I opened an account on Ebay, but I haven't used it yet. I've got tons of "stuff" in our house that we've accumulated over the last 20 years and I want to get rid of it.
I plan to give some to charity, especially clothing, but the rest I'd like to sell. I don't like yard/garage sales, mainly because I don't want to sit in my front yard while my neighbors pick through my stuff and haggle with me over a $2 book.
So if anyone has used Ebay for buying or selling I'd love to hear your opinion of it, plus any advice you can give a brand new user.
Thanks!
Wib
Originally posted by wibLots of people use Ebay. I've only used the .co.uk one, but I imagine it's very similar.
I opened an account on Ebay, but I haven't used it yet. I've got tons of "stuff" in our house that we've accumulated over the last 20 years and I want to get rid of it.
I plan to give some to charity, especially clothing, but the rest I'd like to sell. I don't like yard/garage sales, mainly because I don't want to sit in my front yard while my neig ...[text shortened]... ove to hear your opinion of it, plus any advice you can give a brand new user.
Thanks!
Wib
Get yourself signed up to Ebay and Paypal, and link the accounts so that you can get your Ebay payments sent into your Paypal account. If you set up your auctions so that people have to pay by paypal and you include the postage costs, then people can pay you as soon as the auction ends, which is better IMO than waiting for cheques or whatnot.
Watch out for people with no or negative feedback. Some people say that folk have to have a certain amount of feedback in order to bid, but then everyone starts somewhere and if it's instant payment then there's not that much that can go wrong anyway.
Put on your advert your return policy, eg No returns, or returns at winner's cost, whatever, so that there is no confusion later.
Originally posted by mrmistThank you!
Lots of people use Ebay. I've only used the .co.uk one, but I imagine it's very similar.
Get yourself signed up to Ebay and Paypal, and link the accounts so that you can get your Ebay payments sent into your Paypal account. If you set up your auctions so that people have to pay by paypal and you include the postage costs, then people can pay you as so ...[text shortened]... icy, eg No returns, or returns at winner's cost, whatever, so that there is no confusion later.
When selling there is less risk. If you do get a "bad apple" that doesn't pay, you can just list the item again.
I would recommend listing as much information as possible clearly in your ad.
Specifically, how soon after auction closing do you expect payment, what payment methods you accept, how it will be shipped, who is paying for shipping, how it will be packaged, and of course detailed info in the item itself.
I would also recommend using a picture that you took of the actual item (not one pasted from another website).
Just think if you were going to bid on an item, what info would you want?
Most problems selling items occur from this lack of information and the seller gets complaints like "I didn't know you were just going to send it in a cardboard box", "I wanted it sent UPS", "I don't have Paypal", "I won't have the money until next month, but I won the auction so you have to sell it to me", "I thought it was the green model from the picture", etc.
E-bay has the tips how to sell goods on their auction (Handling, Shiping, Prices, ...). You can find a lot of usefull information on e-bay site. E-bay charges 50 cents and more for one deal.
If you would sell a book for $2. Shipment would worth >$3. If the book is excellent and rear it is ok. But if it is not there is no point to sell this item through e-bay.
Originally posted by wibwe've done a fair bit and have found it to be very good.
So if anyone has used Ebay for buying or selling I'd love to hear your opinion of it, plus any advice you can give a brand new user.
the paypal payment system is quite good, but becareful who you use it with - read their seller protection stuff. bidpay is good too - though the principle is obviously different. there are other systems too like hyperwallet.
we made the error a couple of years ago to sell a $750 item to someone from indonesia which paypal later told me has the worse fraud reputation (we never read the protection plan). the guy paid with a credit card and we found the payment had been reversed after we had already shipped the item. paypal did not contact us about this reversal - i found out 'accidentally' while perusing my account.
ironically, he wanted us to send it as fast as possible, so we had couriered it. fortunately, we were able to have the courier return it to us and made a good friend at the service too!
paypal is convenient, but i think i prefer MOs these days LOL
in friendship,
prad
Be careful about e-mails that appear to be from paypal. Some people send e-mails giving you a link to click on saying that you need to log in for one reason or another. It looks exactly like the paypal site with the same symbols, outlines, templates, and everything. They take all your login info, log into your account, and you can imagine what kind of damage they can do. I know someone who is a fulltime ebayer who gets these and he warned me about it.
Originally posted by rapalla7Thanks to everyone for all of the advice!
My wife sells on ebay, and we buy quite a few things.
Paypal is great, but set yourself up for the one that is free. I believe it will let people use credit cards, but you don't get zapped a fee when you do a transaction.
I never knew there was a free version of paypal?
I'm sure you've probably heard of the scam involving people paying with a large money order and asking you to refund them the difference. Then of course the money order is reversed once the item and the cash you sent with it are on the way.
It's obvious but you'd be amazed how many people will fall for it. Don't be one of them.