Advice sorted for how to get paid from US buyer

terence8888

I'm looking to sell a piece of hifi equipment on ebay. This is a much better know brand in the USA than over here. So I'm thinking of selling it on ebay.com rather than ebay.co.uk.

I expect it to fetch $1000+ and if I get paid by Paypal the charges will be significant. Is there a safe and cheaper way of getting paid?

Thanks in advance!

Chalky87

Hello,

As far as the buyer is concerned you will struggle to find a cheaper/safer service. Bank transfers etc. are relatively safe but not so for the buyer as they have no real security as to whether you send the item or not.

If you use PayPal the buyer can pay by credit card and so has some security in this regard as do you, (make sure you send via traceable, signed for postage).

The only way round the fees is to add the 3.4% or so onto the final value, however this would be breaking eBay rules. Although I find most buyers are willing to help out with PayPal fees when I sell outside eBay.

Thanks

Phoenixx_Rising

I've been trawling the Ebay boards, and from what I've read there, many sellers DO still charge a percentage, some as high as 5% and Ebay/Paypal will do nothing about this. (Although I think thats because either way they get their money... listing fees, final value fees and then paypal fees... they are not likely to penalise a seller).

I sell a lot on ebay myself and never charge additional fees, though I make sure my starting price is the minimum I will take for an item that will include all my selling costs.

You could still list the item on the co.uk site, set the postage to "worldwide" and attract overseas bidders. I regularly attract bidders from the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia whilst only listing on co.uk. Also,

I guess the items are going to be pretty heavy - over 2000g to the USA breaks the Airmail barrier, then postage charges get very hefty. (I think £40ish is the initial price) - which may put overseas bidders off?

You could look into a service such as "Moneygram" which I have used in the past. https://www.moneygram.com where the buyer can send you an Electronic money order (which you can receive in places such as Thomas Cook, GPOs etc). The best thing is the purchaser of the order pays the fee for it.

Hope something there helps!

jaffa30

Hi
They could send cash as long as its registered ie like our recorded

Shugster

There's always western union, unfortunately the sheer mention of this company would put almost any sensible bidder off, as this is very unsecure and is used in about 90% of all scams.

Alternatively you could use escrow, but I don't know much about this, the money goes via a thrid holding party whilst the item is in transit, and the fees could well be similar if not more than paypal.

soolin

jaffa30 wrote:

Hi
They could send cash as long as its registered ie like our recorded

No not like our recorded. Recorded delivery specifically excludes cash or jewellery so you are not covered against loss.

Soo

jaffa30

soolin wrote:

No not like our recorded. Recorded delivery specifically excludes cash or jewellery so you are not covered against loss.

Soo

Well according to the Royal Mails own website you can by Airsure