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

Fueco · Mar 25, 2014

ATLnoob said:
I like to think the same, and I did once have an independent contractor job where I wasn't sure how much money I'd make week-to-week so I know the feeling of that aspect, but that was back when I was younger, had a roommate, no mortgage, fewer bills etc...
On the other hand, I'm getting to the point where I've been with my current company for 7 years, and gotten a raise just once (despite having excellent reviews each year). I'm feeling more dead-ended each day.

Fueco, I think if you were successful in your own endeavor, whipped up a sharp website, wrote creative ad copy for listings etc, that's as good as any other experience in design should you opt for the indoor job life...proven success should get you a few hops up the ladder off the bat if you switched tracks.

When I mull it over, I always go back to corporate job benefits other than a salary & paycheck. Current job gives me 20 paid days off per year, paid sick time, reimbursement for internet, partial reimbursement for health insurance, 50% 401k matching, 1.5x pay for overtime and 2x pay for 12+ hour days, 100% work from home, sizable year-end bonus... Of course, it's not all about the money - you gotta be happy, as stress-free as possible, have time for friends & family, and have fun. I'd be OK making less $, if that meant less stress. But, making a lot less $ would lead to stress as well. Argh.

I'm in a rather unique situation. My wife works for a major Silicon Valley corporation, so my medical and dental are covered through her employer. The freedom that working for myself allows makes sense given our lifestyle (bike races, triathlons, travel, etc.). The one thing that I don't get is paid for days I don't work. But I'm okay with that. I'm also okay with the idea that once we have a child, I'll be free to care for him/her during the day. And yes, once that kid is old enough, she will know the difference between shell and calfskin.

I feel strongly that with the right motivation, you can make whatever you choose to do work well. I think of it in terms of Walter White saying, "I'm in the empire building business." It's not about making money, or being successful. It's about picking something and doing it as well as I possibly can. It's what I was missing when I was in my twenties. I had the thought of flipping for profit as far back as 2002, when I sold my first item on Ebay, but I lacked the motivation to do it right. Now, I have the motivation, the technical knowhow and the space and capital to give it a real go. I can easily see myself opening a brick and mortar shop at some point in the future, but the online stuff is going to have to skyrocket before that will happen.

concealed · Mar 25, 2014

^ the successful wife that affords you the opportunity to run an ebay biz sounds like a pretty good gig if you can find it...

Snoogz · Mar 25, 2014

concealed said:
^ the successful wife that affords you the opportunity to run an ebay biz sounds like a pretty good gig if you can find it...

got it.

Orgetorix · Mar 25, 2014

ATLnoob said:
On the other hand, I'm getting to the point where I've been with my current company for 7 years, and gotten a raise just once (despite having excellent reviews each year). I'm feeling more dead-ended each day.

Ugh, that sucks. I'd have a hard time sticking it out if I went more than 2-3 years with no raises, but maybe that's just my impatient, entitled Millennial self talking.

Surely the job market's big enough in ATL that you could find another position, especially with 7 years of experience?

frostiblack · Mar 25, 2014

Disappointed today. I've had my eye on a gorgeous Diesel Black Gold sweater in all my local boutiques but it was unfortunately a) not in my size and b) out of my price range.

The item: http://shop.diesel.com/ki-arturo/00S6JPBGKBJ.html

Miracle upon miracles, I found it online - a German shop (with B&M stores, and a 100% positive rating on eBay) had it in my size (S) and at a great price. I pulled the trigger and counted the days until it arrived.

It came - and they sent the wrong size (M). They've since removed my size from the item listing and are not sure yet if they have a size S in inventory. Of course, I'm totally bummed.

At any rate, I'm writing because I'm not sure if I should concerned about the order of events through the refund process.

When I let the seller know the sweater was the wrong size, he was very gracious, offering a 30% discount if the Medium worked for me, a full refund, or the item in the correct size (if available). I really do want the sweater in the correct size, so I agreed to ship them back the incorrect size, a cost for which I'd be reimbursed.

It occurs to me that, at the moment, I'm out the price of the item + shipping, as well as the return shipping cost. Further, I no longer have the item.

Should I be worried at the process taken here, or is the fact that the seller is 100% positive rated and very kind so far be reassuring enough that this won't go south? I just feel like I have no leverage at the moment, if that makes sense.

Koala-T · Mar 25, 2014

frostiblack said:
Disappointed today. I've had my eye on a gorgeous Diesel Black Gold sweater in all my local boutiques but it was unfortunately a) not in my size and b) out of my price range.

The item: http://shop.diesel.com/ki-arturo/00S6JPBGKBJ.html

Miracle upon miracles, I found it online - a German shop (with B&M stores, and a 100% positive rating on eBay) had it in my size (S) and at a great price. I pulled the trigger and counted the days until it arrived.

It came - and they sent the wrong size (M). They've since removed my size from the item listing and are not sure yet if they have a size S in inventory. Of course, I'm totally bummed.

At any rate, I'm writing because I'm not sure if I should concerned about the order of events through the refund process.

When I let the seller know the sweater was the wrong size, he was very gracious, offering a 30% discount if the Medium worked for me, a full refund, or the item in the correct size (if available). I really do want the sweater in the correct size, so I agreed to ship them back the incorrect size, a cost for which I'd be reimbursed.

It occurs to me that, at the moment, I'm out the price of the item + shipping, as well as the return shipping cost. Further, I no longer have the item.

Should I be worried at the process taken here, or is the fact that the seller is 100% positive rated and very kind so far be reassuring enough that this won't go south? I just feel like I have no leverage at the moment, if that makes sense.

This is the way the process works. When the seller receives it, they will refund your money, and it will take a while since they are over seas. If they don't refund you, eBay will reimburse you. I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you followed the process.

My Main Man · Mar 25, 2014

frostiblack said:
Disappointed today. I've had my eye on a gorgeous Diesel Black Gold sweater in all my local boutiques but it was unfortunately a) not in my size and b) out of my price range.

The item: http://shop.diesel.com/ki-arturo/00S6JPBGKBJ.html

Miracle upon miracles, I found it online - a German shop (with B&M stores, and a 100% positive rating on eBay) had it in my size (S) and at a great price. I pulled the trigger and counted the days until it arrived.

It came - and they sent the wrong size (M). They've since removed my size from the item listing and are not sure yet if they have a size S in inventory. Of course, I'm totally bummed.

At any rate, I'm writing because I'm not sure if I should concerned about the order of events through the refund process.

When I let the seller know the sweater was the wrong size, he was very gracious, offering a 30% discount if the Medium worked for me, a full refund, or the item in the correct size (if available). I really do want the sweater in the correct size, so I agreed to ship them back the incorrect size, a cost for which I'd be reimbursed.

It occurs to me that, at the moment, I'm out the price of the item + shipping, as well as the return shipping cost. Further, I no longer have the item.

Should I be worried at the process taken here, or is the fact that the seller is 100% positive rated and very kind so far be reassuring enough that this won't go south? I just feel like I have no leverage at the moment, if that makes sense.

Do you still have the tracking number for the return package? If you have tracking number and your ebay messages, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

frostiblack · Mar 25, 2014

My Main Man said:
Do you still have the tracking number for the return package? If you have tracking number and your ebay messages, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

jgill79 said:
This is the way the process works. When the seller receives it, they will refund your money, and it will take a while since they are over seas. If they don't refund you, eBay will reimburse you. I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you followed the process.

Thanks. I'm probably over-thinking it. I did send it back with tracking (not signature confirmation though). I appreciate the clarification and confirmation!

concealed · Mar 25, 2014

They should refund your return shipping since *********** up, in my opinion

joshmick · Mar 25, 2014

Could any of you fine gents help me with this label? It's for a high end men's store in denver called Andrisen Morton, Made in Canada. Here are the tags:

concealed · Mar 25, 2014

It looks like Jack Victor - I would file **** like this under nice to pick up for self, bad for selling on eBay

Fueco · Mar 25, 2014

concealed said:
^ the successful wife that affords you the opportunity to run an ebay biz sounds like a pretty good gig if you can find it...

It helps, but is by no means the most important part of the equation. The motivation and knowhow are more important.

If I'd known what I know now and had this motivation in 2002, I'd be at least where Spoo is today. Now, back to building my empire.

joshmick · Mar 25, 2014

concealed said:
It looks like Jack Victor - I would file **** like this under nice to pick up for self, bad for selling on eBay

Yea, it was worth a shot. Only 6 bucks and the store it's from carries stuff like EZ, Isaia, Brioni, etc...

concealed · Mar 25, 2014

joshmick said:
Yea, it was worth a shot. Only 6 bucks and the store it's from carries stuff like EZ, Isaia, Brioni, etc...

Missed that its Cashmere on first go around, I am sure someone on here would trade you something for it.

frostiblack · Mar 25, 2014

concealed said:
They should refund your return shipping since *********** up, in my opinion

Agreed. They indicated they would reimburse me for return shipping - my concern now is more about whether I'll get a full refund for the original item (price + shipping) if the size they were supposed to send me is unavailable.

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

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