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

[William Kazak]

How have you received your blazers and suit jackets when purchased on eBay? One seller said they are folded and sent in a plastic bag. I don't like that idea especially because linen wrinkles so easily. I mentioned that he could place them in a box and fold it like you see travelers using a suitcase. Seller said everyone is using plastic bags and that I could iron or steam them. What do you think?

 

[Henry S]

How have you received your blazers and suit jackets when purchased on eBay? One seller said they are folded and sent in a plastic bag. I don't like that idea especially because linen wrinkles so easily. I mentioned that he could place them in a box and fold it like you see travelers using a suitcase. Seller said everyone is using plastic bags and that I could iron or steam them. What do you think?

Drop93 does the same so I think using a plastic bag is fair but not ideal.

 

[ppk]

How have you received your blazers and suit jackets when purchased on eBay? One seller said they are folded and sent in a plastic bag. I don't like that idea especially because linen wrinkles so easily. I mentioned that he could place them in a box and fold it like you see travelers using a suitcase. Seller said everyone is using plastic bags and that I could iron or steam them. What do you think?

All of the coats and jackets I have purchased have come in a plastic bag and then packed in a box or another bag. They are very wrinkled when they arrive. I usually hang them up for a few days and then steam them. I personally don't like it, but it seems to be the standard.

 

[div25sec9]

How have you received your blazers and suit jackets when purchased on eBay? One seller said they are folded and sent in a plastic bag. I don't like that idea especially because linen wrinkles so easily. I mentioned that he could place them in a box and fold it like you see travelers using a suitcase. Seller said everyone is using plastic bags and that I could iron or steam them. What do you think?

There is no perfect packing solution; people ship in plastic bags to protect the garment from weather and spills. If a box gets left on the porch, and it rains, then the garment might be ruined. I used to ship in plastic, but cut it back as it was an expense (and environmental waste) for a small chance of protection.

 

[acconrad]

some good tips on what to look for in vintage cufflinks on ebay? my filters are:

* used (not new)
* by precious metal
* visually inspecting the ones that aren't t-bars
* anything else?

 

[eddyroxx]

Bags like the ones you get at the dry cleaners help keep the garment wrinkle free. Don’t remember the explanation, but had something to do with static and friction (shark tank episode).
That’s how I ship blazers/suits, and how I prefer to receive them.

 

[acconrad]

Uggggggh I'm subject of a buyer scam. Purchased a pair of my pants, then immediately issued a chargeback for "item not as described" even though I provided numerous pictures, all dimensions for all areas, and have a stellar seller/buyer rating. And PayPal is favoring the buyer right now and taking my money back. What do I do? Am I screwed? What kind of evidence do I need to provide here? It seems so obvious that this buyer is a scammer because they have a dubious email address, no buyer rating on the platform, ... but it seems like Paypal unwaveringly favors buyers even with ample evidence.

 

[goatamous II]

Uggggggh I'm subject of a buyer scam. Purchased a pair of my pants, then immediately issued a chargeback for "item not as described" even though I provided numerous pictures, all dimensions for all areas, and have a stellar seller/buyer rating. And PayPal is favoring the buyer right now and taking my money back. What do I do? Am I screwed? What kind of evidence do I need to provide here? It seems so obvious that this buyer is a scammer because they have a dubious email address, no buyer rating on the platform, ... but it seems like Paypal unwaveringly favors buyers even with ample evidence.

YMMV but I've found that PayPal in the past will work with you if you've built up a good track record and have all the evidence (which it sounds like you do)

Call them to start and then I'm sure you'll have to upload all evidence you have
It may take some time, but hopefully you get a reasonable person who overturns the decision
Good luck

 

[txwoodworker]

Good resources for item names? Things always sell better when you can id exactly what it is.
Here's a few I know of and refer to often:

lulufanatics.com is great, and easy to search. On the subject of Lulu, is there a way to id something that still has a tag but no dot code? I don't see anything equating to the dot code on the neck tag.

Taylor stitch has an incomplete archive, but it's better than nothing.

Men's Archive

Archived Taylor Stitch products, for reference and viewing pleasure.

www.taylorstitch.com

For the absolute beginner: Patagucci has style codes on all their tags that is easily searchable, same goes for J.Crew all their associated sub-brands. If you don't want to take the time to research each piece, at least include a pic of that tag in your listing, let the hive mind of ppl looking at your stuff do their own research. It might help sell an otherwise ordinary piece.
A lot of other brands include style codes that aren't easily searchable, anyone have any advice/inside knowledge on say PRL? For several years, their stuff has included a white 1" x 1/2" label with style/production codes.

Anything else that would help out?

 

[Fueco]

Blocklist time. This was unprovoked and in reference to an obviously honest mistake.

 

[triathlete]

a bit of a different question, but it belongs here as well as anywhere else: how would you describe being a full-time ebay seller on a resume? I was laid off from a corporate job a year ago and have been actively looking for wrk, but also spending a fair amount of time selling to keep some money coming in. The year gap on the resume is a bigger and bigger liability the more time passes, but I don't quite know how to spin 'thrifting' as a viable experience.

 

[triathlete]

Blocklist time. This was unprovoked and in reference to an obviously honest mistake.

View attachment 2100163

if you want to go full scorched earth, make a buyer abuse complaint, and have everyone in the world do the same (afaik, these aren't tied to just the seller - but I stand to be corrected)

 

[double00]

a bit of a different question, but it belongs here as well as anywhere else: how would you describe being a full-time ebay seller on a resume? I was laid off from a corporate job a year ago and have been actively looking for wrk, but also spending a fair amount of time selling to keep some money coming in. The year gap on the resume is a bigger and bigger liability the more time passes, but I don't quite know how to spin 'thrifting' as a viable experience.

for me reselling is one component of a larger business practice .

for instance maybe you have sold on behalf of other people . now you're a consignor and there are a bunch of skills that may be more viable for your resume than straight up picking n flipping .

idk what you would consider to be preferable as a resume experience but there are plenty of legitimate frames and ideas that you could build off of resale . just think about it like a business plan and then use that plan on your resume . it might even make enough sense to pursue while you are in between jorbs .

 

[Fueco]

a bit of a different question, but it belongs here as well as anywhere else: how would you describe being a full-time ebay seller on a resume? I was laid off from a corporate job a year ago and have been actively looking for wrk, but also spending a fair amount of time selling to keep some money coming in. The year gap on the resume is a bigger and bigger liability the more time passes, but I don't quite know how to spin 'thrifting' as a viable experience.

Business owner
Marketing
Photography
Customer Service
Shipping & Receiving
Etc…

 

[goatamous II]

a bit of a different question, but it belongs here as well as anywhere else: how would you describe being a full-time ebay seller on a resume? I was laid off from a corporate job a year ago and have been actively looking for wrk, but also spending a fair amount of time selling to keep some money coming in. The year gap on the resume is a bigger and bigger liability the more time passes, but I don't quite know how to spin 'thrifting' as a viable experience.

Bit biased because I fully understand being a flipper as well. Having been an interviewer countless times, I'd say just be honest, but spin it in a corporate manner:

Got laid off, took a mental break before going full into job search again. In the meantime, you found this hobby that you thought might be more, so you focused on that for a bit
This is where you would ham it up and talk about how you ran a small business and had to manage inventory, your COGS, etc (the items Fueco named)
In the end your skills and background aren't being fully utilized and you want to get back into steady work where you can grow and continue to develop your skills

workshop an answer like that and I think you can get through with a reasonable person interviewing.