It’s a bidder’s travel market
October 6, 2009 ·
What about eBay?
Travel listings at eBay are a mishmash of come-ons and ads for travel agents, inns and condos, along with the occasional true auction — and unfortunately, there’s no quick way to zero in on the good stuff. Many listings are offered only at set “Buy It Now” prices, meaning there is no bidding whatsoever.
It’s also common to find misleading listings, if not outright scams. One example: Shama Travel, an Illinois-based travel agency, frequently lists a “Buy It Now” rate of $1.49 next to the words airline tickets and logos for United, Lufthansa and other carriers. But paying that price only gets you “a certificate for one airfare consultation” — not an actual flight.
Bottom line: Using eBay to book a trip is generally not worth the hassle. If you stumble upon something interesting on the site, contact the lister personally. Never send a payment by check or money order; instead, pay with a credit card or PayPal, both of which provide some measure of security.
