Thread: Advice for Selling Straights on Ebay?

Make sure you spell everything out as to returns and conditions (of sale) and shipping and payments you will accepts. Most (I think) don't or can't read too well anyway but if there are issues after the sale you can refer them back to the conditions of the sale they didn't bother to read. Emphasize it's a used item and the photos (no matter how good) will not show every little defect.

You don't want to get victimized by the gotcha game where someone gets the item and goes over it with a 10X loupe and tries to claim defects you didn't disclose.

Once you start selling you will eventually run across a walking horror story.

Read this to start:
The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Library

And here is the blade ruler to let the customer decide the blade size:
straight-razor-ruler-print
You may download it the also as a PDF
~Richard

Originally Posted by JP5

Never heard about ending auctions on Sunday afternoons. I wouldn't be surprised if it is true. I figured Fri-Sun evenings were good times to end them.

I guess you're right.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Once you start selling you will eventually run across a walking horror story.

Speaking of horror stories. I once sold a razor that was shipped to a PO Box in Texas near the Mexican border and after I shipped it I got a message from the buyer that he wanted an invoice from me stating a lower cost/value of the item because he was going to have it transported across the border with a separate courier since he was currently there on business even though he lived in the US. Anyway since I already mailed out the razor I didn't send an invoice though I wouldn't have anyway. After the razor was confirmed with tracking to be delivered I got a message stating that the razor was never received and a complaint was opened up before I could respond. I told him that the tracking confirmed delivery and that he should talk to the courier that was suppose to transport the razor. He must have forgot he told me about the courier because after that I stopped receiving messages from him. Since he sent all the messages through Ebay they were able to check them and see he stated a second courier and they contacted him. The complaint was closed right after they contacted him. Can't stress tracking enough. You will always find someone that will try and cheat you. Granted there are many honest people out there, but once in awhile there is the one dishonest person.

Originally Posted by Geezer

Read this to start:
The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Library

And here is the blade ruler to let the customer decide the blade size:
straight-razor-ruler-print
You may download it the also as a PDF
~Richard

Forgot about the ruler. I actually printed that out not too long ago so I may use it next time. You're right, it would be a good way to show potential buyers the blade measurements. Thanks for bringing that up.

Just have the camera exactly above the razor and ruler. No slant photos.
~Richard

Going back to shipping. Join "USPS "Click and ship." You make out the tag on your computer and pay for the shipping by your paypal or credit card. Priority mail and tracking included. Use the small flat rate box. Be about $6 and insurance is added to that and also signature is extra. What have you that you would prefer not to have disappear?
The boxes are free from USPS also.
~Richard
USPS online:
https://www.usps.com/ship/

Originally Posted by rhensley

I really don't know about anyone else. for me and few I have sold as you said take good photos and as many as are allowed. describe the razor in detail. that way there's doubt as to what it is. next the price. I put a starting price of the least I will take for it. if it makes this good. if it goes over a little the great. I also ship the safest way for me. I live in Tn. USA. because of the lack of knowledge about international shipping I ship USA only and I state that. I use USPS priority only. it's more expensive but you get a tracking no. and 50 dollars insurance. other than that good luck.

Similar to rhensley. Priority mail small flat rate, it's $5.95 price of mind.
Detail. Every little piece. Nicks, stains, hone or spine wear.
How long have you had it, what have you done with it.
IS IT SHAVE READY? If so, detail your progression and sterilizing detail with oil.

I've sold 3 so far. All have sold for more than I paid for them originally.
Key trick is to search for what your selling and be the lowest of them all. This will make them follow. Thell see what others like yours went for and if your lucky, it will be a 15 second frenzy before it ends. It's not uncommon to see a $80-110 jump in the final seconds.

Most of you have the opportunity to trade freely on Ebay, I have all hard, I can only buy, sell, I can not yet. But I will look for ways to solve this problem. So it's good that it is possible to sell anything.

I used to be in the camp where you detail everything no matter how minor. The problem is if you do that you will probably miss something and then they got you and it's a clear case of not as described.
These days I emphasize it's a used item and detail issues affecting functionality and obvious defects. The minor cosmetic issues I don't bother with. I see a lot of sellers who just say to use the pictures as a guide to condition and they say little else. I'm not sure how wise that is.

You all know, Eboy is just about the only place on Earth where someone buys a used item for a fraction of the new price and they expect a perfect item looking like it was just bought from the retailer unless you say otherwise. Everywhere else when you buy a used item there is an expectation there will be issues and if there aren't you are lucky.