My first Ebay auction...how's it look to you?
SamThompson
Posts: 126
Hey folks, I spent all day today figuring out this selling stuff, trying to get good pics and so on. I finally thought it best to do No Reserve and start out at a price close to what I would expect the 'buy it now' value to be. Well I guess the reason for this post is that I am looking for frank criticism about the format and quality of my first auction--what you may do different, etc etc.
So without further adoo...
My first ebay auction
So without further adoo...
My first ebay auction
0
Comments
about the no insurance thing - (re: above)-- it could open me up to trouble, you are right...i will probably make it mandatory from now on! Fortunately i did put a "not responsible" disclaimer in there. I think anyone with common sense would buy insurance anyway
Like those above me, I would also suggest a return policy and make Insurance mandatory.
TB
Great start for your first auction. I would recommend the super-sized picture option for future auctions, especially for smaller coins. It really helps, sort of like using a loop. I would also lose the flowery language, a nice coin with a good pic will speak for itself.
Offer a return with no nasty restocking fees. Manofcoins is right, you will get very few returns if your coins are accurately represented. I for one will not bid on an auction that doesn't offer one...........I figure the seller must have something to hide.
Good luck!
Having got that off my chest.Welcome and good luck.
Web: www.tonyharmer.org
K S
now here is a whopper.....I was just on another discussion board and this guy told me that He has like 10 different Ebay names he uses to bid on his OWN auctions (mostly computer and stereo junk)....he never elaborated, and it doesn't make any sense to me, does it to you??
The disclaimer and 50 cents will get you a cup of coffee (maybe).
The disclaimer does NOTHING for you. It does not get you off the hook if the buyer does not receive the goods.
If I was to purchase this coin from you I would use PayPal and I would not buy insurance (which is for you anyway). If the coin does not arrive I notify PayPal of that fact and they then contact you to prove that you sent it. If you cannot provide proof of shipping I get a full refund. End of story.
As to the guy using ten ID's, this is not allowed by ebay rules (but goes on ALL the time). It is mostly done to try to increase the bidding on his items and/or to try and establish a "going" rate for the goods.
Joe.
<< <i>now here is a whopper.....I was just on another discussion board and this guy told me that He has like 10 different Ebay names he uses to bid on his OWN auctions (mostly computer and stereo junk)....he never elaborated, and it doesn't make any sense to me, does it to you?? >>
Yes, it makes sense. Yes, it is unethical and frowned upon by Ebay, rightfully so. Called shill bidding. Never try it, or the police here will nail you on it
Your shipping is a little high, IMO. Probably should be no more than four bucks. Also, you may want to consider holding the coin for money orders as well, other than Postal m.o.'s, as you could get a fake. Overall, a good job, IMO.
"Exactly."
<< <i>If I was to purchase this coin from you I would use PayPal and I would not buy insurance (which is for you anyway). If the coin does not arrive I notify PayPal of that fact and they then contact you to prove that you sent it. If you cannot provide proof of shipping I get a full refund. End of story. >>
UncleJoe
So, what you are saying is insurance s/b mandatory??? Have you ever made a claim through PayPal indicating you did not receive an item?
<< <i>The disclaimer does NOTHING for you. It does not get you off the hook if the buyer does not receive the goods. >>
Why do you say that? All you have to prove is it was shipped. This is done millions of times throughout the US and the world. Have you ever heard of FOB Origin? The seller's responsibility stops when the shipper picks the item up. So, it would appear all you need is tracking, not insurance.
Not at all. Personally I include insurance in my shipping rates for all items that should sell for more than $50. Less than $50 I give the buyer the option. However, I do that with the knowledge that I am taking the risk if the package does not arrive.
Have you ever made a claim through PayPal indicating you did not receive an item?
Yes, and in all cases I either received the items after PayPal contacted the seller or I received a FULL refund.
Why do you say that? All you have to prove is it was shipped. This is done millions of times throughout the US and the world. Have you ever heard of FOB Origin? The seller's responsibility stops when the shipper picks the item up. So, it would appear all you need is tracking, not insurance.
Correct. You have to prove that is was shipped. If you can prove it was shipped then the seller is off the hook and now it falls to the buyer. However I would suggest that most sellers think that by putting that disclaimer in their auctions if the buyer does not take insurance and they stick the package in the mail with a few stamps that they are not responsible when in fact they are because they cannot prove it was shipped.
Joe.
I include insurance in the shipping fee and can ship a coin like that for $3 by first class mail.
There needs to be an obverse photo of just the coin so we can see more detail.
The starting price is too high. These coins go for $25 on Teletrade in that grade with the Benson pedigree.
He paid $29 each and thought he paid too much. Not many people are going to pay $44 for one.
Cameron Kiefer
Shipping cost is too high, even with included insurance. $2 shipping + $1.30 insurance should be sufficient to cover this item.
3-day coin auctions are useless for coins -- only use 3 day auctions for commodity products.
Pictures are too small, but you're using standard eBay tools, so whaddya' gonna do...
Other than that, I guess it's OK...
Then again, if someone is dumb enough to pay $50+ out of the gate for a $30 coin, why not triple the "labor" fee?
Nice Job on first auction.
As you can tell there is plenty of good counsel here.
Many good suggestions already.
I have evolved my auctions over the past 6 years.
A long time ago I learned a wise acronym: KISS
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid, (that is me many times)
This has helped me in many circumstances not just listing auctions.
Also, Imitation is a wise thing. Learn from others auctions.
here is a link to my ended auctions: You might find something worth imitating.
08HALA20 AUCTIONS
Rookie Joe
the guy with 10 ebay accounts that bids on his own items ?
Ebay finds that out and he gets NARU'd,thats an indefinite suspension,AKA permanent !
Shipping ?
i prefer priority mail with tracking,cost's a little more.gets there a lot faster,i charge my cost plus 2 bucks if i think i can get away with it !
Insurance ?
i make it optional for 1.30,if they wont pay it i do !
they have a legal obligation to pay you,you have the same to make sure they receive the item !
i have run around 300 auctions with no problems this way.
how much grief are you willing to take for 1.30 ?
Proof
<< <i>Ebay finds that out and he gets NARU'd,thats an indefinite suspension,AKA permanent ! >>
So, what keeps him from opening another account. I have my own website and I can have something like 100 email boxes. Besides, if he has 10 accounts now, he knows how to beat the system.
S&H of $6.50 is way to high. $3 - $4 max for that price range which should include insurance.
Needs to be more descriptive. Your photo shows a greenish toned reverse. Is the coin toned
or is it white.
Three days is way to short. 5 day minimum and preferably 7. Try to close between 5:00 & 7:00
west coast time. Remember there's a 3 hour time difference across the US. Time the end so
everyone can participate.
A no questions asked return policy is a must with no restocking fee. OK to deduct shipping though.
Not to bad for your first auction.
if you can prove he was shill bidding from any account with any matching info,they will naru him.
if you get pissed enough and dig a little via ebay or anywho you can prove it easy.
same addy or last name is enough.
no different with sellers,same name or addy,if 1 is narud and u notify EBAY they will dig em out and naru all of them.
i had a seller stiff me about 2 yrs ago with 3 accounts,found him via anywho and he was gone !
Proof
I've got 8 war nickels from the Benson collection that I picked up at a show two months ago for around grey sheet bid.
Perhaps the price is just too steep.
Is your conscience at rest if once put to the test?
You awake with a start to just the beating of your heart.
Just one man beneath the sky,
Just two ears, just two eyes.
Cameron Kiefer
<< <i>What's with the hidden feedback now? Nothing personal...but I find that completely unacceptable in an eBay auction. >>
Yep. I gotta say, for someone trying to make a go at eBay, the OP is doing just about everything wrong. In my opinion, of course.
not too bad for a first try. a few things I noticed:
1. remove hyphen between MS & 66, list like: MS66
2. try 5-day or 7-day auction ending in evening (10pm EST) Sat. or Sun.
3. remove word "collection" and replace with "pedigree"
4. put "10c" in title. If you don't have enough room, remove NR
5. If you use Paypal, Always include insurance in S&H (you did this) but lower S/H/I to $5 and buy only $50 worth of insurance for any item you think will sell under $65. If you think item will sell between $65-$110, charge $6 S/H/I and purchase $100 of insurance.
6. Remove "Private" from your feedback. People will either think you're shill bidding or have something to hide.
7. Use 3 pictures: 1)Slab shot 2)closeup obv. 3)closeup rev.
8. Always use gallery pic!!