Ebay Auction Gone Higher Than Expected

arc2014 · 20 September 2017 at 5:14PM

Does anyone ever feel guilty if you sell something for a LOT more than its worth? I have an auction going on eBay for an items empty box - thought I might get a couple of quid - 2 bidders have it up to £5 already!! :eek:
My listing specifically says product not included - I just feel a bit guilty that I'm essentially selling someone an empty box for at least £5!! :undecided

soolin · 20 September 2017 at 6:59PM

Be warned, eBay don't like auctions for empty boxes and you will get a slap if someone reports it. Unfortunately scammers buy named boxes in order to pass off fakes as the real deal and eBay don't give anyone the benefit of the doubt.

If you are going to risk it make sure you listed as 'other' in the category and not under, for examples, phones or tablet or camera.

soolin · 20 September 2017 at 7:00PM

Be warned, eBay don't like auctions for empty boxes and you will get a slap if someone reports it. Unfortunately scammers buy named boxes in order to pass off fakes as the real deal and eBay don't give anyone the benefit of the doubt.

If you are going to risk it make sure you listed as 'other' in the category and not under, for examples, phones or tablet or camera.

Stoke · 20 September 2017 at 8:51PM

Damn. I found a box I wanted sell the other day grr.

flashg67 · 20 September 2017 at 9:15PM

I appreciate Soolin is an ebay expert,so not arguing whether ebay like it or not, but I've sold quite a few empty boxes - some for upto £7+ with no problems.

If it's listed correctly hopefully you'll be fine. Don't feel too guilty - a genuine seller can get a good price uplift selling something with a box, so win win

GabbaGabbaHey · 21 September 2017 at 12:30AM

arc2014 wrote: »

I just feel a bit guilty that I'm essentially selling someone an empty box for at least £5!! :undecided

I collect wristwatches, and (depending on brand and age) it's not uncommon to pay £100+ for an empty box :-)

Tealblue · 21 September 2017 at 1:34AM

I sell empty boxes but NOT if they show any sort of brand - and they sell for silly money (sometimes more than the price of buying them with their contents!).

qsk · 21 September 2017 at 10:13AM

I monitored a few cases where I believe the bidding has gone well over the expectation, only to see the items being relisted after a few days with seller adding comments "no time wasters please"...

ballisticbrian · 21 September 2017 at 10:22AM

Get ready to fund the return costs when the buyer realises the item isn't in it. Many buyers don't read the descriptions.

ElefantEd · 21 September 2017 at 11:05AM

I sold an empty box and a scoreboard for a boardgame (Carcassonne) for £70 last year - this was via facebook not ebay. It was an older and relatively rare edition. The buyer even sent me a new box in return. I was gobsmacked, but was happy to take the money - but it does show that collectors may value apparently mundane items differently to normal people. Mind you, when I realised that the address I was sending it to was a City Trader I felt rapidly less guilty!

mrcol1000 · 21 September 2017 at 12:27PM

Agree with the above. People are stupid. They see a photo of a box and assume the item is in it. Even putting *****EMPTY BOX ONLY**** in the title won't be enough for people to realise it is an empty box. You may get some people who accept their mistake but most people aren't that forgiving, even when they are at fault.