ebay and selling

[WaTaGuMp]

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.

I really never knew the UPS store was a ripoff. I did question myself why it cost almost $11 to send a tiny package of ear impressions and headphones to Fla. From now on I will just use FedEx or USPS for sure. The mobo to Fla was almost $20 and I charged $15, usually I offer free shipping. I will stick to that plan and just go with cheaper options.

 

[phucheneh]

Once you get into bigger stuff, USPS tends to be a ripoff. They're great for cheap stuff, but at a certain point packages seem to get as expensive as FedEx. Then more expensive.

The FedEx place by me has some pretty damn generally helpful people, charges me reasonable rates, and they seem to get shit delivered at least as fast as anyone else, and with less abuse. So that's my choice for anything that doesn't fit in a padded envelope or very small box.

You CAN ship UPS without the markup by going through one of their 'official' partners or some shit. Office supply stores and stuff like that- check the UPS website, I think they list them.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Once you get into bigger stuff, USPS tends to be a ripoff. They're great for cheap stuff, but at a certain point packages seem to get as expensive as FedEx. Then more expensive.

The FedEx place by me has some pretty damn generally helpful people, charges me reasonable rates, and they seem to get shit delivered at least as fast as anyone else, and with less abuse. So that's my choice for anything that doesn't fit in a padded envelope or very small box.

You CAN ship UPS without the markup by going through one of their 'official' partners or some shit. Office supply stores and stuff like that- check the UPS website, I think they list them.

I was going to ask you if you were sure ALL of them are middlemen. The one near me, has the logo, they were the shirts the whole nine yards. I am aware of places like postal anex etc, that gouge people even on stamps.

 

[phucheneh]

No, if it says 'UPS Store,' it's a ripoff. The counter inside of Staples or Office Depot or something is not associated with the UPS Store, just 'UPS.'

 

[AmdEmAll]

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 used to use eBay a lot years ago and just recently used it for a few things again and let me say something... it sucks.

Out of 4 things I had for sale 3 of the winners didn't pay me. I don't quite understand it.. the people could at least say they no longer want it but no communication at all.

The 4th was a water cooled video card I sold and the idiot said the card didn't work and was blaming me and then it turns out he was an idiot and it was his motherboard at fault.. Im done with eBay. I'll take my chance getting shot with craigslist.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

No, if it says 'UPS Store,' it's a ripoff. The counter inside of Staples or Office Depot or something is not associated with the UPS Store, just 'UPS.'

That's funny, cause the Office Depot is in the same center as the UPS Store.

 

[Slew Foot]

I just hit 250K in sales on ebay, rarely have problems, but I sell mostly baseball cards so i avoid the electronics scammers.

 

[Rakehellion]

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.

Some people just forget if they're buying multiple items at the same time. Or they could have been broke at the time.

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.

This is just plain horrible and makes no sense to me. They immediately refund the buyer's money upon filing a claim, meaning they have the money and their item and there's nothing you can do. It could be easy to create a bunch of ebay and PayPal accounts and try this with high-dollar items.


Bad things for a seller:

-Even though 90% of auctions take PayPal, you still have to wait 4 days to file a non-paying bidder report.

-The main reason I hate ebay is that they suck up 10%-15% of your hard-earned cash for a sold item. Good if you're doing spring cleaning, but not if you're trying to make money.


Definitely get delivery confirmation. It's included with any shipping label printed through PayPal.

 

[spaceman]

tried of the gouging
seems like ok if u got 1000s of something
or something that needs exposure
local is slower but id rather take cash in hand than the ebay fiascos
too many middle men fedup with it

 

[Triumph]

'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.

This is true, worked with a guy to ship a large package two years ago. I had the weights and dims of the box, put it in the UPS website and got a price. He took it to the UPS store and they told him it was oversized and would cost almost twice as much! We're talking from 80 bucks to like 150 bucks. The best thing is to print out the shipping label from the UPS website and just drop the box off at the UPS store.

I've never sold anything on ebay, but the ebay process itself seems like a pain. I'm sure it used to be a lot easier, now everything is nickel and dime you to death. Want a picture? That's a fee. Want more pictures? That's more fees. Have to accept credit card paypal. Want buy it now? Best offer? Shorter auction? Longer auction? Fee fee fee fee. I mean, what does it work out to in the end, as far as their cut of your sale? 10%? 15%?

 

[Ksyder]

Once you get into bigger stuff, USPS tends to be a ripoff. They're great for cheap stuff, but at a certain point packages seem to get as expensive as FedEx. Then more expensive.

The FedEx place by me has some pretty damn generally helpful people, charges me reasonable rates, and they seem to get shit delivered at least as fast as anyone else, and with less abuse. So that's my choice for anything that doesn't fit in a padded envelope or very small box.

You CAN ship UPS without the markup by going through one of their 'official' partners or some shit. Office supply stores and stuff like that- check the UPS website, I think they list them.

You can ship UPS through ebay now... it's listed as a shipping option.

I've done it a couple times lately... print the label thru ebay, and then use the UPS store as a free drop off location... I always feel guilty but I consider it revenge for the times they have gouged me on shipping.

 

[dud]

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've been an ebay user for 15 years but no longer sell there. The fees have gone out-of-control and the "rules" have swayed way too far towards the buyer side so I stopped. The ebay acquisition of PP was the final nail for me ...

 

[GoPackGo]

I don't like that sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers. Do they still claim to be just a "venue"?

 

[Baked]

I used to buy and list on ebay. But I stopped after a while and never resume due to all the horror stories of scammers who do charge back.

I rather use for sale boards on reputable forums.

 

[Yreka]

The 4th was a water cooled video card I sold and the idiot said the card didn't work and was blaming me and then it turns out he was an idiot and it was his motherboard at fault.. Im done with eBay. I'll take my chance getting shot with craigslist.

Was just going to post something similar as an example of where I will not use EBAY. The average competency level is much lower WRT technical items.

Selling computer hardware is a perfect example, sell the guy your card and he is a moron.. All of a sudden you're on the hook for technical support. You can say "No Technical Support", but in the end the moron plugs it in and it doesn't work = your problem as the seller. Now you either have to try and figure out why its not working, or they will file for a return.

Then you run into the chance they will screw the item up, then return it broken or missing pieces, etc.. Fk that.

The only thing I use Ebay for is collectible type stuff.. Anything electronic ( from PC hardware to cell phones, game consoles etc) Ill sell on craigslist so they can see it working before they take it home. If I have to sell online, I will use a forum like AT FS/FT as the average competency level is a bit higher.

 

[purbeast0]

ebay has turned to utter shit for sellers. the fees are ridiculous after ebay + paypal fees.

i really only use it when i have to buy shit like batteries for phones, but i now usually get those on amazon.

 

[Midwayman]

Ebay is full of scammers and has tons of fees. Craigslist is all flakes and muggers. Plus you get people flagging your listing 'cause they don't want competition. Wish there were somewhere to sell stuff that was worthwhile anymore.

 

[Triumph]

Ebay is full of scammers and has tons of fees. Craigslist is all flakes and muggers. Plus you get people flagging your listing 'cause they don't want competition. Wish there were somewhere to sell stuff that was worthwhile anymore.

The flagging seems ineffective for some sellers, I don't get it. I cannot stand people who put keywords in their posts completely unrelated to the item. The same asshole has been spamming the guitar forum on my CL with 4-5 different guitars for sale, none of them having ANYTHING to do with what I'm searching for. I mark it as spam, miscategorized, overpost, etc. and it never goes away. Assholes like him need to be punished, but I don't get why marking his posts doesn't remove them.

Meanwhile I post an add for a motorcycle with links to my Picasa album for more pictures, and it gets immediately removed, because "no external linking allowed."

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Even with the a*s-raping fees, it's still easier to sell on eBay, plus I usually get a higher enough markup (compared to selling here on FS/FT or CL) that it makes it a wash in terms of time and effort spent.

eBay : List item at fixed BIN price, wait, print label, dump.
CL : C*ck-tease or get stood up
FS/FT : Okay, but selling is a more involved, manual process (PMing, etc.)

 

[dbk]

I sold my iPhone4 on there two years ago.. I was nervous as hell because it was a buyer with zero feedback (the account was a couple of years old though). Thankfully, everything went through smoothly