Thread: Advice for Selling Straights on Ebay?

This isn't related to a specific auction, so I thought 'the conversation' subforum would be the best place to post.

Do any of you would have any advice for selling straights on Ebay? I know plenty of good pictures and using concise language without any subjective descriptors are important. I'm trying to avoid any beginner mistakes that could hurt my feedback score or cost me $$.

Thanks

Good luck!
~Richard

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.

I've sold a few items on Ebay and one thing that I would suggest for all items is get tracking. When a buyer says that they didn't receive an item and you don't have tracking it falls on you to try and prove that it was delivered, but if tracking says that it was delivered it falls on the buyer to prove they didn't receive it.

Take plenty of photos
Give ALL measurements as APPROXIMATE (blade length and height)
Disclose all conditions (I.e. rust, pitting, nicks, cracks,cellrot on scales)
Be willing to accept returns
Give a fair starting price.
Pack well for shipping and printblable thru eBay and pay pal (cheaper and comes with tracking)
Remind buyers to leave feedback

Good luck

Thanks,

I've seen auctions where the seller required "" positive feedback from buyers and even one that stated if the person had a history of leaving negative feedback their bid would be cancelled.

I'm definitely going to use tracking and a starting price. I want to keep it simple, so I'm keeping within CONUS. Are there any states that have taxes or restrictions I should be aware of?

I have sold quite a few hones on the bay. Take good pictures, make sure that if you show items on the pics that are not part of the deal you mention this in the description. E.g. the tape measure you use to show sizes etc. Do mention things that you cannot see on a pic, e.g. shave readiness, tight/loose pivot pin, blade biting schales when "closing" the razor. Use a low starting price, your potential buyers will know the value of your item. You can always use a reserve if you want to be sure you do not sell at too low a price. Only send it out by registered and insured mail. Charge only for the cost of shipping and not for the cost of petrol to drive your car to the post office and for the bubble plastic and the box you put the item into. Allow returns. Answer questions that potential buyers ask. Even if you specify shipping cost you'll find people will ask for it. Do not end listings early. Ebay does not like it and it is usually asked by potential buyers that want something valuable cheap. They say you get best prices when auction ends on a Sunday afternoon.

Originally Posted by JP5

I've seen auctions where the seller required "" positive feedback from buyers and even one that stated if the person had a history of leaving negative feedback their bid would be cancelled.

Yes, don't do any such thing. Ebay has made leaving feedback optional, so anybody who insists on it being a requirement is a fool - they can not enforce it, and both leave bad impression on customers and make their own life miserable through unrealistic expectations that will frustrate them to no end when people do not live up to them.

You only have to be reasonable, courteous and willing to work with people to resolve the occasional problem. You'll make mistakes and when you do do not try to make the other party pay for them.
If you're doing it as a business part of its cost is the losses from the few unreasonable customers. If you're doing it as occasional seller realize that it's not a money making device and just accept the losses as part of it.

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.

Originally Posted by gugi

Yes, don't do any such thing. Ebay has made leaving feedback optional, so anybody who insists on it being a requirement is a fool - they can not enforce it, and both leave bad impression on customers and make their own life miserable through unrealistic expectations that will frustrate them to no end when people do not live up to them.

You only have to be reasonable, courteous and willing to work with people to resolve the occasional problem. You'll make mistakes and when you do do not try to make the other party pay for them.
If you're doing it as a business part of its cost is the losses from the few unreasonable customers. If you're doing it as occasional seller realize that it's not a money making device and just accept the losses as part of it.

In the first part, I meant they required the buyer to have a certain number of positive feedback from other sellers (e.g. 10 positive transactions). Not requiring them to leave feedback. I'm not saying that is any better though.
For now I'm going to be doing it as an occasional seller for some extra money. I want to do as much as possible to weed out problem buyers though.

Important to know: returns are always possible, even if you don't "offer" returns. You can't get around it.

Blade measurements: if a blade is definitely, say, 21mm wide, then go ahead and say that. But do not fudge the data! Do not describe a blade's width inaccurately or optimistically. An advertisement of 25mm, for example, better darn well be 25mm when the customer measures it on their calipers, or you will likely be refunding them their cost + shipping!

The difference between 1mm can mean quite a bit of hone wear.

I purchased some Friodurs from Japan that were described as "mint" and were definitely not mint. I returned them, and would do so again at the drop of a hat. Better to be conservative in your enthusiasm for blade descriptions, and save yourself a return from an underwhelmed customer.