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

FaceOfBoh · Aug 30, 2012

ATLnoob said:
I haven't had this experience, but if it were me I'd contact him and give him a cut-off date of when you need to receive it...say, 10 days from today. Should be plenty of time and seems reasonable to me from a buyer's standpoint...never mind that he should have returned it many moons ago. Tell him you'll pay the 75 cents for delivery confirmation when he sends it back, so you both have proof of mailing date / received date (or lack thereof). That's probably how I'd handle it.

Thanks for this. I guess I'm just concerned that he'll say "What do you mean you haven't received it, I put it in the mail 3 weeks ago."

I guess it all starts with me making contact. I'll keep y'all posted.

SpooPoker · Aug 30, 2012

ATLnoob said:
Anyone here using sniping tools for buying? I sit here and refresh like an old-school tool, and make my best and final bid in the last 5 seconds...but thinking I could use an online service and not have to set reminders etc to go bid on something.

I do the same. Trust no one.

gyasih said:
I was too scared to start a .99 cents.

Try listing a Rolex at 9.99. Then you really get the butterflies.

ATLnoob said:
I was nervous as well...and I wouldn't try it with something like a Robert Graham shirt which conceivably could get no bids / only the min bid since people are fickle about those...but I picked 5 things that all have some appeal, that I thrifted for between $1 and $5 each, and figure I'll see how it goes. If I weenie out I can always cancel before they auto-start, but I'm gonna let them go the full 10 days no matter what. I've never done a one cent start; I have done 99 cents with a reserve, but this time it's high bidder wins no matter what.

Let it run, don't be a weenie. Its like the first time you have unprotected sex. You know theres safer ways, but it feels soooooo good to be soooo badddddd :slayer:

TheNeedMachine · Aug 30, 2012

SpooPoker said:
Let it run, don't be a weenie. Its like the first time you have unprotected sex. You know theres safer ways, but it feels soooooo good to be soooo badddddd

Listings started and I got my first one penny bid. Woo hoo! I'm not gonna weenie out. I also listed a few decent ties at regular auction with BIN so I figure they will cross-pollinate and bring some eyeballs in front of my stuff from both angles. The Brioni shirt might actually sell for a penny, being past season and all. Oh well - it's bait.

Edit to add PS: more like the most recent time you had unprotected sex. The first time, the worst that could happen is you knock the broad up. These days, I know the risks are greater...far, far greater.

GMMcL · Aug 30, 2012

ATLnoob said:
I was nervous as well...and I wouldn't try it with something like a Robert Graham shirt which conceivably could get no bids / only the min bid since people are fickle about those...but I picked 5 things that all have some appeal, that I thrifted for between $1 and $5 each, and figure I'll see how it goes. If I weenie out I can always cancel before they auto-start, but I'm gonna let them go the full 10 days no matter what. I've never done a one cent start; I have done 99 cents with a reserve, but this time it's high bidder wins no matter what.

BTW, I got a nice little call from Ebay today. Totally useless exercise taking me through their new "fall improvements." Until they just casually said, "Oh, and starting in February, if you cancel auctions where you have a bid, you'll still have to pay the final value fee." Dude totes tried to change the subject. I'm all: "Wait, so, I sell my shizz somewhere else, you still get paid? What's that bullshazz about? Don't you realize that just incents me to make you my sale location of last resort. That what you want, brah?" No good answer.

What's the justification here? Dumb. Asses.

TheNeedMachine · Aug 30, 2012

GMMcL said:
BTW, I got a nice little call from Ebay today. Totally useless exercise taking me through their new "fall improvements." Until they just casually said, "Oh, and starting in February, if you cancel auctions where you have a bid, you'll still have to pay the final value fee." Dude totes tried to change the subject. I'm all: "Wait, so, I sell my shizz somewhere else, you still get paid? What's that bullshazz about? Don't you realize that just incents me to make you my sale location of last resort. That what you want, brah?" No good answer.
What's the justification here? Dumb. Asses.

You must be a super-duper power seller or something. If eBay ever called me I'd be frickin' surprised.
But what you said - final value fee if you cancel and it has a bid...that sort of blows. Then again, I personally have never canceled an auction that has a bid (would just serve to piss off the bidder and any watchers)...eBay is becoming ever more creative in their ways to extract money from us, yes?

GMMcL · Aug 30, 2012

ATLnoob said:
You must be a super-duper power seller or something. If eBay ever called me I'd be frickin' surprised.
But what you said - final value fee if you cancel and it has a bid...that sort of blows. Then again, I personally have never canceled an auction that has a bid (would just serve to piss off the bidder and any watchers)...eBay is becoming ever more creative in their ways to extract money from us, yes?

Rare, but it happens. Sometimes I find some serious issue with the item, sometimes I sell it here on SF or somewhere else. Either way, it's BS that Ebay gets paid. Almost as BS as the fact that they take fees from my shipping charge, even when I buy the shipping via Ebay. How hard would it be to exclude the shipping charge when I pa via Ebay (or even PayPal, which they own)?

SpooPoker · Aug 30, 2012

GMMcL said:
BTW, I got a nice little call from Ebay today. Totally useless exercise taking me through their new "fall improvements." Until they just casually said, "Oh, and starting in February, if you cancel auctions where you have a bid, you'll still have to pay the final value fee." Dude totes tried to change the subject. I'm all: "Wait, so, I sell my shizz somewhere else, you still get paid? What's that bullshazz about? Don't you realize that just incents me to make you my sale location of last resort. That what you want, brah?" No good answer.
What's the justification here? Dumb. Asses.

Why wouldn't you just cancel all the bids, then end the auction?

TheNeedMachine · Aug 30, 2012

GMMcL said:
Rare, but it happens. Sometimes I find some serious issue with the item, sometimes I sell it here on SF or somewhere else. Either way, it's BS that Ebay gets paid. Almost as BS as the fact that they take fees from my shipping charge, even when I buy the shipping via Ebay. How hard would it be to exclude the shipping charge when I pa via Ebay (or even PayPal, which they own)?

I dig - I had bids on an item and someone asked for an extra measurement, and it was when making that measurement I noticed a flaw that made the item unsellable, so I had to cancel it. You reminded me of that, so yes I have done it...and if eBay charged me the final value fees I'd be pissed. But what Spoo said - cancel the bids, then the listing - could be a get-around on that rare occasion, which eBay will recognize and address. It's lose-lose for everyone - they wouldn't exist without sellers, but sellers wouldn't exist without buyers.
And I can relate re: eBay taking a cut of the shipping charges, which is by far (in my opinion) the most ****** thing they do...especially if you charge - for example - $11.00 to ship something Priority Flat Rate Medium Box...they know it costs $11.35 and you're losing money on shipping, yet they decide to take a few crumbs for themselves anyway. Well, if we become big-timers and sell stuff for hundreds or thousands, like Mister Spoo, there won't be any complaints from me.

Mox C · Aug 31, 2012

Have you guys notice any change with the new "Best Match" algorithm? It sounds like popular brands are getting a boost in search rankings over no-names. Unfortunately, with the market share that eBay has, they can get away with all sorts of crap and still be number one.

grendel · Aug 31, 2012

Got a question if I would ship these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140837641726?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

to South Africa. Anyone have any troubles with shipping there?

If I can get these in the medium flat rate priority box, is that tracked and covered by eBay?

yywwyy · Aug 31, 2012

So remind me again, which shipping service is best to use internationally, say, to South Korea? I mean for my protection with reliable tracking and everything.

VLSI · Aug 31, 2012

Conversation with potential buyer about ending an auction early on a pair of TR jeans that are currently bid at $20, but I'm expecting it to jump a fair bit hopefully as it has lots of watchers.

Him: Can I make a offer of $30? Thank you.
Me: Why couldn't you?
Him: because you have no "make offer" or "buy it now" on it. Can I buy them for $30 tho?
Me: I don't know how much the final bid will end be. It is possible that could buy them for $30.
Him: I mean as in now. I want these soon as possible lol.
Me: They will be shipped priority mail which has a typical transit time of only 2-3 days!
Him: Ok, I'm paying tomorrow

I don't know how he plans on paying before the auction ends though... I love playing dumb with dummies :paranoia:

Evil Abed · Aug 31, 2012

Haha that's great. He hasn't previously bought from you and knows your paypal address right? Keep clownin' the clowns!

VLSI · Aug 31, 2012

Yea no clue who the guy is and haven't dealt with him before, not sure how/if I should continue this. Perhaps shoot him a message tomorrow "Hey dude, haven't gotten your payment yet. Just wanted to make sure everything is alright"

Brianpore · Aug 31, 2012

GMMcL said:
Quote: This was in the email update a few weeks ago. It is so that you dont do a deal outside ebay with a bidder, cancel bids/auction and ebay gets screwed. IMO you are going to be seeing less auctions from people who like to do this and them switching to the BIN OBO format where this is not an issue. Or someone like spoo who lets the auctions run full all the time

SpooPoker said:

Quote: Speaking of Spoo, if you cancel all the bids and end the auction you still get hit with the fee. Once an item has a bid your going to be paying ebay fee for the maximum amount bid. I think this was a question in the FAQ of the new rules.

Click to expand...

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

Distinguished Member

Internet Bigtimer and Most Popular Man on Campus

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Internet Bigtimer and Most Popular Man on Campus

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

B&S (BS) ambassador-in-chief

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: