Who is using eBay/PayPal these days?

[Skinny Shooter]

After reading recent threads about eBay, was wondering how many of you buy and/or sell on eBay?
Have you learned any "tricks" to getting your item(s) to sell?

I've thought about selling some of my ironwork there but was concerned that I wouldn't get at least what each item is worth.

Saw their info about an eBay store but am not sure how that would conflict/assist with a standard website.

Also opened a PayPal acct to simplify funds transfers. To protect ourselves, we opened a bank acct that is used specifically for eBay/PayPal transactions. It should isolate our regular account from any fraudulent mischief.

[GoodOlBoy]

Top tips I have?

#1 set a llooooooowwww starting bid. This ensures people who go in and click in order of lowest priced first (I would guess more than 50% of the users do this) see the item.

#2 if you need a minimum amount for the item, set a reserve.

#3 Always post a buy it now price of about 20% more than what your minimum is for the item. IE if you ABSOLUTELY must have $10 for the item (see #2). Set the buy it now at $12. You would be amazed at how many people just want to get it purchased and over with. Also keep in mind that once the first person bids buy it now option is GONE. There for if people want to play the nickle and dime game you may actually get more than the buy it now price (This has happened to me SEVERAL times)

#4 on small lightweight items use a set shipping amount, then offer to combine items for a smaller feet. IE $5 shipping, plus $1 for each additional item from my auctions/sales. Always be SURE you set the ammount to a fraction more than it is going to cost anyway.

#5 ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS offer insurance on an item. This has saved my bacon several times when the post office has messed up badly. On VERY expensive items don't even make it an option, MAKE them purchase insurance as part of the set shipping.

#6 payment. Get paypal. Deal with it. Don't accept forgein money orders PERIOD. The ONLY thing I accept other than paypal are postal money orders. When I get to the post office if the money order is a fake, guess what. Me no shippy shippy. Paypal is just WAY to easy to use, and way to easy to work with to accept anything else.

#7 NO MATTER WHAT! DO NOT login to ANY Ebay or Paypal web page link sent to you via email. DON'T DO IT! PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION! If you are too lazy to type www.paypal.com or www.ebay.com just don't use the services. Pay pal won't ever ask you to verify a username or password. Neither will ebay. They are not about to close your account, and nobody hacked your account (At least not until you log in using that fake link).

Thats my advice. Some folks get alot more complicated. Some don't.

GoodOlBoy

[GoodOlBoy]

OH and another thing. Do what I did and do what skinny did. Open a seperate bank account to link paypal to. It isn't hard. It isn't expensive, and if by some miracle you ever ARE hacked guess what? No big drama, your main acocunt is still untouched.

Oh and be sure to keep that account nearly empty.

GoodOlBoy

[Gunslingergirl]

We buy on Ebay occasionally. Mostly printers and stuff my IT guys need. We also have a Paypal account.

I don't have any personal experience with Ebay, but I know people that swear by it.

GSG

[skeet]

Skinny you are doing it right. I've been selling and buying on ebay since 97. A couple other things to go along with GOB's posts.

1. Figure what you want to get for the item and then figure ebay fees and if you take paypal their fees also. Set your prices accordingly.

2. On shipping I usually say actual shipping in my description. When figuring you can add a little to the fees if you want..and in fact on the invoice page they have there is an area to add "handling" fees to the price of shipping. If I do that I add a dollar.

3. If selling outside the country even Canada do NOT use cheapest method of shipping as there is No way to track using the postal service. If you accept paypal and the person tries to say the item wasn't received..paypal will refund their money if you cannot provide tracking on the item. You can appeal it but you WILL lose. People scam this way all the time. They ask for cheapest shipping, say they never received and then paypal gives 'em their money back. You lose the item...the money the ebay fees and the paypal fees. Sucks but true.

4. I usually won't take paypal but if they ask I tell them if they pay the fees I will do so. The fees usually add up to less than what it will cost them to go to PO, get a US Postal money order and send it.. You cannot put that you will do that in the item description or on the invoice...But you can add it on the invoice as a "handling" fee....if they agree to it.

5. If you are selling the candle stands etc.. Tell me how much! Can you put a reflector on one for me?? I really like that item.

6. Good luck selling!!

[Rocky Raab]

First, download TurboLister to help you build your ads. It's great, and it's free.

Second, you don't have to auction everything. You can set a fixed price as a "Buy Me Now" item, and also list multiple identical items in the same ad.

I have an item up right now. Built the ad on TurboLister and uploaded it. It's a "Buy It Now" item, five available, PayPal required and Priority Mail shipping only.

Check out item 140084386516

You do not need to open an eBay store - but you can later if your business blooms. But do apply for their "Certified Seller" review process. People trust you MUCH more if you are a Certified Seller.

[fabsroman]

I have been using both since August of last year, and I think they both have their pluses and minuses. If you sell anything through ebay and use paypal to accept payment, figure on losing 5% to 6% in fees.

For me, shipping is made easier because I have a stamps.com account and package tracking is free if I use their package mailing form and the package is going priority mail.

One correction to GB's post is that the Buy It Now (BIN) price will not go away if you are using a reserve price and the bids have not yet met that reserve price. The BIN price goes away after the first bid if no reserve is used, or it goes away when the reserve is met.

Most of my ebay transactions have been purchases and I have gotten some pretty decent deals on stuff, but I have made a couple of sales too. Make sure you have shipping supplies handy (e.g., boxes, filler such as newspaper, foam, air bags) and this will make life much simpler. You also need to realize that you have to ship things ASAP after they are sold, so make sure you have time to go to the post office. For me, that is a no brainer because I am always going over there to drop off tons of mail and to get Certified Mail postmarked.

Give it a whirl and see if it works for you. If it doesn't, it will barely cost you anything. If you are actually making a profit on items, then keep it up.

[skeet]

Priority mail boxes are free at the post office as are shipping labels etc. And if you use paypal and have money in an account you can print out prepaid shipping labels for priority mail...paid for with your paypal account with free delivery confirm.

Fabs rather than use air bags etc in shipping if you drink water in the half liter bottles as I do, I just let the bottles dry and put the cap on. Just as good as air bags and cost nothing:cool: Stronger too for heavier items. Post office also has flat rate priority mail boxes that ship for 8.20 I think with as much weight as you can put in the boxes...up to 70 lbs. I shipped a guy a set of bullet moulds and 35 lbs of lead ingots in one box for 8.20. BTW the fees from ebay and paypal will add up to about 10%...but it is a great venue for some items... A little known "fact" about ebay.

60% of the items on ebay never sell...and about 60% of them never get a bid. In 10 yrs I have failed to sell less than 15 items...but I sell outdoor items ya know.!!

[fabsroman]

Skeet,

You should know how cheap I am. I have yet to pay for any shipping supplies other than packing tape. I bought a bike frame off of ebay and it was shipped in 40 gallons of those puffy peanuts. I have been in the process of building three new bikes, so I have been receiving a lot of packages and I have kept all of the packing supplies and boxes. That is what I have been using to ship stuff out with. I must also be cheaper than you because I don't usually buy water unless you count what I have to pay in the way of a water bill. We have a fridge with a built in water filter that costs $22 and that needs to be changed every 6 months, so we get our water from the fridge ( the reason I know the cost and the frequency is because I bought filters last week on line and they arrived today). We also have a Brita water filter/pitcher in the fridge in the basement for times when we need a lot of water. We bought a couple of Eddie Bauer reusable water bottles and we either fill those from the fridge or the Brita and we take them with us. Nope, you won't see me buying air bags or water any time soon.

Recently, I have seen stuff sell on ebay for almost list price, and in some cases, for more than list price. People must be out of their minds. I also don't think a lot of people take the time to scout around and find the best price on items. Me, I built a $8,000 bike for just over $5,100. I just bought a set of 2 year old wheels for $870 that normally retail for $1,750 new and they have very little wear on them and they are extremely true. Between shopping around on the internet and shopping around on ebay, I have run into some great deals. Of course, it took me months to build the first bike.

As far as listing goes, I made the mistake of listing a new in box (NIB) VHS movie of Pretty Woman with the shrink wrap still on it for $2.99. That has been the only item of mine that hasn't sold. However, I have only listed about 10 items so far.

[tooldummy]

My daughter and I just started selling on E-bay although I've bought quite a few things over the years. We were having pretty good luck until I got an E-mail over the weekend from a buyer that says he didn't receive an item. We had been shipping everything priority mail with a tracking number so I didn't think it would be a big deal. I tracked it last night and it doesn't show any such number existing. I am waiting for the post office to open and call and find out what the problem is. I am sending the buyer another item this morning because I'm sure of what he's telling me, especially since I tracked it and it doesn't show up for me. This problem isn't E-bays fault though. I had bought a call from a gentleman one time that never showed up and he sent me another one. I have always paid more for the tracking number after the call deal, but now I'm not sure that is money well spent. A friend of mines father works for the postal service and he says to insure it for $50. It's cheaper and you get a tracking number. I think I'll check into that next time.

[Skinny Shooter]

Turbo Lister is downloaded. :)
To simplify things and speed up getting my money, I had planned to take PayPal only.
As for shipping, we considered calculated shipping via priority mail.
At what dollar amount should I start adding insurance and delivery confirmation?
We've got plenty of boxes and peanuts hanging around for the larger items and would use the priority mail boxes for smaller work.

[Rocky Raab]

TD, if you buy your Priority Mail labels online (Click N Ship), you get tracking at no cost, and the tracking number is printed on both the label and your receipt. You also get an email with the tracking number, which you can simply cut and paste into the USPS tracking system.

The only expense is labels and the actual postage. I use Priority Mail almost exclusively.

You don't even have to go to the post office. They'll ship you boxes, flat rate envelopes, tape and everything you need no charge and in bulk. You do have to buy the sticky labels, but there are several sources for those. If you are really cheap, you can print the labels on regular paper and tape them on, but I consider that risky as the paper can tear off.

[Skinny Shooter]

Hey, I've always said I'm not Skinny but I'm not TD either. My legs aren't as sexy... ;) :D LOL

I'm told that Paypal can print off labels also but you feel there is a better value using click n ship?
And when using Paypal and ship priority mail, doesn't PP take that cost out of your account or do I still have to pay the USPS seperately?
If I use Click n Ship, then I pay the USPS directly with a credit card I presume?

[fabsroman]

Yep, if you print postage through Paypal they will take it directly out of your account.

Stamps.com has the same deal as Click & Ship as far as free tracking is concerned. I use it a lot. However, a Stamps.com account costs something like $16 a month, but I use it mainly for my law & accounting practice so I would bear the cost regardless. Shipping ebay stuff through it is just an added benefit.

Rocky, I am so cheap that I do print those mailing labels out on standard paper and I tape them to the package. Where can I get the labels that will work in the printer so I can stop doing this. The biggest problem is that taping all four sides of that shipping label is time consuming. I'd prefer peel and stick over the taping.

I'm going to leave the entire TD/Skinny issue alone. Sooner or later, you might be calling Skinny a troll. LOL

[Skinny Shooter]

Originally posted by fabsroman
I'm going to leave the entire TD/Skinny issue alone. Sooner or later, you might be calling Skinny a troll. LOL

Clears throat...
Actually Grundsau is a troll, thank you very much. :D

[fabsroman]

I wasn't going to let the cat out of the bag, but okay. LOL

[Tennessee Elkman]

I buy and sell on ebay on a daily basis. All the advise you've read is great but please be careful. I just got notice today that someone in Romaina was trying to log into my account. 3 TIMES! Ebay suspended my account and I had to chat directly with them online to get things cleared up. I would have better luck calling the Queen of England than I would trying to call ebay. They only deal via email or direct chat connect. And when your being spoofed you're unsure exactly who you're talking to.
As far as the buy it now pricing I agree it works as long as the price is reasonable and below $500.00. Over that I've found the buy it now isn't as effective. There is also the option of make offer. I've found that extremely annoying as people may ridiculous offers on your items. Good Luck!

[Skinny Shooter]

Not having the ability to talk with a live person is a drawback. Heck, they're probably from another country and I'll have trouble understanding what they say anyways. :rolleyes:

Rocky, I signed up for the click n ship acct. Do you use this shipping label: PN: LUEBAYSLW10

Back to calculated shipping: I was checking out the free PM boxes and saw that flat-rate boxes are also offered.
That might be an advantage where someone orders a large number of heavy items that can fit in those boxes and the calculated shipping may end up being more.

[skeet]

I've bought quite a few items on ebay. Best buy I made was the Ford truck I have right now. In December after the accident I had in November of 2003 I saw this truck on ebay. It was priced really well but got no bids. It was located in Northeast Md so I PM'd the guy. Got his number and went to look at the truck. He was a little abrasive right at first but I bought the darn thing for 27,000. 2002 powerstroke 250. Had 11,300 miles....and he had paid 41,000 7 months earlier. Think I did alright..oh and the guy gave me a notorized bill of sale for 20,000 bucks. Saved 350 bucks on taxes.and he had put a tonneau cover extra lights custom taillights and had the bed done by Line-X. oh and a cover for the whole truck(which I've never used).

BTW ebay DOES have a phone number or two. I've called them and got a real live person. Not too helpful a real live person, though. Will look for the number and post it.

[Rocky Raab]

Skinny, yes those are the labels I use. You might also be able to find them elsewhere if you search for gummed labels 8.5x11" half-sheet. The label prints on one half of the sheet and your copy prints on the other. I file mine for 30 days in the event of a dispute.

The only difference between the PayPal shipping label creator and the USPS is that PayPal gives you an option to NOT print the postage total on the label. Tat might be of value if you tend to average your shipping costs and charge a median amount to everybody as a flat fee (as I do).

I ship books in USPS double-video boxes (#1096L) or single-video boxes (1096S). I also have a selection of Tyvek bags on hand, some Priority and some Express Mail, plus some Flat Rate boxes. Get a roll of Priority Mail sealing tape if you might ship larger boxes of your own. All free.

One final note: Use a random-character password for eBay and PayPal, and change it quarterly. I learned that one the hard way - had a random password, but didn't change it. Somebody got it somehow.

[skeet]

Rocky, I think the post office quit giving the rolls of priority mail tape away. I have 3 or 4 rolls left but I don't see it listed on their ordering site anymore.

[Skinny Shooter]

Have any of you folks put together an "about me" page?

[fabsroman]

I haven't, but I might do that if I get time later tonight. I have been on a cycling chat board recently and I like the way their "about me" page is set up. I'll have to take a look at ebay's. I am sure it won't hurt on ebay for me to disclose I am an attorney and CPA. Then they will really know I am cheap.

[BILLY D.]

I'm not going to address any single person with this, but you people never cease to amaze me.

You talk about how precious you firearms are and your right to own them, then you schmooz with the likes of Sleazebay and Paypal. Both anti- firearm and ownership organizations.

It seems you speak from both sides of your A$$ and with a forked tongue. I'll bet some of you donate money to PETA and the Fund for animals to.

I don't understand.

[skeet]

Billy, In my everyday life I deal with all kinds of sleaze balls that want to take something from someone else. So do you! We all do at one time or another. I don't necessarily like others points of view on some items. I hate to have to buy things made in other countries. If you want or need some item sometimes it just isn't available in Made in the USA. Ebay provides me with a venue to sell and buy mostly shooting items. Do I like ebay's points of view on firearms...well heck no. I don't speak with a forked tongue and don't talk out of both sides of my A$$. But I do make some necessary income from sales on ebay...and other places. I do however support the NRA and even they have done things I really didn't agree with. Lighten up, man...and try not to buy items made in Vietnam!

[fabsroman]

Is it worse to buy things from Vietnam or China?

I never knew that ebay and paypal were anti gun. I'll have to re-assess my situation regarding them.

We had this sort of discussion in hunting dogs a while ago about Eukanuba and Iams. Supposedly, the two of them contribute to PETA. They also contribute to Qualis Unlimted and other conservation programs. So, do you boycott the makers of a food that is good for your dog just because they provide support to PETA. The tough thing is that these retailers are trying to make everybody happy.

I'm not supporting ebay here, but don't they allow the sale of hunting equipment on the board? If they were that anti-gun they should not allow any of that.

Last but not least, how anti-gun are ebay and paypal?

[skeet]

Fabs,

ebay and paypay(really an entity of ebay) are moderately anti gun. They don't allow the sale of guns or magazines contrary to california law. If they were adamantly anti gun there would be no firearm related items sold onebay. The worst part about them is they do not allow the sale of parts of "assault weapons"...guns such as AR-15's etc. The largest part of the reason is they have no control over what may or may not be legal in 50 states and a few territories as well as sales to foreign countries. You do know how attorneys try to cover their clients butts??!!

Now being a one issue voter I worry about my votes and who they help. That affects me directly as far as laws that may be passed. A company's stance is something I can do nothing about. I mean I had to belong to a union when I worked in the fire dept. I didn't support the union's choices(in fact they sucked). This is more or less the same type of issue.

Also...since I spent enough time in SE Asia to learn how those people think of us...I try to buy no items made in Vietnam....and almost impossibly...China. But as I have said before. Sometimes you can't find the same items that companies such as Harbor Freight sells that have "Made in the USA" on them. Even finding something made in Canada(which I would buy) is almost impossible now. Everything is now made in Mexico....and our politicians helped that to happen:rolleyes:

[Rocky Raab]

Billy, skeet is absolutely correct. The reason that eBay will not list guns or certain gun parts is because they cannot control who buys or sells on their service, or what might be illegal where. They really have no choice. If they did list those items, they'd be breaking some law somewhere - and might even fall afoul of the BATFE.

Just because they don't SELL guns doesn't make them anti-gun. Target doesn't sell guns, McDonald's doesn't sell guns, General Motors doesn't sell guns, Budweiser doesn't sell guns - but that doesn't make them anti-gun.

If one wants to avoid companies that actively contribute to anti-gun forces, that's one thing. (And I'd join in if there's proof.) But it isn't fair to berate a company that's just following the law.

[GoodOlBoy]

Correct Rocky. Also gunbroker DOES work gun sales. However I can't sell old movies, dishes, toys, etc through gunbroker to make extra income. I CAN sell that all through ebay. By the way the last gunbroker deal I purchased I did so using paypal.

By the way when I was in High School my biology teacher who was a HUGE supporter of ducks unlimited came in to school one day steaming. IT seemed he checked the donations redistribution from them and they had donated about $200k to a swamp conservation project that was ALSO anti-hunting.

Almost nothing is clear cut black and white.

Food for thought.

GoodOlBoy

[fabsroman]

Yep, I got a little mad at DU one day because their ad for contributions sounded like a crock. If I made a contribution of a certain amount, I would get a DU sweatshirt; however, they added that the sweatshirts would only be supplied while supplies lasted. That really had me steamed.

Now, as far as I am concerned about ebay, they are not actually selling anything. They are acting as a facilitator between two parties, but they never have legal title in the goods. I think I have looked at Gunbroker before, and the guns need to be shipped ot a FFL. However, who does the shipping? Does Gunbroker ship the gun, or does the seller ship the gun?

There are so many issues with selling firearms in an ebay format that if ebay were my client (I only wish) I would tell it not to do it too.

I thought that Billy knew of something where ebay was giving funding to the antis.

[skeet]

Fabs,

For so many years I would not belong to DU for a couple of reasons. The money raised went out of the country. NONE was spent here. I know we need to protect nesting areas etc but the money was mostly spent in Canada. If I were a wheat farmer in prairie Canada ...I'd shoot anybody working for them. You outta see what ducks do to a cut wheat field. They windrow their wheat in many places so they can combine the wheat before snow flies. Anyway a few years ago they finally started spending money here in the US where the ducks stay 8 months of the year...so I decided to help support DU. They finally got the message that ducks need a place to live in the winter too. I support NRA also but despise their marketing strategy. Been a life member for years and they still send me invitations to join?? They still help to keep our rights to gun ownership so when I can I give more...but only when I choose to. Not when they think I should. If I were independently wealthy I would do more for both organizations. As far as PETA and the HSUS...how anyone can support such groups is...well I understand who those groups appeal to and I understand how they raise their money. Don't like it but the same people look at the hunting groups and think the same thing about us. We must be crazy!! However... I know they are!!! :D :D So I guess there are always going to be groups or entities or beliefs we don't agree with. Some are somewhat innocuous like ebay and companies that won't let you have a firearm in your car on their property but we just have to live with them I guess

[fabsroman]

I agree. If I were to shoot everybody that has an opinion that is different than mine, everybody would be dead except me. We can't all agree on everything, but we can at least try to get along.

[Skinny Shooter]

There are 17 of you that responded about selling on eBay. :)
If any of you care to, PM me with your past or on-going auctions. I'd like to check them out.
thanks

[Skyline]

Skeet.......................you touched on a sore spot with me.....DU.
(Off topic I know)

They are quickly alienating a lot of Canucks, both hunters and farmers.

As far as eBay goes...............we buy and sell on it. It is an easy way to sell items that you could not otherwise sell when you live in a very rural area. It also allows me to buy items that would otherwise not be available to me or require a great deal of driving and $300 in expenses for fuel and hotels to get. With eBay I can get it in the mail and drive to town and pick it up.

I do not agree with some of their rules.............. but I am afraid I have no alternative, at least an alternative I can afford.

[GoodOlBoy]

Hey also consider if you have ALOT of something you can provide over and over again there are ebay stores. Most people I know of who setup ebay stores like them.

GoodOlBoy