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.

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.

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.

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.