|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 12, 2011 15:34:39 GMT 1
Right, I've decided I am going to try and doing some selling through ebay. I've only ever tried to buy, once or twice through it and haven't got a paypal account. Are there any things about paypal I need to know - is it really secure - and does anyone have any handy hints for an ebay virgin? And is it better to let ebay take money out of an account for you, or off a credit card, for their fees?
|
|
|
Post by Apple on Mar 12, 2011 16:49:34 GMT 1
I'm an ebay virgin too ... would like to use it but have absolutely no idea how! Thanks for starting the thread, Aspi. Do you have to open a PayPal account? This is one aspect which worries me. I think Amazing would know!
|
|
|
Post by koalagirl on Mar 12, 2011 16:56:31 GMT 1
My sister likes buying things on ebay - she once bought a boat I've looked on it but I panic when faced with too much choice so didn't buy anything.
|
|
|
Post by Apple on Mar 12, 2011 16:58:39 GMT 1
I do like your quote, KG .... very true!
|
|
|
Post by Golarne on Mar 12, 2011 17:16:56 GMT 1
Ooh, great thread! I've never used e-bay either, but would like to know more too. All very scary!
|
|
|
Post by Lottie on Mar 12, 2011 17:22:43 GMT 1
I've bought stuff but never sold anything, I've only ever won one auction though, they are really annoying and I'm convinced they are rigged in some way. Paypal is a good thing to have, as that way no one has direct links or details of your bank account, and you only have to put in what you are spending. They are easy to set up too. Lxx
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 12, 2011 18:00:54 GMT 1
It's easy to open up a paypal account, it is supposed to be the most secure way to pay in the world, and they act as a holding account so that no-one can get hold of your details. They also act as arbiter if you disagree with anything. It also means that you can use them with other online sites as well.
You don't really want anyone sending you cheques, do you? So you put on your page 'Paypal only' and then you can send out stuff when the paypal payment has cleared, as you have a week's grace before they should have received their goods.
(However, if you take longer, customers won't give you such a high rating, so hie thee to a PO at the first opportunity. You can download labels from the PO on your computer, pay online, and then just pop stuff into the nearest post box. Or if you have prepaid, you can take it to the PO and use their speedy counter and get proof of payment and it will go off straight away and get priority treatment.)
there is a forum on Ebay, and in that forum there was a sticky link with lots of good advice about selling. It's worth reading.
I wish I could find all the stuff I put on here before about Ebay, I wrote reams of the stuff!
You will have to start checking your emails more frequently too, as people often ask questions about the goods before they bid.
|
|
|
Post by Bulleydog on Mar 12, 2011 19:17:44 GMT 1
Yes Lottie, some are rigged! There is a program you can use and I can't remember what it is called that puts a bid in right at the last second, so you might think you are highest bidder and get pipped right at the end!
Aspi, don't forget to check how much things cost to post, we have got caught out several times not charging enough for postage!
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 12, 2011 20:02:32 GMT 1
If anyone remembers which thread Jro was going on about ebay before, do say, because neither of us can find it now. ;D But paypal then holds your bank details, wasn't there something where paypal bank details got out or something? Oh well, too late now, I've signed up for paypal, given them a rather obscure bank account I rarely use for much else. The postage is a bit confuddling I'm thinking of trying to buy and sell one or two books. The cheapest way to send them is second class, but do people expect you to quote first class. And is a certificate of posting enough, or do you have to do registered post?
|
|
|
Post by joany on Mar 12, 2011 23:37:00 GMT 1
I remember Jro trying to explain how the auction thing works (and I still couldn't understand : . But can't remember which thread either
|
|
|
Post by Amazing on Mar 13, 2011 0:24:56 GMT 1
Have done a search but methinks it has gone to the compost heap. Maybe Jro will explain it all again.
|
|
|
Post by Juliet on Mar 13, 2011 0:25:48 GMT 1
The only thing I know about Paypal is, if you get an email saying something like "your Paypal account has been suspended" it's not from Paypal, it's phishing, so just delete it!
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 13, 2011 0:33:53 GMT 1
Thanks Juliet. Jro was explaining to us something about the price that she paid for some flooring or something. I struggled to understand it at the time, so nevermind... Anyway it looks relatively simple. If thousands of people can master using it, why not me...<famous last words as Aspi ends up paying people to buy her stuff ;D>
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 13, 2011 0:48:19 GMT 1
You have to state how you intend to send your parcel and then quote the potage. Some go 2nd class, others 1st. Just make sure that you weigh everything wrapped weight before you advertise it.
Yes, there are programmes, but as long as you hover over the time counter and put in your bid with 20 seconds to go, after which uyou also have to confirm the bid, you have just as much chance of winning as a programme. I have cut it down to 18 seconds before now, but obviously it only works if you watch your screen and don't stray away and forget to come back.
The countdown on the item's screen starts an hour before close of bidding and is in red.
However, if you can't be there, then your best bet is to put in as much money as you think it is worth to you and hope that other people will be put off going any higher when they come up against your high bids, and keep on being told that they are still not the highest bidder.
Aspi will be able to watch her screen and see who has put in bids, and also who is interested and is 'watching' (they have saved the item in their page) but not yet bidding.
Aspi, set a minimum that will at least cover your postage, otherwise it could sell for 99p.
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 13, 2011 0:52:18 GMT 1
Aspi, set a minimum that will at least cover your postage, otherwise it could sell for 99p. But can't I put a starting thingummy for the item as 99p, but quote the postage as, say £2 on top of that, and then I may only sell the item for 99p, but they would have to pay the £2 postage too, wouldn't they?
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 13, 2011 0:54:38 GMT 1
I thought there was something about not being able to quote postage for books? Maybe they have got rid of it - DBH has gone to bed or I would ask him.
No, apparently they used to, but they have stopped it so ignore me. I thought it was unfair, but it did mean that i bought him some very cheap books a couple of years ago.
|
|
|
Post by Amazing on Mar 13, 2011 0:54:48 GMT 1
You can get a leaflet from the post office that gives all the royal mail costs.My friend sells a lot on ebay and usually adds a bit plus the postage. She sold a tatty pair of Doc Martens for £35 yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 13, 2011 0:56:51 GMT 1
You can get it all online. You can prepay your postage online, print off a label and stick it on. You only need to go to the PO if you want proof of postage.
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 13, 2011 0:59:09 GMT 1
I think I might take stuff to the post office to find out the exact post with a jiffy bag to begin with. I'm looking at some books that are up there, they seem to have the post quoted separately. The reason I was asking about first and second class, is because if I was buying, I'd prefer to have slower post but cheaper. So does anyone know whether you do have to send things recorded, or with a certificate of posting or whether you can just chance it? I tend to send small items through the post without bothering, if it's under a tenner.
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 13, 2011 1:01:26 GMT 1
Just be aware that if your post gets lost and you didn't get proof, then you will have to refund payment.
Something I ordered went astray once and it was weeks before she would refund my 14.99. I was starting to wonder if she had ever sent it in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by Amazing on Mar 13, 2011 1:07:59 GMT 1
Postage has to be over £2.99 I think, to have an account and do postage on-line. Seona just goes to the PO 'cos its just up the street.
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 13, 2011 1:09:10 GMT 1
hmm, but a certificate of posting isn't the same as sending something recorded, you pay for the latter - so I suppose you add that on to the post cost? I'm sure it will All Become Clear to me once I start doing stuff. I am currently 'watching' some books that I own myself, so be interesting to see what they go for. It's a new hobby for me anyway ;D(sad old bat smiley)
|
|
|
Post by orangeblossom on Mar 13, 2011 11:54:58 GMT 1
I suspect this has all been said but haven't had a chance to read every post.... When I was selling on a regular basis on e-bay I found the following things useful: *only take paypal payments (I had one regular who paid by cheque on the understanding that the item would not be sent until after the cheque had been cleared but to be honest it was a real faff to deal with). *I sent all my items recorded delievery. I just stated the cost on the page. It is not worth the hassle of a dispute if items get lost, you need to have proof that they were posted. I never had a buyer quibble about paying for postage. *Give chirpy, friendly and detailed information about what you are selling it really makes a difference to the number of people who will be interested in your items. *Check out your competition. See what other people are selling the same items you are selling for and price competetively. *communicate with the buyer by e-mail, they appreciate the personal communication rather than an automatic e-mail sent out by e-bay's system. *do everything as quickly as possible, people love to get their purchase as soon as they can, and it will contribute to positive feedback. *never leave feedback for a buyer until they have left some for you. *When you are a buyer, and you are happy with your purchase leave very positive feedback for the seller and they will in return leave good feedback for you. This is really important as if you don't have positive feedback on your account people may not buy from you. (I always spend a long time checking out peoples feedback before I deal with them.) *Wrap items for postage very carefully, use bubble wrap if needed and always leave a friendly little note for the buyer. *Think about when your auction will end. Try and set it as a time when people are at home and able to bid on the items, Sunday afternoon's are a good time. You may lose bids if you set an auction to end at an obscure time during the week. I had a lot of regulars and friendly aquaintances from my e-bay selling days. It is good fun when it goes well. Good luck xxxx
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 13, 2011 16:13:48 GMT 1
euwww ta Cherry, I didn't have you down as an ebayer. ;D Did you sell antiquey stuff from your parent's business? Or just archeological finds? ;D I have been looking at books quite a lot on Abe books and e-bay and it's interesting to see what things go for. The advantage of trying to sell old books is that you can easily see what they have fetched in previous sales.
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 13, 2011 18:19:30 GMT 1
Goodness! But far more interesting than selling all DBH's railway books and annuals. ;D He got about £6 each for them on average.
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 13, 2011 23:02:31 GMT 1
Yay, haven't heard anything about Cherry's geeky side for ages, she's been far too busy trying to pretend she's just a normal soccer Mom. ;D ;D ;D What a funny thing to have got into, the Japanese thingys. ;D And what an odd business it is, that you can buy stuff and basically just sell it on and make a profit but I think that's half the thing isn't it, to sort of try to specialize a bit so that you learn your particular area of the market. I think capitalism is a very odd thing.
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 14, 2011 9:44:01 GMT 1
It all boils down to knowing where to go for what is wanted. There was an article, years ago, about a woman who was selling cheap plastic/rubbery cooking utensils made in Mexico in bright colours, from a stall in a market in London, and she was making a fortune. They cost her about 1p each to buy, not much to ship over here, but as there was no such thing as a colourful utensil in the UK at the time she was able to charge about £5 for a spoon!
|
|
|
Post by orangeblossom on Mar 14, 2011 16:40:42 GMT 1
Its all about finding a pot noodle ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by Aspidistra on Mar 14, 2011 16:47:51 GMT 1
Cherry's back on form. ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by janerowena on Mar 14, 2011 17:13:02 GMT 1
|
|