Yes you’re right, I’ll do that thanks

yes, good thinking.

Thank you Susan. We never stop learning do we !

I think you’re right Andrew.

Haha thanks Paul, I love the football analogy! I’ll try to post more successes than failures, but I really don’t mind sharing the disasters too… they’re all part and parcel! Cheers

Yes, I’d have done the same. When I had my antiques shops pre the internet, I’d often let people take antiques home with them on approval before they paid. They would then either post a cheque or bring the item back. All on trust and I was never scammed…how things have changed!

bang on i think!

So frustrating, I sympathise.

That’s so frustrating Otto. I’ve heard of similar situations from friends. Nothing you could have done about that one. Chin up, they always get their just rewards! Cheers D

Thanks Pale and there’s no point in attempting to talk to eBay, or complain about the situation. There’s no one to talk to anyway and they always side with the buyer. There are so many tricks some people pull on eBay and they come up with new ones daily!

You’re right Mark, that was another section I forgot to click!!

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV well we all learn lessons one way or another, I’m just glad it wasn’t for anything more valuable

@@markcarroll6537 blimey…me too! Cheers Mark

Yes that was another one of my mistakes. I didn’t click the global shipping button!

It’s true, thats where I made my mistakes!

Good question Bill. British antiques experts wouldn’t be as good in America, because they dont know the market, which would make it very interesting. The antiques themselves would be no problem, because they are what they are, however on some TV shows now, they’re bringing in experts who aren’t really experts, so that would be even more interesting! 25 years ago, I shipped antiques to and from America, but I’d be well out of touch with the trends now!

Well, having watched a few American shows like Pawn Stars, American Pickers and Storage Wars, I am constantly amazed at the prices paid for stuff that would be worthless in the UK! This is not meant as any kind of insult,by the way, just an observation of how different the markets are. You could not sell a baseball or cards in the UK, for example, probably no more than we could sell a George Best signed shirt in the US. There seems to be much more emphasis on who owned what than there would be in the UK for example. Also the US is a much 'younger' country, so you haven't had time to accumulate junk and stuff like us old European grottlers!

Yes, I’m a bit too blasé about these things, thinking everyone is trustworthy, but will never make this mistake again!

Yes I think most postal systems are creaking at the moment. Did you know that in Victorian London, you could get up to 10 postal deliveries a day…you could have conversations with people across town, almost like email today! far better postal system then!

Cheer Mick. Email me a pic if you like. (See website) D

Forgot to click that as well…useless!!

The world is going mad on so many levels!

So true. There could have been traces of drugs in it and customs seized it.

Yes you’re right. These people know exactly what they’re doing. Very sad. when I had antiques shops I’d let people take items home on approval all the time. Simply on trust and I was never ever done! They’d either post me or pop back with cheque, or return the item if it didn’t work. I doubt I’d do this today!

A few years ago a friend sent me some gemstones from the US. They weren't valuable, as in Koh i Noor or something to get the Dutch excited, just something she thought I would like. When they arrived there were 3 missing. The biggest and flashiest naturally. The box was covered on all joins with that US mail security tape, she had watched the post office person apply it. So how was the magic done? On close inspection, the tape on one end had been slit and carefully replaced, but the wording and lettters were Ever so slightly out of synch. I am in Spain. They are Not going to have access to US Mail security tape, nor is any ordinary bod. Therefore we concluded that the package had been opened by a US Mail employee, then carefully resealed. Not quite carefully enough. There was nothing on the package to say how many there were, and it was only when she asked me how I liked my birthstone that we realised it wasn't there! I blame the US system demanding to know what is in every parcel. She had written 'Gemstones' Some knuckle dragger obviously equated that with value and decided to help him/herself to a few. When we worked out which were missing, she said 'Well, we can take satisfaction in the fact that although they were the biggest, and most 'in your face' they are practically worthless. Imagine his/her face when s/he takes them to a jeweller.' Another friend has an online friendship with a lady in Georgia. She asked if he could get 2 secondhand laptops for her and her friend, as they are beyond their budget in Georgia. They would pay him. He duly complied and decided to hide 2 teddy bears, a big one and a little one, in her parcel, as a little gift. Everything arrived, Except the little teddy bear! Work that one out! They didn't take the laptop, just a tiny teddy bear! Again that Had to be a postal worker.

It's all about the seller knowing how eBay works . I never ship outside the UK and nothing over 2kg . If they dispute not as described you are screwed if over 2kg . Ebay returns is only 2kg . Ebay is fine if you know how it works . Always have insurance to cover the amount . If you do that you cannot loose .

Thank you Peter - excellent info. D

That’s a good point, I didn’t think about that

You did right David. But getting through to actually speak to anyone at eBay is a major problem too. It’s such a shame that we have to now be so suspicious of every buyer.

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV please they have the contact have them call you back takes about 1-10 minutes before they call call back

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV tell them without you and all the other sellers they can’t make money , without us there is no Ebay , we are the important ones not criminals that prey on sellers

We’ve really got to be on it Stuart ! Sadly for me, I was having an off day!!

I fear you’re right Wayne…a lesson learnt for me and I hope others watching

You might be right!!

You do right and so will I in the future !!

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV sorry this has happened to you... it’s happened to me too don’t worry. ☺️ my neighbour once received my rare plant parcel... she said she didn’t receive it, but my courier had a photo of my parcel at her front door 😂 (so the little parcel fairies must have stolen them from her front door step!)

I can't recall ever being scammed online, but it is a fear with ebay, one reason I don't ship internationally. Maybe you should take a trip to America when covid allows and confront the buyer, I would be furious, although presuming you'd have had to fill out customs invoice any postie in the chain could have seen what it was and potential value and that it wasn't tracked and stolen it. Deffinately alwaystrack in the future.

You’re right Sean. Completely my mistake…never stop learning!

Yes, but that really is not the point!

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV Yeah. I'm just trying to put a positive spin on it for you David. LOL.

@@Michael-4 Appreciate it Michael. One positive is that this video is doing much better than normal! Cheers

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV Yes and you never know, you may track it down. 6 degrees and all that.

You're bang on there i think!

That actually makes perfect sense. I was wondering why someone would make themselves a thief or £69, but it maybe worth a lot more in China. Plus S/he has the £69 back! Profit all the way!

You are right!

@@DavidHarperAntiquesTV also never send anything that not the address in eBay if you send it to any other address on buyers request . Your lose again . Ebay is very easy when you know how it works . You really have to watch not as described disputes overseas . Because you know your screwed . Thats why I only ship UK

@@wobbler6372 that’s another good point. Someone else mentioned that this had happened to them and they were scammed. ..selling antiques used to be so much simpler!!

Haha John, if only you knew! Whatever you think the pay is, divide it by 10 and you’ll be a lot closer! Thanks for watching