VGCollect Forum
General and Gaming => General => Topic started by: karyann on July 07, 2014, 06:48:04 pm
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I've been thinking for a while about selling some stuff on eBay, especially stuff that's harder to sell on Kijiji/craigslist. I know many of you here are used to selling there, so do you have any tips and tricks for a newbie? Like how to avoid being tricked by buyers, or general information like how to get your money with the lesser transfer cost from paypal, or anything you wish you would have known before starting to sell.
Thank you fine folks!
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Based on personal experience, I would recommend to never leave feedback with a buyer first. Almost every time, I have left immediate feedback for fast payment or whatever, they file a "item not as described" claim. It's like they want you to leave feedback first so they have nothing to lose.
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Based on personal experience, I would recommend to never leave feedback with a buyer first. Almost every time, I have left immediate feedback for fast payment or whatever, they file a "item not as described" claim. It's like they want you to leave feedback first so they have nothing to lose.
I don't think buyers get feedback anymore.
Anyway, like has been described; get ready to be scammed. eBay almost always sides with the buyer too. My local game store sells on eBay too. The owner says he just assumes 10% of his sales will be scams. So, get ready to deal with claims.
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Based on personal experience, I would recommend to never leave feedback with a buyer first. Almost every time, I have left immediate feedback for fast payment or whatever, they file a "item not as described" claim. It's like they want you to leave feedback first so they have nothing to lose.
I don't think buyers get feedback anymore.
It's been a while since I've sold on there. That's crazy tho' that Ebay took feedback away on buyers. That seems like it would leave more room for them to scam. Get Ready Karyann!
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Not so. Buys can receive feedback. Most of 100% rating comes from buying. That is how they catch fraudulent buyers.
Here's mine (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=cheepcheepl0rd&ftab=FeedbackAsBuyer).
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Yep, I buy often and always receive feedback too, so that's still up at least. But wow, 10% scam? That's... a lot. And scary ???
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Based on personal experience, I would recommend to never leave feedback with a buyer first. Almost every time, I have left immediate feedback for fast payment or whatever, they file a "item not as described" claim. It's like they want you to leave feedback first so they have nothing to lose.
I don't think buyers get feedback anymore.
It's been a while since I've sold on there. That's crazy tho' that Ebay took feedback away on buyers. That seems like it would leave more room for them to scam. Get Ready Karyann!
buyers still get feedback but it's now(has been like this the past 3 to 4 years) you cant leave negative feedback... some advice... remember that buyers get treated like gold by ebay and sellers get screwed, thats just the way it is now on ebay.... also depending on what your selling sometimes auction are better, like when i sell video games i use buy it now, seems like auction is terrible for games.. vintage watches is half half for me... sometimes when you sell a item do what yo can to keep the customer happy, negative is very poor looking. plus you cant be a power seller if you have too many negatives(power seller means you get discount on your final fees). dont let the customer bully you either, i get that alot, people trying to get stuff for half off and shit. they do it. but sometimes you just get screwed... i had a guy give me a neutral because i didnt leave him immediate feedback as a seller. a big scam ive came across is they buy it complain and want a refund they send you back a different item on purpose to get something for free and try to screw you over, but luckily ebay will sometimes side with seller depending on how you deal with the situation. just use common sense and dont be a push over for customers but at the same time be as nice as you can... also people will hold the feedback against you nowadays since you cant leave anything but good for them. dont let a 5$ item ruin your feedback. best of luck too ya!
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Yep, I buy often and always receive feedback too, so that's still up at least. But wow, 10% scam? That's... a lot. And scary ???
Yea, your pretty much better off select your stuff to me ;) :D
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http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=twjwatches&ftab=AllFeedback (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=twjwatches&ftab=AllFeedback)
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=vintagewarren&ftab=AllFeedback (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=vintagewarren&ftab=AllFeedback)
my ebay accounts
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Yep, I buy often and always receive feedback too, so that's still up at least. But wow, 10% scam? That's... a lot. And scary ???
Now keep in mind, I don't sell on eBay. It's all hearsay.
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I've been thinking for a while about selling some stuff on eBay, especially stuff that's harder to sell on Kijiji/craigslist. I know many of you here are used to selling there, so do you have any tips and tricks for a newbie? Like how to avoid being tricked by buyers, or general information like how to get your money with the lesser transfer cost from paypal, or anything you wish you would have known before starting to sell.
Thank you fine folks!
1: Always insure everything (Priority Mail has free $50 insurance, $100 if you print a label with PayPal)
2: Anything worth over $250 should have Signature Confirmation and insurance
3: Take pictures of everything
4: If someone wants to return an item, NEVER give them any money first. Ask them to open a case with ebay so they have to send it back first and show proof that they sent it back. If they refuse to do that then they won't get a refund.
5: Take lots of pictures from all angles. You can have up to 12.
6: Describe -everything-. Even a small scuff.
7: Never ship outside the US. eBay's rules make it tough for sellers to be protected so it's not worth the hassle.
In my nine year selling career I've only been scammed twice, one was by an Italian (and he backed off after I mentioned calling the police so I got my money - this is why I no longer ship internationally), one was by some crazy lady who got a refund without processing a return.
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Ive only sold 2 items on Ebay but been a buyer for years. I will agree that Ebay does support buyers over sellers. My suggestion is to sell off Ebay first.
What is it you are trying to sell? Of course if its gaming stuff, your best bet is to sell it here! But if its not, there has to be some sort of local way to sell items where you are.
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I've been thinking for a while about selling some stuff on eBay, especially stuff that's harder to sell on Kijiji/craigslist. I know many of you here are used to selling there, so do you have any tips and tricks for a newbie? Like how to avoid being tricked by buyers, or general information like how to get your money with the lesser transfer cost from paypal, or anything you wish you would have known before starting to sell.
Thank you fine folks!
1: Always insure everything (Priority Mail has free $50 insurance, $100 if you print a label with PayPal)
2: Anything worth over $250 should have Signature Confirmation and insurance
3: Take pictures of everything
4: If someone wants to return an item, NEVER give them any money first. Ask them to open a case with ebay so they have to send it back first and show proof that they sent it back. If they refuse to do that then they won't get a refund.
5: Take lots of pictures from all angles. You can have up to 12.
6: Describe -everything-. Even a small scuff.
7: Never ship outside the US. eBay's rules make it tough for sellers to be protected so it's not worth the hassle.
In my nine year selling career I've only been scammed twice, one was by an Italian (and he backed off after I mentioned calling the police so I got my money - this is why I no longer ship internationally), one was by some crazy lady who got a refund without processing a return.
and spell the item correctly!
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I don't sell things on eBay but I buy things on occasion and agree with what everyone else has said.
Just think about what you like to see when you look at someone else's listing. Spell everything correctly, post lots of pictures, give as much information as you can about the item so that they buyer knows that you are aware of what you have (which leads them to believe that you care about the quality of the item).
Various things that prevent me from wanting something in an auction:
- incorrect spelling
- bad grammar
- not enough pictures
- using stock photos
- no pictures!
- shipping costs that seem too high (sometimes shipping prices sound like a way to trick buyers into paying more than they should
- generic descriptions of the condition (copying and pasting what "used" condition means, for instance... saying things like "may or may not include manual/case/etc.")
Hope that helps!
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Sellers aren't allowed to use just stock photos anymore, they have to have at least one photo of the item itself. Of course most sellers don't pay attention to that rule and eBay doesn't do anything to people who ignore the rule. ::)
Oh, and listings with free shipping get higher search rankings than people who charge shipping costs. So it might be better to raise the price on the item a bit to include the cost of postage - or most of it.
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Just think about what you like to see when you look at someone else's listing.
Various things that prevent me from wanting something in an auction:
- incorrect spelling
- bad grammar
- not enough pictures
- using stock photos
- no pictures!
- shipping costs that seem too high (sometimes shipping prices sound like a way to trick buyers into paying more than they should
- generic descriptions of the condition (copying and pasting what "used" condition means, for instance... saying things like "may or may not include manual/case/etc.")
Hope that helps!
^^^^ a lot. Shipping costs are my #1 killer on purchases. Sometimes I dont mind incorrect spelling of item cause if I find the item on accident, some other bidder may not find it. :D And the "May/may not have manual/box/etc" is super lazy and means chances are if it says may not, it means definitely will not.
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Thanks for all the informations guys! :) I haven't decided yet if I'm diving in or not - and I wanted your feedback first. I'm wondering if I'm willing to get the extra anxiety to have more chances to sell. Seems like it's possible to put the odds in your favor, at least!
Ive only sold 2 items on Ebay but been a buyer for years. I will agree that Ebay does support buyers over sellers. My suggestion is to sell off Ebay first.
What is it you are trying to sell? Of course if its gaming stuff, your best bet is to sell it here! But if its not, there has to be some sort of local way to sell items where you are.
The first things that come to mind currently aren't much gaming related, except a World of Warcraft action figure and some gamesharks; the rest are stuff like Harry Potter Legos. I didn't really think about putting the figure and gamesharks here though! I guess I'm too used to seeing games so I didn't think about the goodies :P
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The first things that come to mind currently aren't much gaming related, except a World of Warcraft action figure and some gamesharks; the rest are stuff like Harry Potter Legos. I didn't really think about putting the figure and gamesharks here though! I guess I'm too used to seeing games so I didn't think about the goodies :P
We don't have rules against selling non-game stuff... though gaming stuff should be the focus of your sale thread. If someone is listing one game and 200 DVDs then I, at least, will have a problem with that. :p
Of course, established forum / site users have less restrictions when listing items for sale here. ;)
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I've been buying and selling on eBay since 1998, have done hundreds of transactions and only had a problem twice. If your buyers have a feedback score of 10+, I wouldn't worry about them being scammers. But definitely insure anything you're not willing to give away for free.
Buying/printing your shipping label through eBay nets you both a shipping discount and you get $50 of insurance and tracking included, so definitely use that. As for listing your items, take good pics and list them so they end on a Wed/Thursday evening or a weekend. Items tend to get more bids during those times.
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We don't have rules against selling non-game stuff... though gaming stuff should be the focus of your sale thread. If someone is listing one game and 200 DVDs then I, at least, will have a problem with that. :p
Of course, established forum / site users have less restrictions when listing items for sale here. ;)
It would bother me too, which is why I wouldn't do it :)
I've been buying and selling on eBay since 1998, have done hundreds of transactions and only had a problem twice. If your buyers have a feedback score of 10+, I wouldn't worry about them being scammers. But definitely insure anything you're not willing to give away for free.
Buying/printing your shipping label through eBay nets you both a shipping discount and you get $50 of insurance and tracking included, so definitely use that. As for listing your items, take good pics and list them so they end on a Wed/Thursday evening or a weekend. Items tend to get more bids during those times.
Oh, pretty good to know too!
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Good topic!
I'm not really interested in e-bay much myself -but- I always like reading about tips & "do's & dont's" anyways :)
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What systems are the Gamesharks for?
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Buying/printing your shipping label through eBay nets you both a shipping discount and you get $50 of insurance and tracking included, so definitely use that.
First Class Packages get free tracking when printing a label through eBay, but insurance is extra.
Priority Mail packages have $50 insurance included. But if you print the label for an eBay sale through PayPal, you get $100 insurance. Note that you have to select USPS insurance, since PayPal always chooses Shipcover by default.
Depending on the size and weight of the package, using First Class or Priority Flat Small / Regional Flat Rate boxes is cheaper than going with normal Priority. Don't bother with Standard Mail (formerly called Parcel Post), it costs like a dollar less than Priority and takes up to a week to be delivered.
And for the love of god NEVER USE MEDIA MAIL.
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What systems are the Gamesharks for?
PS2 and Xbox (original). These ones are actually called "gamesaves", but it looks like it's the same as usual gamesharks... cheat codes and stuff :P
Buying/printing your shipping label through eBay nets you both a shipping discount and you get $50 of insurance and tracking included, so definitely use that.
First Class Packages get free tracking when printing a label through eBay, but insurance is extra.
Priority Mail packages have $50 insurance included. But if you print the label for an eBay sale through PayPal, you get $100 insurance. Note that you have to select USPS insurance, since PayPal always chooses Shipcover by default.
Depending on the size and weight of the package, using First Class or Priority Flat Small / Regional Flat Rate boxes is cheaper than going with normal Priority. Don't bother with Standard Mail (formerly called Parcel Post), it costs like a dollar less than Priority and takes up to a week to be delivered.
And for the love of god NEVER USE MEDIA MAIL.
Now that I think about it, is this US only? I'm in Canada and we often don't have the same bonus and perks. :-\
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What's wrong with media mail?
I almost always use it when dropping things off at the post office...and I've never had any problems with it?
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Now that I think about it, is this US only? I'm in Canada and we often don't have the same bonus and perks. :-\
... whoops.
Yeah, this is for the US only. I don't know if Canada has different rules. Sorry. :\
What's wrong with media mail?
I almost always use it when dropping things off at the post office...and I've never had any problems with it?
Video games (cart, floppy, or CD/DVD), music CDs and movies are not allowed to be shipped through Media Mail. It doesn't matter what you heard - they're not allowed. If a postal inspector opens your package and sees that it contains games or DVDs, then he'll upgrade the postage to Priority and charge any postage due to the person who's getting the package. Imagine your customer's face when he gets that item he paid five bucks for and it has $15 postage due. Imagine having to refund all the money he paid you -and then some-. Imagine getting a negative over saving a couple of bucks. Media mail isn't worth it and I refuse to do business with anyone who ships or asks me to send stuff that way.
And really, if you're sending one game only, send it first class. It's only like a quarter extra.
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Now that I think about it, is this US only? I'm in Canada and we often don't have the same bonus and perks. :-\
... whoops.
Yeah, this is for the US only. I don't know if Canada has different rules. Sorry. :\
What's wrong with media mail?
I almost always use it when dropping things off at the post office...and I've never had any problems with it?
Video games (cart, floppy, or CD/DVD), music CDs and movies are not allowed to be shipped through Media Mail. It doesn't matter what you heard - they're not allowed. If a postal inspector opens your package and sees that it contains games or DVDs, then he'll upgrade the postage to Priority and charge any postage due to the person who's getting the package. Imagine your customer's face when he gets that item he paid five bucks for and it has $15 postage due. Imagine having to refund all the money he paid you -and then some-. Imagine getting a negative over saving a couple of bucks. Media mail isn't worth it and I refuse to do business with anyone who ships or asks me to send stuff that way.
And really, if you're sending one game only, send it first class. It's only like a quarter extra.
Must be an interpretation thing.
Because "Computer programs" (on cart, disc, etc) ARE, indeed eligible for media mail.
And, IMO, never wanting to deal with me (or the thousands of others of us around here) just because they used "Media Mail" just sounds silly & paranoid.
Maybe postal inspectors actually *would* do that in Mexico -but- knowing hundreds of people/spanning (easily) thousands of transactions...that's just never happened.
Of course, there migt be a .0000000009% chance of exception -but- again, seems a silly thing for a deal-breaker :o
To each their own, though ;)
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I'm about certian we've had this conversation before. Either that or this is a serious case of deja vu.
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Must be an interpretation thing.
Because "Computer programs" (on cart, disc, etc) ARE, indeed eligible for media mail.
Nope. (http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#1113509) Looks like they finally updated the text on that to make sure games are definitely not allowed. Also, this nails it. (http://pe.usps.com/text/csr/PS-334.htm) Straight from the USPS Manager.
(Also I never talk about the Mexican "postal service." All of my business with shipping is done via the USPS, in the US of A.)
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I'm about certian we've had this conversation before. Either that or this is a serious case of deja vu.
You could be right & I'm just not remembering it.
Also
@Foxhack -
regardless of the fine print...unless you get $ bonuses based on the USPS' performance; I just still can't see why you'd make that a deal-breaker for you -BUT- like I said; we're all free to do wtf we want to.
I'll just note though, that - tellers (that don't already know me) in the post office (when I say that I'm shipping video games); w/o fail will 'suggest' that I send them media mail for the savings :o
Are they incompetent?
Very likely!
I just don't get why it's such a sore point for you (But - then again, I don't have to "get" it) and it's certainly not anything that I'm going to argue about and/or make it anything personal with you or against you ==>
==> (*Got nothin' but luv for da Foxy one:) :-*
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I just don't get why it's such a sore point for you (But - then again, I don't have to "get" it) and it's certainly not anything that I'm going to argue about and/or make it anything personal with you or against you ==>
==> (*Got nothin' but luv for da Foxy one:) :-*
I once had a guy charge me $10 to ship something Media, it took three weeks to get to my post office box... within the same state (California.) Another time, I got charged $12 postage on something that had a $3 shipping cost. So I don't do business with anyone that willingly uses Media Mail and offers no alternative; most eBay sellers will say "First Class is X extra" and that's fine, other times I'll talk to the seller and ask for a First Class option, since it would cost roughly the same and not take as long to be delivered.
I've been burned enough and don't want anyone else to get burned the same way.
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I've been burned enough and don't want anyone else to get burned the same way.
That makes sense; I can understand personal negative experiences influencing how people see things.
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I think in Canada we only have letter or package, no media or things like that. As far as I know, anyway... Shipping is still new to me, I think I've shipped stuff 5 times in my life :o
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A friend was going to send me some manga last week that he didn't want, I just had to pickup shipping. At first he quoted me $15, so I asked him if he could please send them media mail instead since it would be much cheaper. $6, and I got the package in 2 days no problems. I've never had an issue w/ mm in the 10 or so years I've been using it.
That said, I don't ship games mm anymore since you guys clarified for me that it's a no-no. I'd still send books/strat guides/movies that way tho.
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A friend was going to send me some manga last week that he didn't want, I just had to pickup shipping. At first he quoted me $15, so I asked him if he could please send them media mail instead since it would be much cheaper. $6, and I got the package in 2 days no problems. I've never had an issue w/ mm in the 10 or so years I've been using it.
That said, I don't ship games mm anymore since you guys clarified for me that it's a no-no. I'd still send books/strat guides/movies that way tho.
Yeah, Foxy definitely had more updated & current info about what does & does not constitute "Media Mail" than I did.
That said...when I'm going into a post office & *Telling* them that I'm shipping video games -and- their employee advises me to send it as Media Mail at a lesser rate; I'll be damned if I'm NOT going to do it 8)