Ever buy art supplies from Ebay?

janetbowser · #1 02-13-2007, 01:18 PM

I bought some paint from a seller on ebay, in addition, since we are so rural and have no art supply stores around us, I have bought canvas from Dickblick and an easel from another ebay seller. dickblick was wonderful, the easel is fine, but the paint seller has been awful.

What are your experiences with sellers if you are doing the same. I had one lady who royally screwed me over with high shipping costs (paint $22.00 - shipping $26.00! for 5 tubes) and then one of the tubes was ruptured. Just wondering what your experiences are.

Thanks,

Jan

gunzorro · #2 02-13-2007, 01:30 PM

Generally my eBay transactions have been outstanding. Sometimes the automatic shipping calculator will add up separate auctions without a discount for combined shipping -- you need to ask for it. Contact the seller before leaving negative feedback and let them know about the poor packaging, damage and see about a refund on this item and possibly something on the shipping. No one wants bad feedback, and as in real life, everything is negotiable.

Scorpio · #3 02-13-2007, 01:40 PM

I would get the shipping costs established before I bid, by e-mailing for a definite quote if that is possible. I have bought things from an e-bay seller, (though not thru e-bay, since I needed the pochade box custom made.) I was provided the shipping cost ahead of time.

janetbowser · #4 02-13-2007, 05:10 PM

I didn't leave bad feedback for her. She refunded my insurance payment and I just considered the rest to be a learning experience.

coyote · #5 02-13-2007, 05:34 PM

haha. When I read the first post I thought "oooh, I hope the seller wasn't gunzorro" since I know he's been selling paint lately on ebay.

janetbowser · #6 02-13-2007, 06:35 PM

No, it was this seller.

onefinepint · #7 02-13-2007, 09:43 PM

I bought a table easel once--should have known better. The price was good, but I got what I paid for. It rocks unless I put a magazine under one corner.

JD Hannah · #8 02-13-2007, 10:34 PM

I live in the mountains and always buy from the major art stores. If I feel shipping is too high they simply don't get my business...I track my costs of paint.

I also give stores a second chance...Like Dick Blick. They told me via internet that my paint was in stock then after I ordered it was backordered! If They told me that before I ordered I would of went elsewhere....but I guess thats the game!

gunzorro · #9 02-14-2007, 12:33 AM

Coyote --

Ha-ha! Thanks for thinking of me!

Yup, I did close a lot of auctions last week. You never know!

rainynightstarz · #10 02-14-2007, 01:12 AM

for ebay, i got 15 new 200ml tubes of Winsor Newton Winton, for $36+$8 shipping
you have to look for the brand and find the super good deals.
I got mine for so cheap because the seller didn't attach a thumbnail, so many people didn't even look at it i guess. so you have to look closely for the good deals

MChesleyJohnson · #11 02-14-2007, 04:42 AM

I've had generally good experience with buying art materials on eBay. You definitely need to look at the shipping, though. That $1 tube of paint with a $30 shipping fee ain't a good deal!

instantjim · #12 02-14-2007, 05:59 AM

I buy a lot of art materials from ebay. I always ask for the postage before I bid, the postage calculator is usually wrong for postage to Australia. I generally end up getting the materials for 50-75% off retail. There's a bunch of 10 Maimeri Puro's that I have been "stalking" of late (I have been bidding against one of our esteemed wetcanvas members for these). I always ask if the sellers can send by a specific method. I generally ask for global flat rate envelopes, as I can get 6 or more 40ml tubes for $9.50 US. Janet, I have bought from the seller you mentioned. At first I was put off by the postage calculator, but I thought I would email her. She quoted a lot less and I subsequently made some great purchases from her. She even accidentally sent the same purchase twice and said to just keep the extra paint (120ml Winsor and Newton Cadmium Yellow). I don't know if she has changed her practices recently, but I was happy. There is also the advantage of scoring some rare or discontinued colours.
jim

aszurblue · #13 02-14-2007, 07:04 AM

I do not order from e-bay because of Papal!!! They have to be singular, the dumbest people on earth!! They have my account so screwed up, that I can't even get them to discontinue my account!! If I can't use my card the *normal way*, I simply do not buy... At Dick Blick I know I will be treated great, they take my card without telling me it belongs to some one alse and give me handsdown wonderful service!!

MChesleyJohnson · #14 02-14-2007, 07:32 AM

PayPal certainly does have its issues! For example, my wife has a PayPal account -- but I can't set up my own because we share the same credit card.

HRobinson · #15 02-14-2007, 01:13 PM

Hi Janet. Welcome to the world of EBAY. You have got to read EVERYTHING on those auctions and you can't get attached to an item so much as to pay more than it's really worth.

I bought some W/N oils (for the Chinese market) once and actually liked a few of the colors which was too bad because I can't know what to order in English!

Wouldn't it be a good thing for us to kind of let each other know what we have for sale or are looking to buy? -Harry

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