How do you sell your first card?
Counselor
Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭
I often see remarks on the Board about a seller's lack of positive feedback or lack of other sales as a negaitve that would scare away buyers. So how do you get over the hump of selling the first card. If buyers will be suspicious because you haven't sold before what do you do? I would be afraid to try to sell a nice card on Ebay as my first offering because of the concerns that would arise. Do you sell a bunch of low priced cards just to establish some positive feedback before you try to sell a nice card? I am a small time collector but would like to be able to sell a nice card from time to time but I am concerned you can't get market value if you only sell a few. Appreciate any comments and/or advice.
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Comments
Good luck.
Shane
Sell crap around the house that you no longer want and cards of low value first to establish positive feedback. Then sell the higher priced cards after.
I probably had 100 feedback before I sold my first items. $5- $20 items. The implications of my feedback, which was 100% at that time , still meant nothing to me.
Now almost four years later with 667 feedback (99.7) I can tell you what feedback means.
Before I bid on a high ticket item, I am going to closely scrutinize feedback.......any hint of inpropriety whether real or incidental and I will not bid on item. Having feedback of less then 10 could be construed as incidental impropriety in my book.
On a $20 item i might take a chance, even with a seller with no feedback.
MY ADVISE: If you are going to sell a high ticket item wait until you accumulate some feedback.
1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better
Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete
Make a brief statement acknowleding your zero or low feedback. I'd say that you understand that some bidders may be concerned about the low feedback and that you are willing to take any reasonable steps to reassure bidders that you are legit.
Post a picture of you holding the card (so we know you didn't just steal the scan)
Accept payapl (so buyers have some protection outside of ebay)
Make your auction look professional with nice scans and a full description (so you don't look like a kid or like you're trying to hide anything)
State that the item is available for personal inspection and personal pickup (by the winner)
State that you will allow buyers to use escrow.com (at their expense, of course)
Just my opinion...and welcome to the boards!
That works for me (as a buyer). It might sound corny, but a statement such as "I realize that I don't have much history as a seller, so I am determined to make the buyer happy". Also, clearly state how you intend to ship the item (hard-top loader in a bubble envelope, for example) as well as how fast (next day, checks need to clear, etc.). Personally, I'm more concerned that a new seller will not package a card properly than I am about not getting the item.
You could also go so far as to offer free shipping or something like that until your feedback is built up.
<< <i>yup.
Sell crap around the house that you no longer want and cards of low value first to establish positive feedback. Then sell the higher priced cards after. >>
Put very simply, and exactly how I started.
Come to think of it, this is what I still do....but people are willing to pay a little more!
How do i list some cards...cant find the way to get in
The hard part and most frustrating part is when you only receive feedback on 1 out of 5 items you sell!!