eBay selling guide discussion

MSE_Jenny · 30 July 2012 at 5:15PM

Hi, we've updated our Ebay Selling guide to help people boost their sales, and we'd love your feedback.

If you're an experienced seller, what are your tips? What are your top selling tools and other cheaty tricks? What else would you add?

Thanks for your help!

MSE Jenny

theonlywayisup · 29 August 2012 at 7:30AM

Point 14.
I think 4am here isn't the same time in the whole of the world :-) Whilst 4am may not generate interest here, it may elsewhere. So worth adding international postage options if its relevant to the item/market.

Point 25.
Descriptions (both by private and business) have to be more than 'fairly described' I think you need to emphasise they need to be 'accurately described'. It isn't caveat emptor with Ebay as a buyer can raise a SNAD (significantly not as described dispute) for just about any reason. The chances are that Ebay and Paypal will nearly always side with the buyer and get them to return it for a full refund (which will include the original postage charge). So if a seller misdescribes or omits something, they could find they get the item back, have to refund and still have forked out for the postage in the first place.

Point 30
This point is just wrong:

Proof of delivery online (currently with a signature for £150 or more items) is needed for a INR dispute.

Proof of postage is needed for an unauthorised chargeback.

So please, do NOT tell anyone they don't need a proof of postage. It is free and can save them a fortune. But they need to understand there are three types of dispute one of which is a chargeback.

PoP should be kept for 180 days.

Disputes:
INR - item not received - you need proof of delivery (with signature over £150 - although this is changing soon).
SNAD - significantly not as described - a straight forward dispute where no proof of delivery or postage is relevant to the seller. If a buyer is asked to return an item for SNAD then they must use a tracked service, which must show the item as delivered, refused or attempted delivery made.
UC - unauthorised chargeback - the proof of posting (cop/pop) is ALL that is needed and in most cases is the ONLY proof that Paypal accept.

I've probably missed more, but it's early and there are keener eyes than mine.

chrisuren · 29 August 2012 at 12:48PM

As I'm just starting out in the world of eBay, this guide is invaluable. Thanks a lot

tonyh01 · 29 August 2012 at 12:52PM

Point 21 is valid although when they have already paid by PayPal it's hard to tell the buyer that you want to refund their PayPal account and they must bring cash. It can also look like you're a 'dodgy seller'.

One trick I've used is to send them a receipt/invoice by recorded delivery. That way you have a tracking number and signature which may be useful if a dispute arises.

Note that an additional cost you have if you trade a lot on eBay is that Paypal will not credit the 20p transaction charge if the item is refunded.

If you do start to become a trader rather than selling personal stuff, as well as registering as a business, you will come under the distant selling regulations which means that a buyer can return items for any reason within 7 days (which eBay have extended to 14) and you must refund the cost of the item and outward shipping in full (but not obligated to pay for the return postage). Make sure that this is factored into your margins.

Good luck

Tony
eBay id esellitlondon

Crowqueen · 29 August 2012 at 1:00PM

The DSRs will update next year to 14 days minimum. Also note that terms need to be made available in a durable format to buyers - the best form is a packing slip stating the terms up front. If the terms are not legally perfect, the seller incurs a lot more onerous obligations - particularly next year when the time for cancellation in the absence of legal terms becomes a whole year.

I would not personally sell an item cash on collection on eBay unless I was prepared to risk the INR scam. I don't like messing buyers about - they are possibly as nervous as I am about trusting sellers, and any funny business on a seller's part, such as refunding me and insisting on cash or sending me stuff in the post would just ring alarm bells, I'm afraid.

Danger_Fourpence · 29 August 2012 at 1:57PM

Blimey it feels like I might have penned a lot of this guide!

Point 2 - 'Not used in a year then flog it' is a little OTT. Well unless you're going for a minimalist look.

Point 7 - I think this is as important as anything, it can really make the difference if there are a lot of items the same/similar to yours or even if there's just one other.

Point 12 - I amazed to see how many people still put up fuzzy and poorly lit photos and then wonder why they get no bids.

Point 13 - I have a style when it comes to pricing so my listings can stand out. I'm not going to give it away but it's simple if you think about.

Point 14 - IMO 7-9pm is a little limited, I've had some considerable success with listings ending after 10pm. If you are selling to the UK and US a 10 to 11pm end time catches a lot of people.

Sometimes it just depends on the night, definitely check those advance TV listings though!!

Point 15 - I barely sell anything of value in the summer when the schools are off. For 6 weeks, up to quarter of your potential buyers are away sunning themselves or whatever. Summer is a good time to work on your listings using Turbo Lister and build up your inventory.

Point 22 - Use Dropbox, so so easy to do from Windows Explorer (or whatever), Just use the public link and in Turbo Lister put in the HTML code

<img src="your link goes here">

Then you can move it around using the tools, or alternatively learn some more coding.

Point 29 - I use http://www.seajays.org.uk/postage/ and a decent pair of kitchen scales. I also have cardboard Royal Mail letter size guide to avoid getting caught out, thinking something is a large letter and the Post Office say it's a packet and then you get hit with double the price.

Point 36 - Never found any worth selling books on eBay, not much on Green Metropolis either. Amazon really has the lock-down on this, best to sell there every time.

Point 37 - More unusual records and CDs sell well on eBay. I personally wouldn't touch Music Magpie, prefer Amazon in the main.

Point 40 - With some things, especially those that aren't selling, I do think you have to be realistic and consider giving them to a local charity. I have a great guy from Oxfam who collects just about anything!:T

StaffsSW · 29 August 2012 at 3:18PM

Danger_Fourpence wrote: »

Blimey it feels like I might have penned a lot of this guide!

Just like pretty much every other "well researched" guide on this site is lifted from forum posts and other websites, but seemingly very little in the way of sense-testing is completed before it is pimped out to unsuspecting readers.

Philycheesesteak · 3 November 2012 at 5:36PM

I wanted to do this to put the video of a how to use the item I was selling plus (ironically) some links to other Ebayers where spare parts could be sourced.

Wouldn't let me do it.

Is this a new thing... because if you look at all the Chinese sellers they seem to have whole web pages embedded in theirs? Or is it a business user only privilege?

Growingmyown · 21 May 2013 at 9:22AM

Beware tip 21: 'You could write in bold in your listing "Please note I will accept cash on collection only, not Paypal". Yet this is against eBay's policies and could mean your listing's taken down.'

I am a new user on Ebay, and I stupidly followed the honest route in the description of my (7) listings:

'*If you are collecting from me, I'd prefer to be paid in cash rather than by Paypal. This avoids the hefty fees Paypal charge!'

After 2 days, my listings were taken down. I have now asked Ebay if the following wording is acceptable: '*If you are collecting from me, I'd prefer to be paid in cash. Thank you.' I'm waiting for a reply.

alykatz · 21 May 2013 at 10:55AM

Growingmyown wrote: »

Beware tip 21: 'You could write in bold in your listing "Please note I will accept cash on collection only, not Paypal". Yet this is against eBay's policies and could mean your listing's taken down.'

I am a new user on Ebay, and I stupidly followed the honest route in the description of my (7) listings:

'*If you are collecting from me, I'd prefer to be paid in cash rather than by Paypal. This avoids the hefty fees Paypal charge!'

After 2 days, my listings were taken down. I have now asked Ebay if the following wording is acceptable: '*If you are collecting from me, I'd prefer to be paid in cash. Thank you.' I'm waiting for a reply.

The above ive marked in red is why your listing was taken down as it is classed a fee avoidance and putting it in your listing will have been viewed as blatant.

Saying you prefer cash on collection is perfectly acceptable.

soolin · 21 May 2013 at 4:12PM

alykatz wrote: »

The above ive marked in red is why your listing was taken down as it is classed a fee avoidance and putting it in your listing will have been viewed as blatant.

Saying you prefer cash on collection is perfectly acceptable.

Actually some people have had listings pulled for saying 'cash preferred' but I don't think ebay police it quite so much anymore.

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