Purchasing fireplaces or related products does not necessarily mean purchasing from a fireplace or interior design connected site. You can often pay less for products on eBay but also, quite often, you can pay more. You also get assurance, in most cases, that the seller offers no warranty, no shipping or inflated shipping prices. Most often you'll also get no technical, installation or service support. If you're an experienced fireplace installer and are willing to take some risks to save a few dollars, eBay may be your best source for a fireplace at discount prices.
You could be thinking to yourself, why on earth would a person want second hand fireplace? Hundreds of fireplace related items are sold on eBay each and every day - some are old and used, some are new. They may be overstocks, closeouts, damaged in freight merchandise. New items may or may not carry any manufacturer's warranty. Just use caution because most fireplace manufacturers require you to obtain service or warranty through an authorized dealer and should your "new" fireplace require warranty parts or service you may not get it from your eBay seller.
Some traditional fireplace dealers have redesigned their business to sell their standard products via eBay. You'll find the prices for these items, in most cases, are the similar to what you'd get at a local store or internet fireplace dealer and eBay is merely the best way for these internet merchants to help you find them. So there are plenty of legitimate fireplace dealers selling products on eBay.
Individuals, antique dealers, garage-sale resellers and others selling products on eBay often don't know what they're offering to you, its true condition or what it is actually used for. They usually have little experience with packaging standards and freight claims, and little clout or the needed experience at negotiating freight discounts. Some eBay merchants have also figured out that they can sell items severely discounted, and build the necessary profits into the freight costs that are added at the end. Too often, buyers don't read that fine print about their purchase and are disappointed to find that their great deal on a new fireplace really isn't.
I've made dozens of eBay purchases myself. Antique linens, dishes to match up to the china I inherited, old books, and much more. Here's my list of questons to answer about the item you're considering, based on various poor experiences I've had:
- Is the product available from a local merchant or authorized internet merchant at a comparable price?
- Does the item include a manufacturer's warranty? Will it qualify for warranty parts or service if bought over eBay?
- Does the seller offer you any type of satisfaction guarantee?
-What solutions are available to you, as the buyer, if your item arrives damaged or never arrives at all? (Lost freight claims are initiated by the sender)
- Does the seller offer installation and service advice?
- What are the added packaging costs to ready your item for shipment?
- How are freight costs figured? Are these costs competitive?
- Does the seller offer and pay for insurance to cover your item after it's been shipped? (Only the shipper may insure the freight)
- Who files the freight claim if the item is damaged? (Buyers should be aware that freight claims are not paid for items improperly packaged and if the seller is packaging the item, what's his incentive to make sure this is done right?)
-Can you pay by credit card so your purchase is protected if you don't get what you expected?
So if you're thinking eBay is a great source for your new fireplace item, you could be right. Just make sure you know what you're getting and what your recourse is in the event you're disappointed.
Article contributed by Karen Duke, Victorian Fireplace Shop
INFO CHANNEL
