Need some EBay selling advice?

[KShine]

11 minutes ago, gregpj said:

Absolutely .. through GSP, a customs broker pre-collects all the taxes so the cost to buy on the spot is item + shipping + taxes. It can really affect the price a buyer thinks they're paying. For seasoned (and smart) buyers, they understand it already.

I will also pick a non-GSP seller over a GSP seller if the prices are identical for two reasons:

- I get my non-GSP parcel faster.
- There is always a chance that they don't collect the taxes when they deliver. (and no, in this case I don't feel obligated to do their job for them)

I also mentioned these things a few days ago (while sitting in my house).

The only downside is that you will get (and need to deal with) the occasional "What is this fee???" message from an angry buyer.

[gregpj]

Just now, KShine said:

I also mentioned these things a few days ago (while sitting in my house).

The only downside is that you will get (and need to deal with) the occasional "What is this fee???" message from an angry buyer.

I admit (while sitting in my house) that I didn't read all the posts. But yes, I would imagine that message is probably pretty annoying but at least you can defend it.

The big unknown is that eBay doesn't tell us what Pitney Bowes (the Canada GSP partner) charges to "advance the package through customs." It's baked into the cost of the import fees. A smart person can figure it out, but most won't bother.

Canada Post is entitled by law to charge a $9.95 customs import fee on any item over $20 so sometimes the Pitney Bowes fee wins and sometimes it doesn't.  Also, Canada Post often doesn't bother with the fee especially from US sellers for lower value items.

Conclusion - I prefer non-GSP but have often purchased through GSP because it was my only option or a good enough option. So I appreciate anyone who at least uses GSP.

[Sandwraith]

24 minutes ago, gregpj said:

Absolutely .. through GSP, a customs broker pre-collects all the taxes so the cost to buy on the spot is item + shipping + taxes. It can really affect the price a buyer thinks they're paying. For seasoned (and smart) buyers, they understand it already.

I will also pick a non-GSP seller over a GSP seller if the prices are identical for two reasons:

- I get my non-GSP parcel faster.
- There is always a chance that they don't collect the taxes when they deliver. (and no, in this case I don't feel obligated to do their job for them)

Knowing how hard it is to find very specific items on ebay Canada... It seems to me like more and more US sellers are going for the GSP. Most of the time shipping + GSP can be %50-%100 more than the item itself, and kills the deal.

I know Canada isn't a huge concern for US sellers, and it's a convenience and yadda yadda, but it makes me sad  Many times i would have purchased from a US seller if they just didn't have the silly GSP adding another $20 in import fees on top of an already $20+ shipping cost.

#Canadaproblems

[legorunner]

1 hour ago, Cozei said:

 

Not to pick on you.
Why not pack items at listing so you have correct data?
I always pre-pack one off items. This won't be wasted effort since it needs to get packed anyway.
Multi quantity items I prepack one and then know how to pack the others as they sell.

Even if you're offering free shipping this seems logical to me so I know what my shipping cost will be and what price point I need to hit.

Also some items I offer for free shipping I also add expedited shipping at extra cost so the buyer can decide. To do this you need to enter dimensions and weight so they can see calculated shipping.

What reasons not to prepack?
Maybe a wrench in the works for a higher volume seller but I can't think of any other downside.

 

Fair question - short answer is I was lazy this time. I usually do box it up and give precise measurements. It was late in the evening and I keep boxes out in the shed. I'd been debating whether I really wanted to sell this set as I'd bought it for myself but after finishing the build I decided to go for it. I looked up the weight on Amazon, added what I guessed was a reasonable box weight, and listed it, planning to double check it all the next day. I misjudged its demand as it sold within a few hours of listing, and then I also discovered that I needed a larger box than I had estimated. Lesson learned. 

[Cozei]

K
#Canadaproblems

Sold an AT-AT to some crazy Canadian with GSP. Must not have any up there.

[trstnkn]

1 hour ago, AirborneAFOL said:

That's been my approach. Apologize profusely, and even offer to give them a partial refund of $6 (half your intercept costs) if they're willing to send the wrong item back - if they're a regular buyer and/or decent person (which most are), they'll gladly return the wrong item and decline your generous offer of a partial refund.

Thank you, AirborneAFOL.  Wrote the e-mail.  Packaged the correct item.  Upon dropping it off at the PO, I mentioned what I did.  Surprisingly, the first class package bin was still there from this morning.  Shout out to my cheerful, awesome PO (Rumford, Rhode Island) - employee searched through the bin and retrieved the package.

I will be taking the PO a holiday food basket next week...

[trstnkn]

I have a first class package that travelled to the shipping address and went out for delivery.  For some reason, though, it wasn't delivered and according to tracking, is making its way back to me.

Latest update via tracking says this "The package is delayed and will not be delivered by the expected delivery date. An updated delivery date will be provided when available. Your item departed our PROVIDENCE, RI 02904 origin facility on December 11, 2016 at 7:29 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination."

So it's either returning to me in RI or going back out to Virginia?

This is a first for me.  Will ask PO tomorrow, but thought I would reach out here as well.  Thanks in advance!

 

[ravenb99]

That is just a delayed tracking notice.  It probably got hung up in a hub and finally got going again. Once the delay notice shows up it will usually arrive in a couple days.  Really no need to call as it won't do anything to speed the process up.  It happens quite frequently.

[goliathm501]

How often do people get 0 feedback sellers? I had gotten one for my first sale and it actually went pretty smooth, but I have another one and its for an item that sold for 100+. I'm kinda wary about 0 feedback sellers but I don't want to be an ass to buyers either. What should I do in these kinds of situations?

[Phil B]

5 hours ago, goliathm501 said:

How often do people get 0 feedback sellers? I had gotten one for my first sale and it actually went pretty smooth, but I have another one and its for an item that sold for 100+. I'm kinda wary about 0 feedback sellers but I don't want to be an ass to buyers either. What should I do in these kinds of situations?

Are you selling or are you buying? Not clear from your message. Who has the 0 feedback - the person you're buying from or the person you're selling to?

[ISO8T0]

How often do people get 0 feedback sellers? I had gotten one for my first sale and it actually went pretty smooth, but I have another one and its for an item that sold for 100+. I'm kinda wary about 0 feedback sellers but I don't want to be an ass to buyers either. What should I do in these kinds of situations?

If you're worried about it take the appropriate steps to protect yourself.
Ship to confirmed address
Purchase insurance to cover your package.
I've had zero issues (knock on wood) so far with newly registered ebayers.

[AirborneAFOL]

If you're worried about it take the appropriate steps to protect yourself.
Ship to confirmed address
Purchase insurance to cover your package.
I've had zero issues (knock on wood) so far with newly registered ebayers.

My Account > Preferences > Buyer Requirements

You can also heighten your criteria there, in accordance with your risk tolerances.

[ISO8T0]

Tru.

[BrickLegacy]

A typical scammer hacks someone's account with established feedback so you really don't see it coming anyways.  Ship to confirmed Paypal address.  Signature confirmation for expensive items.

[ravenb99]

just out of last 50 sales today 3 were 0 feedback so gives you an idea.  During this time of year would say 5-10% are gonna be new users looking for gifts.  If it gets through ebay and paypal 99.9% you are going to be covered anyways so I don't really worry about. 

[BrickLegacy]

18 hours ago, BrickLegacy said:

A typical scammer hacks someone's account with established feedback so you really don't see it coming anyways.  Ship to confirmed Paypal address.  Signature confirmation for expensive items.

Prophecy fulfilled.  eBay buyer with 150+ feedback purchased a large item from me today for more than average market value.  Turned out to be fraudulent.  Pain in the butt to resolve but happy it was caught before I shipped.

So yeah, it's not 0 feedback buyers.

[grackleflint]

1 hour ago, BrickLegacy said:

Prophecy fulfilled.  eBay buyer with 150+ feedback purchased a large item from me today for more than average market value.  Turned out to be fraudulent.  Pain in the butt to resolve but happy it was caught before I shipped.

So yeah, it's not 0 feedback buyers.

Same thing just happened to me this afternoon...eBay seller with 160+ feedbacks (1 in the past month, 5 in the past 6) bought a $300+ set from me on eBay at 4PM EST. 40 minutes later and eBay sends me an email saying it was an "unauthorized user of buyer or bidder account".

What's ironic is that eBay tells you that one way of avoiding this is to require immediate payment. I always require immediate payment and the scammer did send me payment from the victim's account. That's what probably alerted the victim that someone had hacked his accounts.

Off topic, but one way to get notified when people (family or scammer) use your credit cards is to link them to Apple Pay. Every time something is charged to one of my linked credit cards (online or in a B&M store), Apple Pay immediately notifies me of the amount and the vendor so I can know immediately if it's fradulent or not.

[BrickLegacy]

Same thing just happened to me this afternoon...eBay seller with 160+ feedbacks (1 in the past month, 5 in the past 6) bought a $300+ set from me on eBay at 4PM EST. 40 minutes later and eBay sends me an email saying it was an "unauthorized user of buyer or bidder account".
What's ironic is that eBay tells you that one way of avoiding this is to require immediate payment. I always require immediate payment and the scammer did send me payment from the victim's account. That's what probably alerted the victim that someone had hacked his accounts.
Off topic, but one way to get notified when people (family or scammer) use your credit cards is to link them to Apple Pay. Every time something is charged to one of my linked credit cards (online or in a B&M store), Apple Pay immediately notifies me of the amount and the vendor so I can know immediately if it's fradulent or not.

Most likely the same hacked eBay account (same time frame and similar feedback score).

I have alerts turned on for my credit cards. Constantly being notified of my wife's overspending isn't all that great my mental health though.

[grackleflint]

8 minutes ago, BrickLegacy said:

 

Most likely the same hacked eBay account (same time frame and similar feedback score).

I have alerts turned on for my credit cards. Constantly being notified of my wife's overspending isn't all that great my mental health though.

My scammer was from a major city in southern Florida.

Just another reason why I always wait overnight to ship things out...got burned once by being so "customer friendly"

Edited December 13, 2016 by grackleflint

[ascedt]

Have a question. I sold a haunted house on ebay and required signature conformation. Got an email this morning that a paypal case was opened saying they did not authorize  the transaction. When i looked at the tracking this morning it was not signed for and is now sitting in limbo at the post office until after Christmas. Then it will be returned to me, Will paypal automatically side with them and take my money even though the item will not be sent back for 2 weeks. If they do side with them can i contact ebay and get my fees back as it is bad enough i am out the shipping but the fees as well is just throwing salt on the wound. If anyone had this happen before would appreciate any advice. The other thing that hit me is if paypal sides with them quickly they can still claim the item and keep it, could i reopen the case and fight them.

 

[labfreak7]

That sucks. I can't say I have ever been in that situation. Did you contact PayPal and find out what can be done?

[Gonkalin]

23 minutes ago, ascedt said:

Have a question. I sold a haunted house on ebay and required signature conformation. Got an email this morning that a paypal case was opened saying they did not authorize  the transaction. When i looked at the tracking this morning it was not signed for and is now sitting in limbo at the post office until after Christmas. Then it will be returned to me, Will paypal automatically side with them and take my money even though the item will not be sent back for 2 weeks. If they do side with them can i contact ebay and get my fees back as it is bad enough i am out the shipping but the fees as well is just throwing salt on the wound. If anyone had this happen before would appreciate any advice. The other thing that hit me is if paypal sides with them quickly they can still claim the item and keep it, could i reopen the case and fight them.

 

I've sold 2 haunted houses in the past week to 2 different people and then within an hour I got a email from Paypal and Ebay saying not to ship the item. That the item's purchase wasn't authorized. Luckily I had not shipped them yet. Paypal refunded everything but very suspicious behavior. This has only happened on Haunted Houses.

[ascedt]

Not yet, just responded to the claim with the tracking and was waiting to see what they said.

Just now, Gonkalin said:

I've sold 2 haunted houses in the past week to 2 different people and then within an hour I got a email from Paypal and Ebay saying not to ship the item. That the item's purchase wasn't authorized. Luckily I had not shipped them yet. Paypal refunded everything but very suspicious behavior. This has only happened on Haunted Houses.

That is really weird, mine sold last week, but did not get any emails from ebay saying not to ship.

[zak001]

I believe 'Notice Left' counts as delivered for eBay's terms - but I'd call eBay and get a CSR on the phone to confirm this and see what they recommend. You should be covered in all instances so long as you followed eBay and PayPal rules.

It may be to your advantage to delay case resolution as long as possible to make it more difficult for the buyer to obtain a refund and then swoop in on the package, though PayPal SHOULD cover you in that event as well.

[ascedt]

1 minute ago, zak001 said:

I believe 'Notice Left' counts as delivered for eBay's terms - but I'd call eBay and get a CSR on the phone to confirm this and see what they recommend. You should be covered in all instances so long as you followed eBay and PayPal rules.

It may be to your advantage to delay case resolution as long as possible to make it more difficult for the buyer to obtain a refund and then swoop in on the package, though PayPal SHOULD cover you in that event as well.

Ok, i will have to call them tonight once i get off work.