Selling high value item on eBay

Olinda99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6503711/ebay-dispute-buyers-payment-institution-has-sided-with-the-buyer-is-there-anything-i-can-do#latest



https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6502806/buyer-filed-payment-dispute-with-bank-for-authenticated-bag-help#latest


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6500032/any-lawyers-out-there-ebay-scam#latest

sand_hun

Hi all, thanks for the advice. I am not aware what 'managed payments' are. I have had an eBay account since 2004 but had a bad experience a few years ago so I stopped using it. The item I am selling is a 3D camera used to create virtual tours. I have tried selling on the odd forum but had no joy so eBay seemed the obvious (and one of the only) options.

I also did a bit of reading earlier and saw what others here have said i.e., that eBay sides with the buyer. 

It's not really an option for them to drive over as the buyer lives in north Scotland and I'm in central England.

The buyer comes across as being well mannered. Here's a message they sent me yesterday - "Happy to cover postage but I don’t suppose there would be any wiggle room on the price of the camera itself?

I would be more than happy to buy through eBay so that you have the sellers protection and I have the buyers protection that it offers, rather than handling it outwith eBay."

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I said I'll look into the postage option. They have since chased up today but I haven't had time to get a quote yet.

cymruchris

Being a camera - you may find that couriers won't cover it for accidental damage - so choose your courier very, very carefully if you go ahead. Also if you don't have the cameras original packaging, you may find that an accidental damage claim is denied - and even with the packaging, it'll need to be packaged appropriately (it gives the couriers wiggle room to back out of a claim if it does get damaged by saying you didn't use enough packing materials). If it arrives smashed/damaged your buyer is going to immediately claim 'Item not as described' and they'll get their refund, and you'll end up with a smashed camera. (and have to pay to ship it back to yourself).

Have you tried advertising it in specific photography facebook groups, or regular photography forums? (the forums are usually very good - but you normally have to have had X amount of posts before they let you sell in their classifieds).

Personally I'd be wary of sending a camera of that value by courier no matter how genuine the person was at the other end, but understand you want to sell it, and have to do it somehow - as long as you know the risks you can take a balanced decision on best option to do so.

See the last line:

Spoonie_Turtle

Is there a potential option of meeting halfway?  Then do the 'collection' there, with the QR code and everybody's protected and no risk of a courier damaging (or losing) it.

However Royal Mail Special Delivery might cover it (I know they cover jewellery that couriers and standard posting don't), so possibly worth looking into that.

soolin

sand_hun said:

Hi all, thanks for the advice. I am not aware what 'managed payments' are. I have had an eBay account since 2004 but had a bad experience a few years ago so I stopped using it. The item I am selling is a 3D camera used to create virtual tours. I have tried selling on the odd forum but had no joy so eBay seemed the obvious (and one of the only) options.

I also did a bit of reading earlier and saw what others here have said i.e., that eBay sides with the buyer. 

It's not really an option for them to drive over as the buyer lives in north Scotland and I'm in central England.

The buyer comes across as being well mannered. Here's a message they sent me yesterday - "Happy to cover postage but I don’t suppose there would be any wiggle room on the price of the camera itself?

I would be more than happy to buy through eBay so that you have the sellers protection and I have the buyers protection that it offers, rather than handling it outwith eBay."

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I said I'll look into the postage option. They have since chased up today but I haven't had time to get a quote yet.

You need to get signed up for managed payments immediately as otherwise you are going to have a lot of issues. When they first set up managed payments it only took a few hours to do verification, just recently I’ve seen people have a lot more issues and having to wait for days.

The issue is if buyer uses a debt it credit card or PayPal to pay you won’t be able to touch the money as eBay hold it in your managed payment account and you can only withdraw it to your verified bank account. There is no way on eBay now that buyer can pay you direct online. Even if buyer brings cash you must be signed up as otherwise you are going to struggle to pay the FVFs , and the eBay bits will restrict your account if they can’t get the payment.

Another issue you have now is that as you and a potential buyer have exchanged messages , I assume via eBay, you can’t even take down the listing as eBay bots will automatically assume you are doing a private trade and depriving eBay of their fees. 

Neil49

In terms of postage costs Parcel Force would charge around £45 for 2 day delivery and £900 protection.

It sounds fairly fragile to me and personally I would be wary of posting something like that.