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Tips For A New Ebay Seller

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Triforceofcourage

Platinum Member
I'm looking to sell a few items on ebay and have heard many horror stories here about people getting burned. I've never sold anything on ebay before so I'm worried about getting burned.

Can you guys give me some tips on how not to get screwed?

Thanks,

Triforce
 
Disable bidding from counties you dont ship to
Don't ship internationally
Always get tracking on your packages
 
Don't deal outside of ebay.

If it sounds like a scam, it's a scam.
Don't get greedy.
Don't ship outside the US.
Be specific in your listings, basically cover your ass.
 
Don't bother to sell anything on ebay if losing the item would break or dent you badly/financially.
 
I've never been burned - but I have my auctions setup so "bad" bidders aren't allowed to bid on my auctions. And if I post an item which can be sold worldwide - I make it damn clear the item is shipped without insurance or tracking unless they want to pay for it [most people don't].

I will only accept Paypal payments and try to keep it to verified addresses. There has only been a few non verified - but so far no problems.

Accurately try to describe and include at least 1 photo of what you are selling - include additional photos if necessary [ie: scratch on the bottom of a laptop]. Make sure you verify the item works [and note this in your auction]

If you are selling without any refund - add NO REFUNDS unless stated in the auction - everything is sold AS-IS.

State the item will be well packed to prevent physical damage during shipment and that you won't ship anything that is defective [unless stated in the auction]

Insurance coverage is suggested in case physical/environmental damage happens or is lost during shipment. International 1st class packages are automatically insured - but I have no idea how the claims process works. Knock on wood - USPS / UPS / FedEx haven't lost a package yet. 🙂

State how long after payment is received when you will ship the item out [1-3 business days is a good rule]

If you accept returns and shipping costs were free - note that the seller agrees to pay to return the item in the same box/packing material it was originally sent.

MOST IMPORTANTLY - add a comment to contact you about any questions regarding the auction

Unless you have access to boxes, packing material, and tape - add a few $$$ to the shipping costs [or add this to "handling fee"].

Finally - be prepared to be screwed over by ebay's and paypal's FEES. Ebay takes their cut and paypal also takes their cut. This is why you add a few $$$ to the shipping costs... the higher the amount, the more fees ebay/paypal take. 🙁
 
Personally I would try to avoid selling on ebay if you can. Try selling on here first. Then there are other sites which will put your items on google product search such as eCrater and ebid(.net) You can't really get around the 3% fee, even google checkout has it. However the other sites have MUCH MUCH better fees. Fuck, ebay wants 15%(!!!!!!) for selling games. Screw that shit. Not only that, ebay wants 50 cents for a BIN listing. Other sites are usually free regardless.
 
coloumb said:
I've never been burned - but I have my auctions setup so "bad" bidders aren't allowed to bid on my auctions. And if I post an item which can be sold worldwide - I make it damn clear the item is shipped without insurance or tracking unless they want to pay for it [most people don't].

I will only accept Paypal payments and try to keep it to verified addresses. There has only been a few non verified - but so far no problems.

Accurately try to describe and include at least 1 photo of what you are selling - include additional photos if necessary [ie: scratch on the bottom of a laptop]. Make sure you verify the item works [and note this in your auction]

If you are selling without any refund - add NO REFUNDS unless stated in the auction - everything is sold AS-IS.

State the item will be well packed to prevent physical damage during shipment and that you won't ship anything that is defective [unless stated in the auction]

Insurance coverage is suggested in case physical/environmental damage happens or is lost during shipment. International 1st class packages are automatically insured - but I have no idea how the claims process works. Knock on wood - USPS / UPS / FedEx haven't lost a package yet. 🙂

State how long after payment is received when you will ship the item out [1-3 business days is a good rule]

If you accept returns and shipping costs were free - note that the seller agrees to pay to return the item in the same box/packing material it was originally sent.

MOST IMPORTANTLY - add a comment to contact you about any questions regarding the auction

Unless you have access to boxes, packing material, and tape - add a few $$$ to the shipping costs [or add this to "handling fee"].

Finally - be prepared to be screwed over by ebay's and paypal's FEES. Ebay takes their cut and paypal also takes their cut. This is why you add a few $$$ to the shipping costs... the higher the amount, the more fees ebay/paypal take. 🙁
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uh, insurance is for you, not them...build it into the shipping cost or make it mandatory.
 
pontifex said:
uh, insurance is for you, not them...build it into the shipping cost or make it mandatory.
Click to expand...

THIS ^! I Always use insurance, that way it can also protect YOU not them.

If you are selling without any refund - add NO REFUNDS unless stated in the auction - everything is sold AS-IS.
Click to expand...

This ^ doesn't work if you put in the auction that the item works. If you state it works but it's sold as is, they can still file a claim for an item not received as described and claim it's non-working because you said it worked.

I've basically stopped selling on ebay because I got tired of people refusing package shipments and filing claims items not delivered or filing claims on goods not as described, non-working or defective even though they were "untested sold as is/broken" parts.
 
People get burned in person everyday. I don't put a lot of weight on other's experiences.

I have been on ebay since 1999, between myself and a business thousands of transactions...the burns have been extremely minimal and usually due to a risk I was figuring may not pay off.

The worst was a set of car mirrors from a serviceman in okinawa. Showed mirrors in perfect condition, sent something else. Account was in his wife's name and he said she just got confused. Wanted me to ship the other one's back and he'd reimburse both the shipping and item cost or try to get me the right mirrors (he claimed I got the bad pair and the guy that was supposed to get those got my good ones).

Anyway once it hit the military base, it's signed for by a general person. His claim was he never got them so I was out my money and the item. Insurance was worthless since it was recieved so USPS did their part. It's a pretty common scam I have found.

To kill it though call the Commanding Officer for that base. Doesn't matter if it's a spouse or not. While he couldn't get my money back I was assured his ebay days were over.
 
Depending on what the items are, I'd look into other avenues before selling on eBay. Specifically craigslist if there would be a decent market for it there, or Amazon.com if its standard product (ie, not a collectible, custom item, etc). No fees on craigslist and nothing beats cash in your hand. I'd say Amazon.com has a much nicer atmosphere (fewer scammers and whatnot) and their commission is very reasonable. But Amazon.com is only good for items you could buy in a store anyway (good luck selling your doll collection on Amazon)
 
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