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

Brianpore · Aug 3, 2012

VLSI said:
Small tip I've been following -- I always try to answer a buyer's question by revising my auction with the additional information (assuming there are no bids yet). Since most that ask question are just tire kickers anyways, this allows me to provide missing information to the real eventual buyer and make answering the question not a waste of my time.

And a quick question, when listing sizes in titles do you find "40 R" or 40R to be more effective? I assume no one searchs "R" by itself, but if you put 40R you won't grab people that just type 40.

I answer all questions AND update the listing. I've spoken to people at length about items and then they end up buying 3 or 4 suits or shirts. Yes, a lot of tire kickers, but I think it evens out.

I also always use 40R.... never thought to split them apart. I do add in the EU size if it is tagged EU and then also the US size conversion.

REQUEST: If anyone finds Banana Republic or J Crew size small (obviously) full zip hoodies in solid colors except white, can you proxy for me

Always on the lookout for nice full zip hoodies.

FaceOfBoh · Aug 3, 2012

I'm relatively new to ebay and even newer to customer issues. Looking for some advice from you old hands (you got me all paranoid about my good name being besmirched by scammers, haters and gypsies!) I only have 22 feedbacks ever so don't want to see negative feedback.

I've read through the thread and I'm going to give ebay a call. But any insight you guys can offer would be most welcome.

Question: Should I just get seller to send shirt back on his dime and refund him the purchase price?

Background:
I sold a Lilac Burberry London shirt. Minor discolouration at pit but was up front about it and included pics.
My listing clearly states: The seller will not accept returns for this item.

Shirt was classified as:
Color: Purples
Shade: Lilac Mauve Lavender
Pattern: Solid

Photos were (admittedly) a bit washed out.

Seller writes to me today:
Greetings, I received the Burberry shirt a few days ago and was looking foward to it . From your photos I could have sworn this was a blue color dress shirt. In hand it's clearly a purple color. I can't wear a purple shirt to work . I'd like to know what you'd like to do about this as I cannot use this shirt. Thanks.

grendel · Aug 3, 2012

HansderHund said:
^ It's really great to learn things from people that do this far more successfully than I. Even outside of sales, doing the simple things like blocking messages is great to know, even if you don't need it at this exact moment.
I wrestle with titles sometimes. Does anyone that sells internationally add words to the title or description in any other language? I add things like "made in Italy" in English, but I have no idea if they help. It seems like PRL sells the same no matter whether it's made in Italy or Macau. I also find it difficult because there are some German terms that have been made from English. There might be a better German word/expression for it, but over time the Englsih eBay lingo has been directly translated into German.

If it's made in Italy then add "Corneliani" to it to find the more knowledgeable high-end shoppers

grendel · Aug 3, 2012

FaceOfBoh said:
I'm relatively new to ebay and even newer to customer issues. Looking for some advice from you old hands (you got me all paranoid about my good name being besmirched by scammers, haters and gypsies!) I only have 22 feedbacks ever so don't want to see negative feedback.
I've read through the thread and I'm going to give ebay a call. But any insight you guys can offer would be most welcome.
Question: Should I just get seller to send shirt back on his dime and refund him the purchase price?
Background:
I sold a Lilac Burberry London shirt. Minor discolouration at pit but was up front about it and included pics.
My listing clearly states: The seller will not accept returns for this item.
Shirt was classified as:
Color: Purples
Shade: Lilac Mauve Lavender
Pattern: Solid
Photos were (admittedly) a bit washed out.
Seller writes to me today:
Greetings, I received the Burberry shirt a few days ago and was looking foward to it . From your photos I could have sworn this was a blue color dress shirt. In hand it's clearly a purple color. I can't wear a purple shirt to work . I'd like to know what you'd like to do about this as I cannot use this shirt. Thanks.

Offer to accept a return but since the shirt was listed as purple / lilac shipping costs there and back are on him and you charge a 10% or $10 restocking fee.

grendel · Aug 3, 2012

Brianpore said:
I'm no Spoo, but in about 1000 transactions I've done maybe 20 auctions and only once did the item go for more then I thought I could get with a BIN OBO. I believe in finding the right buyer to maximize your profit. Ebay does not always generate fair market value, especially for new ebayers such as yourself Jpmorris. You (and I) dont have the amount of views needed to max out the $$$ on ebay that if patient will eventually be realized with a BIN OBO. Just my 2 cents, and different business models, BUT try them both out, see which one works best for you depending on what kind of stuff you are selling.

SIDE NOTE: This is a GREAT!!!! thread and I hope more people take advantage of the wealth of knowledge that the contributors of this forum bring to the table.

I do a mix of each. Sometimes I have very desirable items I know will get a lot of hits and I put them at a lower price to cover my costs and let them run. Usually, though, I know they won't get as much traffic as Spoo pulls, so I put them near what I think they should go for and put a BIN a bit above that for stuff like HF suits, etc. For shirts and ties I've found BIN to be the easiest, but I'm not putting up lots of Brioni and Tom Ford stuff like Spoo that will get people bidding over retail price.

FaceOfBoh · Aug 3, 2012

Thanks! I was heading in the that direction but I like the language/details you have here.

grendel said:
Offer to accept a return but since the shirt was listed as purple / lilac shipping costs there and back are on him and you charge a 10% or $10 restocking fee.

concealed · Aug 3, 2012

grendel said:
I do a mix of each. Sometimes I have very desirable items I know will get a lot of hits and I put them at a lower price to cover my costs and let them run. Usually, though, I know they won't get as much traffic as Spoo pulls, so I put them near what I think they should go for and put a BIN a bit above that for stuff like HF suits, etc. For shirts and ties I've found BIN to be the easiest, but I'm not putting up lots of Brioni and Tom Ford stuff like Spoo that will get people bidding over retail price.

I agree with this. I get 50 free listings each month, so my strategy is to put a starting price of what I am willing to take, since many of the less popular items are only going to get one bid, and anything else is gravy. For thrift store stuff this usually means 17-20$ starting bid, so I make a net profit of 5$. Also, I always throw a buy it now option on there (with the free listings) with a price that I would be very pleased to get.

I have had several situations in which bidders bid up from the starting price and the final price is higher than the original buy it now, that always makes me giggle.

For higher ticket items like shoes, in not the most common (9-12d) sizes, where you really need to find a specific buyer, I think BINOBO is far superior.

mainy · Aug 3, 2012

BIN OBO vs Auction is a really fascinating discussion

On one hand, BINOBO items have a higher final value fee, so you have to take that into account. I've dabbled with both, and have found that BINOBO can definitely net you higher prices, BUT you have to be patient. This can be really problematic because most of us don't have 2000 sq ft to fill with inventory. I think it's best for unique, high quality items, maybe in more difficult to find sizes that are not going to attract a frenzy of interest. For example, a pair of shoes in 12 A vs a pair of shoes in 9 D, or a hand made vintage suit that lacks a keyword worthy search name.

One other thing I've noticed, is the more items you have listed, the higher sale prices you will get. I've quit listing 30 items a week and now am shooting for 120-150 items every other week. This is a really easy way to get more eyeballs on your stuff, more items = more viewers = a guy might find an item he likes then click on your other items and find other item, etc. I have lots of people win more than one thing, which is awesome because it makes less work on shipping, it's just a win win.

Another thing to take into account is interest items. Like, finding things to sell that you might not make a lot of money on, but are very popular on Ebay / will attract interest because of their uniqueness.

concealed · Aug 3, 2012

mainy said:
BIN OBO vs Auction is a really fascinating discussion
On one hand, BINOBO items have a higher final value fee, so you have to take that into account. I've dabbled with both, and have found that BINOBO can definitely net you higher prices, BUT you have to be patient. This can be really problematic because most of us don't have 2000 sq ft to fill with inventory. I think it's best for unique, high quality items, maybe in more difficult to find sizes that are not going to attract a frenzy of interest. For example, a pair of shoes in 12 A vs a pair of shoes in 9 D, or a hand made vintage suit that lacks a keyword worthy search name.
One other thing I've noticed, is the more items you have listed, the higher sale prices you will get. I've quit listing 30 items a week and now am shooting for 120-150 items every other week. This is a really easy way to get more eyeballs on your stuff, more items = more viewers = a guy might find an item he likes then click on your other items and find other item, etc. I have lots of people win more than one thing, which is awesome because it makes less work on shipping, it's just a win win.
Another thing to take into account is interest items. Like, finding things to sell that you might not make a lot of money on, but are very popular on Ebay / will attract interest because of their uniqueness.

says the guy with 40 items listed on eBay

answer my pms by the way homey

VLSI · Aug 3, 2012

That last reason is exactly why I waited until I had all my ties pictured to list them. I figured I'd have a better shot selling them if they all went up at the same time to increase exposure.

mainy · Aug 3, 2012

concealed said:
says the guy with 40 items listed on eBay

answer my pms by the way homey

Haha, that's just BINOBO stuff that never expires. I haven't read my PM's yet today, I think my inbox currently says 12 unread :foo: Responses forthcoming

Evil Abed · Aug 3, 2012

Here's an interesting non-clothing ebay question...

Bought a polaroid camera I've been looking for for a long time. Seller stated that it works great, and even included the rest of the film in the camera, along with a little ****** tripod that I'll be donating. I even messaged him first to make sure it worked well. (also the bottom of the camera has a sticker stating that it had been reconditioned to new operating standards/carried full warranty back when it was repaired). Link to auction

So I got it yesterday, fired it up, and the shutter fired/flash popped, but the picture didn't spit out at all. I try this a couple times. Open the door to the film area, and it looks sort of jammed. So I put the film back in its place and kept trying. Eventually I figured it was a battery issue. For those that don't know, the battery pack is in the film cartridge. So I had an empty film cart, went in a dark room and by hand swapped each unexposed shot into the other cartridge. I installed it and shot some pics... It works better (the pictures spit out the front) but it's still really sluggish and not dependable very dependable at all. Takes probably 3x as long as usual for the picture to spit out.

Now, I have stockpiled polaroid film, so I could install a fresh pack that should have 0 issues and a great battery, but the film is scarce and expensive these days (the real stuff, not impossible project). Do I use another pack to verify that the previous issues were just anomalies, at the expense of using up some of my resources? Or do you think I should punt and ask for a return (seller states no returns, but it's backed by ebay etc).

VLSI · Aug 3, 2012

Is there any way to verify the battery condition in the second cartridge? Can you hook it up to a voltmeter or something?

HansderHund · Aug 3, 2012

Evil Abed said:
Here's an interesting non-clothing ebay question...

Bought a polaroid camera I've been looking for for a long time. Seller stated that it works great, and even included the rest of the film in the camera, along with a little ****** tripod that I'll be donating. I even messaged him first to make sure it worked well. (also the bottom of the camera has a sticker stating that it had been reconditioned to new operating standards/carried full warranty back when it was repaired). Link to auction

So I got it yesterday, fired it up, and the shutter fired/flash popped, but the picture didn't spit out at all. I try this a couple times. Open the door to the film area, and it looks sort of jammed. So I put the film back in its place and kept trying. Eventually I figured it was a battery issue. For those that don't know, the battery pack is in the film cartridge. So I had an empty film cart, went in a dark room and by hand swapped each unexposed shot into the other cartridge. I installed it and shot some pics... It works better (the pictures spit out the front) but it's still really sluggish and not dependable very dependable at all. Takes probably 3x as long as usual for the picture to spit out.

Now, I have stockpiled polaroid film, so I could install a fresh pack that should have 0 issues and a great battery, but the film is scarce and expensive these days (the real stuff, not impossible project). Do I use another pack to verify that the previous issues were just anomalies, at the expense of using up some of my resources? Or do you think I should punt and ask for a return (seller states no returns, but it's backed by ebay etc).

I don't know a lot about polaroids and the cost/scarcity of the cameras and film. However, I'd weigh it out. How long would it take you to go through a pack of film? Would you be able to do it within the time frame of a return (with buyer protection)? If the answer to that is yes, I'd say go for it. It's working, like you say, just slower. If it doesn't improve, you can return it and you get to use the film.

Are they plentiful enough that it wouldn't be hard or inconvenient to find another camera? If that is a yes, then I'd return the camera without risking the loss of more film.

goneAWOL · Aug 3, 2012

Spoo's recent renovation on his listing template inspired me to work on mine. I would appreciate any feedback. The only difference between the three is the "logo" picture at the top. Which one is best?

EDIT: It looks like its a little cut-off here and the font sizing is out of wack. It won't be like that in ebay

\The Finest Quality & Style in Menswear

Sartoria Partenopea Navy Double Breasted Sport Coat
Size 40R, Condition: 8.5+/10, Excellent

DESCRIPTION

DETAILS

You're viewing an excellent condition sport coat made by Sartoria Partenopea
for Cuzzens of Las Vegas. There is no label on the inside of the jacket other than
the store label for Cuzzens, but based on the fabric tag I can guarantee this was made
by Sartoria Partenopea.

Please send me a message with questions or additional measurements.

Condition Rating Guide
Mint

Little to no signs of wear, and comparable to a new item

Excellent

Slight signs of wear, possibly including small, generally unnoticeable knicks and stains or slight fabric fading

Great

Noticeable signs of wear and/or damage, but still plenty or wear left and/or can be repaired. See descriptio
Please note: My qualifications for mint and excellent condition clothing are very stringent.
If you purchase a garment and believe it to be of lesser condition than described, please
contact me. I will do my best to ensure you are very satisfied with your purchase.

100% wool, super 120s worsted
See pictures for color/pattern
Double breasted closure
Side back vents
Four button sleeves (non-functional buttons)
Flap pockets
Fully canvassed
Made in Italy

SIZE AND MEASUREMENTS

Jacket Size: 40R
Chest

22.00"

Waist

20.75"

Sleeve length from top shoulder seam

24.50" (0.75" can be let out)

Length from bottom of back of collar

31.25"

Width from shoulder to shoulder

19.25"

SHIPPING POLICY

Combined Shipping:

If you purchase two or more of my items, I will often package them together and provide a shipping discount. Send me a message for a specific shipping quote.

International buyers - Please Note:

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

\The Finest Quality & Style in Menswear

Sartoria Partenopea Navy Double Breasted Sport Coat
Size 40R, Condition: 8.5+/10, Excellent

DESCRIPTION

DETAILS

You're viewing an excellent condition sport coat made by Sartoria Partenopea
for Cuzzens of Las Vegas. There is no label on the inside of the jacket other than
the store label for Cuzzens, but based on the fabric tag I can guarantee this was made
by Sartoria Partenopea.

Please send me a message with questions or additional measurements.

Condition Rating Guide
Mint

Little to no signs of wear, and comparable to a new item

Excellent

Slight signs of wear, possibly including small, generally unnoticeable knicks and stains or slight fabric fading

Great

Noticeable signs of wear and/or damage, but still plenty or wear left and/or can be repaired. See descriptio
Please note: My qualifications for mint and excellent condition clothing are very stringent.
If you purchase a garment and believe it to be of lesser condition than described, please
contact me. I will do my best to ensure you are very satisfied with your purchase.

100% wool, super 120s worsted
See pictures for color/pattern
Double breasted closure
Side back vents
Four button sleeves (non-functional buttons)
Flap pockets
Fully canvassed
Made in Italy

SIZE AND MEASUREMENTS

Jacket Size: 40R
Chest

22.00"

Waist

20.75"

Sleeve length from top shoulder seam

24.50" (0.75" can be let out)

Length from bottom of back of collar

31.25"

Width from shoulder to shoulder

19.25"

SHIPPING POLICY

Combined Shipping:

If you purchase two or more of my items, I will often package them together and provide a shipping discount. Send me a message for a specific shipping quote.

International buyers - Please Note:

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

\The Finest Quality & Style in Menswear

Sartoria Partenopea Navy Double Breasted Sport Coat
Size 40R, Condition: 8.5+/10, Excellent

DESCRIPTION

DETAILS

You're viewing an excellent condition sport coat made by Sartoria Partenopea
for Cuzzens of Las Vegas. There is no label on the inside of the jacket other than
the store label for Cuzzens, but based on the fabric tag I can guarantee this was made
by Sartoria Partenopea.

Please send me a message with questions or additional measurements.

Condition Rating Guide
Mint

Little to no signs of wear, and comparable to a new item

Excellent

Slight signs of wear, possibly including small, generally unnoticeable knicks and stains or slight fabric fading

Great

Noticeable signs of wear and/or damage, but still plenty or wear left and/or can be repaired. See descriptio
Please note: My qualifications for mint and excellent condition clothing are very stringent.
If you purchase a garment and believe it to be of lesser condition than described, please
contact me. I will do my best to ensure you are very satisfied with your purchase.

100% wool, super 120s worsted
See pictures for color/pattern
Double breasted closure
Side back vents
Four button sleeves (non-functional buttons)
Flap pockets
Fully canvassed
Made in Italy

SIZE AND MEASUREMENTS

Jacket Size: 40R
Chest

22.00"

Waist

20.75"

Sleeve length from top shoulder seam

24.50" (0.75" can be let out)

Length from bottom of back of collar

31.25"

Width from shoulder to shoulder

19.25"

SHIPPING POLICY

Combined Shipping:

If you purchase two or more of my items, I will often package them together and provide a shipping discount. Send me a message for a specific shipping quote.

International buyers - Please Note:

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

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

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