I was cleaning my room and looking around at all the shit I had bought that I barely used (good, quality, expensive shit!!!) and feeling like a shopaholic addict, which I must truly be. Anyway I am going to try this ebay thing I heard about LOL. Wish me luck!

Anyone else ever sell on ebay? Give me tips!

Be as descriptive as possible with your product without going overboard. Take really good pictures. Be clear on your shipping costs up front. If it's a flat $5 in the US, then say so. If you don't ship to CN or overseas, say so up front. Also, send things w/ a return receipt, so you known the buyer received the merchandise. Let them know that the postage you quoted covers the insured and/or return receipt. This covers your butt, and theirs. Most times, insurance is like $1 extra, give or take a few pennies.

If it's a CD or DVD, let the buyer know of any creases, dents, etc in the packaging, or a surface scratch on the disk(s). People are picky, but more willing to buy when they know the facts. That goes for anything, whether it's media, magazines, clothing, or whatever.

Always check someone's rating, make sure they're a good buyer. Pay on time, etc. Don't take checks, take a money order, so there is a paper trail. Stay in contact w/ the buyer until the transaction is over and you've both posted feedback on each other's profiles.

ernestsewell said:

All very good advice; however, make sure you read and understand thoroughly the rules and regulaions. I don't think Ebay allows buyers to pay by money order directly to the seller anymore. I think I read somewhere that ALL sellers must have their merchandise paid for through Paypal. Plus, sellers can no longer leave feedback for buyers. If you're screwed over by a buyer, the only thing you can do is file a claim through Ebay's nonpayment policy. I've sold a few things on Ebay, but it was years ago when the fees were much cheaper. Now I hear sellers are pissed because of all the changes in favor of buyers. Oh, and
Ernest is spot on when he tells you to check out the buyers or bidders on your items. You might want to limit your items to bidders who have at leave 5-10 positive feedbacks. No sense in tying up your auction on some deadbeat who's just toying with you. Good luck and let us know how well you do. Oh, and let me know what you're listing. Org me and I will tell you my user name on Ebay and you can check out some of the things I've bought and sold. Chile, they love my ass over there!

Shyra said:

That money order thing, if true, is a ridiculous idea on their part.

if in the UK say that you can take these

http://www.postoffice.co....d=73500709

the're a god send when the credit cards are maxed out

I love selling stuff on Ebay.

EmeraldSkies said:

do you tend to sell most of your stuff?

BklynBabe said:

I think it really depends on what you have to offer,and what people are looking for. I sold some stuff a couple of months ago,and made $200.
[Edited 12/23/09 15:30pm]

hey, I sold one of my items! Yippee!!

just sold another item, person waited until the last damn minute to buy LOL! Not too shabby, 2 items unsold.

BklynBabe said:

Congratulations on your sales! What are you selling?

whats your seller id? I used to sell myself until paypal pissed me off!

tinaz said:

Yeah, I used to sell too, but I've been hearing horror stories about Paypal. It would piss me off to no end to go through all that work to list stuff and then have Paypal screw me over.

bklynbabe999
LOL

right now I just have 1 item up, my digital camera that I never even fucking barely used. my nintendo ds lite had a lil bidding war this morning LOL. my pet nail grinder sold too.

next month I'm putting up the digital dvd player I bought for the kid that hasn't even been cracked open.

Meme to self: stop buying expensive shit that I barely use!!

tell me more about this paypal mess because that's what I'm using

I haven't had any issues with PayPal.

Congrats on your sales!

Sell your cheapest stuff first to build up some good feedback for yourself first, one of the first things i look at when im going to bid on something is the sellers feedback / star ratings, so i would be hesitant bidding on something for more than a few dollars to someone with no / a couple feedback. Then you'll see your higher priced stuff go for more money when you got some good ratings

As far as Paypal goes, i haven't had any problems with them, if anything it's Ebay, their final value fees for selling some things are atrocious

Good luck though, it is fun watching your auctions count down at the last minute when people really want something lol.

Use eBay and the like to reach millions of potential customers then communicate directly via e-mail and sell outside of the site so that you pay less fees and can therefore split the amount saved with the customer. Everybody wins, except eBay. Did that with my synth last year, where the guy came in person and paid in cash and we both did better out of it. Same with No7 serums when they were sold out in the UK but not here ( ), went to e-mail, they recommended friends to contact me directly... happy days.

In general I'm loathe to use eBay but it has been handy in the past.

.
[Edited 12/31/09 0:17am]

*Noting pointers.

Hey, everyone check around their houses to see if they have any of those Nintendo Game & Watch hand-held games from the 80s. I found 3 up in my parents' loft last year and sold them for over $200 total. Couldn't believe it!

Panini sticker albums too. I sold some completed 80s football (soccer) ones that even though they were in awful condition went for 20-25 GBP.

Ok, I'll admit that was kind of fun. I'm sorry eBay, can we be friends?

Wonder if I can sell PS3 games to Oz. Seems like they're pricier over there than here and ppl are irritated by the censorship too. I wonder if eBay has changed a lot in this last year though. What percent are the final value fees at these days?

damn Nigerian scam tried to play me!

but homey don't play dat...

Fauxie said:

I sold some press kits from Prince's WB days a couple of years ago -- I couldn't believe how much they went for. I made about $600.

Shyra said:

As a seller, I left feedback to a buyer back in October and vice versa. When did this rule apply? You're right about restricting bidders because a couple of years ago, I sold a designer bag for $700, and the buyer never paid me. The person had zero feedback. What I do in my future listing, I let them know if anyone bid and don't pay, I'm reporting them and will leave negative feedback. I tell them serious bidders only. I word it in a professional manner.
[Edited 12/31/09 14:32pm]

BklynBabe said:

I used to sell a lot of items on ebay a few years back. I recently sold some concert tickets and the seller paid with Paypal. In the past, once the buyer pays with paypal, the buyer would have access to the money in a few days.

Now, Paypal puts a hold on the funds until they receive positive feedback from the buyer or a time of 30 days(I believe) passes and there is no negative issues reported. I don't know if this is what Shyra is referring to. May be a different issue.

It definitely makes it a hassle for buyers who accept Paypal. However, if you do not need the funds right away, I don't see a big problem with it.

Shawnt27 said:

I read up on it. If they feel it's a high risk item for fraud such as tickets or designer items, they'll put a hold on the funds until that time. If you've also gotten fradulent complaints in the past, they consider you a high risk, too.

Shawnt27 said:

that's only supposed to apply to what they consider risky new sellers or items with a higher potential for counterfeit...atleast that's what I was told by paypal...last month, I had to spend a few minutes on the phone sorting a transaction with them that involved the money hold situation as well as other problems...

and I got to say, I was really surprised and pleased with paypals customer service...they were quick and efficient...no long holds, no bullshit...

we sell a bit on ebay and buy a lot...I've always had good luck and an overall good experience

angel345 said:

Thanks for bringing my error to my attention. I meant to say "...sellers can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers."

I guess I should have clarified the negative about Paypal with-holding funds payable to sellers, but this was a complaint I'd read about a few years ago. Complaints about customer service were rampant for a while. I haven't sold anything in a few years, so dealing with Paypal as a buyer is not a problem. As a matter of fact, I prefer it since it protects me.
[Edited 1/3/10 15:50pm]

ernestsewell said:

I don't have the skinny on all the details. I know one seller told me they can't no longer tell of the option of paying via money order, if you ask about that option than it's OK. That was like 18 months ago and the rules may have been changed. So, lil'stuff for $25.00 or less I tend not to buy unless I'm buying in couple of things from a seller. I'm not about to put $5, $10, $15 dollars on a credit card that's damn dumb.

Good luck with selling your stuff! But, a word of advice: Don't go LOOKING for stuff, because once you do. You're done. eBay-shopping addiction.

Hello, my name is Acrylic, and I am an eBay Addict. I have 19 months clean.

BklynBabe said:

OMG...that makes two of us!!