How safe are they?

I have bought off of Ebay from Chinese sellers without any problem,one even provided customer service on a missing part.Of course doesn't mean all are legit.With any Ebay purchase,I read reviews,use PayPal, and won't spend more then I'm willing to risk.

Never had any issues with the Chinese sellers on e-bay. I try to buy local even if it costs more, but they often have stuff i just can't get local. I have noticed since the start of last year items are taking lnger than they used to.

I tried buying a couple kits last year from a Chinese vendor and never recieved the Items. When I filed a report to ebay, they could not locate the sellers info. Fortunatly ebay did refund my purchase.

Doug

A good idea is to check the sellers feedback. If they are well established with hundreds of positive feedbacks over a many year period, I'll jump in and buy from them. But if they are new with only a few reviews, I'll let somebody else be the crash test dummy and look elsewhere. 

It's Ebay so its hit or miss, my bank protects me when I dont recieve an item I paid for on Ebay.  It does happen but in my expierience its rare maybe 2 out of a hundred,  just read reviews and never buy from someone that promises the impoosible, due diligents is the key

I notice that sometimes they say it might take about a month to receivethe order.  Is this normal for a Chinese order?

ikar01

I notice that sometimes they say it might take about a month to receivethe order.  Is this normal for a Chinese order?

 

Yes, stuff is running slow,so I try to plan ahead.

I have made 5 or 6 Ebay purchases from Hong Kong, all successful.  Shipping time was reasonable too, 2.5 to 6 weeks.  

Just one order exceeded the 8 week estimate without showing, but the seller sent a replacement for it...then the original showed up anyway 3 weeks later.  I offered to pay for the duplicate, but they said keep it  for the inconvenience.  Pretty generous as it was a Takom D9R with slat armor.

ikar01

I notice that sometimes they say it might take about a month to receivethe order.  Is this normal for a Chinese order?

 

Some of mine last year have taken about 2 months, but its taken a month before its posted. But these have been for kits and i am in no rush. There is a group of sellers who all have the same price for items and are al in the same place, so i suspect they are the same seller with different accounts.

ikar01

I notice that sometimes they say it might take about a month to receivethe order.  Is this normal for a Chinese order?

I ordered something from China/Hong Kong back around the first of April.  They said it would be shipped via 4PX and would take 3 to 6 weeks.  Tracking showed that it was air freighted HK to Chicago, cleared customs and was sent to Dallas where it sat in a warehouse for a week before being picked up by USPS for the final mile.   Three weeks, right on schedule.   USPS probably has a once a week contract with them

I have found Chinese sellers to be no more likely to rip you off than sellers from any other country.  In fact, the ones I have dealt with so far have been extremely friendly, professional, and responsive to questions and concerns about an order.  As far as shipping goes, with most of my transactions with sellers in places like China and Russia, the biggest delay in shipping has invariably been our own state-side customs.  My Trumpeter Frogfoot was ordered directly from China, with an estimated delivery time of 6-8 weeks...it got here in 3...right in the middle of the Coronavirus thing.

Hi, Ikar01!

      I have bought through the " Bay". About half have been in Hong Kong or Macau; Never had a problem and my account was not billed until the item shipped. Even found a seller here in the states that's very good and in both instances I get the product at the time they say I will. A day Before or After usually.That's my Post office for you! 

I try not to buy from China but nowadays it’s hard to avoid. A couple of years back I ordered a Meng Jagdpanther from a seller in China with excellent reviews and a great price. The seller put the wrong address on the package and the USPS sent it back to China. The seller fell off the face of the earth and went from 99% + ratings plummeting to like 50% in a few days receiving tons of negatives. Something may have happened to the seller or he just decided to rip off a bunch of buyers.

eBay kept Telling me I had to wait so many days when it had been over a month and clearly the package was sent back per the tracking info provided by the USPS Supervisor I spoke with. I contacted PayPal and explained what was going on and the guy issued me an instant refund. Now days you call eBay or Pay Pal and get transferred to India so good luck with that. Still waiting for $10 refund they owe me. Gave up afte 3 calls . 

Had another Chinese seller jerking me around on a refund telling me to give him + feedback in exchange for the refund. Ended up reporting his sorry a$$ to EBay. 

Ebay is not what it used to be and has gotten worse Specially with the large number of Chinese sellers.

Tojo72

I have bought off of Ebay from Chinese sellers without any problem,one even provided customer service on a missing part.Of course doesn't mean all are legit.With any Ebay purchase,I read reviews,use PayPal, and won't spend more then I'm willing to risk.

Second all of that.

If it's a vendor that's been around a while with good reviews, I'll take the chance...and through a dozen or so purchases, no disappointments so far.

In fact, pretty much every such order I made shipped in about half the time promised...though those were all pre-Covid. From what I read, shipping time is the big hangup, now

ikar01

I notice that sometimes they say it might take about a month to receivethe order.  Is this normal for a Chinese order?

 

Out of probably 25 purchases from China, I've been burned once when Covid ramped up. The Chinese sellers said delays due to Covid please be patient but the item never arrived. The time expired for refund because I waited on the slow shipping due to covid and item wasn't received. Seller later insisted item shipped etc. 

It's just the occasional cost of doing business. It was my fault for not aggressively demanding refund within normal time despite covid.

Thats why i got the internet purchase thing from my Bank I think now its a regualer service that they Offer If you think you are being ripped off don't call ebay call your bank. they will most always refund you and deal with the scammer themselfs. Purchasing secondary parts for alot of models somehow makes you shop in china I guess these guys seem to buy everythig out. and yes shipping from china takes foreever, coronavirus,  custums on both sides opening and repacking your package. I order stuff from china for projects I dont want too start until I have everything.  stuff that takes many months too collect, and from china typical 4 to 6 weeks if not longer

I havent had any problems with any sellers from HK or China. Be aware there are a lot of recast figures listed and eBay doesn't seem to care.