Sharing my pain selling on EBay!12055
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
| My list of blocked bidders is growing by the day!! | ||
| Post 26 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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naftixe private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I’ve been playing the eBay fee & scam ride since 1998. eBay/PayPal will almost always side with the buyers and leave the sellers high and dry. You gotta stick to your terms and be clear and consistent. Accept bad ratings when they try to scam you but realize that good buyers will read the feedback and see that you are consistent and fair. My third account. The first two were deactivated by myself over the years. https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/feedback_profile/riks-emporium?filter=feedback_page:All&limit=25 |
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| Post 27 • IP flag post | ||
 I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie.
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flanders private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I post flat rate shipping charges in my listings to somewhat deter people from buying a single $1.25 comic since the shipping I charge for 1-10 comics is the same. There is no way to make money off Ebay on low dollar items without doing it this way since paypal charges a minimum 30 cents plus 2.9% per transaction. Buyer's should purchase more of your items in stock to lessen the shipping costs instead of expecting you to make 25 cents on the transaction. Whoever purchased from you clearly has never sold low value items on Ebay or they would be well aware that it's impossible to charge actual cost of shipping, especially when you ship media mail since Ebay does not provide a discount on this service but will still take 10% of your shipping cost. | ||
| Post 28 • IP flag post | ||
 It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I had a buyer ask if the book in the photo was bent, or just an optical illusion. I explained it was a thin trade paperback, and they sometimes curve when I stand them up for the photo, but it lays flat in reality. Then he asked about the price, seemed too much, and the shipping was "more than most sellers, but admittedly less than some". I replied with links to comparable sales, and also that my shipping is a flat fee of $5, just order more stuff. Then he said if I dropped the price to $10 (from $14, which was already a good price) and lowered the shipping to $3 he would be "interested". I told him, "Unfortunately, I can sense that things would not go well with this transaction, and now I am spooked. You are bothered by the shipping, questioning the photo/condition, and I see a return or poor rating on shipping heading my way. I already have too much time invested in this back and forth over a $14 book. It's best if you find something similar from another seller." And then I blocked his sorry rear end. | ||
| Post 29 • IP flag post | ||
 I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @chester15 I love it!! Good on you! | ||
| Post 30 • IP flag post | ||
 Beaten by boat oars
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Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This is why I'm looking to get away from eBay. I'd rather just get some stuff graded and consign through MCS or do a few sales on the boards. To me, it just isn't worth it. There are clowns everywhere but I find myself valuing my time more and more. | ||
| Post 31 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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poka private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Doc_Cop hiding or not does not matter. Packing material incl Gemini cost as well. |
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| Post 32 • IP flag post | ||
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It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I left out quite a bit on that earlier post. The buyer wanted me to charge $2.95 shipping. I sell mostly hardcovers. This was my reply, if any of you would like to clip some out for your own use. Why re-invent the wheel. "Please bear in mind that the shipping charge is not just the postal rate. That book will be charged at 2lbs media mail, since it weighs more than a pound when completed, the cheapest rate there is. That's $3.27. Then there's the mailer or box, which is about another dollar. It takes about 10 minutes to package it (bubble wrap, etc.), and my shipper makes $15 an hour, so that's $2.50. All together, the cost is $6.77 to get it out the door. More if I have to drive the packages to the post office, which occurs sometimes. I am charging $4.95, and losing money. Others may be lower, so they are losing even more money. I could make the shipping zero, and just raise the book price. It's all the same. You are focusing on the shipping charge, I get that, but it's only part of the equation. Also, the book is under $14, originally $25. Besides it being one of more popular titles and volume numbers. It's a significant bargain as it is, so I see no need to change any part of the offer." I didn't even add the 10% fee on the shipping for eBay, and 3% for PayPal. |
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| Post 33 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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Puckster private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I've been trying my hand at selling comics on ebay for about 7-8 months now. I had been selling my late father's collectibles for my mom before that and hadn't had a problem. I try to keep my shipping costs as low as I can but that's not always easy. Most of the stuff I've been selling has been lower end stuff in the $1-3 range. I have been listing as many books as possible and was expecting people to take advantage of combined shipping. I have been floored seeing that hasn't been the case. I charge a flat $5 on up to 4 books. My .99 cent books I only charge $3.50 and don't make much. I screwed up one time and ended up having free shipping on one that sold. I told the buyer that I screwed up but I was going to honor it. He gave me my only neutral feedback (no negatives). He said I complained about the transaction but he still got is book. Freaking dirtbag. | ||
| Post 34 • IP flag post | ||
 Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Tell the buyer to go pound sand. Sad thing is even without the buyer complaint this was always a losing proposition for you, all that work to ship a $2 purchase. I don't use Ebay auctions and in the rare case of raw books I put them together into packages of $25 or more. |
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| Post 35 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 @chester15 In my day job I call this the "never-ending negotiation". 99% of my customers are done negotiating the minute they sign a contract. But 2-3 times a year I walk away because, like you, I see the signs of someone who will continue negotiating until the work is completed and we get the final payment from them. |
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| Post 36 • IP flag post | ||
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It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Originally Posted by EbaySeller: @chester15 In my day job I call this the "never-ending negotiation". 99% of my customers are done negotiating the minute they sign a contract. But 2-3 times a year I walk away because, like you, I see the signs of someone who will continue negotiating until the work is completed and we get the final payment from them. It's that 1% that can kill ya. There's so much more of it now, the negotiating. Things evolve on eBay, just like everywhere else. Competition from social networking, and even behaviors learned from social spill over into e-commerce platforms. You can certainly just put your stuff on the "shelf" and refuse to budge until it sells, but you will feel it in the wallet. If you go along with the game to SOME extent, it generally works out better. You just can't become a doormat. |
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| Post 37 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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doog private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I’m probably bad because I never do best offers, yet I constantly get EBay messages “Will you take $$ for your book?” I never reply. I had one guy cuss me out because the tape I was using stuck to the bags when I taped a few books together, I switched to painters tape, which worked much better. Didn’t know I had a problem before so I didn’t mind the cussing so much that time, as it made me better. In your case I had a guy whine about shipping, I actually refunded his money, told him to keep the book, it was $10 total I think. So I’m guilty of feeding the beast, and being bad at business. I also don’t look at feedback so don’t know if he gave me a good one. Yeah, I suck at this |
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| Post 38 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 In another thread I mentioned that recently at MCS I've raised many prices and started taking offers, usually with auto-decline set around 20% below asking price. In many cases I've got more for the books than the price I was offering them for previously. |
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| Post 39 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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moodswing private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @doog The tape thing is a huge pain in the ass. Takes 20 min to remove it without damaging the comic. Removing it usually ends up destroying the bag too. Painter's tape is the way to go. |
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| Post 40 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by naftixe Glad I clicked on your link, now I know where to find a Desert Storm Trading Card set! https://www.ebay.com/itm/1991-Pro-Set-Desert-Storm-253-card-Factory-Sealed-Set-With-Mini-Sorted-Sets-Lot/164201260511?hash=item263b2865df:g:lcoAAOSwSVRevvNb |
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| Post 41 • IP flag post | ||
 I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Been selling on Ebay for many years. Best Platform out there IMHO. I never refuse customer request for additional photos or taking time to answer any additional questions or concerns they may have. Selling is WORK and you have to work at it regardless. There are just so many lazy sellers on Ebay who don't take the time to post proper photos or use vague descriptions, or both. The customer does not owe me a profit. Its up to the seller to figure out the proper margins and costs to determine if it is worth his time and effort to list whatever items you are trying to sell. NEVER do I block a potential customer for low ball offers! They have led to many of my best sales and repeat customers over the years. I rarely have ever blocked anybody (2 people in 10 years) Sure your going to run into that occasional "Knuckle head" that's just part of doing business, weather your selling comic books on Ebay or Hot Dogs at the carnival John |
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| Post 42 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by moodswing If you use scotch tape fold over 1/2" on both ends to create a pull tab. It's a trick a learned from one of my purchases. I was really grateful at how much easier it was to remove the tape. |
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| Post 43 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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poka private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @chester15 i would not even try to explain. nothing good come out of it. i try to explain shortly in my first reply to a buyer. if buyer is not reasonable - he will just get more upset with explanations | ||
| Post 44 • IP flag post | ||
 Not trying to be an ass since February 12, 2020.
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HulkSmash private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by flandersthis is interesting. Low dollar popular items are my bread and butter on eBay. Let’s say I sell an Xbox game for $5 with USPS fist class; the Shipping discount covers my PayPal and eBay fees. I’m not making a lot of money when I have these low dollar items but I’m not losing any money to fees. I for get the cap I figured. It was somewhere in the 5-7 $ range. |
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| Post 45 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
| HulkSmash interesting thought. Will look into that | ||
| Post 46 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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naftixe private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbaySeller Part of my 20+ year stash find when I cleaned out one of my home closets and found comics and cards from when I owned a comic book shop in the 90s. Right now I have sent in 60 comics for grading, including Evil Ernie signed by Hughes and Pulido |
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| Post 47 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Naftixe, I also was a LCS owner in the early nineties as well as collateral damage of the comic implosion! Unfortunately my stash was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Kudos to your find! | ||
| Post 48 • IP flag post | ||
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It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by poka I typically follow that advice, @poka, learning over time. That particular one I gave the "whole story", because at the end of that message I knew I was going to dump him anyway. More like a stress reliever for me, along with the big "Adios". |
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| Post 49 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 I've had one or two where I think "how did I ever let myself get dragged this far down the rabbit-hole" before finally cutting off contact. |
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