Why I don't buy on eBay mobile
14/12/2008 at 13:02
By clicking on the button below, you commit to buy this item from the seller if you're the winning bidder. The displayed total does not include shipping and handling costs.
Having an HP iPaq mobile handset it should be easy – whenever an idea for a present occurs to me – to fire up the mobile browser, tap in the keywords for the present and click to buy. It’s even better if I see something in a shop as I can instantly compare the retail price and often find I can source it cheaper on eBay.
The problem is I never actually buy on mobile eBay for one reason – I never know what the carriage charge will be as eBay mobile doesn’t reveal it.
It’s a frustration that on the main eBay site that Best Match doesn’t include carriage charges, there’s nothing I object to more than paying unreasonable shipping costs. It’s much worse on eBay Mobile which doesn’t even highlight items with free carriage.
At this time of year if I think of a great Christmas present idea I just want to buy it before I forget. It’s time eBay mobile was upgraded to let me see if what looks like a good price is going to disappoint me with high P&P costs, or if it comes with reasonable (or free) shipping and really is a great deal.
whirly says
1:32 pm on 14/12/2008
No bugger uses it Chris, thats why the haven’t upgraded it. Only loon’s like you would do the xmas shopping on a bloody mobile
Chris Dawson says
1:47 pm on 14/12/2008
But Whirly you gotta admit seeing an ad on the telly and pulling the mobile out of your pocket to buy has to be the ultimate decadence in Chrimbo shopping. Least effort to get the job done
…apart from the fact in this case it doesn’t
Eddie says
1:57 pm on 14/12/2008
Ahhh butt Chris, if you were watching an ad on your telly, then no need to get your mobile – use your Wii instead – yes you can browse, bid and buy on eBay using your Nintendo Wii :
http://www.scendix.com/jaast/
Chris Dawson says
2:11 pm on 14/12/2008
#3 Like I have my Wii plugged in
whirly says
2:16 pm on 14/12/2008
It’s a step to far for me, whats wrong with one of the 19 computers you have rigged up at your pad
I imagine you only blogged this knowing the techies will read it and fix it for ya.
Chris Dawson says
4:32 pm on 14/12/2008
#6 I’m not always at home, but I *do* always have my mobile logged into eBay
Kate says
4:44 pm on 14/12/2008
I have to agree with Whirly, as someone who never even bothers to switch my mobile on. It stays off, in my handbag, the only time it gets switched on is if I break down and need to call the AA or if I’m stuck somewhere and going to be late home or late for work. Other than that, I have no need whatsoever for a mobile phone, thanks.
whirly says
5:00 pm on 14/12/2008
#7 Kate! “I have to agree with Whirly”
You can’t say things like that, it upsets board Karma. You are supposed to shake your head and tut when I post otherwise Tamebay will go to poo.
Kate says
6:18 pm on 14/12/2008
#8. Whirly you always make me laugh
“Only loon’s like you would do the xmas shopping on a bloody mobile”
Just wot I would have said! (Only without the apostrope in loons…)
whirly says
6:26 pm on 14/12/2008
#9 O FFS, another member of the grammar police, I have enough bleeding trouble with Josordoni & Biddy, now I have you on my case.
Nothing to see here, please move on.
panserkarson says
6:31 pm on 14/12/2008
I’ve seen this complaint from others across the internet, but the biggest complaints I’ve seen, in regards to ebay, are about the numerous detrimental policies being driven by two CEO, gone mad!
ebay’s new CEO has nearly destroyed the ability to list or find anything unusual. Donahoe & previous CEO, Whitman’s, “Disruptive Innovation” SCHEME against smaller sellers, in order to morph ebay into an online “strip mall” full of foreign, mass produced, bulk junk is killing the site. The fabulous smaller sellers are leaving in droves, while ebay continues to implement policies, which protect scamming buyers. With the CEO’s help, dishonest buyers can easily keep the sellers’ items AND receive their money back, now and receive
NO restrictions for doing so.
BEWARE: Paypal, owned be ebay, is now WITHHOLDING users funds for
21-180 days at their “sole discretion” per amendments to their User
Agreement!
Sell anywhere EXCEPT ebay!!! Buy anywhere, BUT ebay! Pay any way, BUT Paypal!!!
To see what is really happening on ebay, please search the internet
for,
“Ebay Stockholders and Sellers Calling For Immediate
Termination of John
Donohoe CEO” (at petitiononline)
Board_Surfer says
6:55 pm on 14/12/2008
isn’t terminating the guy a bit over the top?
cant they just ask for him to be dismissed instead?
whirly says
7:03 pm on 14/12/2008
What started out as a friendly chat about eBay Mobile has turned into a Donahoe bloodfest
Chris Dawson says
7:04 pm on 14/12/2008
#7 Mine ain’t so much a mobile, as a multifunction computing device that fits in my pocket and lets me view emails, browse the Internet, use Skype chat and acts as a sat nav…. oh and as an afterthought I can make and receive phone calls on it.
A lot easier than carrying a laptop and a phone around with me
whirly says
7:11 pm on 14/12/2008
#7 “Mine ain’t so much a mobile, as a multifunction computing device that fits in my pocket and lets me view emails, browse the Internet, use Skype chat and acts as a sat nav”
Watch yourself Kate, Chris is one smooth operator! before you know it you will be on your back singing “gimme gimme gimme”
Steve says
10:40 pm on 14/12/2008
I’ve got a Nokia N96 with Opera Mini installed. I can use the full eBay website on the move, without having to use a cut down version of the site. Loading times are acceptable – enough to quickly compare prices when out and about.
I did try the eBay mobile service though, and found it to be more hassle and not enough information to be worth the effort.
Chris Dawson says
10:58 pm on 14/12/2008
#16 eBay mobile is great for auctions that you found on your computer and want to snipe at the last minute, it’s pretty useless for any other buying activity and totally useless for selling.
John Pemberton says
12:56 pm on 15/12/2008
mobile speeds are so slow – it takes ages for pages to load up….I think it will take off when mobile phones run as fast as land line broadband
Chris Dawson says
1:01 pm on 15/12/2008
#18 Mobile eBay is fine on speeds as slow as GPRS. The full blown site is absolutely dire on GPRS but works like a dream on 3G
Steve says
2:20 pm on 15/12/2008
Even on 2G, Opera Mini is pretty good for full site eBay…
http://www.operamini.com/
Steve says
4:44 pm on 15/12/2008
Chris, they probably haven’t updated it because it will be all academic when they bring in compulsory ‘post free’ for all sales.
Happy Xmas. SteveF
Chris Dawson says
5:13 pm on 15/12/2008
#21 Now that’s a darn good point
Kate says
6:42 pm on 15/12/2008
#14 & #15, I don’t have a laptop either, I’ve got phones and computers at home and at work, (not that I’m allowed to access ebay at work and Tamebay is blocked as well!) and I really can’t see the need for “boys toys” when I’m out and about. WhenI on the train I’ll read a book, thanks. ANd no way do I need a computer, phone, or anything else when I’m driving or shopping. (and no I don’t have satnav either. I’m perfectly capable of finding my way around with a map). I just don’t see the need for any of these toys.
Chris Dawson says
9:43 pm on 15/12/2008
I love my toys, couldn’t imagine how hard work would be without them, or at least less convenient
(Comment submitted from my ipaq
)
Kate says
11:12 pm on 15/12/2008
#24 I suppose I just hate the silly little screens that you can’t see properly (bearing in mind I have an eyesight problem) and stupid tiny keys that I can’t use – I have difficulty hitting the right keys to dial a number (luckily most of the time it’s home so it’s just last number redial). The few texts I send I do from the internet – webtexts – because I can’t hit the right keys let alone fathom out how to turn off predictive text. Which is the daftest thing ever.
I’m not a technophobe – I couldn’t do without my PC!