Selling on eBay

[8bit]

I've bought stuff on eBay plenty of times but never sold. I have a set of wheels from my previous XKR that I want to sell on and have them on Facebook marketplace, Gumtree, a couple of Jaguar forums but they haven't shifted so am thinking about putting them on eBay.

Maybe I'm over-thinking it but having read plenty of stories of nightmares selling stuff on eBay I'm a bit cautious on this. I did a search for beginner's guide to selling on eBay but it seems most articles are aimed at people wanting to start small businesses and use eBay as a platform.

Anyone got any useful info, handy links etc.?

[bloomen]

The simplest rule for something like wheels would be never accept Paypal for something that's physically picked up. There's no trail to refer to if someone tries to do a chargeback.

Paypal if you're posting it, and only ever to the registered Paypal address. Cash on collection only if there's no post.

Personally I find auctions a pain up the arse as a buyer or seller so I'd stick to buy it now. If you're doing buy it now make sure to tick the box that compels them to pay immediately.

Recently I've had a glut of weird and hacked accounts so if something sells wait a day or so to see if Ebay cancel the sale. That's happened twice to me in the last few weeks, but it mainly seems to be electronics that attract scammers, not the more practical end of things.

I'd still stick to somewhere like Gumtree for an item like that.

[Funk]

I used to sell loads on ebay but stopped years ago as it became a liability. I won't ever sell on there again...

[8bit]

Thanks for that, I might just wait it out and see. So far I've only done a free ad on Gumtree, is it worth shelling out a few quid for one of their more promoted listings?

[bloomen]

8bit said:

Thanks for that, I might just wait it out and see. So far I've only done a free ad on Gumtree, is it worth shelling out a few quid for one of their more promoted listings?

I can't say I've ever favoured a promoted ad myself.

Funk said:

I used to sell loads on ebay but stopped years ago as it became a liability. I won't ever sell on there again...

I've sold several hundred items, some over a grand. Never had an issue with an actual sale.

[anonymous-user]

Most things have been covered already.

I've sold st loads on ebay. Only one or two problems.

- Make sure your add photos cover everything. Each wheel. Any significant marks. This is your "evidence".
- Auction - start the bidding at 99p. They'll sell. High starting bids put people off.
- Time the auction to finish when people are at home - mid evenings (like 8pm) or Sunday afternoon.
- Paypal - sent to reg. address only. No exceptions.
- include shipping cost (use an ebay courier!) - this will make your add 100% more attractive than collection only.
- Reject bids from anyone with crappy looking feedback.
- Be honest in the description
- If someone contacts you to do a "deal" - just tell them to bid.

[Smollet]

I sell loads of stuff on Ebay and never had an issue. Just about everything has been covered but I’d be inclined to say you’ll only sell to those with 100% feedback or a minimum count of 20 on their profile. It’s really quite simple.

[Camelot1971]

I sold some used alloys on Ebay recently. The hardest part for shipping is having suitable boxes and packaging. Luckily, I kept my new wheels boxes. Postage for 4 wheels (to the Highlands) using UPS was £70.

[LuS1fer]

I sold a camera for about £340 once and they charged me about £40 in fees so I wouldn't use them again other than perhaps a fixed fee ad, if they do them.
I'd also stipulate collection only.

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

LuS1fer said:

I sold a camera for about £340 once and they charged me about £40 in fees so I wouldn't use them again other than perhaps a fixed fee ad, if they do them.
I'd also stipulate collection only.

Yeah, that's how they make money and pay for the direct cost and overheads.

[mickytruelove]

i think the next best place to sell things is on facebook. People can share with mates who might be interested ect. No fees. cash on collection.

I have a friend who breaks cars and 90% of the time he sources them from facebook.

[anonymous-user]

Under DSR I am entitled to immediate refund. You have refused.Last Chance, supply your details or I will seek to Male a PSNI report to support PayPal appeal

I have only your word the package was addressed correctly
Been here before myself. Daughter is solicitor
It appears DSR is distance selling regulations and PSNI is not the buyers time of the month but Police Service Northern Ireland

All this because I sold something on e bay. It was recorded as delivered and signed RM (Royal Mail) and buyer claims he didn't get it. I raised a query with RM he is adamant so its escalating to a "loss" claim. I am trying to work with the buyer but he expects a refund now on an item he only bought over a week ago.
hmmm

[JamesRF]

Only thing I can add to what's already been said is now I just wait for the £1 listing weekends to avoid the high fees especially on more expensive items. Not sure everyone gets sent that offer though, its for private sellers only and depends on how often you list etc.

Also for collection listings where I've sold a car or a mountain bike, I'll draft up a quick sold as seen receipt which we both sign and take a copy.

[Paddymcc]

techiedave said:

Under DSR I am entitled to immediate refund. You have refused.Last Chance, supply your details or I will seek to Male a PSNI report to support PayPal appeal

I have only your word the package was addressed correctly
Been here before myself. Daughter is solicitor
It appears DSR is distance selling regulations and PSNI is not the buyers time of the month but Police Service Northern Ireland

All this because I sold something on e bay. It was recorded as delivered and signed RM (Royal Mail) and buyer claims he didn't get it. I raised a query with RM he is adamant so its escalating to a "loss" claim. I am trying to work with the buyer but he expects a refund now on an item he only bought over a week ago.
hmmm

If you have mailed it to the correct address and have delivery confirmation with signature then PayPal/eBay will side with you.

Also the PSNI will tell the buyer this is a civil matter so I wouldn't worry about such threats.

You can also call royal mail whom will double check the GPS tag of the signature to prove it was delivered to the correct address.

[anonymous-user]

Paddymcc said:

If you have mailed it to the correct address and have delivery confirmation with signature then PayPal/eBay will side with you.

Also the PSNI will tell the buyer this is a civil matter so I wouldn't worry about such threats.

You can also call royal mail whom will double check the GPS tag of the signature to prove it was delivered to the correct address.

Hi Paddy
Thanks for that. To be honest I just popped it on to show how obsessed some buyers can be. I received a total of 28 messages yesterday morning flip flopping form begging please types to abuse. I contacted e bay who said that as his case had been closed by them and the messages were abusive they were going to block him from being able to message me further. I had already placed him in the E Bay blocked bidder list which prevents him from buying/ bidding on anything else of mine. Looks like e bay have blocked him as messages have ceased.
I have done what I have said I will do which is raise an investigation with Royal Mail. there is I suppose an outside chance that his package has been misdelivered and signed for someone else but I very much doubt it.
My suspicion is that he cannot set the thing up didn't like it and he though I will pretend I haven't received it forgetting he had signed for it OR that someone else in his household has signed for it.
Either way the guy is moronic. I think now that the PSNI thing will be because he suspects theft at his end. How he thinks that will help him with an e bay/paypal claim beats me.
I just think he is nuts

[snuffy]

techiedave said:

Under DSR I am entitled to immediate refund. You have refused.Last Chance, supply your details or I will seek to Male a PSNI report to support PayPal appeal

I have only your word the package was addressed correctly
Been here before myself. Daughter is solicitor
It appears DSR is distance selling regulations and PSNI is not the buyers time of the month but Police Service Northern Ireland

All this because I sold something on e bay. It was recorded as delivered and signed RM (Royal Mail) and buyer claims he didn't get it. I raised a query with RM he is adamant so its escalating to a "loss" claim. I am trying to work with the buyer but he expects a refund now on an item he only bought over a week ago.
hmmm

So this is actually what someone sent you as opposed to you saying this ?

The thing with ebay is that when it started it was an online flea market / car boot sale just full of individuals buying and selling and it worked very well indeed. Then businesses started using it (encouraged by ebay mind you) and now buyers view all sellers as businesses and therefore apply DSR (and that is ebay policy as well).

So now ebay is a pile of ste for individuals to sell some stuff on.

In fact, ebay is a pile of ste. There is no more to add to that statement.

[anonymous-user]

snuffy said:

So this is actually what someone sent you as opposed to you saying this ?

The thing with ebay is that when it started it was an online flea market / car boot sale just full of individuals buying and selling and it worked very well indeed. Then businesses started using it (encouraged by ebay mind you) and now buyers view all sellers as businesses and therefore apply DSR (and that is ebay policy as well).

So now ebay is a pile of ste for individuals to sell some stuff on.

In fact, ebay is a pile of ste. There is no more to add to that statement.

Yes - direct copies opf lines from his messages
I have had in total 36 messages off him. initially last week when I said I would look into it he was fine.
I rang Royal mail who opened a case up there and then I think called a "Denial of Receipt" service. They said it would take up to 10 working days and explained it involved contacting the manager of the buyers local delivery office who would ask the postperson concerned if they had any recollections anything unusual.
I got a written reply from them on Tuesday and it's quite detailed (I was genuinely impressed)
It includes a print out of the signature.
I rang e bay to see what would happen if he did open a case and they assured me it would be closed by them due to signed for receipt. I never mentioned this bit to him
I then decided I would contact him Tuesday after tea rather than getting bogged down with it during the day. I messaged him and initially simply said that there was clear evidence from Royal mail that the item had been delivered correctly.
That elicited a response of "no prove it" etc.
He then started on about his rights to a refund as he had not had the item and I genuinely (honestly) remained very polite with him.
I sent a longish reply to him stating that with the signature and the name being given as him (including his first name) I had to believe that it had been delivered to his address and that I had done everything possible to make sure it was delivered correctly.

There were a couple of exchanges after that which I ignored as they were just repeats of what he had already said. Sometime overnight he opened a case. Wednesday morning I replied to the case by putting on the signed for reference (which I had already uploaded when dispatched)
That made him reply with the I don't believe etc etc
I then rang e bay customer services who said they would close the case in my favour they checked the reference themselves and were happy.
Then it was message time from him

Complete moron

[8bit]

Glad it worked out for you, techiedave.

After I posted this thread I did some more research. It's often said that you'll find the worst of humanity on the internet and I've come to the conclusion that the absolute worst of *that* is probably on ebay. I never advertised the wheels there, just stuck to Gumtree and Facebook groups, still not sold them quite yet but I think I have a buyer now.

[snuffy]

techiedave said:

Yes - direct copies opf lines from his messages
I have had in total 36 messages off him. initially last week when I said I would look into it he was fine.

Complete moron

A friend of mine sells a lot of stuff on ebay. A week ago I happened to be on the phone to him whilst he was looking at his ebay account and he went off on one about some buyer that had won something (a TV I think) and then ignored him for a week. The "buyer" had then send 20+ emails in a hour complaining that his first email had not been answered in 5 minutes, then that his second one had not been answered in 1 minute and so on.

There does seem to a very high level of nutter on ebay.

That's why I closed my ebay account. As some else on here wrote a while ago; I would rather eat (insert item here) then sell it on ebay !