Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions - Page 125

You mentioned the possibility that he thrifted it for $2, as if it were a relevant fact. Is there a particular part of my post which you don't understand?

I was making a joke that you apparently didn't seem to particularly understand?? if this face references something as an apparent relevant fact, then I must be in some sort of bizzaro world. There is obviously more than my post which you don't understand. I think VSLI gets it, is there something that I can clear up so you get it? Or should we just move on and get back to the thread?

 

I think you two are on different wavelengths.

 

You SS, are saying the price paid does not impact the value. I think we all agree, although a seller who thrifted an item may often be willing to part with an item for less when compared to a seller who paid full retail. Still, you are right it does not impact the true "market value" of the good.

 

tben is saying that the auction ended with no bids and thus, it is a telling sign of the value (ie, the price was too high and no one felt that item was worth the asking price, so the item went unsold). Despite obvious varying factors of ebay traffic, I think this presents a great argument that the item if relisted now, might likely sell for a similar amount. If the seller was willing to accept the minimum bid then, he shouldn't inflate the price so much later just because he has confirmation of interest in the product.

 

Regardless, I would happily message the seller and thank him for offering to sell it but saying the price exceeds what you are willing to pay. And, ask him to message you if he decides to relist the item. Then, you can test the value of the good again and hopefully win at the minimum bid.

Thank you. Was my explanation convoluted?? If so, I apologize. The thing is, I was willing to pay more than the opening bid, just not the $45 the seller wanted. And your last few sentences is exactly what was done.

 

Thanks Dolf!

Haha, I haven't visited this thread in awhile, and now I have 80+ pages to catch up on.

 

I'm just curious, what does it mean when a user has 0% positive feedback? The person in question appears to be legitimate, but the numbers make me doubtful...

 

Thanks!

Forgot to quote, BUT if you print the shipping label through ebay within the "1 day shipping" and drop it off at the post office 5 days later unless the buyer complains, that is still one day shipping...

 

 

You'll automatically receive a 5-star shipping time detailed seller rating if: 
* You specify 1-day handling.
* You upload US Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx supported tracking information by the end of the next business day (Pacific Time) after the buyer's payment clears. A business day is a normal weekday. Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays aren't business days. 
* Tracking data must show the package having a status of "delivered" with a delivery date within 4 days of payment clear.

Note: In some instances, there may be a delay in processing your shipping details, and buyers may be able to leave you a detailed seller rating for shipping time. If you've met the automatic 5-star shipping time requirements, your rating will be adjusted to 5 stars.

 

This is what I do now, but I used to use the ebay shipping because as a top rated seller you get up to 30% off priority shipping (over the standard online rates).

I believe they have blocked this somewhat now, by making it nearly impossible to edit shipping labels in the ebay shipping tool.

 

Well, if they pay on Friday, Saturday or Sunday you have until Monday at Midnight PST to update the tracking info to meet the requirement.

 

See ebay requirement above...

 

Note: I almost never go to the post office. I schedule them to pick up the packages on my front porch. 

Tip: if you use the package pickup service, remember to leave a small gift for your mail carrier from time to time. I try to get mine a gift card to the local coffee shop quarterly. 

(This is what I thought he meant)

Look into behavioral economics. Humans seem to innately take into account what the other person will "get" out of something, even if they're getting free value. I can't remember the exact example, but it's something like you go up to a stranger and ask them to do something de minimis and tell them that, as a result of their help, you (the asker) will get $10. When you offer to share part of the proceeds, unless you offer at close to 50/50, nobody helps you out.

FWIW, I first read Tben to be saying it was kind of crappy for him to expect the full BIN price when he it didn't sell at the starting price. That seems to me to be a bit of a windfall.


Anyway, I have a question of my own: I have an item that has 508 views and 18 watchers, 0 bids. It's a suit on 10 day auction that I priced well below what it's worth, but still a good chunk of change. I suspect everyone is planning to Gixen me. What's the collective advice? Ride it out, see what I get? Cancel and relist as BINOBO? Cancel and relist at the Spoo-certified $9.99 so folks can't resist putting in some bids and driving up the irrational exuberance?

How much time is left, and what's the starting price?

It's pretty tough to judge auctions with a lot of time left because I've noticed three strategies. One is to make an early bid to ward off competition, and it can work. Another is the actual auction back and forth. If the buyers are anything like me, they usually wait till near the end (possible reason to watch the auction) so they don't spend days thinking about it or wondering whether they need to pay and withhold bids on other items.

You might see a boom near the end, but more experienced sellers will have better input.

 

 

Thanks!

By default ebay shows the feedback in the last 3 months I believe. So if the user didnt do any transactions recently, it might show up as 0% feedback.

Edited by stylexchangemtl - 1/17/13 at 11:18pm

What is the most secure (tracking) and cost effective way to ship shirts in Conus48?  I'm assuming its not the medium flat rate boxes which I have used before, but rather some type of envelope?

 

Flat-rate is usually a pretty solid bet for domestic shipping. It gets there quicker than UPS in most cases, and they hook you up with the box. I just always forget to buy more shipping tape. They have envelopes too for smaller things, and those ship even more cheaply.

Buy some poly mailer bags on amazon/ebay and ship usps first class. Will run ~$3

Most secure and cost effective are opposites and it depends how big. Stuff under 13 ounces is 1st class+tracking. Add $12 for registered mail (you can send classified government documents in registered mail, hence its pretty damn secure). Can also use certified mail and a return receipt like most people do for taxes.... Only like $5 but to ship on ebay you just need reg old delivery confirmation (tracking) and signature confirmation (over $250)

Had something featured in Put This On's eBay roundup yesterday.  To put it mildly, it has been a positive experience.  Many thanks to PTO!

 

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