Testing Strips on ebay

As Ebay make you pay a premium for reserve prices it is not uncommon for users to have numerous accounts to shill bid their own auctions.
Often I have seen other items go for more on auction than buy it now! Maybe people just get carried away when on an auction? Maybe I'm just a bit cynical about the whole Ebay experience

Hi,

This might sound negative,
I purchased some test strips from e-bay. The use-buy date was only 2 months and my devious thought was that someone overstocked,and they were obtained free on the NHS. (can this happen in this honest country)

I now stay with Amazon.

Roy.

I do buy strips from ebay and yes Roy, you do get people who get them on prescription selling them. I tend to go for the sellers who sell lots of strips of different makes (they must get them wholesale).

Because I prefer my One Touch machine, they are a lot more expensive on Amazon. I recently got some from Boots online when they had their 3 for 2 offer on, you can also get them free of VAT, by just filling in a form.

Hi all, I am heavily on the internet having worked with PCs for 20 years and have been online since it becam available, and shop as well on IN one of the first things I learnt was never use Ebay, whilst some things bought are ok others may be suspect. Ebay is now so big there is no real way of checking or regulating the goods transactions there (Just because they are used a lot that doesnt mean they are good). When it comes to medical supplies such as testing strips I would reccomend that as a NO NO. It still appears that any fool can sell almost anything genuine or otherwise. The only way to guarantee that the strips are good is to use a reputable pharmacist, it may cost more but if the goods you purchase on websites like Ebay the first question you skould ask yourself if this is cheap then why? Whilst I do not have a lot of money I still feel that it is worth that extra for something that works right or failing that comes with a return policy under consumer law, and of course being diabetic obtaining strips, accuracy is essential to help you control your BG etc.

All the best

Simon aka Cobra3164

chris lowe said:

Hi all, I've often bought my test strips on ebay as they are quite a bit cheaper, but normally when I find a price I like I just click on the "buy now" button. Just as an experiment, I thought I would try bidding. Now, maybe I'm just being cynical (who, moi?) but I put in a fairly reasonable price - no point being silly - but lo and behold I'm being outbid. Now there are several pages of the strips I use so is it just coincidence that the two lots I have bid for are attracting higher bids. I'd be interested to learn of any experiences you've had. Thanks

Click to expand...

Bit silly to bid on ebay without using something like Auction Sniper, which places bids on your behalf in the last seconds of the auction, meaning that you rarely, if ever, get outbid. Regular bidding is for suckers...

Cobra3164 said:

Hi all, I am heavily on the internet having worked with PCs for 20 years and have been online since it becam available, and shop as well on IN one of the first things I learnt was never use Ebay, whilst some things bought are ok others may be suspect.

Click to expand...

How could they be suspect? As long as they are in a sealed container with an unexpired useby date, what could possibly go wrong? It would be immediately apparent if your strips are duds. Boots charge me 50p a strip, Dodgy Ebay Sellers charge me less than 20p. Even if every other strip was a dud, I'd still be in profit.

I buy all mine in bulk from ebay, from reputable sellers, and I've never had a problem.

I also don't give a flying monkey's if the strips are ex-prescription. There is a good argument that the NHS creates the whole black market by not prescribing them to T2 diabetics. Apart from an annual HbA1c / lipids test (worth about £30) I get precisely nothing from the NHS for my diabetes. There is no way I'm going to put even more money into the pockets of big-Pharma by purchasing them at a huge premium through exploitative chemists.

Bit silly to bid on ebay without using something like Auction Sniper, which places bids on your behalf in the last seconds of the auction, meaning that you rarely, if ever, get outbid.

Click to expand...

You learn something new every day. Thanks Borofergie, Your other point regarding Dodgy Ebay Sellers does bear thinking about and I now agree with you.

Roy.

I don't test much at all now, but I go through phases of heavy testing. I got a wholesale lot from a guy on ebay who was selling because his GP had changed his meter. So yes, the strips I bought were prescription (I didn't know until I won the bid but it wouldn't have bothered me anyway). If I hadn't bought them and no-one else had bought them they would have gone in the bin. I saved over £150, the seller made a few quid - result. Morally wrong? Maybe, and perhaps not ideal, but when I have to use my own cash to buy strips, I want them as cheap as possible!

I just bought 300 strips for 55 quid including postage which is just short of what the NHS charge me per 50 strips every 2 months for 7.65 . In my experience the more you buy the cheaper they get. I normally contact the seller asking if they would do any deals if you buy in bulk. I've been buying off of one lady now for 2 yes and once you get a trust going you can bypass eBay and buy direct thus saving you more cos the seller doesn't pay fees