eBay... anyway to avoid stolen goods?

I was wondering if you all just avoid Ebay on the basis that a lot of the stuff on there is likely to be stolen? Is there anything I can do to confirm if its not... the last thing I want to do is perpetuate the stolen goods market.

Cheers....

Anyway to avoid stupid threads?
Oh yeah, use your brain.

I usually just ask them, then if it turns out to be stolen I can attempt to make a complaint with their local trading standards person.

Stolen items on eBay always have a little picture of a SWAG bag in the bottom left corner.

Anyway to avoid stupid threads?
Oh yeah, use your brain.

Wow. I'm new here. Really enjoyed this.... thanks for your help.

I was wondering if there was a list of stolen goods anywhere... kind of like the opposite of ebay :)

The inherent problem is that the people with stolen goods obviously aren't going to let people know they're stolen. So the real answer is: You have no way of knowing.

Unless of course you follow hunches, and the general rule of "If it's too good to be true it probably is" still holds true. Then again, some genuine sellers don't know how to price things, so they could just be bargains.

As for a list of stolen goods... try gumtree.

I tried to report one of the more obvious gumtree thieves earlier on today via the Met's "non-emergency" line. (I'm keeping an eye on gumtree in case my stolen bike turns up there). They hung up on me. No word of a lie.

Fortunately I have a mate in CID, so I've dropped them a message to find out if there's anyone I can speak to directly who might actually be interested.

Fortunately I have a mate in CID, so I've dropped them a message to find out if there's anyone I can speak to directly who might actually be interested.

Does CID really stand for Coppers In Disguise?

What's the description like? Does it has 'FIXIE' or even better 'Fixtie' in the blurb? Is the terminology a bit sus? Is the spelling wayyyy off? The dodgeballs on Bumtree can usually be spotted by these signs. And use of all capitals. And no location just phone number. And hackney or tower hamlets address.

Read the signs. Use your loaf.

re ebay specifically, not just for bikes, check sellers feedback, if it's in the 1000s and all positive then usually safe, if it's low with a lot of negatives, well don't buy from them...