Jump to content

Need some EBay selling advice?


jbacunn

Recommended Posts

Question for you guys. 

I've sold quite a bit on Ebay over the years and had a few weird things happen, but today I've had something strange happen that I need some advice on. 

In anticipation of all the stimulus money arriving I put a bunch of my high value sets up at inflated prices. Well above current selling prices. Not worried if they sell or not, just have them there if sales boomed. 

Well one of my Big Bens (10253) sold today for $700. $200 above the normal sell price on eBay right now. The buyer is an eight month old account with one transaction as a buyer. All of these facts together scream red flag in my mind. 

Anybody know why the buyer would do this? Are they just inept, or is there a more sinister play going on?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, dennugsmello said:

Anybody know why the buyer would do this? Are they just inept, or is there a more sinister play going on?

It happens often - Most people will not look for the best price. It may defy reason, but people tend to overpay for whatever shows up on the page. Are they a foreign account?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, KShine said:

It happens often - Most people will not look for the best price. It may defy reason, but people tend to overpay for whatever shows up on the page. Are they a foreign account?

No. Its domestic. Was thinking about messaging him about it, but maybe I send it off and cross my fingers... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, dennugsmello said:

Question for you guys. 

I've sold quite a bit on Ebay over the years and had a few weird things happen, but today I've had something strange happen that I need some advice on. 

In anticipation of all the stimulus money arriving I put a bunch of my high value sets up at inflated prices. Well above current selling prices. Not worried if they sell or not, just have them there if sales boomed. 

Well one of my Big Bens (10253) sold today for $700. $200 above the normal sell price on eBay right now. The buyer is an eight month old account with one transaction as a buyer. All of these facts together scream red flag in my mind. 

Anybody know why the buyer would do this? Are they just inept, or is there a more sinister play going on?

I had something similar happen where the purchase price was clearly way more than the going rate.  I messaged the guy to confirm everything...radio silence...then a couple more times...then I cancelled the sale.  Not worth it to me. But this was during the "sets >$300 resulting in scams" season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had a buyer buy two large sets and it ships to an oregon address but when I click her ID, it was created today and says Based in Russian Federation....

The address is this...

12540 SW Leveton Dr
Apt F0340
Tualatin OR 97062-6070

 

Hmnnn  Thinking of emailing the buyer.. but not a fan of zero feedback.  Two 60097 sets for $460.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, thelovemachine said:

Hmnnn  Thinking of emailing the buyer.. but not a fan of zero feedback.  Two 60097 sets for $460.

 

I'd be very wary of this one. I had a similar order about a week ago…the address you posted looked familiar. I double checked mine, and a very expensive LEGO set sold to a first time buyer was slated to go to an address right across the street from this one, which happens to be a huge freight forwarding company. Needless to say, the only contact I had with them was a cancellation notice on the order…I absolutely do not ship through freight forwarders. I know others have without difficulty, but I'm small time, and don't have the cushion to deal with scammers. I've had to cancel a few orders like this over the past year…never heard a peep back from any of them.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Lego Lass said:

I'd be very wary of this one. I had a similar order about a week ago…the address you posted looked familiar. I double checked mine, and a very expensive LEGO set sold to a first time buyer was slated to go to an address right across the street from this one, which happens to be a huge freight forwarding company. Needless to say, the only contact I had with them was a cancellation notice on the order…I absolutely do not ship through freight forwarders. I know others have without difficulty, but I'm small time, and don't have the cushion to deal with scammers. I've had to cancel a few orders like this over the past year…never heard a peep back from any of them.

Thx... what's the downside of the cancel?  Do u cite issue with address as the reason?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, thelovemachine said:

Thx... what's the downside of the cancel?  Do u cite issue with address as the reason?

Yup, and I always email the buyer to let them know they're cancelled and why. It's very clearly stated in all of my listings that I only ship to select countries using eBay's Global Shipping Program. Any attempt to circumvent that will result in cancellation, as I prefer what little seller protection I get from eBay to the Wild Wild West potential of freight forwarders. I use something like "violating our terms of service" in my email, and that usually does the trick. Have yet to get a negative feedback, or any grief from eBay as a result.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Lego Lass said:

Yup, and I always email the buyer to let them know they're cancelled and why. It's very clearly stated in all of my listings that I only ship to select countries using eBay's Global Shipping Program. Any attempt to circumvent that will result in cancellation, as I prefer what little seller protection I get from eBay to the Wild Wild West potential of freight forwarders. I use something like "violating our terms of service" in my email, and that usually does the trick. Have yet to get a negative feedback, or any grief from eBay as a result.

Yeah.. not going to ship to Oregon with a new account such a large item and also zero feedback and based in russian federation.  

not worth it.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had several international buyers who use freight forwarders, even though I stipulated using the Global Shipping Program.  I did reading and then made phone calls.

The end result is as long as I setup tracking and shipping, it's logged into the eBay listing it transfers automatically to PayPal listing.  PayPal also put a note that this was going via a freight forward service. 

They protect the buyer up until it arrives at the address on the package (which shows its a freight forwarding company).  There would be no recourse for the buyer for damages etc as the onus would now be on the buyer to have the freight forwarding company check over the product.  Damage will be with the freight forwarding service to pay out, not PayPal. 

Long as short, you are protected as the seller as long as item was as described in listing.   And ensure you have photo and video documentation of packaging up the item. 

Knock on wood, I haven't had an issue yet using freight forwarding or the global shipping program. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Aib84e said:

Long as short, you are protected as the seller as long as item was as described in listing.   And ensure you have photo and video documentation of packaging up the item. 

Oh you poor dear for believing that. If you get scammed by the person buying from the freight forwarder you're in for a fight. They'll return garbage to you and as long as the tracking says it was delivered to you, it will auto refund. BP had to band together and collect data for the mass of scams last year.

https://www.brickpicker.com/forums/topic/21401-concerns-about-scammers-using-freight-forwarders-to-do-their-deeds

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, brickvoyeur said:

Oh you poor dear for believing that. If you get scammed by the person buying from the freight forwarder you're in for a fight. They'll return garbage to you and as long as the tracking says it was delivered to you, it will auto refund.

Not fair - That logic applies to all transactions, not just to freight forwarders (plus most of them would not be involved in such things, as it would ruin their business).

So unless someone wants to live a life in total fear - you simply have to live your life (while taking the proper precautions).

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

So I'm gradually parting with most of my sets (well might keep my Star Wars ones 🙂). I've just started selling on eBay. Some smallish items, I believe I have to make 8 sales before I can sell internationally.

I have read some eBay info on here which has been very helpful. Where I live there doesn't seem to be high demand for big valuable retired sets. So, when selling a retired set on eBay does anyone have any advice. Let's say for example Pet Shop or Red 5 X-Wing type set.

Do most on here end up selling at Buy It Now? Does anyone have any guide percentages re pricing?

Thanks for any advice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, Mgip21 said:

I always use but it now and look at sold items to determine my price. Good luck!

Yes I am doing that thanks. You're making plenty of sense as whatever the eBay and PayPal fees are you just got to pay them and you probably can't go over the standard pricing. Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 minutes ago, maestro said:

Yes I am doing that thanks. You're making plenty of sense as whatever the eBay and PayPal fees are you just got to pay them and you probably can't go over the standard pricing. Thanks

Use buy it now, with the best offer option (unless you are already pricing it at the lowest price available on ebay).

As far as pricing - as a new seller, it would be best to stick with the going prices.

Edited by KShine
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I pretty much just resell used sets on ebay. Personally I find listing for bidding and start at 10p no matter the set size has proven much better than listing as buy it now - just seemed comparatively little interest when pricing competitively against others on ebay. Whereas (and its an initially scary gamble on a set worth £100+) starting a listing at 10p attracts a lot more attention and bidders.

 UK seller. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, Graphicski said:

I pretty much just resell used sets on ebay. Personally I find listing for bidding and start at 10p no matter the set size has proven much better than listing as buy it now - just seemed comparatively little interest when pricing competitively against others on ebay. Whereas (and its an initially scary gamble on a set worth £100+) starting a listing at 10p attracts a lot more attention and bidders.

 UK seller. 

 

2 hours ago, maestro said:

Yes I am doing that thanks. You're making plenty of sense as whatever the eBay and PayPal fees are you just got to pay them and you probably can't go over the standard pricing. Thanks

From my experience auctions have been my biggest individual gains and also my biggest losses when selling. Great for a guaranteed sale but I think it depends mostly on market saturation and starting price if you will make reasonable returns. I'm not a whale by any means, so sometimes if you don't have eyes on your listing BIN accepting offers puts you in control of what you make (and you can see the buyer's address before you commit to mail it).

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, KShine said:

Use buy it now, with the best offer option (unless you are already pricing it at the lowest price available on ebay).

As far as pricing - as a new seller, it would be best to stick with the going prices.

I have included buy it now but didn’t notice best offer option. Perhaps I don’t qualify for that yet? Re the pricing I would be very happy to receive going prices

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



×
×
  • Create New...