Ebay & Auctions Board: Useful Links, Info & FAQs

jo_b_2

Welcome to the Ebay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales board.

Soolin and I are volunteer Board Guides here :wave: and we hope to make the board run smoothly and to help you to find the information you're looking for easily!

Firstly, some board ground rules:

• Please remember that this site is free from advertising. No links to your own auctions are permitted on this board or elsewhere on this site. Your own affiliate links are not permitted either.
• Please do not post any money saving suggestions that are illegal.
• If you see any posts that you believe are in breach of site rules, please report them to [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL] This is a fast-moving site and Board Guides are not always able to read all threads!

Secondly, have a look at Martin's updated article:
Ebay Golden Rules

This board covers other sites where you can buy and sell your belongings. Current discussions include:

Selling Your Stuff on Amazon Marketplace

Selling Your Stuff on Play.Trade

Selling Your Stuff on Ebid

Selling Books on Green Metropolis

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

dickibobboy

Courtesy of RACHIE77 and other members who prodived links to make this list up, This thread was lost in the recent server problems.

The following list is an ongoing list of links to UK auctions and other online selling resources.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/docs/Sell/
http://www.adtrader.co.uk/postcode_splash.php
http://www.amazon.co.uk/
http://uk.ebid.net/
http://www.greenmetropolis.com/
http://www.exchangeandmart.co.uk/iad?rw.cm=Google,PPC,gumtree%2Eco%2Euk
http://www.play.com/HOME/HOME/6-/Abo...?page=helpdesk
http://www.totalbids.co.uk/


Specific links to ebay and paypal respurces

I've seen a few helpful ebay links pop up in response to peoples questions and wondered if it was worth posting them all in one thread so that people could look here first to save repetition??

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LIVE CHAT
The most helpful one I've seen (If my memory serves me correctly was posted by BargainBabe) is the link to the ebay live chat page...

(i think this is right??)

http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/...&site=16485391

***** very useful when you are in a urgent pickle!!

Also from Ebay.com live chat.

https://cschatlb-na.corp.ebay.com/chat.asp?profile=15 (updated Feb 09)

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FEEDBACK
Also a few tools for checking out other ebayers feedback...

http://www.toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs

http://www.teamredline.com/gutcheck/ (requires download)

http://www.hammertap.com/BayCheck.html (requires download)

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EBAY
And some good places to look on ebay itself..

the NEW 'want it now' section... http://pages.ebay.co.uk/wantitnow/

Ebay pulse (to look at trends etc)... http://pulse.ebay.co.uk/

Ebay discussion forums... http://pages.ebay.co.uk/community/chat/index.html

Ebay announcements (news etc).... http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing-uk.shtml

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CALCULATORS

Paypal/Ebay fee calculators

http://www.ezaytools.co.uk - also has other features such as forum & hints and aims to help you to calculate the 'real' profit you make on ebay

http://www.netoutpost.f2s.com/auction/

Royal mail postage calculator http://sg.royalmail.com/servlet/aced...ageId=frameset

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ACRONYMS

NARU = No longer A Registered User

NPB = Non Paying Bidder

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PAYMENT

Paypal = https://www.paypal.com/

or Tel: 0870 7307191


Nochex = http://help.nochex.com/?Action=Q&ID=120

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SAFETY CENTRES/SCAM INFO / SUSPICOUS EMAILS

The online SAFETY centres for ebay and paypal are as follows:


Ebay: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/safetycentre/index.html

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/we...center-outside


If you get a suspicious email regarding ebay then forward it to the following addresses and they will verify its validity for you.

Make sure you do not click on any links within the email if you are suspicious, usually by hovering the mouse over the link it will show you if it is actually going to a different place:

EBAY: [EMAIL="spoof@ebay.co.uk"]spoof@ebay.co.uk[/EMAIL]


For suspicious emails.websites regarding paypal you should visit this website:

PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.com/uk/ewf/f=pps_spf

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REPORTING ITEMS ON EBAY:

To report links click here and then click on "Report listing violations or problems with another eBay member" at the very bottom left of the page

To report pyramid schemes click here and then click on "Report listing violations or problems with another eBay member" at the very bottom left of the page

To find out more about what is prohibited, questionable & infringing click here

Or to see ebays listings policies click here

Check out this thread for more info: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...d.html?t=32005 (posted by Wirm)

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Online Photo's for Ebay and Other Auction Sites

The first photo is free with a charge being levied on additional photographs. To avoid these costs use a free image hoster, there are many to choose from two of the more popular are;
www.photobucket.com
www.imageshack.us

Simple Edit to photo's
www.gimp.org

Watermark images to copyright them to you
www.picture-shark.com

A powerful and free html editor is the HTML-kit editor which can be downloaded from;
www.chami.com/html-kit

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Other useful links:

Fatfingers: http://www.fatfingers.co.uk/Default.aspx
(find mis-spelt items on ebay and grab an even better bargain!)

Last Minute ebay auctions: http://www.lastminute-auction.com/uk/
(finds auctions ending soon at less than £1)

a site that lists good ebay links: http://www.ourlinks.co.uk/ebay

and another for help and ideas: http://www.ukauctionhelp.co.uk/index.php

Show up to 20 items free of charge in a gallery: http://www.ayee.net/page/en/100100/index.html

Don't pay for stupid things like 'watch tv on your pc' or ebooks and loads more
http://www.floodle.net/

List many items at once very easy
http://pages.ebay.com/turbo_lister/

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Any more please feel free to add to the thread

Thanks
Adam

soolin

Thank you, I'll stick this thread to the forum.

There appears to be a bigger alternative to ebay than the others, try this one:

http://www.cqout.com/

TKPeters

Official MoneySavingExpert.com insert:

This is the discussion to link on the back of the

Courier Cost Cutting Article

Please read the above article first, then return to this discussion for further info.

Due to the ever-changing availability of these services, it's inevitable that the main article will occasionally fall behind the latest best buys. Thankfully, TKPeters has compiled this excellent list of services which he updates regularly.

If you use these services, then please report back with feedback below; we'll be keeping a close eye on which perform best in the longer-term.

If you know of a cheaper service then please post it below. All best buys will be added to the article.

Now, back to the original post; thanks TKPeters!

eBay Parcel Delivery Reseller's (Cheapest in Bold)
Updated: 15-05-2008

• Pre Paid Parcel / PPWeXpress (http://www.ppwexpress.com)
  10.00am Cut Off
  
  Home Delivery 48Hr £5.95
  Home Delivery 24Hr £6.45
  
  Omega Economy - 48Hr Delivery To A Business Address £5.45
  Omega Standard - Next Day Delivery To A Business Address £5.50
  Omega Diamond - Delivery by 10.00 am To A Business Address £19.95
  Omega 12 - Delivery by 12.00 pm Weekdays To A Business Address £9.85
  Saturday AM Delivery £19.95
  
  Highlands £9.95
  Offshore Islands £11.99
  Mainland to Northern Ireland by Air £15.95
  Mainland to Northern Ireland by Road £11.95
  Mainland to Northern Ireland Diamond by Air by 10:00am £42.95
  Northen Ireland to Mainland by Air £15.95
  Northen Ireland to Mainland by Road £11.95

• SupaParcels 5% discount when registered on their website
  DHL 48hr £6.64

• BirdCagesUnlimited
  DHL 48hr £7.00
  

• CouriersDirect (MH Direct Couriers, 10am Cut Off)
  DHL 24hr £8.20

eBay/Paypal Postage

Select your item/s on eBay & Click 'Print Postage Label'
or click the 'Print Postage Label' on the Paypal overview

• Parcelforce 24: £11.99 (Zones 1, 2 & 3)
  
• Parcelforce 48: £10.99 (Zones 1, 2 & 3)
• All standard Royal Mail services offered
  

Top Tip: Parcelforce via Paypal Postage charged the same as Mainland UK for services to Northern Ireland, Highlands, IoS & IoM.

You have the option to drop the item off at your local Post Office (PF Accepting PO Finder) Before 3pm or have it collected by ParcelForce at your location.

Note: If using the PO method, ensure the PO staff scan the barcode & give you a receipt with the parcels' tracking number on it.




Websites

• PPWeXpress(0115 976 2020)
  Home Delivery 48Hr £5.95
  Home Delivery 24Hr £6.45
  
  Omega Economy - 48Hr Delivery To A Business Address £5.45
  Omega Standard - Next Day Delivery To A Business Address £5.50
  Omega Diamond - Delivery by 10.00 am To A Business Address £19.95
  Omega 12 - Delivery by 12.00 pm Weekdays To A Business Address £9.85
  Saturday AM Delivery £19.95
  
  Highlands £9.95
  Offshore Islands £11.99
  Mainland to Northern Ireland by Air £15.95
  Mainland to Northern Ireland by Road £11.95
  Mainland to Northern Ireland Diamond by Air by 10:00am £42.95
  Northen Ireland to Mainland by Air £15.95
  Northen Ireland to Mainland by Road £11.95

PayPerParcel
DHL 48hr £6.39
DHL Next Day £6.89

SupaParcels
5% discount when registered
DHL 48hr £6.64
DHL 24hr £9.17

MH Direct Couriers (10am Cut Off)
UK Services Offered
DHL 48hr £6.85
DHL 24hr £6.99
DHL Extra Long £15.99

Parcel 2 Go
DHL 48hr (£5.99 + VAT) £7.03
(10% Discount Code: GREASY)

Parcels 4 Delivery
DHL 48hr (£6.64 + VAT) £7.80

Personal Shipper
24hr (£6.80 + VAT) £7.99

InterParcel
5% discount when registered
DHL 48hr (£6.99 + VAT) £8.21
Extra Long Items upto 250cm; Quote for 10Kg: £9.49

Pharos International
Hercules Service £9.39

European Deliveries

Parcels2Collect

• DHL; Maximun Weight: 31.5Kg per parcel. Maximum size is 120x60x60cm
• Parcelforce; Maximun Weight: 30Kg per parcel. Maximum size is 3 metres length and girth combined, with 1.5 metres for any single dimension.

TKPeters

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For those who don't know about the free stationary offered by Royal Mail,[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] here's how to get it & a small list of what is available.

[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Call Royal Mail Business Services on 08457 950 950, option 1 & then option 6 for all stationary & best of all its Free (except the call)[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]You can Order:[/FONT]

[/FONT]

1. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Special Delivery Bags (all sizes, C3, C4 & C5)[/FONT]
2. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P1038 Recorded Delivery Posting Book, for use with P2223 labels[/FONT]
3. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P2223 Recorded Delivery labels (roll of 250)[/FONT]
4. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P6565 Special Delivery and International Signed-for/Airsure Posting Book, for use with P4723/P6396 labels[/FONT]
5. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P4723 International Signed-for labels (roll of 250)[/FONT]
6. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P6396 Special Delivery Next Day labels (roll of 250)[/FONT]
7. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P326 Certificate of Posting Pad[/FONT]
8. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P25A blue airmail stickers[/FONT]
9. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CN22 Customs labels[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Best to Order a couple of each required & Parcelforce will deliver them in 7 days [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

TKPeters

Here's some info about Paypal's Security Tips for Unconfirmed Addresses & Paypal's SPP, that I've Posted before;


To access the pages via the links below, please log into your Paypal the normal way then click the link


Paypal's Security Tips for Unconfirmed Addresses: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/cps/securitycenter/sell/SellerConfirmAdd

Most unconfirmed addresses are not fraudulent, and sellers don’t usually experience problems with them. When you do deliver to an unconfirmed address, PayPal encourages you to be alert and minimise risk by following our Security Tips for Sellers.

Seller Protection Policy: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/cps/securitycenter/sell/SellerPPOverview

Key rules of Seller Protection

Ensure that the item is “Eligible” for Seller Protection, as displayed in your ‘Transaction Details’. Your ‘Transaction Details’ are in your PayPal email receipt. You can also find your ‘Transaction Details’ by logging in to your PayPal account and clicking on ‘Detail’ next to the relevant transaction.

Only transactions between UK, US or Canadian buyers and sellers qualify

Post to a confirmed address, as displayed in ‘Transaction Details’. This ensures that the item goes to the buyer at an address we have details of.

Retain proof of postage that can be tracked online, such as Royal Mail’s Recorded Delivery. If you hand deliver an item, or provide delivery in a way that we can not track online, your transaction will not qualify. This includes items posted with first class postage.

For items with a value of £150 or more, you need to provide proof of signature from the recipient (RM Special Delivery)

You must be Verified, and have a Premier or Business account

Post the item within seven days of receiving payment

Only accept payments in full from a single PayPal account

Please respond to all PayPal enquiries within the deadlines as disputes need to be resolved within a specific time frame.


These are just some of the key rules of Seller Protection. Please refer to our Seller Protection Policy for full terms and conditions

Acceptable tracking methods: https://www.paypal.com/helpcenter/main.jsp;jsessionid=HGfHq2HQD0DLjKrvkFZGqlHCJv7LQGSqHjvLrVR2h0LB8yQXMsGp!-1480810803?t=solutionTab&ft=homeTab&ps=&target=_parent&solutionId=17464&locale=en_GB&_dyncharset=UTF-8&countrycode=GB&cmd=_help&serverInstance=9006

What methods of online tracking are acceptable?


The following options may be used:

• Parcelforce Worldwide
• Royal Mail - Special Delivery
• Royal Mail - Recorded Signed For
• Royal Mail - International Signed For
• Royal Mail - Airsure
• UPS
• FedEx
• Airborne Express
• DHL

eporium

Personalising Ebay auction listings

Ebay auction listings can be personalised by using HTML, HTML being the language that produces a web page. Below is an image of a listing that has been customised.

This can be done by using the HTML option in the Ebay selling form or in Turbo Lister.

Not everyone wants to learn HTML just to make an auction listing and so I have made a small, easy to use and free on-line custom design maker to generate the HTML code.

The link for this is www.erns-eporium.co.uk/custom2.htm

With this tool all the colours can be selected, there is a choice of background border graphics and also provision for using up to 35 self hosted auction photographs.

soolin

As we are starting to get a few questions about online tracking and delivery confirmation for paypal purposes I thought it useful to add the details here. It is worth noting though that as only online delivery notification is acceptable this means paypal should NEVER be used where an item is collected. Printed receipts, photos of the item being collected etc are not sufficient for paypal's purposes and this is the official list of acceptable posting methods:

</IMG> What methods of online tracking are acceptable?


Question : Answer : </IMG> The following options may be used:

• Parcelforce Worldwide
• Royal Mail - Special Delivery
• Royal Mail - Recorded Signed For
• Royal Mail - International Signed For
• Royal Mail - Airsure
• UPS
• FedEx
• Airborne Express
• DHL

Note: Royal Mail does not officially provide online tracking (with proof of delivery) for the International Signed For service. In some instances however, delivery details may be available online. If these details map to the buyer's postal address shown on the Transaction Details page, PayPal may consider it as sufficient proof of delivery. However, since availability of delivery details cannot be predicted, sellers may not be able to rely on this method for proof of delivery in order to be covered by PayPal's Seller Protection Policy.


https://www.paypal.com/helpcenter/main.jsp;jsessionid=HWQDdCqxxVLwpvf0FhTWVLXWLn2pNcZzFghDlLWlrMdLzDnZp9bC!1034644335?t=solutionTab&ft=homeTab&ps=&solutionId=17464&locale=en_GB&_dyncharset=UTF-8&countrycode=GB&cmd=_help&serverInstance=9005

tamsin.follows

I originally posted this on the local money savers boards, but thought it may be useful in here as well.

Has anybody used www.localbargainfinder.co.uk ? It searches for items on eBay without postage based on your postcode - so mainly large or heavy items like furniture, toys and car parts.

I bought a set of Black & Decker Hedgeclippers for £1.27!! which had been used no more than a few times, but I did give the seller £5 to help ease my conscience!

I guess it will also be very busy after Christmas and the cheap listing day with lots of unwanted presents!

Becky2006

Some more links that you may find handy:

eBay Local Services - Find local services on eBay - like this idea:
http://localservices.ebay.co.uk/

Handy for keeping an eye on future eBay special/cheaper listing days:
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing-uk...ageName=f:f:UK

Loads of handy free tools/sites for use on eBay and alternative auction sites:
http://www.auctionlotwatch.co.uk/moreauctiontools.html

A handy/useful list of what to report to eBay and links to do it:
http://www.ukauctionhelp.co.uk/report.php

Some more money saving ideas:
http://ebaybulletin.blogspot.com/

Hope those are helpful

Becky

soolin

We have permission from the Moderating team to post the following link on this thread:

http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....id=talkinpeace

So thank you to talkinpeace

I will also add this link:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg...3859215&r.s=sc

with thanks to Micknipfler