Selling on Ebay - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

shane_c · 12-30-2006, 06:20 PM

Does anyone on here sell on Ebay. I've been thinking about starting and am looking for some tips.

Hack&Lube · 12-30-2006, 06:24 PM

I've been selling on ebay since like 1997...it's not really as complicated and I'm always surprised how how reticient some people are in finally just giving it a go. It's very easy, just give it a shot. Even my grandmother can do it.

ken0042 · 12-30-2006, 06:32 PM

My suggestions:

- Make sure you buy a few things first to establish feedback; I would suggest 10 or higher before selling. Basically this ensures more bidders, and the more bidders the more your item will sell for.

- Use pictures whenever possible; and make sure you take them yourself. If it's a common item, put your username across the picture using a program like IrfanView. Don't use stock photos.

- Good descriptions. As much detail as possible.

- Specify shipping and payment options. Make sure you have Paypal as a payment option.

SpitFire40 · 12-30-2006, 06:34 PM

What snags me is figuring out how much to charge to ship something... Do you guys just make up a number?

Hack&Lube · 12-30-2006, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

What snags me is figuring out how much to charge to ship something... Do you guys just make up a number?

www.canadapost.ca has an online shipping calculator. Most sellers ballpark a number based on past experience or just a generally larger number to cover their own service or handling or just to profit a little.

SpitFire40 · 12-30-2006, 06:39 PM

Also do you think it'd be best to sell to Canada only, or Canada/US or Worldwide?

Worldwide would seem like quite the hassle.

ken0042 · 12-30-2006, 06:42 PM

Direct link to the shipping calculator:
http://www.canadapost.ca/business/to...n/rc_bus-e.asp

I find that Ontario and Quebec are about the same price. Sask, Winnipeg, and BC are slightly cheaper. Maritimes slightly more. I take the Toronto price as an average.

Also, get a Canada Post business account, so you can ship Expedited- faster than parcel and includes free tracking.

Oh, and always include insurance in your shipping prices. And over estimate it. If I have an $80 item, I insure it for $200. Costs an extra 75¢, but worth the piece of mind.

ken0042 · 12-30-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

Also do you think it'd be best to sell to Canada only, or Canada/US or Worldwide?

Worldwide would seem like quite the hassle.

I do Canada and USA, and often get requests from international which I take on a case by case basis. International shipping is either expensive or slow, so often not worth it on cheaper items.

SaskaBushFire · 12-30-2006, 06:53 PM

I always dealt with MMO accounts/items/gold so I have never had to deal with shipping items ... but the #1 thing I recommend with selling on ebay is to insure that the person understands your prefered payment method before hand. Paypal is the safest but you have to make sure he is willing to pay before receiveing said item. Lots of people will buy then decide they want the item first, understandable, but if you say in your auction payment first then there is no arguement.

Un clear details can lead to un wanted negative feed back :/

ken0042 · 12-30-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Un clear details can lead to un wanted negative feed back :/

###.

I have the following after every one of my auctions. Most of the disclaimers have been put there following problems with bidders:

Shipping and Handling to any province within Canada is $12US. Shipping within the 48 United States will be $18US. Customers outside Canada or USA, please email me for a shipping estimate before bidding. These prices include insurance. I ship using Canada Post Expedited Parcel. If you would like it shipped using another method, please email me before bidding and I can calculate the cost for you. I strongly prefer Paypal as payment method, however I will also accept Money Orders drawn on a major Canadian Bank or Canada Post; or US money orders from USPS, provided they are the pink ones.

Please note that this auction is in US dollars, if you would like to pay in Canadian dollars please let me know and we can look at the current exchange rate for conversion.

As with any eBay auction, please bid with care. Your bid is a contract.

I ship within 36 hours of receiving payment. Unfortunately local pick up is not available. Customers outside of Canada- please remember that you may be charged duty by your local customs agency.

One of my first sales, I didn't hear anything from the bidder. Auction ended late on a Thursday, and by Monday afternoon when I still hadn't heard anything. Turns out the buyer had sent me a money order via FedEx. Because I work days, I had to arrange to drive to an LRT station so I could drive to the airport after work to pick up the M/O. The buyer then insisted that because she had used FedEx 2 day service to get the payment to me, that I should also use FedEx 2 day service to get the item to her.

Hack&Lube · 12-30-2006, 07:05 PM

It very much depends on what you are selling. I usually do worldwide on all my auctions because it gives you that many more customers. Just make sure your terms are clear and they are aware of any extra shipping costs, shipping times, or customs charges they may face that will be their own responsibility.

Most foreign buyers are aware of these things when they shop on ebay. Being in Canada, I have often felt the sting of U.S. sellers being too paranoid, ignorant, or closed off to sell worldwide, even shipping to Canada.

Flames_Gimp · 12-30-2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

What snags me is figuring out how much to charge to ship something... Do you guys just make up a number?

alot of selllers jack up the shipping for more profit.

ebay is sooooo easy to use

InSutterWeTrust · 12-30-2006, 08:41 PM

Its so easy a Caveman can do it!

Ive sold a couple things on there its not to bad at all, it seems intimidating
at first, but after the first one it gets pretty easy.

shane_c · 12-31-2006, 05:45 PM

Do I need a certain type of paypal account or is the one I've used to buy stuff off Ebay okay?

shane_c · 12-31-2006, 06:17 PM

Nevermind I figured it out.

But I do have another question. I made a listing but can't find it. I got an email from Ebay with a link to it but that doesn't work. Does it take a certain amount of time for it to be put on the site?

ken0042 · 12-31-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Would someone actually pay for a broken camera?

Strangest thing I ever sold was a laptop spacer. A piece of plastic that goes into the CD port for shipping. I started it at 1¢ and it went up to $7. I felt bad, then the guy asked if I had more I would sell him at that price. I gave him 5 more for free.

If those can sell, anything can sell.

CRXguy · 12-31-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Would someone actually pay for a broken camera?

I just sold my broken IPod. It's still good for parts, and if this person can fix it on their own, good for them.