selling.
Ebay has great buyer protection.
Etsy has virtually none.
I recommend buyers know exactly what they're doing if buying from either site.
This is especially true if the purchase price is more than you're willing to lose.
Neither site is good for the uninformed buyer.
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elric
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Post by elric on May 4, 2019 23:41:56 GMT -5
After buying two crap estate pipes off ebay & losing a few brand new pipes that were 'lost in the mail' from 4noggins (the owner could not have cared any less) I learnt to buy from established sellers on ebay & etsy.
Ebay is great for snatching a bargain. One has to pay attention to the auctions & put in a high bid in the last minute of the auction. (No, that's not sniping)
I've won quite a few bargains from established sellers but I must watch & bid on dozens of pipes to 'win' just one pipe, so it is time consuming.
I've 'won' over 50 pipes off ebay, all for way below their actual worth (love a bargain)
I've bought about ten pipes off etsy from established sellers.
I've yet to have a problem that has not been resolved to my satisfaction buying from established sellers, either from ebay or etsy.
The main difference between the two is that ebay is usually sold by auction.
Etsy goods have a set price (some sellers will consider offers)
Establishing a rapport with an established seller can have it's benefits. The etsy seller whom I've bought several pipes from in the past, recently included a brand new Brigham Billiard gratis - the final finish had bubbled slightly but it's barely noticeable - with an order of two pipes.
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sablebrush52
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Post by sablebrush52 on May 5, 2019 11:22:11 GMT -5
In doing some research I keep coming across the web site "Etsy" and I know nothing about them but they do have a fair amount of pipes for sale. Does anyone have any experience with them?
How do they compare to Ebay?
For sheer volume and variety it's eBay hands down. And as has been pointed out, eBay is primarily an auction situation with competing bidders, while Etsy is more of an arcade situation with many shops selling at set prices. Neither site is for the uninformed buyer, especially eBay, where prices are all over the map. You need to know what a normal price range is for a particular item or you can really overpay. It's a myth that everything goes for less on eBay. In an auction situation, items generally go for the most that market will bear. That's why auctions exist. If it were bad for sellers, why would they bother with eBay? I've found some real gems on eBay, but that was mostly years ago, when their search engine was less sophisticated and more listings with mistakes would fall through the cracks. Bargains are far fewer than used to be the case, especially with collectible grade pipes. Sniping is popular and it is an excellent way to way overpay. On the other hand, snipers provide me with much amusement as they collide in the financial stratosphere and end up paying 4 to 10 times actual market prices for a pipe. This happens fairly regularly, especially with collectible pipes. The only reason I bother with eBay at all is that I can find things there that I can't find anywhere else. |
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Post by smellthehatfirst on May 7, 2019 13:36:00 GMT -5
It's true that Etsy has virtually no buyer protection, but that is not to say you'll get ripped off.
Vendors on etsy are like retail stores. They have to build and maintain a reputation to survive. Etsy doesn't force them to "make it right," but there are many, many vendors who will do right by you, voluntarily, because it makes business sense.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 14:22:44 GMT -5
nitehawk was/is a reliable Etsy pipe seller. Has not been here in awhile and not sure if his Etsy store is still active?
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andythebeagle
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Post by andythebeagle on May 7, 2019 23:34:42 GMT -5
In doing some research I keep coming across the web site "Etsy" and I know nothing about them but they do have a fair amount of pipes for sale. Does anyone have any experience with them? How do they compare to Ebay?
I've found the best overall deals for pipes on Etsy. Very easy to deal with. Membership or an account not required. They don't hound you like eBay does. Direct contact with sellers. Like any place online, caution is advised. |
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