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

Stewie said:

Hey...so I sell alot of vintage stuff that gets alot of international views/bidders. I know Sunday is supposed to be best day to end auctions, but what about times? Has anyone been able to determine what time frame for ending seems to get best results from Asia and Europe markets?

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Between 6pm to 8pm PST. But watch out for Football season.

Stewie said:

Hey...so I sell alot of vintage stuff that gets alot of international views/bidders. I know Sunday is supposed to be best day to end auctions, but what about times? Has anyone been able to determine what time frame for ending seems to get best results from Asia and Europe markets?

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barrelntrigger said:

Between 6pm to 8pm PST. But watch out for Football season.

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I start / end mine at 7pm PST...but the OP was asking about Asian & European markets...which are a 1/2 day apart from each other so I guess it depends on if they are aiming more Asian or more European. I would assume same time, in their local time?



Stewie said:

Hey...so I sell alot of vintage stuff that gets alot of international views/bidders. I know Sunday is supposed to be best day to end auctions, but what about times? Has anyone been able to determine what time frame for ending seems to get best results from Asia and Europe markets?

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I wouldn't worry about timing you auctions for international sales. With all of the sniping tools available they should have no problem bidding. About 20% of my sales are international but an even greater percentage is sold to buyers on the west coast so I time my listings for their convenience.



capnwes said:

I wouldn't worry about timing you auctions for international sales. With all of the sniping tools available they should have no problem bidding. About 20% of my sales are international but an even percentage is sold to buyers on the west coast so I time my listings for their convenience.

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This. Though, I haven't had my auctions end outside of a 20m timespan in over 10 years, so it could benefit some of you to offer consistency as well.

Someone just did a BIN on an item I shipped across country to myself yesterday via UPS ground I assumed no one would buy it, and if they did, their best offer would grant me an extra two days to accept plus their time to pay and I would be fine.

Time to go write a grovelling apology note for why I won't meet my handling time...

I have Sold numerous time pieces on Timezone without incident.
Just curious, have any SFer's Sold $5K and up watches on EBay and by what method of Insured Shipping?



earthdragon said:

I have Sold numerous time pieces on Timezone without incident.
Just curious, have any SFer's Sold $5K and up watches on EBay and by what method of Insured Shipping?

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Yup, $5k and up, Fedex 90% of the time. Otherwise USPS Express mail, insured to the hilt.



SpooPoker said:

Yup, $5k and up, Fedex 90% of the time. Otherwise USPS Express mail, insured to the hilt.

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I read horror stories with Fedex and will USPS go over $5K?



earthdragon said:

I read horror stories with Fedex and will USPS go over $5K?

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Yes, you can insure domestically for 5k *I think* but I always use Fedex and thats never been a problem and I feel safe.

So, I've found that staring 10-day listing thursday night is the best way to go, two weekends of exposure plus a sunday night end time (thanks Spoo).

My problem is that I tend to do social stuff thursday, and thus have things I've been meaning to list for months waiting around.

Is there a good way (like an app or program) that lets you create an auction to be officially started at a set time? I don;t mind paying the 10 cents o ebay, just wondering if there was a quicker easy way out there I'm missing.

I heard there was some sort of listing program eBay offers, but it's only for PCs.

I've had issues with FedEx...I tried to send a painting I sold for $2500 and the asswipe behind the counter said they would insure it for "replacement value of the materials" - telling me the canvas, frame, paint etc had to be valued at $2.5k and asked if I could prove that it was. I said "no" - it's a painting that is more valuable than its mere composition materials, and he refused to ship it for me. Went to another FedEx, they shipped and insured it no hassles, no questions, no problems.
That issue aside, I would still use FedEx for anything valuable; UPS as a 2nd choice.

What's the deal with UPS's "insurance" coverage? As I read it, they will only be liable for up to $100 even if you have a higher declared value. Also, it says they only provide declared value coverage rather than true insurance coverage. Thankfully haven't had to file a claim on it yet with any carrier.

At what point do you consider a buyer as a non-payer?

I've got 2 items that ended on 8/1 - - almost 3 weeks ago - - and unpaid (my listings ask for payment within 7 days). I have sent 2 invoices on both.

My guess is they won't pay - no huge deal as they were not big ticket items. I just want to cancel them, get a refund for fees - and most importantly not allow them to leave any sort of feedback for me. How do I go about this? I'd prefer to also have them get an unpaid item strike, but as sellers we have to be nice even to the people who buy and never pay it seems...and I'm more concerned with keeping my seller 100% (but will add them to the communal black-list).

Admittedly I don't have a lot of experience with it, but from the reading I've done on the subject, my choice would be USPS Registered Mail. It's slower, but they are transferred in lockboxes and have to be signed for by the handling personnel at every step. I've heard some horror stories about FedEx and what they consider valid valuations. No first-hand experience though. Still, I've seen USPS Registered as being considered just one step lower than a private security courier like Brinks. The US government allows classified documents up to and including the "Secret" level (information that would cause "serious damage" to national security) to be mailed via Registered mail. You can insure up to a $25,000 value. Some shippers exempt jewelry from insurance (or at least place low limits), so I've seen watch sellers ship via Registered Mail for that reason alone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_mail



ruben said:

So, I've found that staring 10-day listing thursday night is the best way to go, two weekends of exposure plus a sunday night end time (thanks Spoo).
My problem is that I tend to do social stuff thursday, and thus have things I've been meaning to list for months waiting around.
Is there a good way (like an app or program) that lets you create an auction to be officially started at a set time? I don;t mind paying the 10 cents o ebay, just wondering if there was a quicker easy way out there I'm missing.
I heard there was some sort of listing program eBay offers, but it's only for PCs.

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I use GarageSale for Mac. Best program ever, IMO. Check it out.

ATLnoob said:

At what point do you consider a buyer as a non-payer?

I've got 2 items that ended on 8/1 - - almost 3 weeks ago - - and unpaid (my listings ask for payment within 7 days).  I have sent 2 invoices on both. 

My guess is they won't pay - no huge deal as they were not big ticket items.  I just want to cancel them, get a refund for fees - and most importantly not allow them to leave any sort of feedback for me.  How do I go about this?  I'd prefer to also have them get an unpaid item strike, but as sellers we have to be nice even to the people who buy and never pay it seems...and I'm more concerned with keeping my seller 100% (but will add them to the communal black-list). 

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You can't file a non paying bidder case until the 4th day or so. Once thats opened, they have 3 days to respond/pay. If neither happens in the 3 days since you open it, you can close it, get your fees back, and they are unable to leave you feedback. If they respond though, they can leave feedback.