Aerotop Dave Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 This year I'm going to start using Ebay to buy and sell some stuff - I've never done either before. I've had a Paypal account for a few months now but actually using Ebay is another matter. Are there any particular hints or tips I need to know before starting? I'm aware of the African scams and stuff, and that rating is everything so do whatever you need in order to keep it up (oo er, etc) but are there are other things to look out for, what to say and not to say in adverts, what to look for when buying... anything at all really. I'm not selling anything amazing (just some books), but I will be wanting to buy some stuff. So many people seem to be totally at ease with it but I just find the whole process quite scary. I've also noticed that many people say stuff like 'If this is your first time buying please email me first' - why is that? Thanks folks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francis Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Hmm I always go for 10 day auctions 99p starting bid no reserve, works every time Also try and start your listings at a good time in the evening, as this is the time they'll end at and you want people to be around to bid (not too early in the morning for example) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 It's also interesting to set auction to end when people come in from the pub at a weekend - I've had some of my best sales at those times Ideally you should try to buy a few items asap to get some kind of feedback in place before you sell anything, also state your own terms on the auction, eg that you want payments within 7 days, for the winner to contact you within 48 hours of winning to confirm the sale and anything else to stop idiots bidding for fun. Be as specific as you can with the listings, include photos of the actual items rather than library ones and try to post things out as quickly as you can - treat your buyers as you would like to be if you were buying (obvious but some folk seem to think it's OK to ignore your request for a payment confirmation and some kind of contact to confirm the item has been sent). Of late I've been reluctant to use eBay because it's mainly stuff that the scammers like that I need to sell - it's great for other random crap though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xksupra Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 The reason for asking for an email from first time buyers is because so many zero rated bidders bid on things they have no intention of buying! the email is just to confirm you really do want the item, and wont be required after you have 5 positive ratings. Some Rules (i'm sure more will be added) 1. Check out the sellers feedback before bidding 2. Always check out the postage cost before bidding (some sellers dont make anything from the item they are selling but profit from the postage) 3. Ask the seller questions about the item, genuine sellers will always come back with all the information required. 4. When you sell something, once it has been paid for get it sent off straight away and the buyer will give you glowing feedback 5. As always, if something looks to good to be true, then it probably is. oh and watch out its likely you will become addicted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefgroover Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Always be slightly over critical of the condition of what you sell, some people have very high expectations, so play safe. Buying, watch auctions that have 0 rated sellers combined with reference pics taken from catalogues, and stuff thats generally too good to be true. I have only lost about £460 in about 300 ish deals, which isnt bad when you conside how open to abuse the system seems to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 If you want to buy something. Click on the sellers ID and see how long they've been a member , some can accumulate a good feedback in a matter of a few days buying/selling almost worthless items in oder to convince prospective buyers that they're trustworthy. Then they put something expensive up for sale, you send the money and receive nothing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Sorry to be the one to say this but my advice is dont use it unless you have to. Its nothing but trouble and i dont use it at all anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 couple of other things, as most had been said above. if you get to know a seller, and want to bid on more items. sometimes its worth emailing to ask them if they will end the other items early, a lot of sellers have done this for me also, if you are buying things from overseas (if you are going over import duty allowances), ask the seller if they can mark the items as 'used' whatever, and a price under the import allowance. most will do this for you. I have been on ebay since 1999, and only had problems once or twice. main one being someone who wanted to charge extra shipping for some videos from the USA, so i did not bother going further with them, as he changed terms of the deal. my current feedback is as follows Feedback Score: 179 Positive Feedback: 100% Members who left a positive: 180 Members who left a negative: 0 All positive feedback received: 652 all i will say is caveat emptor. and be careful buying things of large value. but most is common sense. edited to add the following: if you want an item of significant value, its worth emailing some of the other people who left feedback and see exactly how the deals went Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 my current feedback is as follows Feedback Score: 179 Positive Feedback: 100% Members who left a positive: 180 Members who left a negative: 0 All positive feedback received: 652 If you got 652 positive feedback why is your feedback score 'only' 179? Also if you have 180 positives and no negatives why is your final score 1 less? Mine.... Feedback Score: 1016 Positive Feedback: 100% Members who left a positive: 1016 Members who left a negative: 0 All positive feedback received: 1072 I know that there is a difference if the same person buys 2 items from you as it only counts once on your score but that's a huge difference on yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 If you got 652 positive feedback why is your feedback score 'only' 179? Also if you have 180 positives and no negatives why is your final score 1 less? Mine.... Feedback Score: 1016 Positive Feedback: 100% Members who left a positive: 1016 Members who left a negative: 0 All positive feedback received: 1072 I know that there is a difference if the same person buys 2 items from you as it only counts once on your score but that's a huge difference on yours. I have been wondering that as well, why its 180 - 179. the lower figure is the number of different people i have dealt with, the 652 is for each item transaction. its a small world, i made it onto your feedback page for a Toyota keyring item really do like the keyring, much better than the other efforts i have seen should have given you a +1 on forum for trader rating for it, hehe improvement over the red label with Supra TT written on it when i got the car, lol also have set up an ebay account in the US as i collect books and posters and movies. and for some reason they used to get put in the 'mature' section and cant access that from the UK >_ all the best Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ultrawong Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 If you really want to buy something and you dont know if the seller is dodgey or even if it is a real auction or not, ask if you can collect and pay for it in person (even if you have no intention of collecting it in person) as this will force their card if you think it through. start auctions at the weekend and definitely dont start and finish auctions between 4pm and 6pm. Never leave feedback early and if selling to someone abroad, make sure they pay you in the right currency and take into account the exchange rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Some may have been mentoned but my tips for buying are:- 1) Always read feedback comments, feedback rating doesnt always have to be 100% for me to buy but the comments have to be good. 2) ALWAYS pay with credit card thru paypal, dont use money out of you paypal account always transfer this back into your bank account. If you have any probs with anyone you can cancel the credit card payment. For Selling:- 1) Always ensure anyone who pays by paypal is verifed, should say on the paypal invoice in green or red if unverified. This basically means they have had their address checked against their credit card i believe. 2)Always send recorded delivery/special delivery as if there's any problems you may need to prove you have sent an item. It has to be recorded for paypal or ebay to believe you have sent it, standard parcel receipt will not do, has to have tracking number. This is very very important if the item is of high value. 3)Always keep your postal receipts for months and months as chargebacks can occur months later. I always try to encourage people to pay using other methods but you cant force them and your items will not go as high if you do not offer paypal as its the safest for the buyer. Good Luck i have only had two problems ever on ebay, one item was lost in post and one payer used a fraudulant card to pay for my item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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