ebay and selling

[4eigner]

I was wondering if ATOTers have had good experiences with selling stuff on ebay. Anyone ever have bidders who didn't pay once winnning the bid? I've only sold low price items <$20 and this will be the first one that's over $500.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I was wondering if ATOTers have had good experiences with selling stuff on ebay. Anyone ever have bidders who didn't pay once winnning the bid? I've only sold low price items <$20 and this will be the first one that's over $500.

I dont have a ton of ebay selling but I had someone take his sweet time paying. They have 7 days to do so. I couldn't understand the guys English very well so I re listed the item. It seemed like he wasn't going to go through with the purchase. I also just sold a motherboard recently and had sent her a reminder to pay after 3 days passed.

 

[Chocu1a]

I recently listed a gtx480. I had it listed as an auction with a buy it now option. Some guy hit by it now, but didn't pay right away. After 4 days and multiple invoices I sent him an email telling him I was canceling the sale and selling it locally. All l of a sudden I received an email stating I had received payment. I immediately refused payment and refunded. 5 days to pay for a buy it now is a scam waiting to happen.

 

[Ksyder]

I recently listed a gtx480. I had it listed as an auction with a buy it now option. Some guy hit by it now, but didn't pay right away. After 4 days and multiple invoices I sent him an email telling him I was canceling the sale and selling it locally. All l of a sudden I received an email stating I had received payment. I immediately refused payment and refunded. 5 days to pay for a buy it now is a scam waiting to happen.

They do have "immediate payment required" option for buy it now items. I usually always do this. Its almost absurd that they can buy it now but not pay for it now.

 

[Sonikku]

poor people do it when they want to lock in the price for something limited or going for a good price at the moment, but payday isn't until Friday.

 

[JamesV]

I've bought and sold alot on Ebay, and have only had minor issues. One time the USPS lost the package I sent (had tracking number, went to a hub, and disappeared; they never found it). Another time, the factory sealed software box had two identical discs in it, instead of disc 1 and 2; the seller contacted the company and got it fixed for me.

But, I specifically lay out the rules of my auctions. US only, payment expected within 3 days or I will relist the item, how I will pack and ship the item, return information if applicable, etc. Do all of this; clearly lay out the rules in bold text, and most likely you will not have problems.

 

[Mixolydian]

I rarely have issues with selling on eBay, but I keep pretty strict guidelines (payment via PayPal must be received within 24 hours, period.) I always ship Priority Mail so there's a tracking number. If an item sells for more than $100, I require signature confirmation.

 

[Chocu1a]

poor people do it when they want to lock in the price for something limited or going for a good price at the moment, but payday isn't until Friday.

I went as far as asking him after day 3 if he needed time to pay if he was having financial issues and I was willing to work with him. No reply. I had a bad feeling that buyer would have tried to do a charge back. Ebay and paypal almost always take the sellers side on things.
Personally, I am done with trying to sell on ebay.

 

[Poulsonator]

I just finished off 77 auctions, with only 1 non-payer. I went through the non-payer process and got my fees back. I listed it again and it sold. I'm about to list another 80-100 things, hopefully my luck will continue.

It's rare when I have problems, but eBay and PayPal have always worked with me. Been selling since 09/1998.

 

[tracerbullet]

I've almost always had good luck, 450+ transactions, maybe 100 of them sales.

The only two that come to mind: 1) Bought an item but received something else. Buyer paid to cross ship with another person who got my item (I got their's). Worked out. 2) Sold an item, turned out broken internally (worked for me, maybe shipping damage). Offered to take it back including paying return shipping, buyer actually demanded I buy him a brand new version of the item and of he was also going to keep the current one so I wouldn't "scam" anyone else. He filed with Paypal which somewhat obviously found in my favor.

Pretty good overall though. Great actually. Maybe it depends on what you buy / sell?

 

[pcslookout]

Ebay sucks as a buyer and seller.

Good luck with that.

 

[Sixguns]

I havent used it in years but when I did I never really had issues. I hated when I would pay right away and the item would be shipped for another week.

 

[pcslookout]

I havent used it in years but when I did I never really had issues. I hated when I would pay right away and the item would be shipped for another week.

This.

Exactly why I don't use it anymore and not only that.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I am currently waiting for my PayPal funds to be released. I sold a mobo like 3 weeks ago. The person that won is in Puerto Rico. I listed no shipping outside of CONUS and she did it anyhow. I wanted to cancel the sale but she didn't want to. She provided me a shipping address in Fla, which I shipped it to. Only reason I agree is cause she doesn't appear to be a scammer, 112 transactions 100% + feedback. I just have to wait a long time to get my money since I am not a big seller and didn't use their print label and shipping option they have on ebay.

I had the listing as no refunds, sent her a message to make sure she got it and was happy. Haven't heard back, so in 2 days I can go grab my money hopefully and be done with it. I haven't received positive feedback from her either, so really not sure what is going on. If she doesn't give me feedback, this will be 3 people that haven't, either as a buyer or seller.

 

[chimaxi83]

My only bad experience was when I sold a Logitech G940 HOTAS system last year. Buyer paid for it quickly, I shipped same day, transaction went very smooth. Buyer communicated very quickly as well.

About 2 weeks later I receive an email from eBay saying buyer reported non receipt of item. PayPal immediately tied those funds up in my account pending dispute resolution. They do this even before giving you a chance to do anything. Of course, buyer doesn't respond to any of my emails, which went from friendly, to concerned, to rude. Lol.

Anyway, I emailed them proof of delivery, as well as pictures that I always take as proof of possession. They gave me my money back quickly. I don't know what happened on buyers end. What sucks is I gave him positive feedback thinking it was a good transaction. What was funny though is that he left me positive feedback, which I had to point out to the PayPal dispute resolution people.

Anyway, that's really it, everything else has been fine.

 

[Svnla]

I have a few DVDs (factory sealed) that I want to sell. Maybe I need to give eBay a try?

 

[wirednuts]

I am currently waiting for my PayPal funds to be released. I sold a mobo like 3 weeks ago. The person that won is in Puerto Rico. I listed no shipping outside of CONUS and she did it anyhow. I wanted to cancel the sale but she didn't want to. She provided me a shipping address in Fla, which I shipped it to. Only reason I agree is cause she doesn't appear to be a scammer, 112 transactions 100% + feedback. I just have to wait a long time to get my money since I am not a big seller and didn't use their print label and shipping option they have on ebay.

I had the listing as no refunds, sent her a message to make sure she got it and was happy. Haven't heard back, so in 2 days I can go grab my money hopefully and be done with it. I haven't received positive feedback from her either, so really not sure what is going on. If she doesn't give me feedback, this will be 3 people that haven't, either as a buyer or seller.

youre supposed to select shipping exclusions before you list...

 

[phucheneh]

NPB's are the least of worries, usually. File the report, relist your item. I'll generally state in the relisting that I had an NPB if I'm selling something somewhat rare/unique, so people don't think I'm scamming and/or getting items returned.

Watagump found the bigger issues. 1) Paypal holds and 2) Bidders outside continental US.

I'm not sure what the technical ruling is if you list an item and a bidder violates the terms you set in the description simply because you didn't make sure that they couldn't. I think not listing international shipping and writing 'continental US only' or even 'others please contact before bidding' or something is good enough to tell someone to piss off, but knowing eBay they'd probably side with the buyer in such a dispute ('but it let me click the button! I have to read?!').

I would assume non/late-paying bidders are subject to what's laid out in your ad (payment within 24 hours, 10 days, anywhere inbetween...). IIRC there is no field for 'payment due...' other than requiring instant BIN payment. But there is a standard listed somewhere in their FAQ/help stuff. That is one good I will say about eBay- at least they lay stuff out pretty clearly. I don't know if I've ever had question about buyer or seller protocalls that wasn't clearly answered somewhere. The bad part is that I'm pretty sure said literature says you must wait 'x' number of days, then file a report, then wait more days. Then you get an official 'judgement' if the buyer is AWOL. You can always relist before this, though.

My biggest issue was sending a turntable to a guy in Hawaii. I usually wouldn't ever ship there, but it was pricey and he did contact in advance. Then he got the item, told eBay it was broken, filed a dispute, and eBay told him to ship the item back. That, and they placed a 'hold' on like $500 in my Paypal account...even though I didn't have any money in my Paypal account. So they crippled my selling by 'overdrawing' me, causing any incoming funds to just go against the negative total. All of this before I ever even had a chance to get involved.

I contacted eBay and told them what the hell was up. A) I spent $100 to ship this guy the turntable in a ridiculous box with enough padding to survive the apocalypse, B) I have videos of the table running in my auction, and C) the item was insured through the USPS; insurance which they have voided by putting the item on a return trip without my permission.

That last bit hit their 'oh shit we done fucked up' button, and left them with no choice but to refund the guy's money AND release the hold on my Paypal account. So in the end, I got paid. And I sold the item again (despite his best efforts to pack it like shit, it still worked when it arrived back at my door. albeit with the cart stolen off of it).

 

[WaTaGuMp]

youre supposed to select shipping exclusions before you list...

I don't even remember seeing that option. I have only sold maybe 4-5 times, so I am a selling newb, I only have 23 transactions total, 3 of them I didn't get feedback from. I am at 100% positive for the 20 listed.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

NPB's are the least of worries, usually. File the report, relist your item. I'll generally state in the relisting that I had an NPB if I'm selling something somewhat rare/unique, so people don't think I'm scamming and/or getting items returned.

Watagump found the bigger issues. 1) Paypal holds and 2) Bidders outside continental US.

I'm not sure what the technical ruling is if you list an item and a bidder violates the terms you set in the description simply because you didn't make sure that they couldn't. I think not listing international shipping and writing 'continental US only' or even 'others please contact before bidding' or something is good enough to tell someone to piss off, but knowing eBay they'd probably side with the buyer in such a dispute ('but it let me click the button! I have to read?!').

I would assume non/late-paying bidders are subject to what's laid out in your ad (payment within 24 hours, 10 days, anywhere inbetween...). IIRC there is no field for 'payment due...' other than requiring instant BIN payment. But there is a standard listed somewhere in their FAQ/help stuff. That is one good I will say about eBay- at least they lay stuff out pretty clearly. I don't know if I've ever had question about buyer or seller protocalls that wasn't clearly answered somewhere. The bad part is that I'm pretty sure said literature says you must wait 'x' number of days, then file a report, then wait more days. Then you get an official 'judgement' if the buyer is AWOL. You can always relist before this, though.

My biggest issue was sending a turntable to a guy in Hawaii. I usually wouldn't ever ship there, but it was pricey and he did contact in advance. Then he got the item, told eBay it was broken, filed a dispute, and eBay told him to ship the item back. That, and they placed a 'hold' on like $500 in my Paypal account...even though I didn't have any money in my Paypal account. So they crippled my selling by 'overdrawing' me, causing any incoming funds to just go against the negative total. All of this before I ever even had a chance to get involved.

I contacted eBay and told them what the hell was up. A) I spent $100 to ship this guy the turntable in a ridiculous box with enough padding to survive the apocalypse, B) I have videos of the table running in my auction, and C) the item was insured through the USPS; insurance which they have voided by putting the item on a return trip without my permission.

That last bit hit their 'oh shit we done fucked up' button, and left them with no choice but to refund the guy's money AND release the hold on my Paypal account. So in the end, I got paid. And I sold the item again (despite his best efforts to pack it like shit, it still worked when it arrived back at my door. albeit with the cart stolen off of it).

When it comes to bidding, Puerto Rico is considered CONUS. The shipping is not. I only charged $15 for shipping, when I took it to the UPS store it would of been $53. In 2 days, hopefully I will just have my money and move on.

 

[Mide]

Yeah just give the guy x number of days. Inform 'em via the Ebay messaging system. If they don't reply or don't paypal the money then just relist the item.

 

[phucheneh]

When it comes to bidding, Puerto Rico is considered CONUS. The shipping is not. I only charged $15 for shipping, when I took it to the UPS store it would of been $53. In 2 days, hopefully I will just have my money and move on.

'Continental US' has always been the term I use in auctions. eBay just (IIRC) lists us as a country then allows you to exclude individual states and territories.

Are you saying that their official stance is 'you have to ship it to Puerto Rico at your quoted flat rate'? Even though they wouldn't enforce the same for Hawaii and Alaska? Crazy, if so.

edit: oh, also, in case anyone needs to be told:

Never ever go to the UPS store. It is not UPS. It's a middleman that assrapes you.

FedEx Office, however, is actually FedEx, and does not charge you anything extra.

 

[Mixolydian]

'Continental US' has always been the term I use in auctions.

I use "Contiguous 48 states".

 

[phucheneh]

I use "Contiguous 48 states".

Does Michigan count? It's got a hole in it.:hmm:

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

When it comes to bidding, Puerto Rico is considered CONUS. The shipping is not. I only charged $15 for shipping, when I took it to the UPS store it would of been $53. In 2 days, hopefully I will just have my money and move on.

Ship to Puerto Rico through USPS because it is the same as CONUS rates. As already mentioned, avoid the UPS Store if at all possible or prepare to be gouged.

Regarding selling on eBay, I have close to 10K transactions and have been doing it for 13+ years. The vast majority of times buyers are good, honest people who pay quickly and are simply looking for a good deal. Every once in a while you run into non-paying bidders, people with less than honorable intent, and outright douchebags and/or complete morons. Those idiots come with the territory and are something you simply have to accept as part of doing business if you're intent on selling on eBay.